The Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) provides cards for the plant sector of the construction and allied industries.
CPCS stands for the Construction Plant Competence Scheme- a card scheme designed to prove the skills of plant operatives.
CPCS was launched in 2003 at the request of employers, to help them comply with regulations and requirements, and aims to apply common standards for all plant operators.
It is the most widely recognised as the preferred card to comply with codes of practice for competence and certification. It is required to operate on most types of plant on UK Contractors Group (UKCG) sites throughout the UK.
CPCS Categories offered at All Plant Training
- A09 Forward Tipping Dumper – Wheeled and Tracked
- A12 Excavator 180° above 5 tonnes
- A16 Industrial Forklift Truck
- A17 Telescopic Handler – All sizes exc. 360 Slew
- A17E Telescopic Handler – Suspended load (non-rough terrain)
- A21 Wheeled Loading Shovel
- A22 Tracked Loading Shovel (Workplace Only)
- A23 Skid Steer Loader
- A25 Mobile Elevating Work Platform – Scissor
- A26 Mobile Elevating Work Platform – Boom -Self-Propelled and Vehicle-Mounted Boom
- A31 Ride on Roller
- A33 Agricultural Tractor
- A34 Crawler – Tractor/Dozer (Workplace Only)
- A36 Lorry Loader – Hook, Clamshell Bucket and Hydraulic Clamp
- A40A Slinger / Signaller – All Types – All Duties
- A40B Slinger / Signaller- All Types – Static Duties
- A40C Slinger/Signaller – Knuckle Boom – Static Duties Only
- A40D Slinger/Signaller – Excavator only
- A40E Slinger/Signaller – Lift Truck only
- A42 Crusher
- A43 Screener
- A56A Dump Truck – Articulated Chassis – Up to 15 tonnes
- A56B Dump Truck – Articulated Chassis – All Sizes
- A57A Dump Truck – Rigid Chassis – Up to 15 tonnes
- A57B Dump Truck – Rigid Chassis – Up to 50 tonnes
- A57C Dump Truck – Rigid Chassis – All sizes (wheeled)
- A57D Dump Truck – Rigid Chassis – Tracked
- A58A Excavator 360° below 10 tonnes – Tracked
- A58B Excavator 360° below 10 tonnes – Wheeled
- A58c Excavator 360º below 10 tonnes – Lifting Operations
- A59A Excavator 360° above 10 tonnes – Tracked
- A59B Excavator 360° above 10 tonnes – Wheeled
- A59C Excavator 360º above 10 tonnes – Lifting Operations
- A61 Appointed Person – Lifting Operations
- A62 Crane/Lifting Operations Supervisor
- A73 Plant and Vehicle Marshaller
- A95 Slinger/Signaller
- A97C Excavator 360º below 10 tonnes – Lifting Operations
- A98C Excavator 360º above 10 tonnes – Lifting Operations
Who owns CPCS?
CPCS is owned by NOCN Job Cards (part of NOCN Group), and prior to this the Construction Industry Training Board (otherwise known as CITB).
NOCN Job Cards allocates staff to manage and administer it on behalf of the CPCS Management Committee that develops its policy and strategy.
The Management Committee is made up of representatives of the industry that use the plant and equipment covered by the Scheme, including the following organisations:
- Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
- Armed Forces (HM Forces)
- Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA)
- Construction Plant-Hire Association (CPA)
- CITB Northern Ireland
- Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Home Builders Federation (HBF)
- Lantra Awards
- Mineral Products Qualifications Council (MPQC)
- National Federation of Demolition Contractors (NFDC)
- Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA)
- Build UK
- Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians (UCATT)
- Unite the Union
Aims and benefits of CPCS
CPCS aims to:
- provide identification for plant operators and those involved with plant operations by recognising skills, knowledge, understanding, competence, and qualifications.
- raise health, safety, and environment standards through a programme of Health, safety, and environment testing to prove workers have met minimum standards.
- provide standards of learning and assessment to equip individuals with relevant skills and knowledge to seek employment within the industry.
- provide or improve employment prospects for individuals and experienced operators.
- keep a record of workers in the construction and allied industries who have achieved a recognised level of operating ability and competence, to provide a means of identification.
- be self-financing; with any surplus funds being used for the benefit of the construction industry.
- encourage construction and allied employers to use certificated and competent plant operators.
- provide certification for UK workers that could be accepted in Europe through agreements with other European national schemes to mutually recognise qualifications.
Core elements of the scheme
The Scheme is made up of a number of core elements, which are used to demonstrate the skills, competence, and qualifications that determine eligibility for Scheme membership.
- Training – through a variety of channels.
- Health, safety, and environment – health, safety, and environment awareness.
- CPCS Theory Test – underpinning knowledge and understanding.
- CPCS Practical Test – operating ability.
- SVQ and NVQ – operating competence vocational qualification.
- Logbook – ongoing operating ability.
- On-Site Assessment – ongoing operating ability.
- CPCS Renewal Test – up-to-date knowledge and understanding.
Useful Information
- Trained Operator Card
- Competent Operator Card
- CPCS Renewal Test
- CPCS Logbook
- CPCS Approved Company Validator
- CITB Grants
- CPCS Scheme Booklet for Operators
- CPCS ‘Blue Card’ Holders – Grandfather Rights Withdrawal
