CSCS reminding industry on CRO card

The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is reminding industry that the Construction Related Occupation (CRO) card has been withdrawn.

CSCS stopped issuing CRO cards on 31st March 2017. All 85,000 CRO cards issued since October 2015 will expire on 30th September 2017.

CSCS Head of Communications Alan O’Neile said: “The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) announced (via the Industrial Strategy: Construction 2025) that skills certification card schemes carrying the CSCS logo must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, i.e. NVQs or approved equivalents.

“The CRO card was issued without the requirement to demonstrate the applicant has achieved an appropriate qualification and as such does not meet the requirements of the CLC.”

The removal of the CRO card impacts over 230,000 CRO card holders, 85,000 of which will expire at the end of September 2017. What CRO card holders must do next depends on the qualifications they hold and whether their occupation is categorised as construction related.

In many cases CRO card holders will be required to register for existing or newly developed qualifications before their CRO cards expire. In others CRO card holders will be transferred to one of CSCS’s Partner Card Schemes that are more appropriate for their occupations. For some, where their occupation is not construction related or no suitable qualification exists, a CSCS card will no longer be issued and it will be the responsibility of site supervisors and managers to ensure these workers are properly supervised and managed.

CSCS Chief Executive Graham Wren added: “Together with our key industry stakeholders we have been preparing for the withdrawal of the CRO card since 2015. This development is fully in line with the industry’s desire to ensure a fully qualified workforce. A lot of work has taken place to ensure CRO card holders know which qualifications are available and to make their transition to appropriate alternative arrangements as smooth as possible.”

If you are a CRO cardholder visit www.cscs.uk.com/cro to find out what steps you need to take.