All Industry Accreditation (IA) cards issued from 1st January 2020 will expire on 31st December 2024 and cannot be replaced using IA.
CSCS stopped issuing new cards under Industry Accreditation back in 2010, but those who previously held a card under IA could continue to renew.
CSCS’s removal of IA at the end of the year is set to affect an estimated thousands of site managers, who will now need to obtain a formally recognised qualification in order to be able to apply for a black CSCS card, which for many is essential for getting on site.
What NVQ Qualifications are available to site managers?
The following NVQ qualifications can be completed at your own pace remotely, with no time away from site, to allow you to apply for your black CSCS card. All qualifications mentioned are portfolio-based, with a dedicated assessor assigned to you.
Why did CSCS decide to remove Industry Accreditation?
CSCS is pushing for a more qualified workforce, in order to ensure that those working on site have been assessed as competent against nationally recognised standards.
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) provided the following statement regarding the changes “Building Safety and competence are two of the CLC’s priorities. As an industry, and in accordance with various sets of legislation including the Construction Design and Management Regulations (CDM) and the Building Safety Act, we must demonstrate to the regulator, our clients, building occupiers and the wider public that those designing, building and maintaining the built environment are competent to do so.”
Action Plan for Affected Site Managers
When do I need to start getting prepared?
Even though IA is only being removed at the end of 2024, it would be unwise to only start getting ready for this change at the last minute as it takes time to complete the NVQ. Estimated timescales for each step of the process are as follows:
- Enrolling with Compass – Immediate. Once a payment has been made you can get started straight away.
- Completing the NVQ – it is possible to complete in under 8 weeks, however, most site managers, with busy schedules, will take 6 – 9 months on average.
- Waiting for your portfolio to be accepted – Once you have completed your NVQ, you can wait an average of 2 weeks to pass through our internal quality assurance process, as well as wait for your certificate to be sent to you.
- Applying for your black CSCS card now you have completed the NVQ – once your application has been accepted by CSCS, your card should generally arrive within 5 days.
Funding your NVQ Level 6
Our Level 6 construction NVQs cost £1500 + vat. You may be eligible for CITB funding which can help to fund the entirety of your qualification. If you are not eligible, Compass offer a variety of flexible payment plans to assist you in spreading the cost to a more manageable amount, such as:
- 50% up front and 50% on completion of the NVQ
- 3 monthly instalments of £500 + vat
- 6 monthly instalments of £250 + vat
For more info please call 03333 580340 or email info@compass-ms.co.uk.
