Do not apply for this card if you work in a skilled occupation – it is for unskilled workers only and shows employers the holder is not on a recognised training pathway. You will be refused entry to site if you work in a skilled occupation but hold a Labourer card.
The Labourer card is currently valid for five years and can not be renewed. Instead, individuals should apply for a new Labourer card when their existing card expires.
All applicants must pass the CITB health, safety and environment test for operatives and hold one of the following:
- The Level 1 (Scotland Level 4) Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
- The Scottish Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate
- The NOCN/CSkills Awards Construction Health and Safety (F/618/0738) unit
- A CSCS approved alternative qualification – see below.
Upcoming changes to the Labourer card
From February 1st 2025, on first application the Labourer card will reduce from five years to two years, with workers who continue in labouring roles able to renew for five years by providing evidence they are employed in a labouring role. The accompanying CITB Health, safety, and environment test used for the initial two-year card application only will see its validity extended to three years, allowing it to be used for renewal.
Those who currently hold a Labourer card and wish to renew from February onwards will be eligible for another five-year card by providing the same evidence. A full list of FAQs is available below.
If you have a question which is not listed in the FAQs below, please contact us. These changes are unrelated to Industry Accreditation.
How to apply
All applications are made via CSCS Online.
Once an application is approved, cards should arrive within five working days.
This Level 1 award was developed for Labourers needing to obtain a CSCS card.
CSCS do not deliver training. To take this level 1 award, please contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus.
These organisations can advise about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
The following awarding organisations have approval from OFQUAL to offer this qualification
Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC)
The Learning Machine Ltd (TLM)
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)
The following awarding organisations no longer offer the qualification although qualifications already issued will be accepted:
Qualification standard
CSCS accepts a number of alternative courses for Labourer card applications.
Alternative qualifications which expire can only be used once, so you will need to retake these qualifications in the future when you renew your Labourer card.
CSCS do not deliver training. To take one of the required courses, please contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus.
These organisations can advise about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding for your course is available.
| Awarding Organisation | Course Name | Lifetime of Course | Delivery |
| CITB | Health and Safety Awareness Course | Five Years | Classroom or Online |
| COSAC | Safe2Site | Five years | Online |
| Drilling and Sawing Association | DSA 1 Day Health and Safety Awareness Course | Five Years | Classroom |
| IOSH | Safety, Health and Environment for Construction Workers | Three years | Classroom and virtual (face to face). IOSH e-learning courses are not accepted for a CSCS card. |
| JTJ | JTJ Introduction to Construction Course | N/A | Closed – renewals only. |
| NOCN | Health and Safety Awareness in Construction | Five years | Classroom |
| NPORS | NPORS Site Safety Awareness Course | Five years | Classroom |
| SPA – Safety Pass Alliance | SPA – Core Construction Course | Five years | Classroom |
| Priestman Associates | Principles of Construction Site Health | N/A | Closed – renewals only. |
| Rushmoor Borough Council | Rushmoor Borough Council Health and Safety in a Construction Environment L1 | N/A | Closed – renewals only. |
From February 2025, changes will be made to the length of the Labourer card’s validity on first application.
What if I have held a Labourer card before?
Applicants can renew as a five-year card if it is within one year of expiry of the previous card and providing evidence of working in a Labouring role is submitted.
If the previous card has expired by more than one year the applicant will need to submit an appeal providing evidence of working in a Labouring role.
When does an applicant need to provide evidence that they are working as a Labourer?
When applying for a five-year Labourer card after having held a two- year Labourer card.
When applying for a five-year Labourer card after having held a five-year Labourer card which has not been expired for more than one year.
Evidence of working as a Labourer is not required for the first two-year card application.
What happens to my current card, do these changes impact this?
Existing cards remain valid until their expiry and can be renewed for five years providing requirements are met.
Why are these changes being made?
The changes support the direction of travel emerging from the Building Safety Act and are also designed to address the current oversupply of Labourer cards while helping ensure only those carrying out genuine labouring duties carry the card.
What does a construction Labourer do?
A construction labourer performs manual labour on construction sites to assist with the build, repair of structures and/or cleaning of structures/sites.
Construction labourers perform a variety of tasks, including moving materials and equipment, digging trenches, mixing and pouring concrete, mixing mortar, cleaning up the site, assisting with laying foundations, assisting with preparing for and laying drainage, assisting with building walls, maintaining records and ordering equipment
Construction labourers can work in several roles, including site preparation, loading materials, and tidying/cleaning the site. They may also support skilled tradespeople like electricians, plumbers, and bricklayers.
What evidence is required to prove I am working as a Labourer?
The evidence required will be either be a letter from your employer (or main contractor for those self-employed) on company headed paper to confirm you are currently working as a labourer or a fully completed Labourer Declaration form. These must be uploaded as part of the application, not emailed or sent in by any other means.
I am self-employed, who can I get to complete my declaration to confirm I work as a Labourer?
A completed form from a main contractor you have completed work for can be accepted.
I have a Labourer card just because sites won’t allow me on without a card. What do I do now?
All construction workers should hold the relevant CSCS card to access a construction site, but those attending site to perform a non-construction occupation or who are office-based and rarely visit site should not be expected to carry a card.
I work as a cleaner on construction sites, what card do I need now?
CSCS cards are not required when a cleaner is not working on a live construction site and is working within places such as site offices or welfare facilities.
CSCS cards are required when a cleaner is working on a live construction site, they can apply for either:
A Labourer card – Cleaners who do general cleaning on-site should apply for this card.
A Blue Skilled card – Cleaners who perform specialist cleaning roles (e.g. industrial cleaners) should apply for this card. This will require a level 2 Certificate in Cleaning and Support Services Skills.
