CCDO Card

The CCDO card, or the Certificate of Competence for Demolition Operatives card, is a compliance-based programme established by the CSCS. It is specifically targeted at workers operating in the demolition industry. The programme is designed to promote quality standards within the trade, and ensure workers are performing in line with relevant health & safety legislation. The CCDO card scheme is endorsed by the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG). The NDTG are an organisation dedicated to improving the skills of demolition workers. They look to achieve this objective via the provision of learning materials and resources, and the facilitation of a range of demolition-focused training courses.

What is the CSCS?

The CSCS, or Construction Skills Certification Scheme, is an essential part of the construction industry. Its primary function is to identify a worker’s level of capability, experience, and seniority, and often a worker’s specific occupation or trade. It does this by issuing various coloured cards, each aligned to a particular set of qualifying criteria. These include the completion of certain training modules and qualifications, and also the expectation that an appropriate CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test has been successfully passed.

Therefore, you’ll be able to apply for a relevant card, whose application requirements are reflective of your skill-set and on-site role. For example, those in ownership of a blue CSCS card, are recognised as fully-qualified, skilled workers in their chosen field or discipline. Conversely, if you possess one of the five different types of red cards available, this will serve to demonstrate that you’re currently undertaking some form of training activity.

Why are CSCS cards so important?

The CSCS programme holds critical importance for several reasons. For one, given that the CSCS is an industry-recognised, highly-respected organisation, employers can feel reassured that a workers’ credentials are valid, and are exactly as advertised on their CSCS card.

Furthermore, it allows on-site leadership team to efficiently and accurately allocate tasks to workers operating in construction environments. If a highly-technical activity, which requires substantial training and experience to deliver, is tasked to a new, inexperienced worker, the resultant consequences could be dire. Indeed, this may not only lead to a poorly executed job, but could also endanger the lives of colleagues, clients, and the worker themselves. However, if that individual holds a red CSCS card, and therefore is known to currently be ‘in training’, than any risk of tasking with them inappropriate work is averted.

Therefore, the CSCS card protects workforces and employers, simply by highlighting the skills and limitations of a labour force.

A consistent approach

The CSCS lends its organisational framework to the CCDO programme. Therefore, CCDO cards are also categorised by occupation and experience level. Various colours are used to easily distinguish each individual CCDO card scheme. Many of these colours mirror the ones used to identify different types of workers in the CSCS programme. This is also true of CSCS cards that are aligned to specific trades, with disciplines such as plumbing, carpentry, and bricklaying all having their own independent schemes.

The CITB Test

As previously mentioned, in order to acquire any CSCS or CCDO card, you must pass a relevant CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test. In all cases, this must have been completed within the two years prior to the date of your card application. This same rule applies when renewing your card towards the end of its validation period.

Clearly, as its title suggests, this is a health and safety-based module. However, the assessment is very specific to the conditions of construction and building sites. There are three different ‘tiers’ of this test, each with a varying degree of difficulty.

The CCDO: Key considerations

This article specifically focuses on the CCDO card programme. It provides information on the different types of CCDO card available, each card’s qualifying criteria, and guidance on how you may progress forward through each of its accompanying schemes.

As already mentioned, there are numerous CCDO cards available. These are clearly reserved for workers at different stages of their demolition-based careers. Although the programme has many similar characteristics to the CSCS card scheme, there is one major, key difference. This is based on the role of red, temporary training cards.

The contrasting use of red cards

The CSCS uses red cards at the very start of the learning journey. After this stage, red cards completely disappear, and are replaced with higher grade cards, such as the blue and gold varieties discussed earlier. CSCS red cards are not renewable. Therefore, once your card exceeds the expiry date, you’ll never be able to possess this card again. This is because the validation period is designed to afford enough time for you to complete the qualifications required to move onto a ‘higher’ grade of card. Therefore, once you’ve done this, there is no need to revert back to the status of trainee.

Although CCDO red cards are also non-renewable and discarded after they’ve fulfilled their use, different versions of these cards are re-deployed later on to support onward career progression. Indeed, each time you look to develop a new set of skills, or target your next job role, you’ll move to an appropriate red card scheme whilst you learn the ropes. This is hugely different to the CSCS card programme, as the ‘red’ scheme is ditched after you’ve taken up your first official position, usually as a labourer or skilled worker. There are five red CSCS card types in comparison to the four associated with the CCDO scheme. Therefore, when starting out, the CSCS programme does provide more options for students and entry-point workers.

The benefit of the ‘red’ CCDO card scheme

However, in relation to red cards, it’s arguable that the CCDO programme holds a key advantage over its CSCS equivalent programme.

Ultimately, the CCDO red card initiative affords workers more time, space and patience when learning new skills. If you’re training to be a manager, and perhaps never experienced a leadership position in the past, a red card advertises to peers that you’re perhaps finding your feet with a new way of working. Conversely, if the same scenario was applied to someone affiliated with the CSCS card scheme (who would therefore not hold a red ‘training’ card), they may not receive the same level of patience and support. This is because, although it may be clear that they’re not currently a manager due to the colour of the card they hold, it will not be automatically obvious that they’re training to take this step up. Therefore, someone may appear uncomfortable or generally lacking confidence, when actually this is just a product of their current circumstances as a trainee.

Indeed, someone might have over a decade’s worth of industry experience, but could still look like a fish out of water when operating in a management role for the first time!

Available CCDO Cards

There are many different cards present within the CCDO scheme. There are two blue, two black, one green, one silver, one gold, and of course four red CCDO cards. As previously referenced, these coloured cards aligned to various occupations and capability levels.

The sections below provide commentary on these cards, offering insight into what skills and qualifications are required in order to become a member of each respective card scheme. As discussed, the type of work and qualification level associated with each, differently coloured CCDO card, is largely reflective of the characteristics belonging to the same-coloured card within the CSCS programme. For example, the black card, in both the CCDO and CSCS suite of cards, is used to identify managers and senior leaders, and requires a similarly advanced level of training and expertise.

Green Demolition Labourer Card

This is an entry-point card, and should be targeted by those with either no or extremely limited knowledge of the demolition industry. This is also suitable for those who haven’t previously worked on construction sites. Given their minimal experience, holders of green cards will be allocated only basic tasks and duties. Furthermore, these must be conducted in full view of a member of the on-site leadership team, whether that be a supervisor or manager.

As this will be the first card many prospective demolition workers will hold, the scheme’s qualifying criteria is relatively modest. As an applicant, you’ll be required to:

1. Pass the demolition labourers level 1 course (this is available via many private learning providers).
2. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG), the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), the Asbestos Control and Abatement Division (ACAD), or the Asbestos Testing & Consultancy Association (ARCA).
3. Pass the operative CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. This assessment must have been sat within the two years prior to your application date.

Other considerations

The card is valid for five years. It can be renewed at the end of this term. However, as this restricts workers to exclusively performing labouring activities, many move on to other, more challenging CCDO card schemes. These will demand that the holder can execute more developed technical skills. Within the demolition sector, many labourers target the position of Demolition and Refurbishment Operative as their next role, and therefore apply for the card relevant to this occupation.

If you do decide to renew this card, you’ll need to again ensure that you’ve completed your CITB operative assessment within the two years previous to your application. You’ll also need to have retained a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate.

Red Demolition and Refurbishment Operative Card

This card is used whilst individuals get to grips with the job remit of a demolition and refurbishment operative. As per all card schemes designed for training purposes, this card is coloured red.

Holders of this card will likely have had a significant level of experience as a labourer. They’ll be able to deliver work under the watchful eye of experienced colleagues, and therefore have slightly more autonomy than green card holders. Clearly, those in possession of this card will be working towards becoming a fully-qualified demolition and refurbishment operative. Therefore, their training will directly focus on the skills and knowledge required to successfully operate in this position.

To be accepted onto the scheme, you’ll need to be able to evidence that you have:

1. Previously held a green demolition labourer card.
2. Had two years-experience working in a demolition-related role.
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Pass the specialist CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

As this card is seen as a stop-gap measure until you become a fully-fledged demolition and refurbishment operative, it is not renewable. The card has a validation period of three years, which is deemed sufficient enough time to develop the competencies and level of understanding required for this role.

Blue Demolition and Refurbishment Operative Card

Once you’ve successfully completed your demolition and refurbishment operative training, you’ll be well-placed to apply for this card. As per all blue cards, this scheme denotes that you’re a skilled worker within your chosen discipline. Therefore, you’ll be able to confidently and compliantly deliver all tasks associated with this job role.

To qualify for this card, you’ll need to have either:

1. Previously completed a relevant apprenticeship programme linked to the demolition industry

Or, alternatively, hit all of the qualifying criteria referenced below:

1. Hold the red demolition and refurbishment operative card
2. Completed a relevant, level 2 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) linked to the demolition industry
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Pass the ‘specialist’ CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

As this card proves your ongoing capability in your position as a demolition and refurbishment operative, membership to this scheme is renewable. However, please note that to be eligible for renewal, you must have completed the demolition & refurbishment operative course (available via various learning providers).

You must also still hold a valid asbestos certificate, and have completed the relevant CIBT test within the last two years.

Red Demolition Topman Card

Workers on this scheme will be focused on developing the required skills needed to become a Demolition Topman. Individuals in this occupation are empowered to run small teams of workers, and lead parts of demolition works projects. Therefore, as this role requires individuals to organise and mobilise colleagues in order to carry out specific tasks, this position is more senior than that of the demolition & refurbishment operative.

To be able to obtain this card, you must either:

1. Hold the blue demolition and refurbishment operative card.

Or, alternatively, have hit all of the qualifying criteria referenced below:

1. Had five years-experience operating in a demolition-related role.
2. Completed a relevant level 3 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) linked to the demolition industry.
3. Passed the one-day Topman course (available through multiple private course facilitators).
4. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
5. Pass the ‘specialist’ CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

Again, as this is ultimately a card scheme designed for training purposes, the red Topman card is not renewable. The CCDO has determined that three years is long enough to become proficient in this discipline.

Blue Demolition Topman Card

This card is proof that you’ve completed all of the required qualifications, and gained a suitable level of experience in order to become a fully-qualified topman.

To successfully apply, you must:

1. Hold the red demolition topman card
2. Have completed the level 3 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) Demolition Diploma: Topman. Please note that you must have earned this specific qualification in order to successfully apply for the blue topman card.
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Pass the ‘specialist’ CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

This card will expire after five years, but can be renewed after this point. This can be done providing you’ve taken the one-day topman course (which should have been navigated whilst in possession of a red demolition topman card).

You must also still hold a valid asbestos certificate, and have completed the relevant CIBT test within the last two years.

Red Demolition Chargehand

The chargehand role is a step up from the position of topman. Chargehands are accountable for allocating tasks to topman teams, who then lead works through groups of demolition operatives and labourers. Therefore, a chargehand operates in a basic, supervisory capacity. However, this position should not be confused with the official, ‘supervisor’ role. Indeed, many chargehands will report directly to those operating as fully-fledged supervisors.

In order to successfully apply for a red chargehand card, you must have:

1. Hold the blue demolition topman card.
2. Passed the two-day CCDO chargehand course (again, available through numerous private learning providers).
3. Had five years-experience in a demolition-related role.
4. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
5. Pass the ‘specialist’ CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

This card scheme expires after three years, by which point it is expected you’ll be in a position to apply for a silver demolition chargehand card. As per all temporary cards used during training, the red demolition chargehand card is not renewable.

Silver Demolition Chargehand Card

Once completing the training attached to the red demolition card, you’ll be able to apply for the silver card. This is a scheme, therefore, earmarked for fully-qualified, demolition chargehands.

In order to apply for this card, you must either:

1. Hold the red demolition chargehand card.

Or, alternatively, have hit all of the qualifying criteria referenced below:

1. Had five years-experience in a demolition-related role.
2. Completed the level 3 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) Demolition (Construction) – Chargehand course. Again, this is the specific qualification you’ll need in order to advance your application.
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Pass the ‘specialist’ CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

This card is valid for five years, and is part of a renewable scheme. When re-applying, you’ll need to demonstrate that you’ve sat a relevant two-day chargehand course. Again, this training module is facilitated by multiple learning providers.

You must also still hold a valid asbestos certificate, and have completed the relevant CIBT test within the last two years.

Red Demolition Supervisor Card

This card is reserved for those with aspirations of becoming an on-site supervisor. Throughout the duration of owning this card, you’ll need to develop both technical and leadership skills. Supervisors are expected to effectively run demolition projects, ensuring workers are fully trained and suitably briefed to deliver allocated tasks. Therefore, supervisors take up positions which carry a high degree of accountability.

In order to qualify for this card, you must:

1. Hold the silver demolition chargehand card
2. Have had five years of experience in a demolition-related role
3. Have completed the five-day supervisor course (available through various course facilitators).
4. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
5. Pass the Specialists CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Demolition’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

This card is valid for three years, by which point the CCDO expects you to be in a position to operate as a fully-fledged supervisor. This is a non-renewable card scheme.

Gold Demolition Supervisor

Once you’ve undertaken all of the relevant training during the red supervisor card scheme, you’ll then be able to apply for the gold card. This identifies workers who are able to assume the role of fully-qualified supervisor.

Gold card holders must:

1. Hold the red demolition supervisor card
2. Have completed a level 3 or 4 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) specifically relating to the Supervisor occupation within the demolition industry. Ultimately, this means passing either the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Demolition (Construction)- Supervisor, or the Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision- Demolition
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Pass the Specialists CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. You’ll only need to sit the ‘Supervision’ module of this exam. This assessment must have been passed within the two years prior to your application date.

This card is renewable, and valid for five years. In order to successfully renew your card, you’ll need to sit a one-day supervisor course refresher. This is a condensed version of the five-day supervisor course you will have navigated whilst in ownership of the red demolition supervisor card.

You must also still hold a valid asbestos certificate, and have completed the relevant CIBT test within the last two years.

Red Demolition Manager Card

If you’ve performed well in your role as a site supervisor, you may want to consider a future career in management. Site managers have ultimate accountability for everything that goes on within their workplace environment. Usually, they’ll lead a team of supervisors to execute the daily operation of the construction site. It is their job to ensure teams are aware of the business’ objectives, are clear on priorities, and work safely and compliantly at all times. Therefore, managers must be able to burden high amounts of pressure, and communicate effectively to all on-site workers.

To acquire this card, you must either:

1. Hold the gold demolition supervisor card

Or, alternatively, have hit all of the qualifying criteria referenced below:

1. Had five years-experience in a demolition-related role.
2. Completed the five-day demolition manager course
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Passed the Managers and Professionals CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. This assessment must have been sat within the two years prior to your application date.

This card expires after three years, by which stage it’s assumed that you will be in a position to apply for either the black manager or black contract’s manager card. As per all red cards, membership in this scheme is not renewable.

Black Demolition Manager Card

By the time you come round to applying for a black manager’s card, you’ll hopefully feel confident and ready to take on the accountability of running full-scale projects and building sites.

To demonstrate that you’re now capable enough to do this, you’ll need to:

1. Hold the red demolition manager’s card
2. Have completed a level 6 NVQ/SVQ (Scotland) Diploma in Construction Site Management- Demolition. If you’re aiming to acquire your black card, please ensure that this is the specific course you target.
3. Be in possession of a valid Asbestos Awareness Certificate. The organisation sponsoring this certification scheme must have been approved by the CCDO. This means your certificate must have been issued by either the NDTG, UKATA, ACAD, or ARCA.
4. Passed the ‘Managers and Professionals CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test. This assessment must have been sat within the two years prior to your application date.

The card is valid for five years, and renewable at the end of this period. However, in order to renew your card, you must have completed the one-day management refresher course. This is a shorter version of the compulsory five-day course associated with the red demolition manager card.

You must also still hold a valid asbestos certificate, and have completed the relevant CITB test within the last two years.

Black Demolition Contracts Manager Card

This is the highest grade of CCDO card available. However, please note that there is no separate red card training scheme in place prior to making your application for this scheme. This is because it’s believed the learnings accrued during ownership of the red demolition managers card are sufficient to progress towards a demolition contracts manager role.

A demolition contracts manager looks after the contractual element of projects, and therefore oversees business expenditure and budgeting. A key role of the contracts manager is to liaise directly with clients, and agree on the scope and nature of works. As this job demands strong leadership, relationship building, technical, and cost management skills, only the most capable and well-rounded candidates progress to this position.

To become a contracts manager card holder, you must address all of the requirements listed in the black manager card criteria, but also have attained a Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management.

The same validation period and renewal terms as the black manager card apply.

How much does a CCDO card cost?

CCDO cards can be acquired through private learning providers, or via the National Demolition Training Group. These course facilitators usually offer cards as part of a wider package of training or assessments, and therefore it’s difficult to offer an accurate figure of their card prices in isolation. The card cost itself will be fairly modest, but the associated learning modules do not come cheap.

The overall charge also varies by scheme, with the higher graded cards more expensive than those held by members of the general workforce. Indeed, to complete some of the role-specific NVQ/SVQ qualifications, you’re looking at a fairly significant cost. However, NVQ/SVQ charges are usually the biggest training outlay, and these tend to rise proportionality to their difficulty level. Therefore, the higher you progress, the more you’ll need to pay in training fees. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that this is ultimately a career investment. Hopefully, you should be able to reap the rewards of your studies further down the line.

If you’re an affiliated member of the National Demolition Training Group (NDTG) and training directly with this organisation, you’re likely to receive a discount. The NDTG regularly run promotional campaigns for its members, and this could help you make substantial saving. This applies to all training modules, inclusive of NVQ/SVQs.

Therefore, prior to commencing your training, it’s essential to assess whether you’re in a suitable financial position to fund your studies. However, if you’re unable to pay the full price of your tuition, you may be eligible for a government grant or bursary, which could be paid directly to you, or via an employer-sponsored scheme. To discover more about this, please visit the direct.gov website.

What does the application process entail?

As cards can be acquired through various learning providers, there are differing application processes in operation throughout the industry. Nevertheless, however you apply, you can expect to receive your card roughly thirty days after the date of your application. If your card hasn’t arrived within this timeframe, it’s worth prompting your card provider.

Remember, a CCDO card is an essential part of a demolition worker’s toolkit. Therefore, in the unfortunate event your card becomes lost, stolen, or damaged, please aim to source a replacement card as soon as possible. You should also make sure that you submit any renewal applications well in advance of your card’s expiry date. Again, in both cases, you should liaise directly with your initial card provider.

Summary

Hopefully, you’ll now feel that you have a better grasp of what the CCDO card scheme is all about.

Remember, before applying for a specific type of card, it’s vitally important to understand its qualifying criteria, and whether it suits the future occupation you’re targeting. If you’re unsure about which card to apply for, we would encourage you to speak to a course tutor, or a trusted industry professional. Alternatively, you may want to visit the CSCS website, which is equipped with plenty of information about CCDO cards.

A key advantage of the CCDO programme is the role of red cards, which create space for you to develop new skills at your own pace. They also serve to increase the level of patience and support offered by peers. If you’re looking to progress into more senior positions, it’s essential that you use this time wisely, and don’t try to rush through your learning journey too quickly. Each training module is in place for a reason, and it’s highly preferential to gain some substantial experience in each job role, before progressing to the next.

Please also ensure you consider the full financial implications of your required training. If your ambitions are relatively modest, then you shouldn’t expect a major outlay. However, if you’re hopeful of reaching a managerial level, you must be prepared to face some pretty considerable course charges. Nevertheless, as mentioned, this should be viewed through the lens of your future career. Furthermore, you may be able to avoid either some or all of these costs via government-funded financial support.

Lastly, we wish you all the best in your application for a CCDO card, and hope it acts as the first step toward a successful career in the demolition industry.