In construction, the right safety training isn’t a formality — it’s what keeps people alive on site. Supervisors and managers carry legal as well as moral responsibility for the safety of everyone around them, and the correct CITB qualification is the foundation that responsibility is built on. The two most widely held are the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) and the Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS). Both sit within the CITB Site Safety Plus programme, but they’re built for different levels of responsibility — and choosing the wrong one wastes both time and money. This guide sets them side by side so you can pick with confidence.
SMSTS vs SSSTS at a glance
| SMSTS | SSSTS | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Site managers, project managers and those moving into management | Supervisors and team leaders overseeing a small team |
| Level of responsibility | Full management control of site health and safety | Supervisory, working under a site manager |
| Duration | 5 days | 2 days |
| Focus | In-depth construction safety law, risk management and site management duties | Core supervisory responsibilities, communication and hazard awareness |
| Workbook | CITB workbook: risk assessment, H&S legislation, site set-up | CITB workbook: supervisory duties, communication, hazard awareness |
| Assessment | Continuous assessment + CITB exam (multiple choice with a short written answer) | Continuous assessment + CITB exam |
| Certificate validity | 5 years | 5 years |
| Renewal | 2-day SMSTS Refresher before expiry | 1-day SSSTS Refresher before expiry |
| Formats | Classroom or live online instructor-led | Classroom or live online instructor-led |
Which one is right for you?
The simplest way to decide is by what you’re responsible for on site.
Choose SSSTS
The two-day course for first-line supervisors and team leaders working under a site manager. It gives a working grasp of safety regulations and supervisory duties — the standard most contractors now expect before you take on a supervisory role.
Choose SMSTS
The five-day course for site managers, or those stepping up into management. It goes far deeper into health and safety law, the CDM Regulations, risk management and a manager’s full legal duties — and is widely specified by principal contractors as a contractual condition.
Many people take the SSSTS first as a supervisor and progress to the SMSTS as they move into management — the two map neatly onto a construction career path rather than being either/or.
Renewal — and what happens if you let it lapse
Both certificates last five years. To stay qualified, you complete the relevant refresher before your certificate expires — two days for SMSTS, one day for SSSTS.
Learning formats
Both courses are delivered either in a traditional classroom or as live, online instructor-led training over video conferencing — not self-paced e-learning. The online version follows the same CITB syllabus, leads to the same certificate, and requires the same full attendance. Whichever you choose, you must attend every session to be certified.
Whether it’s the manager-focused SMSTS or the supervisory SSSTS, the right course equips you to uphold safety standards and lead with authority on site.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take the SSSTS or the SMSTS?
Take the SSSTS if you supervise a team; take the SMSTS if you manage a site or are moving into management. If you’re early in your career, SSSTS first then SMSTS later is the well-trodden route.
How long is each certificate valid?
Both are valid for five years. After that you’ll need the relevant refresher to stay current — and if the certificate has already expired, the full course again rather than the refresher.
Can these courses be taken online?
Yes. Both are available as live online instructor-led courses as well as in a classroom. It’s real-time training with a tutor, not self-paced e-learning, and full attendance is required either way.
Do I need the SSSTS before the SMSTS?
No — the SSSTS isn’t a formal prerequisite for the SMSTS. But many people find the supervisory grounding useful before stepping up to the five-day management course.
Is the SMSTS or SSSTS a legal requirement?
Neither is a specific legal requirement in itself, but both are widely required by principal contractors and clients as a condition of working on their sites, and both are recognised across the UK construction industry.