Getting a cscs card
Discussion
I've always had an ecs card and had to do the h&s test which is really easy to pass but I always did a bit of online practice to be safe. I recently tried to renew but I'd let my card lapse for too long but now I need to do my 18th edition to get another which I've not got time for at the moment. I've been to a local centre and passed the h&s test at a place that runs all different types of test including driving theory but I've still got to work out what type of card I can get as it's very unclear but the sites I work on will be happy with any type of card. It's pretty unclear but some said if I had my cert for becoming an electrician (which I do) then there are cards I can get other than ecs. It's my own fault for not renewing sooner but I was unaware of the changes
scottyp123 said:
That's great though if you are a roofer, joiner, plumber, plasterer etc. etc. you just pop down to the nearest test centre, do a quick exam and get the card but for electricians and it only seems to be electricians you need to do several years in college, pas multiple exams, work for years with an approved firm, join the JIB and only then can you get the electricians version of the CSCS card which is called an ECS card and then there are different versions of it, gold card, technician etc.
And this is the reason I find it all so strange, the type of electrician who works on site is generally rough as f
k, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?
As for the sites we go on, they aren't big site like a tower block going up or a site with 500 houses, I would never work on a site like that. They tend to be refurbs of say an old nursing home or a conversion of a big old house into apartments, sometimes we are the only ones on site, its just that they have changed their policy recently and now require a CSCS card to continue working for them, we did loads of jobs for them a couple of years ago but the interim firm we were working for managed to go bust so we didn't do anything for the main contractor for a year or so.
There was a route via the Mature Candidate Assessment but it looks like that's been closed this summer. This page list a number of places you can contact who may be able to advise the best route for you to be able to get an ECS card:And this is the reason I find it all so strange, the type of electrician who works on site is generally rough as f
k, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?As for the sites we go on, they aren't big site like a tower block going up or a site with 500 houses, I would never work on a site like that. They tend to be refurbs of say an old nursing home or a conversion of a big old house into apartments, sometimes we are the only ones on site, its just that they have changed their policy recently and now require a CSCS card to continue working for them, we did loads of jobs for them a couple of years ago but the interim firm we were working for managed to go bust so we didn't do anything for the main contractor for a year or so.
https://www.ecscard.org.uk/content/Providers-Matur...
It's pretty clear you're going to have to do the 18th Edition though so maybe crack on with that first?
Mr Pointy said:
scottyp123 said:
That's great though if you are a roofer, joiner, plumber, plasterer etc. etc. you just pop down to the nearest test centre, do a quick exam and get the card but for electricians and it only seems to be electricians you need to do several years in college, pas multiple exams, work for years with an approved firm, join the JIB and only then can you get the electricians version of the CSCS card which is called an ECS card and then there are different versions of it, gold card, technician etc.
And this is the reason I find it all so strange, the type of electrician who works on site is generally rough as fk, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?
As for the sites we go on, they aren't big site like a tower block going up or a site with 500 houses, I would never work on a site like that. They tend to be refurbs of say an old nursing home or a conversion of a big old house into apartments, sometimes we are the only ones on site, its just that they have changed their policy recently and now require a CSCS card to continue working for them, we did loads of jobs for them a couple of years ago but the interim firm we were working for managed to go bust so we didn't do anything for the main contractor for a year or so.
There was a route via the Mature Candidate Assessment but it looks like that's been closed this summer. This page list a number of places you can contact who may be able to advise the best route for you to be able to get an ECS card:And this is the reason I find it all so strange, the type of electrician who works on site is generally rough as f
k, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?As for the sites we go on, they aren't big site like a tower block going up or a site with 500 houses, I would never work on a site like that. They tend to be refurbs of say an old nursing home or a conversion of a big old house into apartments, sometimes we are the only ones on site, its just that they have changed their policy recently and now require a CSCS card to continue working for them, we did loads of jobs for them a couple of years ago but the interim firm we were working for managed to go bust so we didn't do anything for the main contractor for a year or so.
https://www.ecscard.org.uk/content/Providers-Matur...
It's pretty clear you're going to have to do the 18th Edition though so maybe crack on with that first?
This is why I'm only interested in going for the cheapest and easiest route to get something that I can flash at the site manager to get back on. If anyone knows of someone that forges them then that would be even better.
You can't just go and do the test and get a green 'labourer' card, you also need to have a couple of qualifications even for that. Here is a link for the list of cards and what is required.
https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
speedyguy said:
I wonder if the 'peeps' on the collapsing crane job in London this week had the right bits of paperwork?
Erected 1 day then fell over.
https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/07/09/co...
Would a piece of paper have stopped it ?
Things are certainly more likely to go wrong without checking people are competent to do their job, put it that way. Erected 1 day then fell over.
https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2020/07/09/co...
Would a piece of paper have stopped it ?
I expect that crane went over because the concrete base cast in the ground failed. Either because the design was wrong or it wasn't built as per the design. Pieces of paper make such cock ups less likely to happen.
scottyp123 said:
And this is the reason I find it all so strange, the type of electrician who works on site is generally rough as fk, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?
Maybe he got hold of a forged card and used that to get onto the site.....?k, I've seen some right shoddy jobs on new build houses, they don't get paid enough to do a proper job so leave things out like clips or capping so you have cables snaking about behind the walls, badly or wrongly made off sockets and switches. A girl called Emma Shaw was killed just recently by bad electrics in a new build apartment. So it begs the question, if the electrician has spent years getting all those qualifications he must obviously be good at his job so why would he lower himself to do shoddy work like this?megaphone said:
You can't just go and do the test and get a green 'labourer' card, you also need to have a couple of qualifications even for that. Here is a link for the list of cards and what is required.
https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
Thanks,that's the info I've been after all along, so you cant just do the CITB test and then order a green card, you have to complete another course as well and that's about £150. It all seems like too much trouble to be honest, I'll talk to my business partner on Monday about it but for me its a no, its so much easier to do private work like re-wires in houses where you can turn up in shorts and trainers to work rather than all this nonsense. Thanks for all the help from everyone.https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
scottyp123 said:
megaphone said:
You can't just go and do the test and get a green 'labourer' card, you also need to have a couple of qualifications even for that. Here is a link for the list of cards and what is required.
https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
Thanks,that's the info I've been after all along, so you cant just do the CITB test and then order a green card, you have to complete another course as well and that's about £150. It all seems like too much trouble to be honest, I'll talk to my business partner on Monday about it but for me its a no, its so much easier to do private work like re-wires in houses where you can turn up in shorts and trainers to work rather than all this nonsense. Thanks for all the help from everyone.https://www.cscs.uk.com/applying-for-cards/types-o...
Card Requirements
You can apply for this card if you have either:
Completed the RQF Level 1/SCQF Level 4 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment
Completed the SCQF Level 5 REHIS Elementary Health and Safety Certificate.
To find out how to take these qualifications contact your local college of further education, training centre or Jobcentre Plus. You can see a full list of awarding bodies offering this qualification here. They will advise you about training and assessment availability, pricing and whether funding is available.
All applicants must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test
This card is valid for five years.
ks, CSCS, no steps on site, got to wear gloves, no shorts, blah blah. Never enough money in the jobs to cover all the extra hassle. We are getting mithered to death to go back on site and have been offered 2 months work so we have finally relented and booked on an all in one course for sometime next week. Its only a 1 day course but I would imagine I'm going to find it really difficult to bite my lip when some of the safety "facts" are taught to us. On the plus side lunch is provided as part of the deal, its the only thing I'm looking forward to.
scottyp123 said:
We are getting mithered to death to go back on site and have been offered 2 months work so we have finally relented and booked on an all in one course for sometime next week. Its only a 1 day course but I would imagine I'm going to find it really difficult to bite my lip when some of the safety "facts" are taught to us. On the plus side lunch is provided as part of the deal, its the only thing I'm looking forward to.
Which card are you going for?
megaphone said:
Which card are you going for?
Just the labourer one, totally pointless but the sites we go on only wanted this one, its just a tick box exercise for them. We are only subbying for the main electrician so I suppose we are his labourers anyway, I doubt we will get the easy parts of the job to do.Basic cscs card is a piece of piss to obtain. If you're struggling with that then you shouldn't be anywhere near a site.
There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
fiju said:
Basic cscs card is a piece of piss to obtain. If you're struggling with that then you shouldn't be anywhere near a site.
There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
From what I've seen its a raft of qualifications, new snickers trousers and a belt of many screwdrivers but can't connect a 2-way up correctly or chop a box in neatly to save their life. On the other hand you have a 50 year old spark who is unqualified but can find a fault in 10 minutes where as the previous 5 sparks didn't have a scooby doo.There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
Zarco said:
Doesn't normally take a day course to get that card.
Clearly a special case
You need some sort of qualification in H&S before you can sit the multiple choice CITB exam and its the qualification that takes most of the day up, you have to listen to several hours of dross before you can pass. (and pay £206 each)Clearly a special case
So there smart arse.
I looked at getting electrical quals back upto date and getting a cscs card..
Was told I needed to get an NVQ to get the cscs card because of the lapse in qualifications.
I spoke to a training company at great length (It was like an interview where my knowledge was tested and previous qualifications and experience investigated) who said get 18th edition, AM2 and latest test and inspection, job done.
CS scheme said no, need an NVQ. Even NECIEC and Elecsa were happy with my old qualifications and experience once i was back upto date. Decided not to bother, plenty of other work out there.
Having worked with so called NVQ qualified electricians, I'm glad I didn't bother.
Was told I needed to get an NVQ to get the cscs card because of the lapse in qualifications.
I spoke to a training company at great length (It was like an interview where my knowledge was tested and previous qualifications and experience investigated) who said get 18th edition, AM2 and latest test and inspection, job done.
CS scheme said no, need an NVQ. Even NECIEC and Elecsa were happy with my old qualifications and experience once i was back upto date. Decided not to bother, plenty of other work out there.
Having worked with so called NVQ qualified electricians, I'm glad I didn't bother.
Edited by 996owner on Saturday 25th July 22:51
scottyp123 said:
fiju said:
Basic cscs card is a piece of piss to obtain. If you're struggling with that then you shouldn't be anywhere near a site.
There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
From what I've seen its a raft of qualifications, new snickers trousers and a belt of many screwdrivers but can't connect a 2-way up correctly or chop a box in neatly to save their life. On the other hand you have a 50 year old spark who is unqualified but can find a fault in 10 minutes where as the previous 5 sparks didn't have a scooby doo.There's a difference between electricians and house bashers. One's actually gone through an apprenticeship and gained qualifications, the other just claims to be an electrician
ive a current CSCS card (blue skilled) and renewed it last month.
Your right in what you say, it's more difficult than it used to be. Ive worked with NVQ (not very qualified) tradesman and those who only had green labourers cards. NVQ qualifications don't really prove you know more about what you know more than the next person.
its experience that counts not a piece of paper. Sites are full of clueless muppets with an NVQ. I have in the past put right what they fked up. I'm getting too old for all this RAMS bks now anyway so limit my time on sites.
Your right in what you say, it's more difficult than it used to be. Ive worked with NVQ (not very qualified) tradesman and those who only had green labourers cards. NVQ qualifications don't really prove you know more about what you know more than the next person.
its experience that counts not a piece of paper. Sites are full of clueless muppets with an NVQ. I have in the past put right what they f
ked up. I'm getting too old for all this RAMS bks now anyway so limit my time on sites.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff