The CSCS Green card is the Labourer card. Most people who want it first sit the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) Operatives test, which has 50 questions in 45 minutes and a pass mark of 90%. This page sets out the verified test and card facts, works through sample questions, and links to free practice sets by topic, from working at height to welfare facilities.
Facts verified Oct 24, 2026 against CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (CITB HS&E test (Operatives)) | 50 questions | citb.co.uk |
| Time limit (CITB HS&E test (Operatives)) | 45 minutes | citb.co.uk |
| Passing score (CITB HS&E test (Operatives)) | 90% (45 of 50 correct) | citb.co.uk |
| Exam fee (CITB HS&E test (Operatives)) | £23.50 per test | citb.co.uk |
| Exam fee (CSCS Labourer card application) | £36 card application fee | CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment |
| Validity (CSCS Labourer card) | 2 years on first application | CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment |
| Renewal (CSCS Labourer card) | Renew for 5 years with evidence of a labouring role | CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment |
| Delivery (CITB HS&E test (Operatives)) | Pearson Professional Centres (also via Internet Test Centres) | citb.co.uk |
| Eligibility (CSCS Labourer card) | Pass the CITB HS&E test within the last 2 years (or an approved alternative) plus the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment (or a recognised alternative) | CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment |
Facts verified Oct 24, 2026 against CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
Interactive CSCS Green Card resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:
According to CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd), which issues the card; the required Health, Safety and Environment, “Each of the Heath, safety and environment tests last for 45 minutes and contain 50 questions.”[1] Practice with the free CSCS Green Card practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (7 questions with answer explanations).
CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme Ltd) issues the card. It shows that a worker has the health and safety knowledge expected on a UK construction site. The Labourer card, often called the Green card, is the usual starting card for site operatives.
What you need to apply. CSCS says you must pass the appropriate level of the CITB HS&E test within the last 2 years, or an approved alternative. You also need the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or a recognised alternative. Have the CITB test ID number from the top of your pass certificate ready when you apply.
The test. The Operatives test has 50 questions and lasts 45 minutes. The pass mark is 90%, so you need at least 45 correct answers out of 50. The test costs £23.50. You take it at a Pearson Professional Centre or an Internet Test Centre, and CITB offers reasonable adjustments at Pearson centres.
The card. The card application fee is £36. A Labourer card is valid for 2 years on first application. After that, only workers who are still labourers can renew it for 5 years, and they must show evidence that they are employed in a labouring role.
We have not verified retake rules, booking lead times or the exact list of approved alternatives. These can change, so check them on the CITB and CSCS websites before you book.
Prepare for the CSCS - Construction Skills Certification Scheme Green Card exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What are the requirements for segregating construction waste on site?
Answer: B. Construction waste should be segregated into separate containers for different waste streams (wood, metal, plasterboard, plastics, inert waste, hazardous waste) to maximise recycling and comply with the waste hierarchy requirements of the Waste Regulations 2011
Explanation:
B is correct. The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 require sites to apply the waste hierarchy, and separating waste on site is the most practical way to do that. When wood, metal, plasterboard, plastics, inert and hazardous waste go into separate containers, more of it can be recycled and less goes to landfill.
Rule to remember: separate waste by type at the point it is produced.
Question: Under CDM 2015, who is responsible for ensuring that a site induction is carried out for all workers?
Answer: C. The principal contractor
Explanation:
C is correct. Under CDM 2015, the principal contractor must make sure every worker gets a suitable site induction. That includes employees and subcontractors. The induction covers site-specific hazards, site rules and emergency procedures.
Rule to remember: whoever controls the construction phase, which is the principal contractor, controls the induction. If a question asks who organises on-site safety arrangements day to day, the principal contractor is usually the answer.
Question: What is the primary purpose of installing trench boxes during excavation work on a construction site?
Answer: B. To prevent the collapse of trench sides and protect operatives working within the excavation
Explanation:
B is correct. A trench box, also called a trench shield, is a structural support placed inside an excavation. It holds back the sides so they cannot collapse onto the people working in the trench. Any excavation where there is a risk of collapse needs adequate support.
Rule to remember: never enter an unsupported trench where the sides could fall in. Support first, then enter.
Begin with the free CSCS mock test on working at height to get a baseline, with no notes and a timer running. Write down every topic you got wrong.
Then work through the topic sets that match your weak areas: PPE, first aid, asbestos awareness, COSHH, electrical safety, excavation safety, fire safety, manual handling, noise and vibration, environmental awareness, general site safety and welfare facilities. For every wrong answer, read the explanation and say the rule to yourself in plain words.
Use the official CITB revision material as your main reference. Our questions are practice, not the real test. When an explanation and the official material disagree, go with the official material.
Shortly before test day, take mixed sets under timed conditions. The real test gives you 45 minutes for 50 questions and needs 90%, so you can get very few wrong. Aim to score well above the pass mark in practice before you book. Keep your CITB test ID safe, because you will need it for the £36 card application.
The CITB HS&E Operatives test has 50 questions and lasts 45 minutes. The pass mark is 90%, which means at least 45 correct answers out of 50. This is the test most people take for the CSCS Green Labourer card. The pass mark is high, so aim to score well above it in practice before you book.
There are two separate fees. The CITB HS&E test costs £23.50, and the CSCS card application costs £36. CSCS says all its cards cost £36 except the Apprentice card, which is free. Training for the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment may cost extra. Check with your training provider.
A Labourer card is valid for 2 years on first application. After that, you can renew it for 5 years, but only if you are still working as a labourer and can show evidence that you are employed in a labouring role. If you have moved into a different role, check the CSCS website for the right card.
You need a pass in the appropriate level of the CITB HS&E test within the last 2 years, or an approved alternative. You also need the Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, or a recognised alternative. Have the CITB test ID number from the top of your pass certificate ready when you apply.
You take the HS&E test at a Pearson Professional Centre, or at an Internet Test Centre. CITB offers a range of reasonable adjustments for candidates at Pearson Professional Centres. If you need one, ask CITB before you book. Check the CITB website for current booking details and test centre locations.
No. We wrote the practice questions on this page, using AI tools, to cover the same safety topics the HS&E test covers. They are not taken from the real test. Use them to find your weak areas and practise working under time pressure, and use the official CITB material as your main study source.