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Check cards with CSCS Smart Check
CSCS says cards should be checked regularly with CSCS Smart Check, which confirms a card is genuine, in date and held by someone with the right training and qualifications for their role. Smart Check is available on the CSCS Smart Check website, the App Store and Google Play, and as an API for site access and induction systems.
Looking at a card is not enough. CSCS points out that a visual inspection will not detect cards that are fake, revoked or obtained fraudulently.
- Check the card at induction, before the person starts work
- Check again at renewal and whenever the person changes role
- Confirm the card type matches the work they will do on site
- Report a suspected fraudulent card to CSCS
The thirteen CSCS card types
CSCS issues thirteen card types for different occupations, qualifications and levels of experience. Holding the wrong card can mean someone is refused entry to site, so confirm the card suits the role. CSCS's Card Finder helps workers choose the right one.
Some cards are for people entering the industry or still training, and others show a completed qualification. How long a card lasts depends on its type.
- Academically Qualified Person and Professionally Qualified Person
- Apprentice, Trainee, Industry Placement and Provisional
- Labourer
- Blue Skilled Worker, Gold Skilled Worker and Experienced Worker
- Supervisory, Manager, and Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager
How long does a CSCS card last?
Most CSCS cards last five years. Cards for people who are still training or new to the industry last for less time, and several of them cannot be renewed. The expiry date is printed on the card and shown in CSCS Smart Check.
Cards can be renewed from six months before they expire. Holders of the shorter, non-renewable cards are expected to finish their qualification and apply for a skilled card before the expiry date.
- Five years: Blue Skilled Worker, Gold Skilled Worker, Supervisory, Manager, Academically Qualified Person and Professionally Qualified Person
- Labourer: two years for a first card, then renewable for five years with a renewal declaration
- Trainee: five years when registered on a qualification, or two years with an approved Level 2 non-competence qualification
- Apprentice: four years and six months, not renewable
- Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager: three years, not renewable
- Industry Placement: two years, not renewable
- Experienced Worker: one year, not renewable
- Provisional: six months, not renewable
What to record when you check a card
A photocopy in a site folder shows you once saw a card. It does not tell you when it expires, who checked it or whether it was still valid last week. Record the check itself so you can answer those questions later.
Keep the record with the rest of the person's training, so a supervisor can see card, induction and safety training together.
- The worker's name, card type and card number
- The expiry date shown on the card
- The date you checked it and who checked it
- The result, and any follow-up needed
- The role or occupation the card covers
Plan renewals before cards expire
CSCS cards can be renewed from six months before the expiry date printed on the card. Reminding people well before that date gives them time to renew, and stops them being turned away from site.
If someone has changed role or gained a new qualification, they may need a different card rather than a renewal, so check the card type again at renewal.
How SkillProof helps
SkillProof records each person's CSCS or plant operator card as a card and licence record with the card number, expiry date, evidence and the date your team checked it on CSCS Smart Check. Reminders go out before the card expires, and staff can upload a renewed card for review. SkillProof does not verify cards itself.
Cards sit with site inductions, toolbox talks, RAMS briefings and safety training, so supervisors can see who is ready for site.
Official guidance used for this guide
Checked
Official CSCS pages used for this guide. Check them for the latest scheme rules.
Questions this guide answers
How do I check if a CSCS card is valid?
Use CSCS Smart Check, on the website or the app. It confirms whether a card is genuine and in date and shows the holder's qualifications. A visual check alone will not detect fake or revoked cards.
Can employers check CSCS cards online?
Yes. CSCS Smart Check is available online and as a mobile app, and larger employers can connect it to site access or induction systems through the CSCS API.
How long does a CSCS card last?
Most cards, including the Blue Skilled Worker card, last five years. A first Labourer card lasts two years, the Experienced Worker card one year and the Provisional card six months. Check the expiry date on the card or in CSCS Smart Check.
When can a CSCS card be renewed?
From six months before the expiry date printed on the card, and up to a year after it. A worker who has changed role may need a different card instead of a renewal.
Does SkillProof check CSCS cards?
No. SkillProof records the card, its expiry date and the date your team checked it on CSCS Smart Check, then reminds you before it expires.