CSCS / ECS Card drudgery

OldskoolUpNorth · Jul 15, 2012

Morning all,

Another bit of brain picking for the day!

I've had a good look around the forums but can't find the answer to this one, although it's probably been asked a thousand times.

Registering for NVQ 3 tomorrow, before it goes up to 6 grand for the new course!

Whats the script with CSCS cards?

CSCS site says as long as your registered on an NVQ you can get the 'Trainee' card.

ECS say they want at least 2330 pt1 and sponsorship from an employer before you can get their 'level 1 Trainee' card.

Is this right or am I missing something.

Why the massive difference in criteria or will CSCS actually want the same?

Any help greatfully accepted as always.

Cheers ears!

Johnuk · Jul 15, 2012

yes i believe you can its all the same thing,

just ring up jib to check which bits you need to fill in on the app they send you, p,s you may need to fill in the whole app as you have been out of the game

skyesparky · Jul 15, 2012

that was my thinking, nvq, svq......same thing! once ive done the 17th and got the paperwork ill give jib a phone and enquire.

cheers

MNR · Jul 15, 2012

I went and got it on the day in Sidcup, was in there an hour tops. The sites I work on if your asked for it and can't produce it there and then it's a straight go home.

Forgot it one day starting a new site where I knew the site agent had worked on many of his sites but in the induction he had to put the number off it in his book made me go home even tho he had already seen it 10-15 times.

skyesparky · Jul 15, 2012

sounds like the guy was a right jobsworth MNR. Every job i see has "must have sjib/cscs card" . Every agency i speak to demand it aswell, they must have tightened up on it since i left the trade as was never once asked for it pre 2007!

MNR · Jul 15, 2012

skyesparky said:
sounds like the guy was a right jobsworth MNR. Every job i see has "must have sjib/cscs card" . Every agency i speak to demand it aswell, they must have tightened up on it since i left the trade as was never once asked for it pre 2007!

Normally alright let's us park on site while the plumbers have a half mile walk to find a parking space lol. Think it had something to do with me getting inducted with a group of 10 dry liners none with cscs and could only speak 5 words of English between them.

OldskoolUpNorth · Jul 15, 2012

Johnuk said:
you can still get a esc card as electrical labourer, and most sites are getting health and safety mad, ps most site will not go for the i left it at home story, and they will just tell you to go away
you may need to look in to getting a apprentership if you are under 25 saves you paying for it,
best thing to do is just pop down you collage to get a guide, i do not really trust all these get qual in 6 weeks course all they make you is a domestic installer lol

Had a look round the ECS site but can't find a labourers card.
Apprenticeship, over 25 as well so that routes out the window...

My only option is to fund my own time at college and put in the time on site now.

I started out down the domestic installer route and to be honest they should be banned... in hind sight!
They could leave a lot of so called domestic sparks clueless but still able to work.

Going down the NVQ route now cos I really don't agree with the 'Quick' courses anymore and agree that it's de-skilling and pretty much cheating those that have spent years to qualify properly.

Should've done the NVQ straight off. You live and learn tho.

dorian0505 · Jul 18, 2012

I posted this question yesterday and although I had some help with it I still feel no better off regarding what to do.
My situation:
I have my NVQ2, C&G 2330 Level 2 + 3, currently unemployed with some experience on rewires. I recently spoke with an employer and he asked if i had a cscs card... I told him no, then he said to get one along with an 'ipass' (i think thats what he said)..... What i'm unsure on is - Should i get a labourers cscs card or do i need a ecs card? Because when i text this guy about it he said just get a labourers card for now.... I've rang ECS + CSCS and seem to get different advice off both of them. I am really frustrated and if someone could shed some light that would be fantastic. Ideally I just want to apply for a sparkys mate job and being allowed on to a construction site.
Cheers