Many experienced construction workers have spent years developing the practical skills and knowledge needed to carry out their trade competently, but don't necessarily hold the formal qualification to demonstrate it.
As the industry places greater emphasis on evidencing occupational competence, achieving the relevant Level 3 NVQ and Gold CSCS Skilled Worker Card is becoming increasingly important.
Our role is to help experienced workers turn the competence they've already developed into a recognised qualification, with assessments built around the work they're already doing. With the right guidance and assessor support, the process can be much more straightforward than people might expect, with minimal disruption to their working day.
The Gold Skilled Worker CSCS Card is for experienced construction workers who have achieved an appropriate advanced skilled qualification in their occupation. It demonstrates that the cardholder has the recognised skills, knowledge and competence required to carry out their trade safely and effectively.
The Gold Skilled Worker Card is generally available to workers who have achieved a relevant NVQ or SVQ, an approved apprenticeship, or another recognised qualification route for their occupation. Applicants must also meet the relevant health and safety requirements for the card.
To apply for a Gold Skilled Worker Card, an employee must hold an appropriate recognised qualification for their occupation. This will normally be a relevant Level 3 NVQ or SVQ, although other recognised qualification and apprenticeship routes may also be accepted.
Applicants must also pass the appropriate CITB Health, Safety and Environment test within the required timeframe. The exact requirements can vary depending on the employee's occupation, so it is important to identify the correct qualification and card route before starting the process.
There isn't one single Level 3 NVQ that applies to every Gold Skilled Worker Card. The qualification required depends on the employee's occupation and the type of skilled work they carry out.
For example, a bricklayer, carpenter, plasterer or another skilled construction worker will need to achieve the appropriate Level 3 NVQ/SVQ for their specific occupation. Workforce Skills Support can help employers identify the correct qualification route based on an employee's current role, responsibilities, existing qualifications and experience.
Choosing the right qualification is important because the NVQ needs to be relevant to the occupation for which the employee is applying for their Gold Skilled Worker Card.
There are many construction occupations and qualification pathways, so rather than listing every possible route here, below are some of NVQs we most commonly support construction employers with:
|
Occupation
|
Example NVQ route
|
|---|---|
|
Carpentry and Joinery
|
Site Carpentry - Level 3 |
|
Timber Frame Erector
|
Timber Frame Errection - Level 3 |
|
Roof Sheeting and Cladding
|
Cladding Occupations - Level 3 |
|
Floorcovering
|
Florcovering Occupations - Level 3 |
| Heritage Roof Slating and Tiling | Heritage Skills - Roof Slating and Tiling - Level 3 |
| Insulation and Building Treatments Operative | Room in Roof - Level 3 |
| External Wall Insulation Operative | External Wall Insulation Boarder and Finisher - Level 3 |
| Banker Masonry | Stone Masonary - Level 3 |
| Solid Plastering | Solid Plastering - Level 3 |
Not sure which NVQ applies? Job titles alone don't always identify the correct qualification.
We can review the work an employee actually carries out, their existing qualifications and current card to identify the most appropriate NVQ and card progression route.
Yes. Experienced construction workers do not necessarily need to attend college or complete a traditional classroom-based course to achieve an NVQ. NVQs are competence-based qualifications, meaning an employee's existing skills and experience can be assessed in the workplace.
Rather than taking employees away from site for lengthy periods, the assessment process can involve gathering evidence from their normal work, completing observations and taking part in professional discussions where required.
This can make the NVQ route particularly suitable for experienced workers who have been carrying out their trade for several years but have not yet achieved the formal qualification needed for their Gold Skilled Worker Card.
Yes. An employee's existing skills, knowledge and experience are central to the NVQ assessment process. The purpose of the assessment is to demonstrate that the candidate is competent against the requirements of the qualification, rather than simply testing what they can remember in a classroom or examination.
Evidence can be gathered from the employee's normal work and may include workplace observations, photographs, documents, job records and professional discussions, depending on the qualification.
Workforce Skills Support can work with employers and employees to identify the most appropriate Level 3 NVQ and guide candidates through the assessment process, helping them use their existing experience to work towards the qualification and Gold Skilled Worker Card.
CITB provides grants for a range of approved construction qualifications, including eligible Level 3 NVQs. The amount of funding available depends on the qualification and the current CITB grant arrangements.
Employers who are registered with CITB may be able to claim funding towards eligible training and qualifications, helping to reduce the cost of developing and formally qualifying their workforce.
Workforce Skills Support can help employers understand the available funding, identify an appropriate qualification and support employees through the NVQ process. As CITB funding arrangements can change, employers should check the current eligibility requirements before starting a qualification.
