Posted By Lukasz Do you know how long are valid now CSCS certificates and cards? Thanks

Posted By MS The touch screen h&s test certificate is valid for 2 years, the trainee card is valid for 3 years and the trained or competent card is valid for 5 years. regards

Posted By alex mccreadie The card is valid for 5 years but there is always a sting. If you add another category i.e.Loading Shovel after 2 years you must sit another Touch Screen Test. What Money Spinner? Alex

Posted By toby liberson CSCS was never intended to replace a site specific induction

Posted By David S Burt I do not believe it’s the NVQ side that needs sorting out it is actually the refusal of the CPCS Management Committee to accept the S/NVQ as demonstration of competence. When I asked the following question (in writing) Why it is that a person who has completed an appropriate S/NVQ level 2 qualification with appropriate endorsements in Plant Operations and has demonstrated through an auditable documented trail that they have completed over 300 operating hours, is still required to undertake and pass a separate CPCS Operator Test? The following was supplied by them as the answer `CPCS has its own quality assurance systems and monitoring processes including training and testing programmes for its Instructors. CPCS recognises a wide range of S/NVQ qualifications from a number of different Awarding Bodies carrying out its own quality checks to ensure that anybody obtaining a CPCS card has met the same agreed standards required by employer organisations such as CPA.’ SCN I believe you are quite right in saying that the CPCS scheme is just an excuse to relieve employers of money. I did raise several other questions in the e-mail that I sent to CPCS but I would probably find myself in breach of the site rules if I posted them and the responses on this forum. Please feel free to contact me directly if you would like a copy of the questions I posed and the responses. Like SCN I also believe that the overall idea of the scheme is correct but the way it is currently being managed offers little or no benefit to either employers or employees. The current scheme, which could be interpreted as restrictive practice under EU Law would appear to be extremely lucrative for CPCS Approved Training providers. If there are any CPCS training providers willing to comment either in this open forum or directly with me please feel free.