Keen to get your hands on a CSCS card, but concerned about the cost?
While there are various costs associated with obtaining a CSCS card, these cards can be essential to broadening your job opportunities, increasing your earning potential, and progressing your career in the construction industry.
To help you understand how much your CSCS card is likely to cost, the expert team of assessors at SB Skills Solutions have provided a comprehensive breakdown of all the CSCS card-related fees you should be aware of.
From the price of the card itself to different costs involved in achieving the training and qualifications needed to apply for the card, we cover them all in more detail below.
How much is a CSCS card in the UK?
The fee for applying for a CSCS card in the UK is £36 – regardless of which colour card you’re interested in obtaining. However, this is just the application fee.
You should also take into consideration the cost of any additional qualifications you’ll need to apply for a CSCS card. This includes the £22.50 cost of taking the relevant CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test as well as the cost of any training courses that are required.
This means the total cost for obtaining a CSCS card in the UK is £58.50. However, this is before you take into account any training fees.
How much does a CSCS exam cost?
Naturally, if you don’t currently possess the necessary qualifications or accreditations to apply for your desired CSCS card, then you will need to consider the cost of any essential training needed to help you achieve these CSCS card pre-requisites, too.
At SB Skills Solutions, we provide high-quality training and assessment services for a wide range of work-based NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) that can be used to obtain a variety of CSCS cards.
As there are 13 CSCS cards in total, each CSCS card will have different qualification and accreditation requirements, it’s important to understand which level NVQ or SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) you need to help you obtain your desired CSCS card.
For example, if you want to achieve your blue CSCS card, then you may want to consider taking a relevant NVQ level 2 in construction, whereas black CSCS card holders are required to pass a level 5, 6, or 7 NVQ that relates to their role.
Naturally, the cost of the CSCS exam you need to take will therefore vary depending on the type of training you require, the number of applicants, the level of the NVQ, and the training provider.
For a more accurate idea of how much the training and assessment of your required CSCS course will cost, please don’t hesitate to contact the friendly team of instructors at SB Skills Solutions.
Can I get a CSCS card for free?
The only CSCS card that is issued for free is the CSCS Apprentice card. Supplied to individuals on recognised apprenticeships, this card is valid for four years and six months, but it cannot be renewed after this period.
This is because cardholders are expected to have completed their apprenticeship in this time and be able to apply for the next level of CSCS card.
No other CSCS cards can obtained for free as they all require some degree of training, assessment, and administration. You should therefore be careful not to be drawn in by any offers for free CSCS cards as they could come with hidden charges or a sub-par service.
However, there are ways that you can make achieving your desired CSCS card more affordable. At SB Skills Solutions, for example, alongside our competitive course prices, you can also apply for fully funded training or a CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) short qualification grant.
Not to mention, following the recent move to transition all Industry Accreditation (IA) CSCS cardholders to a recognised qualification (IA CSCS cardholders will no longer be able to renew after 2024 without a recognised qualification and new applicants won’t be able to apply using IA), the CITB is now offering increased grants.
As of April 2023, CITB’s grant for specific supervision NVQ and SVQ diplomas has been increased to £1,250, while the grant for specific management NVQ and SVQ diplomas has also been increased to £1,500. Find out whether your course is eligible for a CITB grant here.
Is a CSCS card worth it?
Put simply, yes. CSCS cards are often essential for construction industry workers as they’re widely used to demonstrate that the holder possesses the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience to work safely and competently in their construction site role.
Although CSCS cards aren’t a legal requirement in the UK, many contractors and their clients will request that site workers hold the relevant CSCS card for greater reassurance in their abilities and performance.
As a result, deciding not to apply for your CSCS card could have massive implications for your job opportunities and earning potential. Typically, the amount spent on obtaining your CSCS card will be worth it to help start or progress your career in the construction industry.
Most CSCS cards are also valid for five years, so you won’t need to worry about annual renewal costs building up either.
Obtain the qualifications you need for a CSCS card
Now you have a better understanding of how much it’s going to cost to obtain a CSCS card, why not let the qualified team of training providers and assessors at SB Skills Solutions help?
After learning more about your current construction industry role, experience, and qualifications, our knowledgeable and fully accredited team can help you to explore relevant CSCS training courses related to the type of CSCS card you want to achieve.
We’ll guide you through the entire process with ease, supporting you as you work towards successfully completing your work-based NVQ. Whether you’re looking to achieve your green or black CSCS card, you can trust us to provide professional training and assessment services for a great price.
For a more accurate idea of how much the training required for a CSCS card is going to cost, get in touch with our friendly and professional team today.
If you’d like to learn more about SB Skills Solutions and how we can support your career in the construction industry, please feel free to call us on 01695 558 420, email us at info@sbskills.co.uk or reach out using our handy online contact form.
Alternatively, if you’re ready to start working your way towards your CSCS card, why not book your chosen course online?
