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CITB SMSTS & SSSTS Courses — Which Site Safety Qualification Do You Need?
SMSTS for site managers, SSSTS for supervisors — two of the most respected health and safety qualifications in UK construction, both delivered by Quinns Training Services. Here’s what each covers, who needs which, and how to keep your certificate valid.
Book Your Course →SMSTS and SSSTS certificates are valid for five years. Complete the relevant Refresher course before expiry and you stay qualified — let it lapse, and you’ll usually have to sit the full course again. We deliver both refreshers, so check your date and book ahead.
If you’re moving into a leadership role on site — or hiring people who are — two CITB qualifications come up again and again: SMSTS and SSSTS. Neither is a legal requirement in itself, but both are widely specified by principal contractors as essential for their roles, and both support the CDM Regulations duty to ensure the people managing construction work have the right skills, knowledge and experience.
The right one for you depends on the level of responsibility you hold. Here’s each in turn.
What Is the SMSTS Course?
The Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) is CITB’s five-day programme for site managers, project managers, contracts managers and anyone responsible for planning, organising, monitoring, controlling or supervising construction work at site-management level.
Across the five days, delegates cover:
- Health and safety legislation — the legal duties that come with running a site, and how to apply them to real projects
- Risk assessments and method statements — building and managing safe systems of work
- Accident prevention and occupational health — identifying and controlling hazards before they cause harm
- Environmental management and site welfare responsibilities
- Leadership and communication — creating a positive safety culture where everyone takes responsibility
The emphasis throughout is proactive rather than box-ticking: management decisions directly shape safety standards, and the course uses practical discussion and real-world scenarios to show how. Completing SMSTS is one of the most recognised ways to prove your ability to manage safety on site — and it’s frequently a requirement for senior roles and larger commercial projects.
What Is the SSSTS Course?
The Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) is CITB’s two-day course for site supervisors and first-line managers — the people overseeing teams and enforcing safety standards day-to-day. It equips supervisors to:
- Understand and apply legislation relevant to supervisory responsibilities
- Deliver toolbox talks and briefings that actually change behaviour on site
- Carry out risk assessments and implement control measures
- Support a positive safety culture within their teams
For many people, SSSTS is the first step on the site-leadership ladder — with SMSTS the natural progression as responsibilities grow.
SMSTS at a Glance
- 💼 For: site & project managers
- 📅 Duration: 5 days
- 🎓 CITB certificate, valid 5 years
- 🔄 Renew via SMSTS Refresher
- 🏗 Scope: safety across the whole site
SSSTS at a Glance
- 🤝 For: supervisors & first-line managers
- 📅 Duration: 2 days
- 🎓 CITB certificate, valid 5 years
- 🔄 Renew via SSSTS Refresher
- 👷 Scope: teams & work areas
Quick answer: if you’re responsible for safety across an entire site, it’s SMSTS. If you supervise a team or a specific area of work, start with SSSTS. Neither is a card — both are certificates, though they can support certain CSCS card applications depending on your role.
Keeping Your Qualification Valid
Health and safety legislation and industry guidance keep evolving, so both certificates expire after five years. Completing the relevant CITB Refresher course before your expiry date updates you on legislative changes, reinforces best practice, and keeps your qualification live without repeating the full course. We deliver SMSTS Refresher and SSSTS Refresher courses alongside the full programmes — if your certificate is approaching its expiry date, book your refresher in good time.
The Full CITB Ladder at QTS
CITB funding applies
As CITB courses, SMSTS and SSSTS training is eligible for CITB funding through the Levy Scheme or Employer Networks Scheme for registered employers — a significant saving when you’re putting several managers or supervisors through.
Ask us about funding your training →Why Take SMSTS or SSSTS with Quinns?
Our CITB courses are delivered by experienced trainers who’ve managed real sites — so the legislation is taught through scenarios you’ll actually face. With small class sizes at our Cardiff training centre, practical discussion takes priority over slides, and we support delegates from first booking through to refresher reminders five years later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between SMSTS and SSSTS?
SMSTS is the five-day course for site managers and senior staff responsible for safety across a whole site. SSSTS is the two-day course for supervisors and first-line managers overseeing smaller teams or specific work areas. Many people complete SSSTS first and progress to SMSTS as their responsibilities grow.
Is SMSTS or SSSTS a legal requirement?
Neither is a legal requirement in itself — but both are widely required by principal contractors and employers, and they support the CDM Regulations duty to ensure people managing construction work have appropriate skills, knowledge and experience.
How long do the certificates last?
Five years each. Complete the relevant Refresher course before expiry to stay qualified — if a certificate lapses, the full course usually has to be retaken from scratch.
Do I get a card for completing SMSTS or SSSTS?
No — both are certificate-based qualifications. That said, holding one can support certain CSCS card applications depending on your role and other qualifications you hold.
Which course should I book first?
If you supervise a team or specific area, start with SSSTS. If you’re responsible for a whole site — or moving into a site management role — go straight to SMSTS. Not sure? Talk to our team and we’ll advise based on your role.
Is SMSTS recognised outside the UK?
SMSTS is a UK qualification accredited by CITB. While it isn’t formally recognised in every country, many international companies with UK operations value it highly when hiring or promoting staff.
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