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Prepare for the HS&E test

CITB has re-established Health, Safety and Environment testing across the UK. There may be a longer wait than usual as test centres need to adhere to the social distancing rules enforced by the UK Government. Please continue to check for available spaces, as availability is continually being reviewed. For more information, see the HS&E Test section of our COVID-19 page.

There is a range of revision materials to help you prepare for the Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test from printed booklets that you can purchase in a bookshop, to smartphone apps that help you revise on the go.

To increase your chances of passing the test, we recommend that you take a relevant training course, and work through all the sample questions in the revision materials. Make sure that you are confident with the topics and questions before you book your test.

Before you take your Health, safety and environment (HS&E) test, we recommend you watch this video below, which is available in two formats.

All versions of the HS&E test include 12 behavioural case study questions. These questions are based on 10 principles and are designed to test how you respond to health and safety situations on a construction site.

These 10 principles are covered in the Setting Out video, which explains the safety measures that you can expect employers to take on your behalf. The video also offers tips on how you can promote a safer working environnment.

Setting out (with subtitles)

Setting out (in British Sign Language)

You can buy HS&E test revision materials from:

  • CITB's online shop
  • by phoning 0344 994 4488; lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and Saturdays 8am to 12pm, except during Bank Holidays
  • high street or online book shops
  • the Apple App or Android Google Play stores - see the relevant version of the test revision material for links to the respective app.

Revision materials for the operative version of the HS&E test are available to buy in the following formats:

Revision materials for the specialist version of the HS&E test are available to buy in the following formats:

Revision materials for the managers' and professionals' version of the HS&E test are available to buy in the following formats:

Labourer test (L1 award) no longer offered

Since 7 February 2018, the Labourer test (including L1 award) is no longer offered by CITB.

You can still take this test if you are registered with a NOCN Cskills Awards approved centre for the Cskills Awards Qualification AWD057, Level 1 Award in Health and Safety in a Construction Environment. Please contact your centre for details of this test.

Up to date revision materials

Health, safety and environment legislation, regulations and best practice will change from time to time, but we make every effort to keep the test and the revision material up to date.

  • You will not be tested on questions that are no longer deemed appropriate.
  • You will be tested on knowledge presented in the most up-to-date edition of the revision materials - the current editions are dated 15 May 2019.
  • HS&E test revision DVDs and downloads can be updated by downloading the latest patch.
    • To check your DVD or download is up-to-date, click the web update option from the main menu of your DVD or downloaded document.