Check Module Matcher before you renew to make sure you are booking the correct Renewal Test, and to download the revision factsheets.

If you do not check beforehand to book the correct test, your renewal may be delayed.

Check the Module Matcher and book your renewal test.

To renew your Blue Competent Operator Card, you need to:

• hold an existing and valid Blue Card for the category which is within five years of expiry date
• have passed the relevant Health, Safety and Environment test within the last two years
• have passed the CPCS renewal test for each category held*
• have demonstrated on-going practical operating experience through a choice of routes:
  • logbook
  • passing an on-site assessment
  • passing the CPCS practical test
  • achieved a SVQ or NVQ in plant operations
• complete F1/3 Application to Renew CPCS Competent Operator Card (PDF, 780KB) form
• mail it to the address on the reverse of the application form
  • there is no need to attach payment as the cost of processing the application is included in the CPCS renewal test fee.

Once you have met all the requirements for renewal, a Blue Competent Operator Card will be issued for the next five years. Full details on how to renew your card can be found in the Scheme Booklet for Operators (PDF, 1MB).

* for more information on which Renewal tests to take and how to book them visit the Module Matcher, the online system built specifically for the renewal of the CPCS Blue Competent Operator cards.

Watch the video below to learn how to renew your Blue card using a Logbook

The CPCS Management Committee have agreed a new criteria for expired Competent Card holders:

• If a Blue Competent Operator Card is more than five years past the expiry date, a cardholder who wants to renew it will have to:
  • pass CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test
  • pass the CPCS Theory Test for each category held
  • pass the CPCS Practical Test for each category held
  • hold the relevant SVQ or NVQ; if the person does not have a SVQ or NVQ, then a Red Trained Operator Card will be issued instead.

For further information and advice, contact our CPCS Helpline on 0844 815 7274 or email Shared.Services@citb.co.uk

The Slinger/Signaller category now incorporates the following five endorsements:

• Endorsement A:  All Types - All Duties
• Endorsement B:  All Types - Static Duties
• Endorsement C:  Knuckle boom static only
• Endorsement D:  Excavator only
• Endorsement E:  Lift Truck only

The construction industry asked CPCS to recognise the safety-critical skills and knowledge of pick-and-carry activities separately on a Card. This was because slingers/signallers were at risk of being struck, trapped or crushed while working close to moving machinery.

CPCS consulted with the construction and lifting sectors, and accommodated the types of lifting equipment listed above into the Slinger/Signaller category.

To upgrade you need to:

• hold a CPCS Red Trained Operator Card for the category which is within 12 months of expiry date
• have passed the relevant CITB health, safety and environment test within the last two years
• have achieved a SVQ or NVQ, with the appropriate units relevant to the category.

Once you have these, call the CPCS Helpline on 0844 815 7274, confirm your details and make a payment of £25. This is a non-refundable fee for the services of processing the application. You will be asked to supply a copy of the certificate gained

A Blue Competent Operator Card will be issued for five years. Full details on How to Upgrade a Red card are available to view in the Scheme Booklet for Operators (PDF, 1.37MB).

Adding more categories

To add new categories to your Red Trained Operator Card, you need to:

1. pass the relevant CITB health, safety and environment test
2. achieve the CPCS theory test (within two years of the CITB health, safety and environment test)
3. achieve the CPCS practical test (within six months of the CPCS theory test and within two years of the CITB health, safety and environment test).

Adding more endorsements

To add more endorsements to existing categories on your Red Trained Operator card, you need to:

1. pass the relevant CITB health, safety and environment test
2. achieve the CPCS practical test (within two years of the CITB health, safety and environment test).

On achievement of the CPCS practical test, the CPCS test centre will request the CPCS trained operator card on your behalf.

You are not required to pass the theory test to add a further endorsement regardless of when the original card was issued.

You can follow one of two routes, depending on when your card expired.

1. For a 12-month SVQ or NVQ extension, you must:
   • hold a CPCS Red Trained Operator card which is still active and valid, or within 12 months from expiry
   • be registered for a SVQ or NVQ relevant to the category.

   Once these elements have been achieved:

   • call the CPCS Helpline on 0844 815 7274
   • confirm your details and make a payment of £25; this is a non-refundable fee for the services of processing the application
   • you will be asked to provide proof of SVQ/NVQ registration by email or post.

   A new card will be issued for a 12-month period (from date of application) to enable the SVQ/NVQ to be achieved.

   Once the VQ has been achieved, you will be able to apply to upgrade to a Blue Competent Operator card

2. For an Additional 2 year card, you must:
   • hold a trained operator card that has expired by more than 12 months
   • hold a valid CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test
   • achieve the CPCS theory test (within two years of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test)
   • achieve the CPCS practical test (within six months of the CPCS theory test and within two years of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test)
   • both CPCS theory and practical tests are delivered by an accredited CPCS test centre
   • be registered for the SVQ or NVQ.

   Once all these elements have been achieved, the CPCS test centre will request the CPCS Additional 2 year Red Trained Operator card on your behalf.

If you have a Red Trained Operator Card that expired over 12 months ago, you will need to apply to re-enter the scheme.

To re-enter the scheme, you need to:

• re-take both the CPCS Theory and Practical tests (for the relevant plant categories)
• have passed the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test within the last two years
• have registered for the relevant SVQ or NVQ for that plant category(s).

The process for replacing an expired Red card is the same as getting a new Red Trained Operator card.

A new Red card will be issued for two years to cover the card-holder getting their SVQ or NVQ. At the end of that two years, a Red card-holder is expected to submit an application to upgrade to a Blue Competent Operator Card.

Exceptional circumstances

If there are exceptional circumstances why a Red card-holder let their card lapse or didn't upgrade to a Blue card before it expired, the card holder can submit an appeal.

See the CPCS scheme booklet for operators (PDF, 1MB) for details of the appeals process.

To renew your Full Tester card, you need to:

• hold a CPCS Full Tester Card which is within 12 months of the expiry date
• hold a valid and current First Aid certificate
• hold a current Managing and Co-ordinating Plant course certificate
• have passed the managers and professionals (MAP) version of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test
• have completed and passed the current CPCS Tester CPD course
• complete the F3/3 Application to Renew a Full CPCS Tester Card (PDF, 2MB) form
• send the completed form together with:
  • copies of required certificates and payment of non-refundable fee of £25 to process your renewal.

Once your renewal application and payment has been processed, a new black Full Tester Card will be issued for five years. 

Download the Scheme Booklet for Testers (PDF, 808KB) for detailed instructions on how to renew your Tester card.

To upgrade from a Provisional Tester card to a black Full Tester card, you must:

• hold a CPCS Provisional Tester card which is within 12 months of the expiry date
• hold a current Managing and Co-ordinating Plant certificate
• hold a valid and current First Aid certificate
• pass the managers and professionals (MAP) version of the Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test
• achieve the appropriate role-based competence qualification
• fill in the F3/2 Application to Upgrade to a Full CPCS Tester Card form (PDF, 3MB)
• send your completed form to the address indicated in the form, together with
  • copies of required certificates, and
  • a non-refundable fee of £25 to process your application.

Once your application and payment have been processed, a black Full Tester Card which is valid for five years will be issued. 

Download the Scheme Booklet for Testers (PDF, 890KB) for full details about the scheme and how to upgrade your card.

Adding new categories to your Full Tester card

In order to add more categories to your Full Tester card, you must:

• hold a valid and current Managing and Co-ordinating Plant certificate
• hold a valid and current First Aid certificate
• have passed the managers and professionals (MAP) version of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) test in the last two years
• have completed and fully (100% score) passed the CPCS advanced theory test in the last two years
• have completed and passed the CPCS advanced practical test no more than six months after passing the CPCS advanced theory test
• fill in the F3/1 application form for Testers. This form will be given by the CPCS Test Centre when you pass the advanced practical test:
  
  • the form must be signed by the CITB quality assurance officer who monitored the test
• attach a copy of relevant certificates to the application and send it to the address indicated in the form.

There is no need to pay for the cost of adding more categories as this is covered by the test fee.

Adding more category endorsements to your Full Tester card

The requirements to add more endorsements to your card is similar to adding new categories but with fewer requirements:

• hold a valid and current Managing and Co-ordinating Plant certificate
• hold a valid and current First Aid certificate
• have passed the managers and professionals (MAP) version of the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) test
• have completed and passed the CPCS advanced practical test no more than two years after passing the HS&E test
• fill in the F3/1 application form for Testers. This form will be given by the CPCS Test Centre when you pass the advanced practical test:
  • the form must be signed by the CITB quality assurance officer who monitored the test
• attach a copy of relevant certificates to the application and send it to the address indicated in the form.

You do not have to take the CPCS advanced theory test to add more endorsements regardless of when the original card was issued.