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CITB SSSTS Classroom Course

The CITB SSSTS (Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme) is the recognised health and safety qualification for construction site supervisors, team leaders and first-line managers across the UK. The two-day course forms part of the CITB Site Safety Plus programme and is required by BuildUK for supervisors working on their sites.

The SSSTS qualification gives holders a solid understanding of health and safety legislation, risk assessment, CDM Regulations and their legal responsibilities as site supervisors. It is widely recognised throughout the UK construction industry and is the standard stepping stone before the SMSTS for those moving into site management roles.

Course Details

  • Duration: 2 days
  • Format: Classroom or online instructor-led
  • Awarding Body: CITB
  • Qualification Validity: 5 years
  • Required by: BuildUK for site supervisors
  • Suitable for: Site supervisors, team leaders and first-line managers
  • Cost: From £219 + VAT

Prices vary by provider, location and delivery format. Use the course search below to compare dates and fees.

Find SSSTS Classroom Courses

 

What does SSSTS stand for?
SSSTS stands for Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme. It is a CITB-developed two-day training course designed to ensure site supervisors have the health and safety knowledge and legal understanding to fulfil their supervisory responsibilities on construction sites. The qualification forms part of the CITB Site Safety Plus programme.
Who should attend the SSSTS course?

The SSSTS is designed for anyone in a supervisory role on a construction site or moving into one:

  • Site supervisors and team leaders
  • First-line managers and forepersons
  • Construction workers stepping into supervisory roles
  • Those responsible for overseeing health and safety on site
  • Those working towards the SMSTS qualification

SSSTS is required by BuildUK for supervisors working on their members’ sites and is widely specified in construction job descriptions and contract requirements.

What does the SSSTS course cover?

The course covers the key areas of construction site safety relevant to supervisors:

  • The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related legislation
  • The UK legal framework and Approved Codes of Practice
  • Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2015
  • Risk assessments and method statements
  • Causes and types of construction accidents
  • Site inductions and toolbox talks
  • Proactive and reactive safety monitoring techniques
  • Supervising high-risk activities — working at height, confined spaces, demolition and excavations
  • Occupational health, fire safety and contractor management
  • Environmental awareness on construction sites
What is the difference between SSSTS and SMSTS?
SSSTS is a two-day course for site supervisors with day-to-day supervisory responsibility on construction sites. SMSTS is a five-day course for site managers with full management responsibility for health and safety. SSSTS is the standard entry-level qualification for supervisors; SMSTS is required for those moving into site management roles. Many construction professionals complete SSSTS first and progress to SMSTS as their career develops. See our article on SSSTS or SMSTS — which do you need?
SSSTS assessment and certification

Assessment is continuous throughout the two days via individual and group exercises, class discussions and a short case study, followed by a CITB multiple-choice examination. There is no pre-course assignment or written submission required.

  • Certificate validity: 5 years from date of award
  • Awarded by: CITB

Re-sit arrangements are set by the individual training provider rather than centrally, so check the policy and any additional fee at the time of booking.

Training materials and publications
All SSSTS delegates receive access to the official CITB Site Safety Plus publications, available in printed, CD or online format depending on the training provider. Check your joining instructions to confirm whether hard copies are included in your course fee.
SSSTS course prerequisites

There are no formal qualification requirements for the SSSTS course. The following conditions apply:

  • Valid photographic ID is required (passport or driving licence)
  • A good understanding of written and spoken English is necessary — translators are not permitted
  • Parental consent is required for delegates under 18

The CITB Health and Safety Awareness course is a helpful foundation but is not a formal entry requirement.

Can my employer claim CITB funding towards SSSTS?

Construction employers registered with the CITB Levy may be able to offset part of the SSSTS course cost. From January 2026, short course funding moved from the old direct grant model to CITB Employer Networks, with up to £115 available per SSSTS delegate for eligible employers.

Whether your employer can access this funding depends on their CITB registration status and regional network availability — it is worth asking your training or HR manager before booking. To allow claims to be processed, delegates should take their employer’s Levy Number with them and enter it on the relevant section of the course paperwork, as retrospective claims may not be accepted.

How do I renew my SSSTS certificate?
To maintain your SSSTS qualification you must complete the SSSTS Refresher course before your current five-year certificate expires. There is no grace period. If the certificate lapses, the full two-day SSSTS course must be retaken rather than the shorter refresher, so it is worth booking your renewal a few months ahead of the expiry date on your certificate.
Progression after the SSSTS course
Find an SSSTS course near me

SSSTS courses run at venues across the UK. If you are looking for an SSSTS course near you, use the search on this page to filter by county, town or postcode, and set a radius that suits how far you are willing to travel. Starting broad and narrowing down returns more options than filtering heavily from the outset, and if a classroom date near you is not available, the live online option may be. Nothing suitable showing? Courses are added regularly, so it is worth checking back, or contact us and we will let you know when something becomes available in your area.

Customer reviews
Read reviews from previous SSSTS course delegates to see how the training has helped them in their careers.

CITB Site Safety Plus Courses

Related Training and Guidance

CITB SSSTS Online Instructor-Led Course

The CITB SSSTS online instructor-led course is a live virtual version of the Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme, delivered remotely by an accredited CITB tutor via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The course follows the same CITB Site Safety Plus syllabus as classroom training and leads to the same five-year SSSTS certificate.

This is not self-paced e-learning — it is live, interactive training with a qualified tutor over two full days. Delegates can ask questions, interact with the tutor and engage with other participants in real time, exactly as they would in a classroom setting.

Course Details

  • Format: Live online instructor-led training
  • Duration: 2 days (approximately 15 hours total)
  • Awarding Body: CITB
  • Qualification Validity: 5 years
  • Platform: Zoom or Microsoft Teams
  • Class size: Small groups, typically 2–10 learners
  • Equipment needed: PC or laptop with webcam, microphone and stable internet

View SSSTS Online Course Dates

What is the SSSTS online instructor-led course?

The SSSTS online course allows site supervisors and construction professionals to complete CITB-approved SSSTS training remotely with a live qualified instructor. Sessions are delivered via video conferencing over two days and follow the same CITB Site Safety Plus syllabus as classroom training, leading to the same SSSTS certificate.

This is not self-paced e-learning — it is live, interactive training where delegates participate in real time, ask questions and engage with the tutor throughout, exactly as they would in a classroom setting.

What does the online SSSTS course cover?

The online course follows the official CITB Site Safety Plus syllabus and covers the same content as the classroom version:

Why choose the SSSTS online course?
  • Study remotely from home, site office or any suitable location
  • Learn from a live qualified CITB-accredited instructor in real time
  • Avoid travel, accommodation and venue-related costs
  • Same CITB-approved syllabus as classroom delegates
  • Small group sizes — typically 2 to 10 learners — for individual attention
  • Same SSSTS certificate as classroom training — valid for five years
  • Suits busy schedules, remote workers and geographically dispersed teams
SSSTS online vs classroom — which should I choose?

Both formats lead to the same SSSTS certificate. The right choice depends on your preference, schedule and employer requirements.

Online instructor-led Classroom
Location Home, office or any location Physical venues across the UK
Instructor Live qualified tutor via video call Live tutor in classroom setting
Cost Lower — no travel or accommodation May include travel/accommodation
Certificate Same CITB SSSTS — 5 years Same CITB SSSTS — 5 years
Best for Remote workers and dispersed teams Those preferring face-to-face learning
Course requirements and exam rules
  • Photographic ID: Required for delegate verification before the course
  • Private space: You must be alone in the room during the CITB assessment
  • Camera on: You must remain visible on webcam throughout the assessment
  • Equipment: A PC or laptop with camera, microphone and stable internet — mobile phones and tablets are not suitable
  • Exam format: The assessment is open book for the final 10 minutes only — notes are not permitted before then
  • Re-sit: Available within 90 days if the exam is not passed (additional fee applies)
Can my employer claim CITB funding towards the online SSSTS?

The online instructor-led SSSTS is CITB-approved and qualifies for the same employer funding as classroom training. Construction employers registered with the CITB Levy may be able to offset part of the course cost — up to £115 per delegate — through CITB Employer Networks (the funding model that replaced direct grants from January 2026).

Whether your employer can access this depends on their CITB registration status and regional network availability. It is worth asking your training or HR manager before booking. Once funding eligibility has been confirmed, you can book your online course here in the normal way.

When are SSSTS online courses available?

SSSTS online instructor-led courses run regularly throughout the year with flexible dates and fast booking options. Joining instructions — including technology setup guidance and training materials — are provided in advance of the course start date.

View upcoming SSSTS online course dates and fees

Prefer face-to-face learning? View SSSTS classroom course locations

Related Content & Courses

Training more than one person on this course?

If you have a group to put through this course, it can be delivered at your own premises or a venue near you, on a date that suits your shift patterns. No travel, no overnight stays, and priced for the group rather than per person — which usually works out cheaper per head than booking individual places.

Tell us the numbers and roughly where you are, and we will come back with a written quote. Purchase orders and invoicing welcome.

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