What Is the CITB HS&E Test?
The CITB Health, Safety and Environment test is the exam almost every UK construction worker sits before getting a CSCS card. Most people call it “the CSCS test” — here is what it actually is, who runs it, and how it fits with the card.
Test, card, and who does what
CITB
Sets and owns the Health, Safety and Environment test, and publishes the official revision materials (GT100 and GT200).
Pearson VUE
Delivers the test at Pearson Professional Centres and Internet Test Centres, and handles bookings.
CSCS
Issues the card once you have both the test pass and the qualification your occupation requires.
The three versions of the test
Operatives
The standard version for site workers — labourers and most skilled trades. Covers five core knowledge areas plus behavioural case studies.
Specialist
The Operatives core knowledge plus one of 12 specialist topics, from Supervisory and Demolition to the HVACR trades.
Managers & Professionals (MAP)
For Manager and professional cards. Five sections covering legal and management, occupational health, general safety, high-risk activities and environment. Broadened in June 2023.
All three share the same format: 50 questions in 45 minutes, pass mark 45/50 (90%), fee £23.50.
Why the test exists
Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries in the UK. The HS&E test sets a minimum standard of health, safety and environmental awareness before anyone goes on site — that you can spot a hazard, know your legal duties, and know what to do when something goes wrong. For employers, a workforce that has passed it is evidence of that baseline competence.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the CITB HS&E test the same as the CSCS test?
- In everyday use, yes. People say 'CSCS test' but the exam is officially the CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test. CITB sets and administers it; CSCS issues the card you can apply for once you have passed.
- Who runs the CSCS test?
- CITB (the Construction Industry Training Board) owns the test, and it is delivered by Pearson VUE at Pearson Professional Centres and Internet Test Centres across the UK.
- Do I need the test to get a CSCS card?
- For almost every card, yes — a valid HS&E test pass is required alongside the relevant qualification. Which version you sit depends on the card you are applying for.
- How long is my test pass valid?
- It varies by card. Several cards require a pass within the last two years at the point of application, and the Labourer card's initial renewal treats the pass as valid for three years. Check your card's requirements before you apply.
The rest of what you need to know about the test
Four questions come up more than any others once people understand what the HS&E test is. Each has its own page.
The same exam is also searched for under the CITB name, and we run it in that form too: the free CITB mock test is the same 50 questions with the naming explained. When you are ready to sit it, the practical detail is split across what the CSCS test costs, where the test centres are and what to expect on test day. If you already know your trade needs a specialist version, compare the 12 specialist tests instead.
Ready to practise? Take the free 50-question mock test under real exam conditions, or work through the 21 topic question banks.
Verified against citb.co.uk and cscs.uk.com, July 2026.