Can NPORS testing be done on my site?

Key facts

• On-site testing is an NPORS-specific flexibility. CPCS testing for most categories must be carried out at an accredited test centre.
• The test is delivered by an NPORS Approved Tester who travels to your site.
• The employer provides: the machine, a safe operating area, and operator PPE.
• MPTT provides: the Tester, the assessment paperwork, the theory test terminal and pre-test briefing.
• Group bookings cut the per-operator cost further. Three or more operators on the same N-code is the typical break-even point versus centre-based delivery.
• On-site testing applies to both the traditional NPORS card and the CSCS-recognised NPORS card (the CITB HS&E Test for the CSCS route is taken separately at a CITB centre).

How on-site NPORS testing works

An NPORS Approved Tester from MPTT visits your yard or live project on the agreed date. The visit covers both the NPORS theory test (delivered on a portable touch-screen terminal) and the NPORS practical test (observed on the machine in your operating area). Most on-site visits cover one to several operators on the same or related N-codes. The Tester scores against the NPORS criteria for each N-code; results are issued on the day; the card application follows the same NPORS Limited central-process timeline as centre-based testing.

What the employer needs to provide

• The actual machine the operator is being tested on. Make and model do not have to match a specific spec, but the machine must be in safe working order and represent the N-code (e.g. an N202 test on a 360° excavator).
• A safe operating area. Enough space to demonstrate the practical-test tasks (digging, slewing, lifting, loading, manoeuvring) without exposing the operator or others to live-site hazards.
• Operator PPE. Safety boots, hi-vis, hard hat, gloves as appropriate.
• Photo ID per operator. Without it, the test cannot run.
• For CSCS-recognised card candidates: a current CITB HS&E Test certificate. Taken separately before the NPORS test day.
• A weather contingency. Practical tests need to be safe to run. Plan a backup date for severe weather where the practical assessment cannot reasonably be completed.

What MPTT provides

MPTT brings the NPORS Approved Tester (or Instructor plus Tester for combined training and testing visits), the theory test terminal, all assessment paperwork, the pre-test briefing for the candidates, the NPORS card application processing, and the post-test result and card-tracking conversation. Where training is included in the visit, MPTT also brings the training materials. Centre-based theory testing remains an option if the employer prefers it.

Group bookings and cost

The per-operator cost of on-site testing falls quickly as group size rises. The travel and Tester-day costs are fixed; spreading them across three or more operators on the same N-code typically beats centre-based per-operator pricing comfortably. For larger fleets, MPTT can schedule a multi-day on-site programme covering several N-codes and routes (novice, experienced worker, renewal) at a single attendance, which further reduces the operational disruption. Send us the N-codes, the operator count and the postcode and we will quote on-site against centre-based.

When centre-based testing is the better choice

On-site is not always the right answer. Centre-based testing at MPTT’s Cannock facility is the better choice when:

• You have one or two operators only and travel costs would dominate the on-site quote.
• The employer does not have a suitable safe operating area or a representative machine.
• The candidates need full novice training on the machine (training is sometimes more efficient at a dedicated training facility with multiple machines and instructors on hand).
• The site is in a weather-exposed location and the season makes practical testing impractical.

We will recommend centre-based or on-site honestly based on the specifics. If centre-based is better value or more reliable for your booking, we will say so.

CITB Levy and on-site testing

CITB Levy-registered employers can usually grant-recover most NPORS plant training and testing, whether delivered on-site or at our centre. The grant is paid to the employer on production of the achievement documentation, which MPTT issues after the test. The on-site versus centre-based choice does not affect grant eligibility. Always check current grant rates on the CITB Grants and Funding page before budgeting.

Dual-scheme on-site programmes

Where employers want operators dual-carded on NPORS and CPCS, MPTT can structure a combined on-site programme: NPORS practical assessment on-site by an NPORS Approved Tester, plus the CPCS conversion testing at our accredited centre or via a centre-arranged visit. This is the most efficient route to dual-carding fleets that work across Tier 1 and Tier 2/3 contracts.

Related questions

• How much does NPORS training cost?
• What’s the difference between NPORS and CPCS?
• How do I get an NPORS card?
• What happens during the NPORS theory and practical test?
• What NPORS categories (N-codes) are available?

Quick answers to related questions

Is on-site NPORS testing cheaper than centre-based?

For groups of three or more operators on the same N-code, typically yes. The Tester-day and travel costs spread across the group, and the employer saves operator travel and lost site time. For one or two operators, centre-based testing is often cheaper.

What does my site need to have for an on-site NPORS test?

The actual machine in safe working order, a safe operating area large enough for the practical-test tasks, operator PPE, and photo ID per candidate. For CSCS-recognised NPORS, a current CITB HS&E Test certificate per operator.

Can on-site NPORS testing be done for Blue card renewals?

Yes. NPORS renewals are commonly delivered on-site, particularly for fleet renewals where moving operators to a centre for a 1–2 day retest is expensive. Same Tester model, same NPORS practical and theory tests.

Last updated: 2026-05-21. Reviewed by the MPTT NPORS training team, NPORS Approved Instructors and Testers.