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Demolition Training

Demolition in the UK runs on the CCDO card scheme – the Certificate of Competence of Demolition Operatives. The NDTG is the only organisation able to issue CCDO cards, and they are asked for by the companies that commission demolition projects. Getting a full card takes two things: a short NDTG course to get on site with a red trained-operative card, then the matching demolition NVQ to convert it before it runs out. Both halves are listed here.

Card schemeCCDOIssued only by the NDTG
Operative coursesOne day eachLabourer, Refurbishment Operative and Topman; Chargehand is two days, supervisor and manager five
Red cardThree yearsNon-renewable – the NVQ has to be finished in that time
Before you bookClassroom asbestos awarenessNDTG, UKATA, ARCA or ACAD; e-learning certificates are not accepted

Which demolition course do you need?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. Each level has its own entry requirements, so check the step below the one you want before booking.

You are getting onto the ladder

  • Demolition Labourer – for people new to demolition or moving across from general construction labouring. Leads to the green CCDO Labourer card
  • Demolition Refurbishment Operative – for those with at least two years as a Demolition Labourer. Covers non-load-bearing demolition, soft strip and mechanical hand tools
  • Advanced Demolition Operative (Topman) – load-bearing demolition by hand, cutting sequences and running a small team
  • Above Topman the ladder runs Chargehand, Supervisor and Manager, each with its own NDTG course

You hold a red card and the clock is running

  • The red trained-operative cards last three years and cannot be renewed
  • Operatives need the Level 2 NVQ in Demolition and Refurbishment; Topmen need Level 3
  • Chargehands convert to the silver card with a Level 3 NVQ; supervisors convert to gold through the site supervision NVQ on the demolition pathway, and managers to black through the Level 6 site management diploma
  • NVQs are assessed at work from the evidence of your normal duties, so start early rather than in year three

What the operative courses cover

The syllabus is set by the NDTG, so content is consistent across approved centres. The Labourer course concentrates on working safely around demolition; the operative and Topman courses add structures, tools and method.

  • Demolition legislation and the role of the HSE
  • Site inductions, site rules and controlling hazards
  • Risk assessments, method statements and cutting sequences
  • Understanding structures and non-structural demolition
  • Demolition by hand, including load-bearing elements
  • Working near demolition plant and equipment
  • Working at height, hot works and confined spaces
  • Asbestos awareness, COSHH and occupational health
  • Fire, first aid and emergencies
  • Waste segregation and the site environment

Entry requirements

Every CCDO course needs a current asbestos awareness certificate from one of the four schemes the NDTG accepts – NDTG, UKATA, ARCA or ACAD – and it must have been taken in the classroom: an e-learning certificate will be refused. UKATA Asbestos Awareness is usually the first booking. You also need the right CITB Health, Safety and Environment test, passed within the last two years: Operative level for the Labourer course, the Demolition Specialist test or above for the operative, Topman and Chargehand courses, the Supervisor test for supervisors and the Managers and Professionals test for managers. The Topman course also asks for a blue Demolition and Refurbishment Operative card with the Level 2 NVQ, or five years' verifiable demolition experience.

Keeping your card current

The green Labourer card lasts five years and is renewed by retaking the one-day course. Red trained-operative cards last three years and cannot be renewed at all – without the NVQ the holder is back to the start. Once converted, the full card lasts five years and is renewed by retaking the course at that level. Asbestos awareness needs refreshing annually alongside. Check your expiry dates before a client does.

How you can take it

Classroom

The NDTG card courses are classroom courses at approved centres. Several run on Saturdays with an early start, so operatives do not lose a day on site.

NVQ at work

Demolition NVQs have no classroom and no exam. An assessor builds a portfolio from your normal work through site observation, professional discussion and evidence you already produce.

On site for groups

Where a contractor has a gang to put through the same level, the card courses can be delivered at your own premises on a date that suits the programme.

Common questions

What is a CCDO card and who issues it?

CCDO stands for Certificate of Competence of Demolition Operatives. It is the demolition industry's competence card, and the NDTG is the only organisation able to issue it. Clients and principal contractors commissioning demolition work ask for it in the same way general construction sites ask for CSCS.

Can I use an online asbestos awareness certificate?

No. The CCDO courses require a current asbestos awareness certificate from NDTG, UKATA, ARCA or ACAD, gained in the classroom – e-learning certificates are not accepted. Book a classroom UKATA Asbestos Awareness session first; it is half a day and is valid for a year.

What do the card colours mean?

Green is the Demolition Labourer card. Red means trained but not yet qualified: you have passed the NDTG course for that level but have not completed the NVQ. It lasts three years and cannot be renewed. Once the NVQ is done the card converts to the full five-year, renewable card – blue for Refurbishment Operatives and Topmen, silver for Chargehands, gold for Supervisors and black for Managers.

I have years of demolition experience but no card. Where do I start?

Experience can count towards entry at a higher level – five years' verified demolition experience gives direct entry to the Topman course, for example, in place of the blue operative card. You still need both halves for the full card: the NDTG course at that level and the matching NVQ, which is assessed on the work you already do rather than taught.

Do demolition supervisors need SSSTS or SMSTS as well?

CCDO covers demolition competence; it does not replace site safety training. On principal contractor sites, supervisors are usually also asked for SSSTS and managers for SMSTS. Check the client's requirements before assuming one covers the other.

What other training do demolition crews usually need?

Asbestos comes first – see the full asbestos range, including non-licensed work for crews stripping asbestos cement and floor tiles. Dust from breaking concrete, brick and stone is the other major exposure, so Silica Dust Awareness is worth adding. For trade and management qualifications beyond demolition, see the Construction NVQ range.

Compare demolition course dates and NVQs below

Envico lists NDTG card courses and demolition NVQs from approved providers, so you can see dates, venues and routes in one place. Putting a whole gang through? Our free group travel cost calculator works out which venue is cheapest for everyone to reach, and whether an on-site course beats sending people out.

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