More than 150,000 individuals carry the card and it is required to be able to operate most categories of plant on MCG (Major Contractors Group) and NCF (National Contractors Federation) sites. Put simply, it is the main standard for plant operators.

Who is it for?
The CPCS scheme helps plant operators prove their skills to employers.
It is required in order to be able to operate plant equipment on a number of sites. For example, the MCG (Major Contractors Group) and NCF (National Contractors Federation) insist that workers carry the CPCS card to be able to operate most categories of plant on their sites. Many other employers are following suit and demanding that their operators also carry appropriate cards to prove their skills.

It was created primarily for the construction industry, but is also used by many other sectors to maintain standards.

To gain a CPCS Card (Construction Plant Certification Scheme) there are two stages of qualification.

Requirements for Stage One:
Attend a plant-training course, for each piece of plant they wish to qualify on.
Pass an assessment
Pass the Plant CITB Health and Safety Test.

At the end of Stage One they will hold a Temporary Trained Plant Operator, Red Card. This is valid for 3 years and must be upgraded to a Blue or Green Card within this time. The red card is NOT RENEWABLE.

Requirements for Stage Two:
Hold the Red Card to at least 6 months.
Complete the Plant Operations NVQ, or relevant units if there is no full NVQ.
Log a minimum of 300 operating hours for each category, signed off by your employer.*
Have passed the Plant CITB Health and Safety Test within the last two years.

* If you are unable to record the 300 hours, you will be able to take a site assessment in its place.

At the end of Stage Two they will hold a Competent Operator Card. This will be Blue if they hold the SPMO NVQ. It will be Green if there was not a full NVQ for the plant categories they require. Both these cards are renewable after five years.