trouble getting a cscs card

[cmann1111]

Need some advice on getting a plumbers cscs card. im a self employed plumber with 4 years working experiance for a corgi registered company and 2 years at collage doing a city and guilds 6129 level 2 plumbing course and currently building a portfolio for my acs exams. On the cscs site it says IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE LEVEL 2 PLUMBING TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE (CITY & GUILDS 6129) AND ARE NOT CONTINUING YOUR STUDIES TO EITHER THE CITY & GUILDS 6089 or LEVEL 2/3 NVQ/SVQ, THE ONLY CARD YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR IS THE PLUMBING EMPLOYEE CARD

according to this im not eligible for the proper plumbers card even though i know what im doing, im good at what i do, ive got good references from employers and the public and i went to collage when i left school for two years for three days a week to build a portfolio and pass exams to get my certificate. just wondering if there was anyone else out there thats been in a similar position and what u did.

cheers

 

[obseen16]

i just got the basic card for labourers, no one has ever been bothered about it.

 

[cmann1111]

do u use that on site even though u do plumbing

 

[obseen16]

yes, to be honest most sites dont even check it, they usually just ask if i have a cscs card and they are happy with the answer "yes". and the sites that have checked it have never had a problem with it

 

[cmann1111]

did u have the same problem as me then with the qualification and getting the right card

 

[Coxey_99]

I've just applied for my cscs card (Blue) I've got NVQ level 2 can't get Gold because I'm not level 3. Its a joke really because I'm 37 but can't take level 3 because I can't do day release I know of no college near me (Chesterfield) that run a NVQ3 course in the evening. Adding to that you used to be able to attain accredation on your cscs card after 5 years in the trade this no longer happens only qualifications count which is a complete joke because I know lots of 21 - 22 year old plumbers that know nothing compared to me and they have a Gold card lol.

 

[fuzzy]

I've just applied for my cscs card (Blue) I've got NVQ level 2 can't get Gold because I'm not level 3. Its a joke really because I'm 37 but can't take level 3 because I can't do day release I know of no college near me (Chesterfield) that run a NVQ3 course in the evening. Adding to that you used to be able to attain accredation on your cscs card after 5 years in the trade this no longer happens only qualifications count which is a complete joke because I know lots of 21 - 22 year old plumbers that know nothing compared to me and they have a Gold card lol.

i know what your saying but look at it from their point of view. they dont know how good you are only what qualifications you have, they must set the line somewhere and their only way of judging competence is in the qualifications you hold,


also, to the thread starter-why do you need a port folio for your ACS? you should only need written evidence signed by a corgi reg installer and a letter stating its true, if your putting together a port folio why dont u get your level 3 aswell? u need your acs for you l3

 

[cmann1111]

Yeah sorry didnt mean portfolio just ment 10 job sheets describing different gas related jobs as evedence of compatance and a letter from corgi registered installer.

 

[Coxey_99]

I know what your saying fuzzy but to get accredation did you have to be with the same employer for 5 years in which case if you've kept your job or got a letter from your employer stating one's competence then surely time on the job is better than or at least the same has a NVQ3. I'm talking I've passed NVQ2 then 5 years with my employer surely results has been a skilled craftsman I get paid has one Craftsman with +1 RA.

 

[fuzzy]

I know what your saying fuzzy but to get accredation did you have to be with the same employer for 5 years in which case if you've kept your job or got a letter from your employer stating one's competence then surely time on the job is better than or at least the same has a NVQ3. I'm talking I've passed NVQ2 then 5 years with my employer surely results has been a skilled craftsman I get paid has one Craftsman with +1 RA.

im not sure what the exact criteria is for the card, i only have a visitors card as thats all i need. as i remeber dont you have to take a specific exam at a certain level and then send the results + the quals in?

i agree that time on the job carries alot of weight, its just that certificates are the measurement by which they judge