NCA accreditation for construction workers in Kenya: KSh 1,000

Updated 10 November 2026

NCA accreditation is the National Construction Authority’s registration and card for individual construction workers and site supervisors. Regulations 19 and 20 of the NCA Regulations, 2014 require the Authority to accredit and certify all construction workers and site supervisors. NCA charges KSh 1,000 for a skilled construction worker and KSh 2,000 for a site supervisor, and the accreditation card is valid for three years before it must be renewed. A skilled worker applies with technical certificates, a trade test at Grade III or above, a national ID copy and a passport photo.

Checked on 8 November 2026 against NCA’s full accreditation page, its accreditation FAQs, its schedule of fees and its contractor registration FAQs.

Contents: What it is · Fees and validity · Requirements · Site supervisors · Why it matters for jobs · Checklist · FAQ

What NCA accreditation is

Most people know NCA for licensing construction companies. Accreditation is the individual side of the same system. Regulation 19 says the Authority shall accredit and certify all construction workers and construction site supervisors, and regulation 20 says it shall register skilled construction workers under one or more classes of works in the Third Schedule of the Act. In practice that means masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, welders, steel fixers and other tradespeople on construction sites, and the supervisors who run those sites.

Successful applicants receive an accreditation card. The card is the proof a contractor, client or NCA compliance officer will ask to see on site.

NCA accreditation fees and card validity

The same amounts appear on NCA’s full accreditation page and in its schedule of fees. Compared with what a contractor pays for a company licence, this is a small cost, and it lasts three years.

Requirements for NCA accreditation as a skilled worker

NCA’s accreditation FAQs list four requirements:

1. Technical certificates from an accredited training institution, such as a TVET college or vocational training centre.
2. A trade test certificate at Grade III or above. NCA’s FAQ names the NITA trade test.
3. A copy of your national ID card, attached to the application.
4. A passport-size photograph, attached to the application.

If you learned your trade on the job and have no certificate yet, the trade test is usually the missing piece. Plan for it before you apply, because NCA’s list asks for both training certificates and the trade test.

NCA accreditation for site supervisors

Site supervisors pay the higher KSh 2,000 fee and get the same three-year card. Supervisors oversee workers and day-to-day quality on site, so expect to show stronger technical qualifications and evidence of your construction experience than a skilled worker would. Check the current supervisor requirements on NCA’s accreditation pages or with an NCA regional office before you apply, and keep copies of certificates and referee letters from sites you have supervised.

Why NCA accreditation matters for construction jobs

NCA’s FAQs give two benefits: accreditation means you comply with the law, and it shows you are a professional skilled worker. There is a third, practical reason. When contractors apply for or renew their own NCA licence, NCA’s contractor FAQs list “NCA accredited construction workers identification cards” among the documents. A contractor building a team, especially for larger categories, therefore has a reason to prefer workers who already hold cards. See our NCA contractor registration guide for the company side.

For young people choosing between technical training routes, our KMTC vs university vs TVET comparison covers the training stage that comes before accreditation. Large public building programmes also recruit trades; our report on the affordable housing internship covers one recent intake.

NCA accreditation checklist

• Scan your technical certificate(s) and trade test certificate (Grade III or higher).
• Scan your national ID and take a recent passport photo.
• Decide whether you are applying as a skilled worker (KSh 1,000) or a site supervisor (KSh 2,000).
• Apply through NCA’s online channels or get help at an NCA regional or liaison office; NCA’s head office is on the 9th Floor, KCB Towers, Nairobi (+254 709 126 102, info@nca.go.ke).
• Note the card’s expiry date and renew before the three years are up.

Keep a photocopy of the card with you on site and the original safe. If your skills grow, for example from mason to site supervisor, apply in the new category rather than relying on the old card.

NCA accreditation FAQ

How much is NCA accreditation for a fundi?

KSh 1,000 for a skilled construction worker, according to NCA.

How much is NCA accreditation for a site supervisor?

KSh 2,000.

How long is NCA accreditation valid?

Three years. The card must then be renewed.

What do I need for NCA accreditation?

Technical certificates, a trade test at Grade III or above, an ID copy and a passport photo.

Is NCA accreditation required by law?

The NCA Regulations, 2014 require the Authority to accredit and certify all construction workers and site supervisors, and NCA says accreditation shows you comply with the law.