WESTERN
PLANT TRAINING

Your CPCS Blue Card is valid for 5 years. You will need to renew your card before it expires.

 

To renew your Blue Card you will need to:

 

• Have passed a Health and Safety Touch Screen test (within the last 2 years).

• Complete the online CPCS Renewal CPD e-Learning Course.

• You will need to record 300 hours for each category of plant in your CPCS log book.

• Complete the Application to Renew a Competent Operator Card - this can be found on the NOCN website here

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The earliest you can apply to renew your card is up to months before the expiry date of the card.

 

Alternatively, if you haven't recorded enough hours in the logbook or can't get them signed off, you can do an onsite assessment to renew, obviously this will cost more.

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CPCS Competence Interview

 

For candidates who gained their blue card on the old "Grandfather Rights" system and didn't complete an NVQ, you will also need to complete the CPCS Competence Interview. Please click here for more info on the competence interview.

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Should your blue card expire - please see the options below you will need to take.

 

If your Blue card is expired for less than 5 years:

• You will need and in-date health & safety test.

• Complete the online CPCS Renewal CPD e-Learning Course.

• You will need to have recorded 300 hours in your logbook which are signed off by an employer.

• You can then apply to renew your blue card.

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If your Blue card is expired for more than 5 years:

• You will need an in-date health & safety test

• You will need to retake the CPCS theory and practical test for each category required.

• Complete the online CPCS Renewal CPD e-Learning Course.

• Then you can apply to renew the CPCS blue card.

 

 

What does the CPCS Renewal CPD course involve?

 

Many operatives put off renewing their CPCS blue card because they are unsure of what they must do, when in theory it is much easier than you might think.

 

The CPCS Renewal CPD course includes five modules which cover all the categories of plant. For each module on the course, you will watch a series of videos and answer multiple choice questions on various topics. If you get a question wrong you will be shown the correct answer before moving on to the next section.

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You can take the course online using a smartphone, laptop or PC. 

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Each module should take 40 minutes to complete. You can pause the course at anytime and it will save your progress for you to come back to at a later date.

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Once you have completed the course it will be valid for two years. The earliest you can apply to renew your card is up to months before the expiry date of the card.

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Is there a test?

 

​No, there is no test. Although there are multiple choice questions, you will not fail if you get a question wrong.

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As of 22nd August 2024 there is no test to renew a blue card.

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How do I book the Renewal course?

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You can book online through the NOCN Hub.

To find out which modules you will need to sit please enter the categories you wish to renew into the renewal test tool. You will have the option to click through to book the renewal CPD course through the NOCN Hub. You will need to sign in to the NOCN Hub or create an account.

Alternatively you can call the CPCS Helpline on 0300 999 1177.

The test costs £28 when booked through NOCN. Third party companies will charge more.

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Alternatively, we can book the renewal course for you for a small fee.

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If you have any questions on what to do next, please get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.

 

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