Not every roofer needs the same CSCS card.
The card you need depends on the roofing work you actually do. A roof tiler, roof slater, flat roofer and somebody working in roof sheeting and cladding can all need different qualifications.
That matters because your CSCS card needs to match your occupation. Choosing the wrong qualification can mean spending time and money on something that does not fit the job you do.
So, what CSCS card does a roofer need?
Here’s how the main roofing routes work.
CSCS Card for Roofers: Which Card Matches Your Roofing Job?
For many experienced roofers, the route is either the Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card or the Gold CSCS Skilled Worker Card.
But the qualification behind that card depends on your trade.
CSCS currently lists these occupations separately, which is why choosing the qualification that matches your actual work is important.
Blue CSCS Card for Roof Tilers: What Roofing NVQ Level 2 Do You Need?
If you work mainly as a roof tiler, the usual skilled-worker route is the Blue CSCS Skilled Worker Card.
One accepted qualification is the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations – Roof Tiler.
This is a workplace-based qualification. It is for people who already carry out suitable roof tiling work and can demonstrate their skills on real jobs.
You are not expected to leave work and go back to college. Your assessment can use the roofing work you are already doing.
Once you have achieved the correct qualification, you will also need to meet the current CSCS requirements, including passing the appropriate CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. For roof tiling occupations, CSCS currently lists the Specialist Work at Height test.
Train 4 Growth offers the Level 2 NVQ in Roofing Occupations for experienced roofers who need recognised proof of their competence.
Which NVQ Do Roof Slaters Need for a Blue CSCS Card?
If you work mainly as a roof slater, the usual route to the Blue Skilled Worker Card is the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Roofing Occupations – with the Roof Slater pathway.
If your job includes both slating and tiling, there is also a combined Roof Slater and Tiler route.
The right pathway depends on the work you actually do.
If you regularly slate and tile roofs, your NVQ should cover both. If you mainly work in one area, you could choose a more specific module on the NVQ.
Train 4 Growth can look at your role before you enrol and help you choose the right pathway.
Gold CSCS Card for Roofers: When Do You Need a Roofing NVQ Level 3?
A Roofing NVQ Level 3 does not automatically mean you can get a Gold CSCS card.
The qualification and CSCS card need to match the roofing job you actually do.
The Gold CSCS Skilled Worker Card is available for certain skilled occupations where the worker holds an appropriate Level 3 construction qualification.
For example, experienced roof slaters can use the Level 3 NVQ in Roofing Occupations with the Roof Slater route to apply for the Gold CSCS Skilled Worker Card.
The Level 3 Roofing Occupations NVQ also has routes for roof tilers and people who do both slating and tiling. But completing one of these routes does not automatically mean you can get a Gold CSCS card.
If getting a particular CSCS card is your goal, check the CSCS Card Finder for your exact job before you enrol.
The Level 3 Roofing NVQ is aimed at experienced roofers carrying out more advanced work. It is not a roofing course for beginners.
So, if you are already working at an advanced level and want a qualification that matches the work you do, the Level 3 NVQ in Roofing Occupations may be the right route.
CSCS Card for Flat Roofers: What Qualification Do You Need?
“Flat roofer” covers several different types of work.
That means there isn’t one qualification called the flat roofer CSCS card route.
If you install single-ply roofing, liquid waterproofing systems or reinforced bitumen/built-up felt roofing, the relevant route can be the Level 2 NVQ in Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems.
CSCS currently lists:
- Built-Up Felt Roofing – Reinforced Bitumen Membrane Roofing
- Single Ply Roofing – Single Ply Membrane Roofing
- Liquid Waterproofing Operative – Liquid Applied Membrane Roofing Systems
as Blue Skilled Worker occupations using the relevant Level 2 Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems qualification.
Train 4 Growth offers a Level 2 NVQ in Waterproof Membrane Roofing Systems with pathways for reinforced bitumen, single-ply and liquid membrane work.
So if your day-to-day work is flat roofing rather than slating or tiling, make sure you choose the qualification that matches the system you actually install.
Roof Sheeting and Cladding: Which NVQ Do You Need for a CSCS Card?
This is an easy one to get wrong.
You might think of yourself as a roofer because you spend your working day installing systems on roofs.
But Roof Sheeting and Cladding sits under the Cladding Occupations qualification route, rather than the standard Roofing Occupations NVQ.
If you are applying for a Blue Skilled Worker Card, the relevant qualification for Roof Sheeting and Cladding is the Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Cladding Occupations (Construction) with the Roof Sheeting and Cladding pathway.
If you are applying for a Gold Skilled Worker Card, the relevant qualification is the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Cladding Occupations (Construction), again choosing the Roof Sheeting and Cladding pathway.
For either card, you will also need to pass the CITB Specialist Work at Height Health, Safety and Environment test. The test must have been passed within the two years before you apply.
Bottom line – don’t enrol on a roofing NVQ just because there’s a roof involved. You need to make sure the qualification is matched to your specific job.
Experienced Worker CSCS Card for Roofers Working Towards Their NVQ
Already been roofing for years but never got the qualification?
You do not need to start from scratch.
If you already have experience on the job, you may be able to apply for the Red Experienced Worker CSCS Card.
To qualify, you must be registered for an approved construction NVQ or SVQ at Level 2 or above. The qualification must match the work you do.
CSCS says the Red Experienced Worker CSCS Card is for experienced workers who have had at least one year of on-the-job experience within the last three years.
The card lasts for one year and cannot be renewed. During that time, you are expected to complete your qualification and then apply for the appropriate skilled CSCS card.
You will also need to have passed the correct CITB Health, Safety and Environment test for your occupation within the last two years.
The important thing to understand is that an NVQ assesses your competence in the work you already do.
With Train 4 Growth, roofing NVQs are assessed through your work on site. You can use evidence from your day-to-day work to show that you meet the required standard, rather than going back to college to learn the trade from scratch.
So, if you already have the roofing skills but not the qualification, an NVQ can give you recognised proof of your competence.
Which CITB Test Do You Need for a Roofing CSCS Card?
In addition to choosing the right roofing NVQ for your role, you will also need to pass the correct CITB Health, Safety and Environment test for your occupation in order to get your CSCS card.
For roof slating, roof tiling, waterproof membrane roofing, and roof sheeting and cladding, CSCS currently lists the Specialist Work at Height test.
Other roofing-related occupations may require a different CITB test, so do not assume that the same test applies to every roofer.
Your CITB test normally needs to have been passed within the last two years when you apply for your card.
If you are not sure which test you need, check your occupation using the official CSCS Card Finder before you book.
Unsure Which Roofing NVQ and CSCS Card You Need?
The right route depends on the roofing work you actually do, not just your job title.
If you’re unsure which qualification to choose, get in touch with Train 4 Growth. You can send us a message or give us a call on 0161 706 1401. We can look at the work you do and help you choose the right NVQ before you enrol. That way, you can be sure you’re working towards the qualification and CSCS card that properly match the job you do.
