CPCS Testing

The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) is a card scheme to prove the skills of plant operators, CPCS is the largest and most highly recognised card scheme for the plant industry. It helps to prove workers  operating skills and health and safety awareness, reinforced by each card holder passing the Health & Safety Test

The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) provides a single skills card for the plant sector of the Construction Industry.

Step 1 a practical test of ability and a theory test (which will incorporate relevant questions relating to underpinning knowledge of a specific category of plant or equipment, environment and Health and Safety related issues, also Operators rights and responsibilities. this will also be supported by a training syllabus, 

Step 2 the CPCS Technical Test the practical part undertaken within time limits, 

To follow up within 2 years the S/NVQ will only need to be achieved once for a same family of categories (each grouped into a unit of achievement), therefore if an individual has an NVQ in a 360 excavator below 10 tonnes, if they pass a further CPCS Technical Test on a 180 excavator below 5 tonnes they will automatically be awarded the blue Competence card, renewable by recording 300 working hours in the CPCS log book for each category of plant, or by the Technical Test which will become the alternative to the logging of 300 operating hours in the Operators logbook, the test which can be completed at the centre or the workplace in the form of an On-Site Assessment, The CPCS Theory Technical Test will need to be retaken to support all blue card renewals.

The lifespan of the red Trained Operator Card has been reduced to 2 years to encourage operators to complete their S/NVQ sooner rather than later, therefore making registration for the S/NVQ an option at the time of attaining the Red CPCS card, dependent upon the operators employer or companies funding arrangements.

How do we Work towards a 2 year Red Trained Operator card?

• An Operator will be required to:

• Pass the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test before any assessment or training begins (if not passed in the last 2 years)

• Carry out any training necessary to bring them up to the standard required to pass the Technical Test

• This training would be tailored to meet individual requirements and based on a CPCS training syllabus

• Pass CPCS Technical Test

The CPCS Technical Test what it involves.

• Pass the ConstructionSkills Health and Safety Test before any theory or practical test begins (if not passed in last 2 years).

• All CPCS Technical Theory & Practical Tests are taken on a one-to-one basis with the CPCS Tester, The Theory Test must be passed before undertaking the CPCS Practical Test, Conducted in a classroom by asking the Operator questions during a professional discussion which is recorded on equipment and stored for record purposes.

• Undertake the CPCS Technical Test.

• If the operator needs training to bring them to the standard required to pass the CPCS Technical Test then this would be underpinned by a CPCS training syllabus. This would allow a training programme to be tailored to meet their individual requirements. Have the relevant S/NVQ unit in the category of plant required. The age and experience entry restrictions, the Intermediate Certificate (ICT600) has been replaced with the CPCS Technical Test for all categories, which  includes knowledge health and safety questions and practical ability tasks, it is also the operators choice of awarding body for the NVQ.

Please call or email our representatives who will be able to advise on the most cost effective method of training your workforce.

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