Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision

Category

Supervision

CSCS Card

Gold (Supervisor)

Qualification Level

Level 4 NVQ Diploma

Assessment Method

Fast-Track, Online

Cost

£1150 + VAT

CITB Grant Claimable

£600

The Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision is for experienced site supervisors and assistant site managers who take responsibility for coordinating trades, maintaining safety, monitoring quality and supporting day-to-day site delivery.

Achievement of this NVQ provides access to the Gold (Supervisor) CSCS Card.

This qualification is completed online and is based entirely on the work you already do on site. There is no written coursework, no exams and no classroom attendance. Your assessor will guide you through a simple, structured process that uses photos, videos, site documents and Zoom-based professional discussions to confirm your competence.

Most supervisors complete the NVQ in 2–4 weeks, depending on their experience and how quickly they can provide suitable evidence.

Fast-track, online assessment
Same-day registration
No written work or exams
Discussion-based assessment
CITB grant claimable (£600)
Leads to the Gold CSCS Card

How does the assessment work?

Your assessment is based entirely on your normal site duties. There is no written coursework, no exams and no classroom learning.

You will complete the NVQ through:

Professional discussions with your assessor on Zoom
Short videos such as a site walkaround, a briefing or a safety check
Photos showing work areas, inspections or completed tasks
Site documents like RAMS, inspections, permits, allocation sheets and handovers

Your assessor will explain everything step by step and tell you exactly what to upload.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Below are some examples of the types of practical questions an assessor may ask during the professional discussion for the Level 4 NVQ in Construction Site Supervision. Your answers only need to reflect what you actually do on site.

Assessor: How do you plan and coordinate work with different trades at the start of the shift?

Learner: I check the programme, review the RAMS and permit requirements, confirm material availability and agree sequencing with each trade. I make sure access routes are clear, lifting or plant movements are planned and everyone understands the safety controls for the day.

Assessor: How do you manage health and safety on the areas you supervise?

Learner: I carry out regular walkarounds, check that work is being done safely, stop any unsafe activity and make sure PPE, permits and controls are in place. I raise issues with the site manager and record anything significant that needs follow up.

Assessor: How do you monitor the quality of the work you supervise?

Learner: I compare work against drawings and specifications, check levels or measurements, confirm materials are correct and raise snags as soon as they are found. I make sure corrective actions are completed before signing anything off.

Assessor: How do you deal with delays, shortages or problems that affect your work area?

Learner: I identify what is causing the issue, speak with the trades involved, update the programme if needed and agree a safe plan to keep the work progressing. I keep the site manager updated about anything that may have an impact.

Assessor: How do you make sure the trades have the right materials, equipment and information?

Learner: I check requirements in advance, confirm delivery times, speak with stores or suppliers and make sure any drawings or RAMS are understood. I keep an eye on what the team needs so there are no delays.

Assessor: How do you support less experienced workers or new starters?

Learner: I explain the task, show them the safe way to do it, check they understand the RAMS and monitor them until I am confident they are working safely. If needed, I pair them with a more experienced operative.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Most of the evidence you need will come directly from your normal day-to-day work as a supervisor. Nothing is staged or simulated, everything is based on what you already do on site.

Photos and short videos

Examples include:

A short site-tour video explaining what work is taking place
A clip of you giving a briefing or toolbox talk
Short videos showing you checking safety controls, inspecting work or coordinating trades
Quick phone videos showing you managing access routes, work areas or safety checks

These do not need to be polished. Simple clips filmed on your phone are ideal.

Witness testimony

A senior person on site such as the site manager or project manager will complete a Witness Testimony Form confirming:

Your role and responsibilities
That you supervise daily activities
That the evidence provided reflects your real job

Your assessor will then speak to them directly for a quick verification call.

Site documents you already produce

These may include:

Toolbox talk or briefing records
Daily allocation sheets or task briefs
Snag lists, inspection sheets or quality checks
Temporary Works Documents
Method statements or permits you help implement
Timesheets, delivery notes or coordination emails
Diary entries or WhatsApp messages showing how you supervise work

Your assessor will help you choose which documents to upload and explain how they match the NVQ units.

How long does it take?

Most Level 4 candidates complete in less than 4 weeks, depending on how quickly you can provide evidence and arrange your discussion calls.

You are given 12 months to finish the NVQ if you need more time, but most supervisors complete much sooner.

What happens when I apply?

When you click the red “Book Your NVQ Now” button, you will be taken to a short online profiling form. This form gives you a quick overview of the NVQ units and includes simple examples of the type of evidence you may need, such as photos, videos or basic site documents. It helps us check that the qualification matches your current job role and responsibilities.

Once you submit the form, one of our assessors will give you a quick call to confirm that the NVQ is achievable for you. During this call they will check your experience, the type of work you supervise and the kind of evidence you will be able to provide. This helps make sure you are on the right qualification before you start.

If the assessor confirms your suitability, we will send you an invoice. The profiling process is completely non-committal. If you do not want to continue, you can simply ignore the invoice. If you choose to go ahead, you can make payment and start your NVQ on the same day.

Can I claim the CITB grant for this NVQ?

Yes, if you are a CITB-registered employer. This NVQ is eligible for the short-qualification grant of £600 (claimable on completion by the employer).

Only the company (not the individual learner) can make the claim, and the application must be submitted to CITB within 52 weeks of the achievement date.

If you are a sole trader or limited company already on the CITB register, you can still claim; private individuals who are not levy-registered cannot.

To confirm eligibility, call the CITB Levy & Grants team on 0344 994 4455 (Mon–Fri, 08:00–18:00) or email levy.grant@citb.co.uk to confirm your registration and grant status.

Can I get a CSCS card while I complete my NVQ?

Yes. The Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager (TSM) CSCS Card exists to help experienced supervisors who are out of work and do not currently hold a valid CSCS card. To apply for the Gold Supervisor CSCS Card you must complete a supervisor-level NVQ, but because the NVQ is evidence based, it is not possible to finish it if you are not working on a live site.

The Red TSM Card solves this problem. It shows employers that:

You are experienced in a supervisory role
You have been profiled and approved for the Level 3 Occupational Work Supervision NVQ
You are registered and actively working towards the qualification

Because the card confirms that you are capable of achieving the NVQ and are already enrolled, employers should accept it as valid evidence that you can return to site in a supervisory capacity. Once you are back on site, you will be able to gather the work-based evidence you need to complete your NVQ and then upgrade to the Gold Supervisor CSCS Card.

To qualify for the Red TSM Card you must:

Be registered for the Level 4 CSS NVQ
Have at least one year of supervisory experience
Have passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment Test for Supervisors within the last two years

The card is valid for three years and cannot be renewed. Most candidates complete the NVQ and move on to the Gold Card long before the red card expires.

How does the assessment work?

Your NVQ is based fully on your normal job. No written coursework, no exams and no classroom sessions.

You’ll complete it through:

• Short Zoom discussions with your assessor
• Quick phone videos, like a site walkaround or briefing
• Photos of work tasks, checks or completed areas
• Site documents you already use, such as RAMS, permits, allocation sheets, temporary works documents, inspection notes or handovers

Your assessor will tell you exactly what to upload and guide you step by step.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Your assessor will ask simple, practical questions based on what you do on site. For example:

Assessor: How do you make sure work in your area starts safely each day?
Learner: I review the RAMS, check the work area, brief the team and confirm everyone has the right PPE and equipment.

Assessor: What do you do if you find unsafe work or a safety concern?
Learner: I stop the job, put controls in place, report it to the site manager and make sure it’s safe before continuing.

Assessor: How do you check the quality of work on your section of the project?
Learner: I walk the job, check measurements, compare work to drawings and flag any issues for correction.

Assessor: How do you coordinate different trades working in the same area?
Learner: I plan sequencing, communicate with the other supervisors and adjust timings to avoid clashes.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Everything comes from your real supervising work. You won’t need to create anything special.

Videos & Photos
Examples include:
• A quick site-tour video
• You giving a briefing
• Clips of you checking work or addressing issues

Witness Testimony
A senior person (site manager or project manager) completes a short form confirming your role and responsibilities. Your assessor then speaks to them for a quick verification call.

Site Documents
You can use documents you already produce or handle, such as:
• RAMS
• Permits
• Daily allocation sheets
• Quality checks
• Inspection notes
• Temporary works documents
• Emails, WhatsApp messages, diary entries

Your assessor will explain what to upload and how each piece of evidence fits the NVQ units.

How long does it take?

Most supervisors finish in 2 to 4 weeks, depending on evidence and discussions.
You have up to 12 months if you need longer.

What happens when I apply?

Click the red “Book Your NVQ Now” button and complete the short profiling form. It gives you:

• A quick overview of the NVQ units
• Simple examples of the evidence needed
• A check that the qualification matches your job

An assessor will then call you to confirm the NVQ is achievable based on your experience and responsibilities.

If you’re approved, we’ll send an invoice. The process is non-committal — if you don’t want to continue, just ignore it. If you go ahead, you can start the same day.

Can I claim the CITB grant for this NVQ?

Yes, if your employer is CITB-registered.
This NVQ is eligible for the £600 short qualification grant.

The employer must submit the claim within 52 weeks of the achievement date.
Individuals who are not levy-registered cannot claim.

Can I get a CSCS card while I complete my NVQ?

Yes. You can apply for the Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager (TSM) CSCS Card while completing this NVQ.

The card exists to help experienced supervisors return to site when they don’t currently hold a valid CSCS card.

It confirms that:
• You have real supervisory experience
• You’ve been profiled and approved for this NVQ
• You are actively working towards it

Once back on site, you can gather the required evidence and complete the NVQ. When finished, you can upgrade to the Gold Supervisor CSCS Card.

To qualify for the Red TSM Card you must:
• Be registered for the Level 4 NVQ
• Have at least one year of supervisory experience
• Have passed the CITB HS&E Test (Supervisor level) within two years

The card lasts three years and cannot be renewed.