Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management

Category

Management

CSCS Card

Black (Manager)

Qualification Level

Level 6 NVQ Diploma

Assessment Method

Fast-Track, Online

Cost

£1850 + VAT

CITB Grant Claimable

£600

The Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management is designed for experienced site managers who plan, coordinate and oversee construction projects. It recognises your ability to manage people, resources, safety, quality, environment and programme on site.

This NVQ is completed online and is based entirely on the work you already do. There is no written coursework, no exams and no classroom attendance. You simply upload examples of your everyday site work and talk through them with your assessor on Zoom. They will guide you through each unit step by step using real site documents, photos and videos.

Most candidates complete the NVQ within four to eight weeks, depending on their experience and how quickly they can provide suitable evidence.

Achievement of this NVQ leads to the Black Manager CSCS Card.

Fast-track, online assessment
Route to MCIOB Membership
No written work or exams
Discussion-based assessment
CITB grant claimable (£600)
Leads to the Black CSCS Card

How does the assessment work?

Your NVQ is based entirely on the work you already do as a site manager. There are no classroom sessions and no written coursework.

You will complete the qualification through:
• Professional discussions with your assessor via Zoom
• Short videos such as a brief site walkaround or coordination briefing
• Photos of inspections, safety checks or work areas
• Site documents like RAMS, permits, programmes, temporary works documents, site diaries, quality inspections, technical queries and progress updates

Your assessor will tell you exactly what to upload and guide you step by step. Everything is designed to fit around your role and your schedule.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Below are examples of the practical questions an assessor may ask during the professional discussion for the Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management. You only need to explain what you actually do in your role.

Assessor: How do you coordinate multiple subcontractors working in the same area to avoid clashes and keep the programme on track?
Learner: I review the look-ahead programme, agree work sequences with each trade, check access and material availability, and hold daily briefings. If a clash arises, I reorganise the schedule and inform all affected trades before work continues.

Assessor: What steps do you take to monitor health and safety across the site each day?
Learner: I carry out a daily site walk, check high-risk areas, review permits, confirm fencing and exclusion zones are in place, and ensure supervisors are enforcing RAMS. Any issues are raised immediately and logged for follow-up.

Assessor: How do you ensure temporary works are installed, inspected and removed correctly?
Learner: I check that TWC approvals are in place, ensure permits have been issued, confirm the installation plan, monitor inspections and close out checks before removal. I record all correspondence and updates.

Assessor: How do you manage quality and prevent rework?
Learner: I check work against drawings and specifications, complete hold-point inspections, request samples or mock-ups when needed and ensure any defects are snagged early before they affect later trades.

Assessor: How do you deal with delays or changes that impact the programme?
Learner: I assess the cause, notify the project team, agree recovery measures with subcontractors, update the look-ahead and communicate changes so everyone is aligned.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Most evidence will come from the work you already carry out as a site manager. Nothing is staged or simulated.

Your assessor may ask for:
Photos and videos:
• A short site-tour video
• A clip explaining coordination issues or safety controls
• A video of a daily briefing or site walk

Witness testimony:
A manager (such as a PM, CM or Director) will complete a short form confirming:
• Your role
• Your responsibilities
• The accuracy of your evidence
Your assessor will then speak to them directly for a quick verification call.

Documents you already produce, such as:
• RAMS and permits
• Task briefings
• Site diaries and daily records
• Progress photos and reports
• Temporary works documents
• Quality inspections, snag lists and handovers
• Programmes and look-ahead schedules
• Emails, WhatsApp messages and technical queries showing coordination
• Site meeting minutes

Your assessor will help you choose the most suitable evidence and explain how it links to the NVQ units.

How long does it take?

Most candidates complete within 4 to 12 weeks depending on how quickly they can provide evidence and arrange their discussion calls.

You are given 12 months to finish the NVQ if you need more time.

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 provides an overview of the NVQ units with simple examples of evidence, such as photos, videos and site documents.

Once submitted, an assessor will call you to check that the NVQ is achievable based on your responsibilities and the evidence you will be able to provide. This makes sure you are on the correct qualification.

If you are suitable, we will send your invoice. Profiling is completely non-committal. If you choose not to continue, you can ignore the invoice. If you decide to go ahead, you can pay and start 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 managers who are out of work and do not currently hold a valid CSCS card. To apply for the Black Manager CSCS Card you must complete a manager-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 management role
You have been profiled and approved for the Level 6 Construction Site Management 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 managerial 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 Black manager CSCS Card.

To qualify for the Red TSM Card you must:

Be registered for the Level 6 CSM NVQ
Have at least one year of management experience
Have passed the CITB Health, Safety and Environment 'MAP' (Managers and Professionals) Test within the last two years

The card is valid for three years and cannot be renewed.

How do I apply for MCIOB?

The Level 6 NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management can support an application for Chartered Membership (MCIOB). Once you complete the NVQ, you may be eligible to apply to the Chartered Institute of Building through the Qualified and Experienced Practitioner Pathway. This is CIOB’s standard route for experienced construction professionals who want to become Chartered without completing a degree.

You submit the application directly to CIOB. You will need to create an online account, upload your NVQ certificate and provide written examples from your work that demonstrate your competence in areas such as project management, health and safety, planning, leadership, quality, environmental management and commercial awareness. CIOB will review your submission and may request further information if required.

Full guidance on the Qualified and Experienced Practitioner Pathway is available on the CIOB website.

How does the assessment work?

Your assessment is based entirely on your real work as a site manager. There are no classroom sessions and no written coursework.

You will complete the NVQ using:
• Short Zoom discussions with your assessor
• Photos and quick videos from site
• Site documents you already produce
• Evidence that shows how you manage people, safety, quality and the programme

Your assessor will guide you step by step and help you use the work you already do day to day.

What sort of questions will I be asked?

Your assessor will ask practical questions about how you run your site. Below are some simple examples of the types of questions you may be asked.

Assessor: How do you make sure work starts safely each morning?
Learner: I check the work areas, confirm permits, brief the trades on the risks for the day and make sure equipment and plant are in safe condition.

Assessor: What do you do if a trade is behind programme?
Learner: I speak to the subcontractor, agree a recovery plan, update the programme and re-sequence if needed to avoid hold ups.

Assessor: How do you check the quality of work on your site?
Learner: I carry out walkarounds, compare the work with drawings and specs, complete checks on key stages and record any snags.

Assessor: What steps do you take if a safety issue is identified?
Learner: I stop the activity, make the area safe, speak to the supervisor, record the issue and make sure the right control measures are put in place before restarting.

These questions are only examples. Your answers will be based on what you actually do on your site.

What kind of evidence will I need?

Most evidence comes from your normal work. Nothing is staged or simulated. Examples of what you may upload include:

Photos and short videos
• A walkaround describing live work
• A quick video briefing a trade or reviewing an issue
• Short clips showing checks, coordination or progress

Witness testimony
A senior manager can confirm your role and responsibilities. You will send them a short form to complete. Your assessor will then call them for a quick verification.

Site documents you already produce
• RAMS you review or help develop
• Permits, inductions and briefings
• Daily records, allocation sheets and progress updates
• Quality checks, snag lists and inspection notes
• Temporary works documents and permits
• Emails or messages showing coordination
• Drawings, programmes or schedules you use to manage work

Your assessor will tell you exactly what to upload and how it links to the NVQ units.

How long does it take?

Most site managers complete in 4 to 8 weeks.
You are given 12 months to finish the NVQ if you need more time, but most people finish well before this.

What happens when I apply?

When you click the red “Book Your NVQ Now” button you will complete a short profiling form. This gives you a quick overview of the NVQ units and examples of the evidence you may need.

Once you submit the form, an assessor will call you to confirm the NVQ is achievable for you. They will check your role, experience and the type of evidence you will be able to provide.

If you are approved, we will send you an invoice. Profiling is non committed. If you decide not to continue you can just ignore the invoice. If you want to go ahead you can pay and 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 which is claimed by the employer once you complete.

To confirm your eligibility you can contact CITB on 0344 994 4455.

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

Yes. If you are out of work and need to get back on site you can apply for the Red Experienced Technical, Supervisor or Manager (TSM) CSCS Card.

The card confirms that:
• You are an experienced site manager
• You have been profiled and approved for the NVQ
• You are registered and working towards the qualification

This allows you to return to site so you can gather the evidence you need to complete your NVQ and then upgrade to the Black CSCS Card.

To qualify for the Red TSM Card you must be registered for the NVQ, have at least one year of site management experience and have passed the CITB Managers and Professionals HS&E Test in the last two years.

Can I apply for MCIOB with this NVQ?

Yes. The Level 6 NVQ gives you access to the Qualified and Experienced Practitioner Pathway with CIOB.

You apply directly on the CIOB website by creating an account, uploading your NVQ certificate and providing written examples from your work that show your competence. CIOB will review your submission and may ask for extra information.

For full details, visit the CIOB website.