CISRS OPERATIVE TRAINING SCHEME (COTS) 

The CISRS Operative Training Scheme (COTS) is a one-day introductory course designed for individuals new to scaffolding or those renewing their CISRS Labourer (Green) Card. It provides essential knowledge and safety awareness for working on or around scaffolding and access equipment.

✅ Course Content Includes:

• General responsibilities of operatives on-site
• Basic scaffolding terminology – understanding components and their applications
• Servicing and maintenance of scaffolding equipment (tubes, fittings, boards)
• Quality control of boards and stock
• Health, welfare, hygiene, and housekeeping on-site
• Electrical safety and fire prevention/control
• Noise and vibration awareness
• Working at height – safety practices and legal requirements
• Accident prevention and reporting
• Slips, trips, and falls – how to avoid common hazards
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – correct use and maintenance
• Transport safety – including loading and unloading of materials
• Manual handling techniques
• Lifting equipment using rope and wheel
• Assessment – includes a written test or practical exercises

🎓 Outcome:

Upon successful completion, participants receive a CISRS COTS Certificate, we will apply for the delegates CISRS Labourer Card.

📌 Entry Requirements:

• A valid CITB Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Test passed within the last 23 months
• A good understanding of spoken and written English

CISRS SCAFFOLDER COURSE – PART 1

The CISRS Part 1 Scaffolder Course is a 10-day training programme designed for individuals who have held a CISRS Trainee Scaffolder or Labourer card for 3 months. It provides the foundational skills and knowledge required to safely erect, alter, and dismantle basic scaffolding structures using tube and fitting scaffolds.

🧱 Course Content Includes:

• Erecting and dismantling scaffolds:
  • Independent scaffolds with returns
  • Putlog scaffolds
  • Towers and birdcage scaffolds
• Understanding and applying regulations:
  • Safe erection, inspection, and dismantling procedures
  • Compliance with TG20 and SG4 safety guidance
• Material handling and layout:
  • Estimating and organising materials
  • Use of gin wheels for hoisting and lowering
• Basic tie testing and scaffold stability
• Interpreting simple scaffold drawings
• Making scaffold alterations and adaptations

🧪 Assessment:

• Written test
• Practical assessment of scaffold erection and dismantling

🎓 Outcome:

• CISRS Part 1 Certificate
• Progression toward CISRS Part 2 and full Scaffolder status

📌 Entry Requirements:

• Held a CISRS Trainee or Labourer card for 3 months
• Minimum 3 months’ practical experience in scaffolding
• Valid CITB Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Test
• Good level of physical fitness and English language skills

CISRS SCAFFOLDER COURSE – PART 2

The CISRS Part 2 Scaffolder Course is a 10-day advanced training programme designed for scaffolders who have completed CISRS Part 1 and gained  six months of on-site experience since then. It builds on the foundational skills from Part 1 and prepares learners for more complex scaffolding structures and scenarios.

🧱 Course Content Includes:

• Erection, alteration, and dismantling of advanced scaffolding structures:
  • Truss-out scaffolds
  • Pavement gantries
  • Loading bays
  • Splay scaffolds
  • Protective fans
  • Roof scaffolds
  • Bridging with prefabricated beams
  • Roof edge protection
• Safe systems of work in line with:
  • TG20:21 (for tube and fitting scaffolds)
  • BS EN 12811-1 (performance standards)
  • SG4 (fall prevention and safety guidance)
• Tie testing and anchor setting
• Inspection and compliance with statutory regulations
• Team-based scaffold construction
• NVQ Level 2 portfolio introduction

🧪 Assessment:

• Written test (typically 50 questions)
• Practical skills assessment
• Mock test (optional, often provided mid-course)

🎓 Outcome:

• CISRS Part 2 Certificate
• Eligibility to complete the 1-day Skills Test on completion of NVQ and then eligibility to apply for the CISRS Scaffolder Card

📌 Entry Requirements:

• Completion of CISRS Part 1
• Minimum 6 months’ site experience since Part 1
• Valid CITB Health, Safety & Environment (HS&E) Test
• Physically fit and comfortable working at height
• Good understanding of spoken and written English

CISRS SCAFFOLDER CPD REFRESHER COURSE

The CISRS CPD (Continuing Professional Development) Course is a mandatory 2-day refresher course for scaffolders who need to renew their CISRS Scaffolder (Blue) Card or Advanced Scaffolder (Gold) Card. It ensures that scaffolders remain up to date with the latest industry standards, safety practices, and legislative changes.

🧱 Course Content Includes:

• General site health and safety
• Environmental awareness and good site practice
• Scaffold inspection techniques
• Mobile Access Tower Training for Scaffolders (MATS)
• Scaffold good practice and updates to TG20/SG4 guidance
• Practical tie testing
• Temporary works responsibilities
• Mental health awareness
• Scaffolding Health, Safety & Behavioural Test

🧪 Assessment:

• Multiple-choice written test
• Practical exercises to demonstrate competence
• Behavioural safety test (must be passed to renew your card)

🎓 Outcome:

• CISRS CPD endorsement added to your renewed Scaffolder or Advanced Scaffolder card

📌 Entry Requirements:

• Hold a valid or recently expired CISRS Scaffolder or Advanced Scaffolder card
• Good understanding of spoken and written English

CISRS ADVANCED SCAFFOLD COURSE

The CISRS 10-Day Advanced Scaffolder Course is designed for experienced scaffolders who already hold a CISRS Scaffolder (Blue) Card and have gained at least 12 months of practical site experience since completing their Part 2 training. This course prepares candidates to safely erect, alter, and dismantle complex scaffolding structures.

🧱 Course Content Includes:

• Advanced scaffold structures:
  • Cantilever drop scaffolds
  • Two-way and dead shore scaffolds
  • Staircases and ramps
  • Tubular drop scaffolds from steelwork
  • Temporary roof scaffolds
  • Bridging scaffolds
  • Protective fans and pavement gantries
• Technical and safety training:
  • Fall prevention and rescue (SG4)
  • Scaffold inspection (advanced level)
  • Risk assessments and method statements
  • Temporary works coordination (BS 5975)
  • Performance standards (BS EN 12811 and TG20)
  • Testing of scaffold ties (TG4)
  • Practical setting of anchors

🧪 Assessment:

• Written test
• Practical scaffold builds
• Ongoing observation and feedback

🎓 Outcome:

• CISRS Advanced Scaffolder Certificate
• Eligibility to progress to:
  • NVQ Level 3 in Accessing Operations and Rigging (Scaffolding)
  • CISRS 2-Day Advanced Skills Test following completion of NVQ Level 3
  • Application for the CISRS Advanced Scaffolder (Gold) Card

📌 Entry Requirements:

• Valid CISRS Scaffolder (Blue) Card
• Minimum 12 months’ site experience post-Part 2
• CITB Health, Safety & Environment Test (within 23 months)
• Physically fit and confident working at height
• Good understanding of spoken and written English

CISRS BASIC SCAFFOLD INSPECTION & ADVANCED SCAFFOLD INSPECTION

BSITS

The BSITS CISRS course—more formally known as the CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme (SITS)—is a 3-day course designed for individuals responsible for inspecting and checking basic scaffolds for safe use. It’s part of the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) and is often required for scaffold inspectors, site supervisors, and managers.

🔍 Course Overview

The course combines classroom theory, practical exercises, and computer-based training, culminating in both written and practical assessments.

📘 Course Content Includes:

• Scaffolding regulations and codes of practice
• Scaffolding terminology
• Components: tubes, boards, fittings, ladders, gin wheels, ropes
• Scaffold types:
  • Independent tied scaffold
  • Putlog scaffold
  • Birdcage scaffold
  • Static tower
  • Scaffolds with prefabricated beams
  • Roof edge protection, loading bays, pavement gantries
• Inspection procedures and report writing
• Health & Safety legislation: including the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Scaffold tagging systems
• Fault recognition and hazard identification

✅ Entry Requirements

You must have:

• A valid CISRS Scaffolder or Advanced Scaffolder card, or
• A CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection card (for renewals), or
• A CISRS Scaffolding Supervisor card

If you don’t hold one of these, you’ll need to submit a SITS CV with:

• Employer endorsement
• Contactable references
• Proof of at least 2 years’ scaffolding experience

ASITS

The CISRS Advanced Scaffold Inspection Training Scheme (ASITS) is a 2-day course designed for experienced scaffold inspectors, supervisors, and managers who are responsible for inspecting complex or designed scaffolding structures.

🧠 Course Objectives

The ASITS course builds on the Basic Scaffold Inspection course and focuses on:

• Understanding complex scaffold designs
• Interpreting design specifications and statutory regulations
• Identifying faults and hazards in advanced scaffolding structures
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety legislation

📘 Course Content Includes:

• Scaffolding terminology and regulations
• Work at Height Regulations 2005
• British, European, and NASC standards
• SG4 guidance – preventing falls in scaffolding operations
• Advanced scaffold types:
  • Bridging beams
  • Fan boards
  • Birdcage scaffolds
  • Loading towers
  • Mobile/static towers
• Scaffold tagging systems
• Inspection exercises and report writing
• Knowledge test and practical assessment

✅ Entry Requirements

To attend the ASITS course, you must meet at least one of the following:

• Hold a CISRS Basic Scaffold Inspection card for a minimum of 2 years
• Hold a CISRS Scaffolder card for at least 2 years
• Hold a CISRS Advanced Scaffolder card
• Have completed a retrospective Advanced Inspection course within the last 10 years

🎓 Outcome

Successful candidates receive the CISRS Advanced Scaffold Inspection certificate, and we will apply for your CISRS Advanced Scaffold Inspection card.

APPRENTICESHIPS

The CWIC scaffolding academy has partnered with CITB to provide the Scaffolding Apprenticeship Course.

This qualification enables you, the learner, to demonstrate and recognise your skills, knowledge and understanding so you can progress onto further training at level 3 or on successfully completion of the level 2 progress into a job role in the workplace.

This qualification enables you, the learner, to demonstrate and recognise your skills, knowledge and understanding so you can work as a Scaffolder within the construction industry.

Content of Apprenticeship

• Prevention of falls in scaffolding
• Health, safety and welfare in construction and
• associated industries
• Erect and dismantle roof scaffolds, prefabricated
• Aluminium tower scaffolds, static towers, cantilever
• Scaffolds, basic tower scaffolds, basic independent
• and putlog scaffolds and basic birdcage scaffolds.
• Knowledge of technical information, quantities and
• Communication with others
• Construction technology.
• Utilising provision of fall protection
• Systems/equipment.

You will also gain a level two NVQ Diploma in Accessing Operations and Rigging (Construction) – Scaffolding 600/8244/6.

Method of Assessment

• Portfolio for NVQ
• Practical assessments
• Examinations and on-line tests

You will be assessed against a set of performance and knowledge statements derived from National Occupational Standards for your vocational area. You will be instructed and assessed by an instructor who is vocationally competent and qualified and their task is to help you to complete your qualification.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements in order to follow this qualification. This qualification may be completed without any previous training or qualifications in this subject area. Candidates who do not hold a G grade or above in Mathematics and English (or equivalent) must complete Essential Skills in Application of Number and Communication.  You must feel comfortable working at heights.

Take a look at the CAP 606 booklet for a clear guide to the right course for you 

For detailed information on the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) training courses, the CISRS CAP 609 Booklet is the definitive guide. It outlines the full structure and scope of the CISRS training pathway, including:

• CISRS Scaffolding Labourer and Trainee Scaffolder Courses (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Scaffolder and Advanced Scaffolder qualifications
• System Scaffold Product Training Scheme (SSPTS)
• Basic Access System Erector (BASE)
• Scaffold Inspection Training (Basic and Advanced)
• Management and Supervisory Training
• Vocational qualifications, including Work-Based Evidence and the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA)
• Card application, renewal, and upgrade processes
• Health, Safety & Environment Test requirements
• Funding and grant aid information

The booklet is a valuable resource for learners, employers, and training providers, offering clear guidance on course content, progression routes, and certification requirements.

You can download the full CAP 609 General Information Booklet directly from the CISRS website (PDF)

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