What are the 13 CSCS card types?
CSCS publishes 13 main card categories on its website at cscs.uk.com/types-of-cscs-cards/. Each category covers a specific level of attainment and group of occupations within construction. The cards are colour-coded to make the level visible at a glance, so a site manager checking cards at the gate can see at a quick scan whether the level matches the role.
The full list, from entry level to senior management, is: Green (Labourer), Red (Trainee), Blue (Skilled Worker), Blue (Trained Operative), Gold (Advanced Craft), Gold (Supervisory), Gold (Technical, Supervisory and Management), Black (Manager), White (Professionally Qualified Person), White (Academically Qualified Person), Yellow (Experienced Technical, Supervisory and Management), Red (Experienced Worker), and Red (Industry Placement).
Not every worker will be familiar with where their role sits in this hierarchy. Employers who manage mixed crews — labourers, tradespeople, supervisors, and site management — need to know which card type applies to each category of worker. A valid card of the wrong type is not necessarily an acceptable substitute; some principal contractors and sites will check card type against role, not just whether any CSCS card is present.
Which card types are most common on UK construction sites?
The Green Labourer card is the most widely held entry-level card. It is aimed at workers who carry out general labouring tasks and requires an NVQ Level 1 in Construction and a pass in the CITB HS&E test at the Operatives tier. It lasts 2 years rather than the standard 5, which means Labourer card expiry catches out employers who assume all CSCS cards follow the same renewal cycle.
The Blue Skilled Worker card covers most skilled trades — bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and similar occupations. It requires an NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in the relevant trade and lasts 5 years. This is the card most subcontractors are managing when they track CSCS expiry for trades crews.
The Gold Supervisory card is for workers who supervise others on site. It requires NVQ Level 3 or above and a pass in the HS&E test at the Supervisors tier. The Black Manager card covers senior site management roles and requires NVQ Level 4 or above, along with a pass at the Managers and Professionals tier of the HS&E test. Both gold and black cards last 5 years.
Which card types last less than five years?
Most CSCS cards are valid for 5 years. Two main categories have shorter validity. The Green Labourer card lasts 2 years, reflecting its entry-level nature and the expectation that holders will progress to a higher-level card as they gain qualifications. The Red Trainee card does not run for a fixed period — it lasts for the duration of the holder's training programme or apprenticeship, which varies by scheme and provider.
The Red Experienced Worker card and Red Industry Placement card also have limited or specific validity conditions tied to the holder's circumstances rather than a standard period. If you have workers on Trainee, Experienced Worker, or Industry Placement cards, record the specific expiry date printed on each individual card rather than assuming any standard period applies.
For employers managing apprentices and trainees alongside experienced workers, the variable expiry dates make a central tracking record even more important. The 2-year and programme-length cycles expire much sooner than the standard 5-year cards and are easily missed if you apply the same assumption to every card on your roster.
How do employers verify a worker holds the right card for their role?
The CSCS card checker at cscs.uk.com/cardchecker returns the card type alongside the validity status. A check before a worker's first day on site will show you whether the card type matches the role they are being deployed in. Enter the card number and the worker's date of birth; the result appears in seconds.
Card type matters as well as validity. A worker holding a Green Labourer card deployed in a skilled trade role — say, as a bricklayer — is not demonstrating the level of qualification that the card scheme is designed to certify. Principal contractors and site managers may look beyond the card's validity date to ensure the card type is appropriate for the work being carried out. An expired card will always fail; a valid card of the wrong type is a softer issue but still worth querying.
The table below summarises all 13 main CSCS card types, their colours, who they are for, and their typical duration — use it to confirm which card each worker on your crew should hold.
| Card colour | Card name | Who it is for | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Labourer | Entry-level construction workers carrying out labouring tasks | 2 years |
| Red | Trainee | Workers in training or an apprenticeship programme | Duration of training |
| Blue | Trained Operative | Workers who have completed on-site training but not yet an NVQ | 5 years |
| Blue | Skilled Worker | Qualified tradespeople (bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, etc.) | 5 years |
| Gold | Advanced Craft | Highly skilled tradespeople with advanced qualifications | 5 years |
| Gold | Supervisory | Workers who supervise others on construction sites | 5 years |
| Black | Manager | Senior site management roles | 5 years |
| White | Academically Qualified Person | Graduates and those with academic qualifications in construction | 5 years |
| White | Professionally Qualified Person | Professionally qualified construction roles (engineers, architects, etc.) | 5 years |
| Yellow | Experienced Technical, Supervisory and Management | Experienced workers in technical, supervisory or management roles | 5 years |
| Red | Experienced Worker | Workers with experience but not yet holding the full qualification | Varies |
| Red | Industry Placement | Students on industry placements within construction | Duration of placement |
| Gold | Technical, Supervisory and Management | Technical roles requiring NVQ Level 4 or equivalent | 5 years |