CRO Cards: Are You Up-to-Date?

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is the leading skills certification scheme within the UK construction industry and provides proof that individuals working on construction sites meet the recognised standard. They ensure workers have the required qualifications and have passed the appropriate level CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test.

CRO cards will cease to be issued from 31st March 2017. CRO cards issued since 31st March 2015 will expire on 30th September 2017. Cards issued before October 2015 will remain valid until their expiry date.

CSCS Head of Communications Alan O’Neile said: “The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) announced (via the Industrial Strategy: Construction 2025) that skills certification card schemes carrying the CSCS logo must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, i.e. NVQs or approved equivalents.

“The CRO card is issued without the requirement to demonstrate the applicant has achieved an appropriate qualification and as such does not meet the requirements of the CLC.”

Speaking about the change in the CSCS Annual Review, Chairman Mick Clapham said: “This is good news for the industry as it provides a consistent means of recognising that an individual has achieved a recognised standard and holds the necessary qualifications for their occupation.”

What happens to current CRO holders?

The existing CRO card holders represent 364 occupations. Out of these, 228 will be transferred to existing or newly developed schemes within the CSCS. Another 77 occupations will move to one of the CSCS’s Partner Card Schemes that better match their job requirements. The remaining 59 are being removed from the scheme, where the occupation is not construction related or no suitable qualifications exist. In this case a CSCS card will no longer be issued.

To find out which category they fall into and what to do next, CRO cardholders can input their occupation into CSCS’s card finder and follow the steps on the screen.

SmartCard Audit Day

The CSCS are encouraging cardholders to bring their cards to work on the 8th February for the nation-wide SmartCard Audit. The initiative is led by Build UK and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA).

New smart-enabled technology makes it easier for employers to check the qualifications held on the card as well as tackling card fraud and managing training records. The cards contain a chip which stores information on the cardholder’s identity, qualifications and training. Site managers can read this information using a smartphone, tablet or PC allowing them instantly access to a cardholder’s information. Employers can apply for a card via CSCS online. 

Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol MBE said:

“The SmartCard Audit is a great chance for us to understand what steps we need to take to fully integrate smart technology into the industry’s daily practices. By emphasising the benefits of SmartCards and driving increased industry uptake, Build UK and its members can continue to lead positive change in the industry.”