Considering a career in the construction industry?
Obtaining a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card should be top of your list of priorities if you want to achieve this goal.
While there are many different routes you can take to acquire one, a comprehensive CSCS course is a popular option.
To help you understand what’s involved in taking a CSCS course, and whether it’s the right choice for you, our knowledgeable team is to explain more about how they work, how long they take, and how much they cost.
In our FAQs section, you’ll also find plenty of helpful information about how the way in which construction workers now obtain a CSCS card is changing.
What is a CSCS course?
In the UK construction industry, CSCS is the leading skills certification scheme, supplying qualified individuals with proof of their skills, training, and experience in the form of a CSCS card.
While there’s no legal obligation to obtain a CSCS card before you can work on a construction site, the vast majority of principal contractors and house builders in the UK require workers to possess a valid CSCS card.
This is because CSCS cards prove the holder has the appropriate training and qualifications for the role they perform on the construction site. As a result, this helps to uphold a certain standard of work and safety in the industry.
A CSCS course is therefore a type of course that applicants can take to help them obtain a CSCS card and therefore begin a career in the construction industry.
At SB Skills Solutions, we offer a wide range of CSCS courses. This includes work-based NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) from Level 2 all the way up to Level 7.
We also provide a selection of health and safety courses that are necessary for individuals wanting to obtain a CSCS card, including the CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test.
How long does a CSCS course take?
As there are many different courses that can be taken to help applicants achieve a CSCS card, and each applicant has varying experience and expertise in their respective trade, there’s no set assessment period length.
For NVQs, the assessment period takes as long as necessary as applicants work at their own place in their own workplace environment. During this time, they’ll gradually build up a bank of work-based evidence.
Often, applicants will complete the qualification in a matter of months, but it can take up to six months for others.
A CSCS course can therefore be an attractive way to gain qualifications while continuing to work.
How much is a CSCS course?
If you want to take an NVQ CSCS course, then the price for this will naturally vary depending on the number of applicants taking the course and your choice of training provider.
At SB Skills Solutions, we pride ourselves on offering expert assessors for an affordable price, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch today to learn more about our training courses and their prices.
Explore CSCS courses at SB Skills Solutions
Ready to take a CSCS course that will help you to break into the construction industry? Please feel free to contact the friendly and knowledgeable team here at SB Skills Solutions!
Alongside offering an extensive selection of NVQ and health and safety courses that can be used to help you gain your CSCS card, we also provide training that can be used to upskill employees and improve the workplace environment.
To find out more about our available courses and how we can help you to pursue your career in the construction industry, simply give us a call on 01695 558 420 or send your enquiry via email to info@sbskills.co.uk.
Alternatively, you can also register your interest in our courses by using our convenient online contact form.
Put simply, they’re not.
The only thing that’s changing is that Industry Accreditation (IA) cards issued from January 1 2020 will expire on December 31 2024 and cannot be renewed using IA.
While CSCS stopped issuing new IA cards in 2010, those who already held a card were still allowed to renew under the existing IA scheme. This will no longer be acceptable.
Previously, IA allowed workers to obtain their CSCS card based on the strength of an employers’ recommendation.
Now, however, due to recommendations from the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), the aim is to phase out IA cards and replace them with NVQ-based cards.
This is to ensure the scheme meets industry requirements and the skills, safety, and efficiency of construction site workers are improved.
Based on official information published by the CSCS, the way in which construction workers can obtain their CSCS card is changing.
As mentioned above, IA cards issued from January 1 2020 will expire on December 31 2024 and cannot be renewed in this manner.
This means those hoping to obtain a CSCS card can no longer rely on employer recommendations and must achieve an appropriate qualification instead.
If you want to obtain a CSCS card, you will need to possess a nationally recognised construction related qualification, such as an NVQ or an SVQ.
Other qualifications accepted for CSCS cards includes apprenticeships, higher national certificates, and higher national diplomas, and historical qualifications (qualifications that are no longer available).
You can also still obtain a CSCS card if you have a degree awarded by an academic institution (such as a degree, postgraduate diploma or certificate) or if you’re a member of a professional body that’s been approved by CSCS as equivalent to a nationally recognised qualification.
If you’ve been affected by the IA changes and do not already hold a relevant nationally recognised qualification, then you will need to complete the relevant training course and assessment based on your experience.
In most cases, you’ll already be working at the necessary level to obtain an NVQ certificate, but you will still need to prove your skills, experience, and competency by providing evidence of your work and completing an assessment.