Government has requested that many construction projects and essential maintenance works continue during the COVID19 situation. The current climate is unprecedented, and changes will continue to be fast moving. CPCS will do our upmost to continue to support industry whilst complying with government guidelines.

Whilst Government continues to support construction projects, NOCN Group/CPCS will remain open to support test centres and the industry during these difficult times.

Any centres that are open for business from 18th May must following the new guidance:

Centres must risk assess all activities and ensure that they can follow the government’s Guidance, Working Safely During COVID-19. This applies to any activity that is undertaken at any test centre (or off centre testing), and if you cannot meet government guidelines, you must not continue.

All machine controls and access points where people touch must be wiped down using disinfectant. Where dexterity is not affected gloves may also be worn. Please ensure that this activity is also risk assessed, so that no persons are put at risk. Please view the guidance here. 

Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CPCS EQA team may request that practical tests to be video recorded. EQA’s will select the practical test to be video recorded and give the test centre at least 24 hours’ notice.

Our Quality Assurance team will continue to support centres and monitor notifications and activities, Quality Assurance staff may also contact centres to ask them to provide Risk Assessments, Audio Recordings and Video Recordings (in accordance with scheme rules).
We realise that some centres will find these measures difficult to follow. However, as the leading card scheme for construction plant industry we have liaised with industry and asked them what they would like from the services the CPCS offer. Having taken their advice, we will continue to support all stakeholders as far is as reasonably practicable, providing government guidance can be met.

Any test centres who require further clarification on video requirements or any other support during COVID-19 please use the following contacts

For sectors 1 to 6 + 12 & 13
Due to COVID-19 we are currently operating limited resources, if you need to speak with a member of the quality assurance team please contact: Andy Rankin on 07920 806565 or Andrew.Rankin@nocn.org.uk

For sectors 7 – 11
Due to COVID-19 we are currently operating limited resources, if you need to speak with a member of the quality assurance team please contact: Billy White on 07494 680743 or billy.white@nocn.org.uk

Theory Test Validation Period

The current rule is that a theory test lasts up to 6 months, however we understand that, due to the COVID19 situation, this may affect candidates and potentially disadvantage them. Therefore we will relax this rule in some instances, please contact the sector EQA team for guidance. We will keep the Test Centre management System Open.

Please continue to notify in the normal way, any deviations from existing rules must be approved by the sector Quality Assurance team.

Test Centre Management System “notifications without valid HS&E tests”

During this period we will allow tests to be notified in the system for individuals who have an out of date HS&E test (2 years), and you will be able to issue them a 90 day letter of achievement. CPCS will not issue a card until the HS&E test is complete. Please see the Emergency card above for an alternative.

For individuals who have never held a HS&E test, notifications will be held on the system but cannot progress and these individuals will not be allowed an Achievement Letter or an Emergency Card. We will review how quickly CITB and Pearson Vue can react after these events and what we can do to better support the sector.

Refunds

CPCS will not be issuing refunds for cancelled tests, however, we have previously communicated that the tests can be rescheduled free of charge, and we urge all centres to apply this policy to their candidates. We would urge Centres to not retain any fees they have taken from candidates who cancel their tests, but instead reschedule to a later time. Due to the way that our systems are set, the centre will still be invoiced for the test from the original notification date, however, you will not be charged again at the later date.

Card Printing

CPCS continue to work with our printers to get as many cards out as we can, our printers have assured us that for now they have sufficient measures in place and will continue to print cards. As you will appreciate, there may be delays in this process at some point, which may slow down card production and delivery. If card verification is needed, then please ask people to use card checker which is updated within an hour of card processing and so will continue even if card production slows. For further information about CPCS please see https://cpcs.nocn.org.uk / Or contact NOCN Group’s CPCS team on 0300 999 1177 (Option 2), or email: enquiries@jobcards.org

Pearson VUE Test Centres

Pearson VUE test centres are currently closed due to COVID-19 however, they will be open and taking bookings for England only from the 18th May. For the latest information please check: https://home.pearsonvue.com/coronavirus-update

If you have been rescheduled a test or cannot make a test for any reason you have the following options.

1. Reschedule the test(s) for a new date/location
2. Cancel the test and receive a full refund in 10 days. (on the card you paid with)
3. If the test was booked via the voucher system, then as soon as the booking is cancelled the voucher will become live again and can be used at a later date.

Please also note that the Pearson VUE 72-hour cancellation policy has been removed and tests can be cancelled at any time prior to the test taking place.

Unfortunately, NOCN/CPCS cannot cancel any Pearson Vue test for individuals, this must be done by the person who made the initial booking Please call Pearson VUE 0344 499 1900.


Pearson VUE Internet Test Centres ITC’s

From the 18th May 2020 all ITC’s in England can open and begin to deliver the CITB HS&E Tests and the CPCS Renewal Tests, providing that they are following the appropriate guidance given by the government. CITB are imminently writing to all ITC’s to give them appropriate guidance.

CPCS Centre Named Contacts

Named contacts continue to work from home and support our network of CPCS Test Centres.  

COVID-19 Emergency Cards

Some of the UK contactors have asked CPCS to produce an Emergency Card for those who can’t undertake HS&E test due to testing centres being closed. Therefore, we have launched an Emergency COVID-19 CPCS Card for individuals who want it, but this is entirely optional.
Please see our website for updates and details. https://cpcs.nocn.org.uk/

Progress on Card Production

The CPCS team have been working very hard to resolve any issues that we have had with systems and card production. The backlog is reduced, and we have very limited numbers of cards that remain in the system to be printed. Those that are remaining are mainly due to where data does not match, and HS&E tests cannot be found.
We are confident that you will see vast improvements in the service we are able to offer our customers moving forwards.

Other News

CPCS have removed the two previous roles, “Product Manager” and “Technical Head of Construction” and have recruited to fill a new role “Head of Construction Job Cards”

Carl Hassell has been appointed as “Head of Construction Job Cards”