What is an appointed person course?
A person appointed to safely plan a lifting operation to ensure compliance with the law and secure the health and safety of all employees and of those who may be affected by their actions. An appointed person course trains people to safely and competently perform the job of an Appointed Person – Lifting Operations, i.e. person who plans and has the overall control of the lifting operations.
The course is designed to lead the participants to obtaining the CPCS Appointed Person (Lifting Operations) ticket.
Appointed Person Course Details:
Our appointed person course takes 5 days to complete.
Our courses meet the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) Appointed Person training standards. Dive in and gain the skills to snag that CPCS red card. It’s your ticket to proving you’ve mastered the essentials, a must-have for big construction firms! Ready to elevate your career?
The Appointed Person course includes the following elements:
- Legislation & codes of practice.
- Roles and responsibilities of the crane supervisor as well as other people involved in lifting operations.
- The role and responsibilities of the Appointed Person (Lifting Operations).
- Selection of cranes and lifting accessories.
- Positioning and configuration of the crane.
- Communication and risk assessments.
- Health and safety in relation to hazards specific to lifting operations.
Completion of the Appointed Person course
The completed Appointed Person course ends with a theoretical and practical test. Successful candidates obtain the Appointed Person CPCS Trained Operator card, also known as the CPCS red card which is the first step and it is issued for a non-renewable two-year period.
A more advanced accreditation, the competent operator card, also known as the CPCS blue card, can be achieved by gaining 300 hours of experience at work recorded and endorsed in your CPCS logbook and completing the NVQ level 2 assessment within 2 years of the red card issue date. The CPCS blue card is valid for five years and is renewable.
Why should you do your Appointed Person training with us?
- Patient, professional & friendly instructors who will really teach you all you need to know to work as an Appointed Person safely and productively.
- Modern machinery fleet and classrooms to make your training as efficient and useful as possible.
- Consistently high pass rate.
- Lowest prices for Appointed Person courses in the UK – guaranteed. If you find the same course cheaper elsewhere, we will match the price.
Already have a red CPCS Ticket?
Get in touch to see how we can help you get a CPCS Appointed Person blue card.
To book your CPCS Appointed Person course, or to check current prices, click on the location on the list that is the most convenient for you.
FAQs – Appointed Person Training
What does an Appointed Person do on site?
As an Appointed Person, you’re responsible for planning lifting operations from start to finish: writing lift plans, managing risk assessments and method statements, selecting cranes or lifting accessories, overseeing daily safety checks, and approving the actual lift. It’s more than just watching — you ensure every lift is safe, lawful and correctly documented.
Who should take this course, and what prerequisites are there?
This course is aimed at supervisors, site managers, health & safety professionals, or anyone who needs to take on the lifting planning role. You’ll need to hold a current CITB HS&E (often Manager / Supervisor level) test — typically passed within the last two years — and some experience around lifting ops or cranes. Being comfortable reading technical documents, duty charts, and having basic awareness of crane safety helps a lot.
How long is the training and what do I get at the end?
Typically, the Appointed Person course runs over 5 days: theory plus practical work, finishing with assessments (both theory and practical). When you pass, you’ll be awarded the CPCS Red Trained Operator Card (Appointed Person category), usually valid for 2 years.
How hard is the assessment, and what format does it follow?
You can expect a mix of classroom instruction, practical exercises, and detailed assessments. The tests include written questions, reviewing lift plans and risk assessments, and hands-on work inspecting cranes, accessories, load calculations, plus handling method statements. It’s demanding, but entirely fair — our job is to prepare you, not to trip you up.
What should I bring or prepare ahead of the course?
Bring PPE (hard hat, safety boots, hi-vis clothing), photo ID, your current CITB HS&E test pass, and any previous certificates relevant to lifting or crane supervision. It helps to familiarise yourself with the basics of LOLER, BS 7121 and crane duty charts ahead of time. Preparing ahead makes the technical parts go smoother.
Is this course a legal requirement?
Not always by name, but yes, in many cases having a competent Appointed Person is a legal expectation. Regulations like LOLER require that lifting operations are planned by competent persons; many contractors, principal contractors and safety audits insist on certified Appointed Persons for liability and compliance. If you’re responsible for lifting safety, this course helps you meet both regulatory and industry standards.
Where can I do the Appointed Person course near me in the UK?
We run this course at several training centres across the UK — check our website for upcoming dates in your region. If none are near enough, we also offer on-site group delivery. London, Birmingham, Manchester and the Midlands often have public dates. Just drop us a message and we’ll find an option close to you.