Do You Need the HSA Course for a CSCS Green Card?
How the CITB HSA course fits the CSCS Green Labourer card: the accepted routes, the HS&E test you also need, and the steps in order.
Short answer: the CSCS Green Labourer card needs two things, and the 1-day CITB Health and Safety Awareness (HSA) course is the most common way to cover the first of them. The card itself is earned by combining an accepted qualification with a pass in the matching CITB test. No single course is the card.
The two things a green card needs
- An accepted qualification. CSCS accepts the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or an approved equivalent. The 1-day CITB HSA course is one of the accepted routes, and for most people it is the quickest.
- A pass in the Operatives CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. This is booked separately from the course. Our HS&E test guide covers what to expect and how to prepare.
Full detail on every card type is in our CSCS cards guide.
Why most people choose the HSA route
The HSA course runs as a single day, online or in a classroom, and is recognised across the UK construction industry as proof of basic site safety awareness. It is the entry point to the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme, the level below SSSTS for supervisors and SMSTS for site managers, so it also gives you a first step on that ladder. The day ends with a 25-question multiple-choice CITB exam.
What the HSA day involves
The course runs over a single day, typically 8am to 5pm, in a classroom or as a live online session. It covers health and safety law and your responsibilities, accident prevention and reporting, health hazards, working at height, personal protective equipment, manual handling, fire safety and the common hazards found on site. The day ends with a CITB multiple-choice exam of 25 questions with a pass mark of 80 percent, which means 20 correct answers. There are no entry requirements, because the course is built for people with no previous construction training.
HSA or SSSTS: which level do you actually need?
A common mix-up when applying for cards. HSA is the operative-level course, and the one that fits the Green Labourer card. SSSTS is the next step up, for first-line supervisors, and pairs with supervisor-level cards rather than the green card. If you are going on site to work rather than to supervise, HSA is the right level. Our CSCS cards guide maps every card to the qualification behind it.
The steps in order
- Book and complete the 1-day HSA course.
- Book and pass the Operatives CITB HS&E test.
- Apply to CSCS for the Green Labourer card with both in hand.
Do the course first: it covers the ground the test asks about, so sitting the test soon after the course is the easiest order.
How long does the whole route take?
Quicker than most people expect. The course is one day, online or in a classroom, with dates running every week. The Operatives HS&E test is booked separately at a test centre and takes 45 minutes, with slots usually available within days. Sit the test soon after the course while the material is fresh, then apply to CSCS with both in hand. Done in the right order, going from no ticket to a green card application inside a fortnight is realistic.
Common questions
Does the course fee include the HS&E test? No. The test is booked and paid for separately, so budget for both.
What if I fail the end-of-course exam? The exam is 25 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 20, sat at the end of a day that covers exactly what it asks. Most delegates pass first time; if not, you can resit rather than starting from scratch.
How long does the certificate last? Five years.
Can I do it all online? The course, yes: CITB approves live online delivery with the same exam and certificate. The HS&E test is sat at a test centre.
Cost and dates
Our HSA course cost guide shows live prices pulled straight from bookable dates.
Ready to start? See live dates and prices on the Health and Safety Awareness course page and book online in a couple of minutes.
