The CITB Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) and the ECITB CCNSG Safety Passport are both well-respected construction and engineering safety qualifications — and they’re often confused. They share a couple of features (both two days, both multiple-choice assessed at 80%), but they serve genuinely different people: one is a baseline credential for getting on site, the other is a supervisor’s qualification. Here’s how to tell which one you need.
The short answer
If you’re an operative, tradesperson or sub-contractor who needs proof of basic site safety to be allowed on site, that’s the CCNSG Safety Passport. If you supervise a team and need to understand your safety responsibilities as a supervisor, that’s the SSSTS. They’re different rungs on the ladder, not competing alternatives.
SSSTS vs CCNSG Safety Passport at a glance
| SSSTS | CCNSG Safety Passport | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Supervisors and team leaders | Operatives, tradespeople and sub-contractors |
| Scheme / body | CITB Site Safety Plus | ECITB / CCNSG |
| Purpose | Equip supervisors to manage site safety | Prove baseline safety knowledge for site access |
| Duration | 2 days | 2 days |
| Assessment | Multiple-choice CITB exam (80% pass) | Multiple-choice exam per module (80% pass) |
| Certificate validity | 5 years | 3 years |
| Renewal | 1-day SSSTS Refresher | 1-day CCNSG Safety Passport Renewal |
| Often required by | BuildUK, for supervisors on their sites | Many firms, before allowing contractors on site |
What each course covers
The two overlap on the basics but emphasise very different things, because they’re aimed at different people on site.
The CCNSG Safety Passport covers the practical safety knowledge an operative needs: safe working practices for access, exits and scaffolding; first aid and accident procedures; working around excavations and noise; and the rules around heavy equipment and cranes. It’s about working safely yourself and keeping out of harm’s way on a live site.
The SSSTS centres on the supervisor’s role. The core focus is risk assessment — putting control measures in place, communicating them to the workforce, and keeping the site safe. It also covers the causes of accidents, how to carry out construction risk assessments, and the legal framework supervisors work within. It’s about keeping others safe, not just yourself.
Which one is right for you?
Choose the CCNSG Safety Passport
For operatives, tradespeople and sub-contractors who need a recognised passport to gain or keep site access. Many firms won’t let contractors on site without it, so it’s a valuable baseline credential.
Choose the SSSTS
For those in, or moving into, a supervisory role who need to understand their safety responsibilities. The recognised CITB supervisor qualification — and the stepping stone toward the SMSTS for future site managers.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the main difference between SSSTS and the CCNSG Safety Passport?
The SSSTS is a supervisor’s qualification focused on risk assessment and managing a team safely. The CCNSG Safety Passport is aimed at operatives and contractors, proving a baseline of site-safety knowledge that’s often required for site access.
How long are the two courses, and how long do they last?
Both run over two days and are assessed by multiple-choice exam with an 80% pass mark. The SSSTS certificate is valid for five years; the CCNSG Safety Passport for three. Each is renewed with a one-day refresher before expiry.
Which course should I take?
Take the CCNSG Safety Passport if you’re an operative, sub-contractor, or need a recognised passport for site access. Take the SSSTS if you supervise a team. If you’re heading toward site management, look at the SMSTS next.
Do I need both?
Not necessarily — it depends on your role. But it’s common to progress through them: a Safety Passport to work on site, then SSSTS when you take on supervisory duties. They complement each other rather than overlapping.
Is the CCNSG only for engineering, or construction too?
The CCNSG Safety Passport is used across both engineering construction and general construction, and is widely required for contractors and maintenance and installation workers needing site access.