- Smart Check verifies all 2.3 million cards displaying the CSCS logo.
- It is available on CSCSSmartCheck.co.uk, as a mobile app and as an API.
- A result confirms the card is genuine, in date and held by someone with training appropriate to the role.
- Visual inspection cannot detect fake, revoked or fraudulently obtained cards.
Three ways to check
| Method | Who uses it |
|---|---|
| CSCSSmartCheck.co.uk | Anyone checking a card at a desk or site gate |
| Mobile app (Google Play and App Store), scanning the card's QR code | Site managers and supervisors |
| API | Employers whose site access or induction system checks cards automatically |
The two-minute check at the gate
- Ask for the card, and ask to see photo ID for the person holding it.
- Scan the QR code with the app, or enter the details on the website.
- Read the result: is the card genuine, is it in date, and does the training suit the job the person is about to do?
- Match the photo and name on the result to the person.
- If it fails, do not admit the person on that card. Record what you found.
Why checking the card by eye is not enough
CSCS's own guidance says a visual inspection will not detect cards that are fake, have been revoked, or were fraudulently obtained. A fake card can look right. A genuine card can be revoked after it was issued, for example when the test behind it is found to have been fraudulent. Only a check against the register shows the current status.
Whose job is it?
CSCS says the Building Safety Act makes contractors responsible for ensuring all on-site personnel are appropriately trained and qualified for their roles, which is why it describes regular card verification as essential. Checking once at induction is better than nothing, but it does not catch a card revoked later.
Electrician cards
The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme, run by JIB, has its own checker at ecscard.org.uk/check and an ECS Check app. The ECS says the free CSCS Smart Check app also verifies cards across 38 partner schemes. See fake ECS and JIB cards.
If a card fails
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Card not found or not genuine | Refuse access and use the reporting section on the CSCS fraud pages |
| Card revoked | Refuse access; the cardholder should contact CSCS |
| Card genuine but the role does not match the training | Do not assign the work until the right card is shown; see CSCS card types |
| Card passes but you suspect the test was rigged | Report it; see test centre fraud |
Who to contact
| Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| CSCS | CSCS Cards Limited, 71 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4AY |
| Apply for or renew a card | The My CSCS app or the CSCS Online portal at cscsonline.uk.com |
| ECS fraud | feedback@ecscard.org.uk |
The background to why cards are fraudulent is in fake CSCS cards.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a CSCS card is real?
Use CSCS Smart Check on CSCSSmartCheck.co.uk, the mobile app, or the API.
Can I tell a fake CSCS card by looking at it?
No. CSCS says visual inspection will not detect cards that are fake, revoked or fraudulently obtained.
How many cards can Smart Check verify?
CSCS says it verifies all 2.3 million cards that display the CSCS logo.
What does a Smart Check result show?
CSCS says it confirms whether a card is genuine, current and held by someone with appropriate training and qualifications for the role.
Can I check an ECS card with Smart Check?
Yes. The ECS says the free CSCS Smart Check app verifies cards across 38 partner schemes, and ECS cards can also be checked on ecscard.org.uk/check.
Does CSCS require a test for a card?
Yes. CSCS says applicants must pass the appropriate CITB health, safety and environment test.