Enhanced document verification tackles overseas card fraud
Published: August 18, 2017
Currently applications for CSCS cards from holders of construction qualifications awarded outside the UK have been required to apply to the UK’s international qualifications agency UK NARIC for an evaluation of their qualifications and to obtain a Statement of Comparability.
CSCS Scheme Manager Angeleen Hill comments: “CSCS regularly receive fraudulent supporting documentation for CSCS cards from overseas applicants. As part of our wider strategy for combatting fraud we have been working with UK NARIC to introduce a new verification process.”
From October 2017 UK NARIC will be introducing a new application process for holders of construction skills certificates that have been awarded overseas. This new process will include qualification verification of all applicants.
What this means for overseas applicants applying for a CSCS card
- From 1st October 2017 CSCS will require all overseas applications to go through UK NARIC’s new verification process.
- From 1st October 2017 CSCS will only accept new versions of the UK NARIC statement with qualification verification.
- UK NARIC statements will only be issued after the qualification authentication process is successfully completed.
Please note: In recognition that some overseas applications can take a number of weeks to complete CSCS will continue to accept old versions of the UK NARIC Statements of Comparability (without verification) dated up to 30th September 2017, until 31st December 2017. No consideration or allowances will be given after this date.
Angeleen Hill continued: “This is a positive step that will provide the industry with a robust level of scrutiny, similar to that already in place for UK based card applications.
“By certifying that overseas construction workers have the correct training and qualifications, CSCS and UK NARIC are improving standards and safety on UK construction sites.”
Additional procedures are planned to take place to enhance the overseas application process. UK NARIC and CITB are working together to ensure that the technical content of overseas qualifications are mapped against UK equivalents, before CSCS issue a card. Further announcements on this process will be made once this work is completed. Click here for more information about applying for CSCS cards using overseas qualifications.