This article is a guide to the industry accredited (IA) CSCS card changes and what it means for you if you currently hold an IA card. We will discuss the following in order to give you all the information you need;
- What are the changes to the Industry Accredited CSCS card scheme?
- What does this mean for me if I have an Industry Accredited CSCS Card?
- What if I don’t need a CSCS card anymore?
- Do I need to go to college to get my qualification?
- I have years of experience doing this job, why do I need to re-qualify?
- How do I know what qualification I need?
- How long does the qualification take?
- What’s the next steps?
What are the changes to the Industry Accredited CSCS card scheme?
The industry accreditation CSCS card was a previous route to holding a blue, black or gold CSCS card. The card was generally obtained on an employers’ recommendation of the cardholder, rather than any formal qualifications.
CSCS stopped issuing the industry accreditation card in 2010. However, those people who had the industry accredited card continued to be allowed to renew their cards. Sometimes known as ‘grandfather rights’ in the industry. This is now all set to change with the CSCS recently announcing that all industry accredited cards will expire soon, with cardholders having to reapply for their CSCS card with proof of relevant qualifications.
The CSCS shared the following plans on their website;
- IA cards issued from 1st January 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024 and will not be renewed.
- CSCS will cease renewing IA cards from 30th June 2024.
What does this mean for me if I have an Industry Accredited CSCS Card?
With the changes, if you currently hold an IA CSCS card you will no longer be able to renew it. This means you will have to apply for a standard CSCS card to replace the old IA card.
In order to get your new CSCS card, you must have a previously held qualification or you must register for the appropriate qualification for your trade before IA cards expire in 2024.
If you currently have one of the following, you may just be able to apply for your new CSCS card with no extra work required;
- Vocational qualifications already achieved: cardholders who have achieved the qualifications for their occupation can renew their card for the full five-year term as normal.
- Academically Qualified person card: This card is available to people who have completed certain construction-related degrees, HNDs, HNCs, CIOB Certificates and NEBOSH diplomas. Further details can be viewed here.
- Professionally Qualified person: This card is available to competence-assessed members of CSCS approved Professional Bodies of which CIOB is one. Further details can be viewed here.
If you don’t have one of the above, you will need to register for an appropriate qualification to be able to apply for your new card.
What if I don’t need a CSCS card anymore?
Not everyone needs a card. You may have moved into an office-based role or management position, become a director or simply don’t go on-site anymore. In these cases, it is likely you will not need a CSCS card anymore.
Do I need to go to college to get my qualification?
Absolutely not. At Portland Training, our qualifications are all on-the-job based. This means our assessors will visit you at your work and assess you doing your normal job. There is no need to attend a classroom or take time away from your job. Everything we need to get your qualification will be done on-site. We aim to make the process as quick and easy as possible.
I have years of experience doing this job, why do I need to re-qualify?
These changes have been made by the CSCS. As an independent training provider, Portland Training are committed to making the process as efficient, quick and straightforward as possible. We understand you are a skilled worker and endeavor to get your qualification sorted as soon as possible.
How do I know what qualification I need?
As you may be aware, there are 100s of construction-based NVQ qualifications available. Depending on what your occupation is and what CSCS card you require, there may multiple options available.
That’s where Portland Training comes in. We are the industry experts in construction-based NVQ qualifications. We are on hand to guide you through the best route to the qualification you will need to reapply for your CSCS card.
How long does the qualification take?
This will depend on the qualification you need. However, in most cases, we are able to get the qualification sorted within a matter of a few months.
What are the next steps?
Simply get in touch with Portland Training and we will be able to talk you through the process and get you signed up to start the qualification.
Whether you are in individual looking to qualify yourself, or a company needing multiple people signing up, our advisors are on hand to quickly get things moving.
