Renewing, replacing and checking a CSCS card
CSCS card renewal is not an extension. It is the whole application again, test included, which is the part that catches people who left it until the week the card ran out.
Updated 13 September 2026
How long does a CSCS card last? #
CSCS card valid for how long depends on the card, but the answer is 5 years for almost everyone.
| Card | How long it lasts |
|---|---|
| Green Labourer, first card | 2 years |
| Green Labourer, thereafter | 5 years |
| Blue Skilled Worker | 5 years |
| Gold Advanced Craft or Supervisor | 5 years |
| Black Manager | 5 years |
| White AQP or PQP | 5 years |
| Red entry level | Time limited, not renewable indefinitely |
CSCS card how long does it last has one wrinkle worth knowing: the card runs for 5 years but the test pass behind it is only valid for 2. That gap is the whole reason renewal means retaking it.
How to renew CSCS card: the three steps #
The steps, in the order they have to happen:
- Retake the health and safety test, because your last pass will be more than 2 years old
- Check your qualification still counts for the card you hold, particularly if it was an Industry Accreditation card
- Apply to CSCS and pay £36.00
CSCS card renewal online is the normal route, through the official site or the app. Start early: if the test has to be booked, sat and passed before you apply, leaving it to the last fortnight is how people end up off site.
CSCS card renewal cost #
There is no discount for renewing. It costs what a first card costs.
| What | Cost |
|---|---|
| CSCS application | £36.00 |
| CITB health and safety test | £23.50 |
| Total | about £59.50 |
If you are self-employed, both are allowable business expenses against your trading profit, and so is the cost of the qualification where it maintains rather than creates a skill.
Lost, stolen or damaged cards #
A CSCS card lost or damaged is a replacement, not a renewal, and the difference matters because a replacement does not need the test again.
Your qualification and your existing test pass both stand. A CSCS card replacement reissues the same card with the same expiry date, so it does not buy you extra time either.
If your card has expired #
A CSCS card expired is simply out of time, and there is no grace period. Most sites treat an expired card as no card at all, because the check they run returns the same answer either way.
There is nothing to salvage and nothing to appeal. Retake the test, reapply, and in the meantime expect to be turned away. This is the strongest argument for starting renewal three months out rather than three weeks.
Checking a card: the CSCS card checker #
CSCS runs an official checker, and a contractor verifying someone at the gate uses it or the smartcard reader app. A CSCS card check confirms three things: that the card is genuine, that it is current, and that it is the right type for the work.
Can I check my CSCS card online? Yes, through the same official CSCS card checker online, and a CSCS card number check works the same way. It is worth doing your own check before a start date rather than finding out at the gate.
Contractors: checking cards is your job, not CSCS's #
If you engage subcontractors, verifying cards sits with you alongside your other checks. It is worth doing it at the same time as the two that carry money with them.
Verifying a subcontractor's CIS registration status decides whether you deduct 20% or 30%, and gross payment status decides whether you deduct at all. A card check and a CIS verification are two separate obligations that happen at the same moment in practice.
Common questions #
How do I renew my CSCS card?
Pass the health and safety test again within the last 2 years, then apply to CSCS as you did the first time and pay the £36 fee. Renewal is a fresh application rather than a simple extension, which is why the test has to be retaken.
How much does CSCS card renewal cost?
The same as a new card: £36 for the application plus £23.50 for the test, so about £60. There is no reduced renewal rate.
How long does a CSCS card last?
Most cards last 5 years. The first Green Labourer card is the exception at 2 years, renewable for 5 after that. Red entry-level cards are shorter and are not designed to be renewed repeatedly.
What do I do if my CSCS card is lost?
Apply to CSCS for a replacement. You do not retake the test for a lost card, because the card is being replaced rather than renewed, and your existing qualification and test pass still stand.
My CSCS card has expired. What now?
An expired card cannot be extended, so you renew it: retake the test if your last pass is more than 2 years old, then reapply. There is no grace period, and most sites treat an expired card the same as no card.
How do I check a CSCS card?
CSCS runs an official card checker, and there is a card-reading app that verifies a card from its chip. A CSCS card number check confirms the card is genuine, current, and the right type for the work.
Can I check my CSCS card online?
Yes. The official CSCS checker confirms the status of a card online. Contractors use the same tool, and the smartcard reader app, to verify cards at the gate.
Do I need to retake the test to renew?
Yes, if your last pass is more than 2 years old, which after a 5 year card it always will be. The test pass must be current at the point you apply, not at the point the old card was issued.