The CISRS Card is designed to provide proof of your skill, competence and health and safety knowledge in the scaffolding trade. As a CSCS affiliate Card, the CISRS Card shows employers and site owners that you have passed a Health Safety Test to the relevant standard; and that you hold a Construction NVQ or trade equivalent appropriate to your role.
The Construction NVQ has been adopted by CSCS as the industry standard for measurable competence and on the job skill. The Health Safety Test provides a similar standard for both industry wide and trade specific health and safety awareness. As such the CISRS Card is proof that you are qualified to work in the roles you are aiming for.
The CISRS Card and the Health Safety Test
The Health Safety Test you’ll need in order to qualify for your CISRS Card is the Working at Heights Health Safety Test. The Health Safety Test itself is 45 minutes long.
You will not be eligible for your CISRS Card until you have passed the appropriate Health Safety Test. For nearly all varieties of CISRS Card you will need to have passed a Construction NVQ as well. Red CISRS Cards may be held with no Construction NVQ – provided you are enrolled in the relevant NVQ course. You will still need to have passed the correct Health Safety Test though.
The CISRS Card and the CSCS Card Colour Scheme
The CSCS Card is colour coded to denote the Level of Construction NVQ you have achieved. Red CSCS Cards are for construction workers who are enrolled in a Construction NVQ but have yet to achieve qualification.
The CSCS Card colour scheme runs as follows: Red for all workers who have yet to achieve a NVQ; Green for NVQ Level 1 and Basic Site Skill; Blue for NVQ Level 2; Gold for NVQ Level 3; and Black for NVQ Level 4 and higher. Black CSCS Cards may only be held by management and as such are job specific.
CISRS Cards follow the same colour coding scheme. The CISRS Card stops when you get to Gold for NVQ Level 3: there is no Black CISRS Management Card.
Why the CISRS Card is Tied to the Construction NVQ
The CISRS Card is linked with the Construction NVQ so the competence of all scaffolders can be measured easily and quickly. You can’t get a Construction NVQ without being marked as having the skills necessary to complete its modules; and you can’t get a Skilled CISRS Card (a Blue CISRS Card or a Gold CISRS Card) without achieving a Construction NVQ Level 2 or 3. So possession of a Blue CISRS Card or a Gold CISRS Card instantly denotes you as a competent and trustworthy worker.