What is the CPCS Red Card?
The CPCS Red Trained Operator Card is for those who are at the beginning of their career in plant operations. It enables an individual to work in their chosen field under supervision while they complete the relevant Vocational Qualification (VQ).
The CPCS Trained Operator Red Card categories are only valid for two years after the CPCS Theory and Practical Test have been successfully achieved.
Within the two-year period you must complete a VQ to upgrade your card to a CPCS Blue Competent Operator Card.
How do I get a CPCS Red Card
The CPCS practical test needs to be taken within 6 months of passing your CPCS Theory Test.
After you have completed all three stages, we will be able to apply for your CPCS Red Trained Operator card.
Expired CPCS Red Card
The CPCS offers a 12-month grace period after your CPCS Red Card expiry date. During this time, you will be eligible for a one year extension to your current red card. To apply for this extension, you will need to provide evidence of your VQ registration document in the categories that you wish to extend.
Please be aware that if you do not apply for a red card extension, your CPCS red card category will not be valid on site.
If your red card has expired for more than two years, you can re-enter the scheme by completing steps one-three.
What is the CPCS Blue Card?
The Blue Competent Operator Card shows employers that you are competent to operate a particular type of plant. That you have skills to do the job, the health, safety and environmental training needed to do it safely, and real-world experience with a particular type of plant.
Blue Competent Operator cardholders will have demonstrated their ability to work unsupervised, and may, in fact be called upon to supervise Red Trained Operator cardholders on the worksite.
The CPCS Blue Card is valid for five years and is renewable.
The CPCS Blue Card is valid for five years, within three months of your expiry, you will be required to renew your card to demonstrate that you still meet the required health, safety and competency requirements in order to undertake your role.
Here are the steps you need to take to renew a Blue CPCS Card (please note, the CPCS Blue Card Renewal process changed in August 2024):
A Blue Competent Operator Card will be issued for five years from the last expiry date.
Please note that Industry Accreditation is being withdrawn. CPCS will phase out Blue Competent Operator cards gained through Industry Accreditation from 1 January 2020, and any cards issued through transitional/renewal routes will be completely removed by 31 December 2024.
For example, obtaining your CPCS Competent Operator card after transferring from another card scheme such as the CTA Scheme.
Renewing all categories on a blue card even though some were only added recently.
As a blue card only has one expiration date, any categories that are added will have the same expiry date therefore when renewing, the candidate will need to renew all categories at the same time.
Where an NVQ has been achieved within the previous two years for a category on your expiring blue card, the renewal test, logbook hours nor on-site assessment needs to be undertaken. However, evidence of the NVQ certificate must be provided.
We offer over 54 courses that will provide with the required training to work towards achieving your CPCS Red Card.
Find a course you are interested in, then let know some basic information.
We will offer you available dates and locations based on the information you provide us with.
Once you have booked your course, we will send through your course details.
Registered in England and Wales. Company No. 13167098
For general enquiries, information on courses and venues, or date requests please get in touch and a member of the team will get back to you.
