CSCS card renewal: don't find out at the gate
Your CSCS card has its expiry date printed on it. CSCS sets the renewal rules, the fee and whether you need to take the health, safety and environment test again, and they differ by card, so check them on the CSCS website for your card before you pay anyone. Start early, so a slow renewal doesn't catch you out.
What to check before you renew
The date on your card
It's printed on the card. Put it in your phone today, with a reminder a couple of months before.
The rules for your card
Each card type has its own renewal rules and fee. CSCS publishes the current ones; read the page for your card, not a general one.
The test
CSCS's page for your card says whether you need to pass the health, safety and environment test again before you renew. If you do, book it before anything else.
Questions people ask
How does TradeCard remind me?
Add your CSCS card and its expiry date to the tickets wallet and TradeCard reminds you about two months before it runs out, and again nearer the date. TradeCard is letting people in from its waitlist a few at a time; you join it from the free payslip check.
How much does it cost to renew?
CSCS sets the fee and can change it, so we don't print a figure here. Check the current fee on the CSCS website before you apply.
What does TradeCard keep about my card?
The card type, its expiry date and its number. The number is encrypted before it's saved, like every ticket number in the wallet.
Can TradeCard check my card with CSCS?
Not yet: that's coming soon. Until then the wallet shows your card as you entered it, never as checked.
Where these facts come from
This is a check against published rules, not legal or tax advice. If you're in a dispute, ACAS, a union or an adviser can act for you.