IIRSM members with relevant skills eligible for CSCS cards

Published: September 7, 2022

The International Institute of Risk and Safety Management (IIRSM) is now recognised as an approved professional body by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), meaning IIRSM members with relevant skillsets are eligible for CSCS cards.

CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do on site, usually with a recognised construction related qualification and a Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Health, Safety and Environment test pass within the last two years.

However, CSCS also offer cards for members of approved professional bodies, whereby applicants use their membership to prove their skills, rather than the achievement of an NVQ or other equivalent qualifications.

Full member and other relevant grades of membership of CSCS recognised professional bodies can apply for the CSCS Professionally Qualified Person (PQP) card.

IIRSM Chartered Members and Fellows will be able to apply for the Professional Qualified Person (PQP) card while Associates are eligible for either the Academically Qualified Person (AQP) or Trainee card, and Students for the Trainee card if studying for a relevant qualification.

To check the criteria and process, IIRSM Members should visit the IIRSM website.

Clive Johnson, IIRSM Trustee and Head of Healthy and Safety at Derwent London, said: “IIRSM is really pleased to partner with and support CSCS in their quest for a competent workforce across the UK’s constructions sites. It’s all about having the right card for the right job, having been in the industry since the launch of the CSCS card scheme it now carries a lot of credibility with both employers and the workers themselves and more importantly proof of competence.

“This partnership with CSCS means IIRSM can now support our members and provide that level of due diligence to ensure they get the right card for their particular profession.”

Garry Mortimer, Operations Manager at CSCS said: “Professional bodies have a long history of qualifying construction professionals and CSCS has recognised professional body membership for CSCS cards since 2003.

“Obtaining CSCS recognition is relatively straightforward and simply requires the professional body to demonstrate that their membership criteria have been successfully mapped against the relevant National Occupational Standards where they exist, or other appropriate national standard and that there are robust CPD requirements.”

CSCS recognises 62 professional bodies with more than 32,000 professional body members holding a CSCS card.