The CITB SMSTS Refresher is the two-day course that renews a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate for a further five years. It brings site managers up to date on changes in legislation, HSE guidance and industry practice since their last course, without repeating the full five days.
Your certificate must still be in date
The refresher is only open to you while your existing SMSTS certificate is valid. There is no grace period. The CITB scheme rules state that anyone without an in-date certificate must complete the full five-day SMSTS course again, and that this is not subject to appeal. A certificate that lapsed by one day is treated exactly like one that lapsed two years ago. Check your expiry date before you book.
Duration2 days15 hours of delivery, per the CITB scheme rules
Renews for5 yearsFrom the date you pass, not from your old expiry
Entry requirementIn-date SMSTSProof of your current certificate is required
If it has lapsedFull 5-day courseThe refresher is closed to you, with no appeal
Who the course is for
This course suits you if
- You are a site manager, agent or project manager holding a current SMSTS certificate
- Your certificate is approaching its five-year expiry date
- You previously passed the full five-day SMSTS, or a later SMSTS Refresher
- You need to stay compliant with principal contractor requirements without five days off site
Before you book, you will need
- An SMSTS or SMSTS Refresher certificate that has not expired
- Proof of that certificate, which providers check before or on the day
- Photographic identification at registration
- Written and spoken English at the level needed to work at site management level
What the SMSTS refresher covers
The refresher assumes you already hold the full syllabus and concentrates on what has changed and what managers most often get wrong. Content is set by CITB, so it is consistent whichever approved provider you book with.
- Changes to health, safety, welfare and environmental legislation since your last course
- The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations and how they apply on site
- Latest HSE guidance, Approved Codes of Practice and enforcement activity
- Risk assessment and method statements in current practice
- Managing occupational health, including hand-arm vibration, noise and dust
- Behavioural safety, leadership and setting the standard on site
- Recent accident statistics, causes and the cost of getting it wrong
- The manager's legal responsibilities and personal liability
How you can take it
Classroom
Two consecutive days at a training centre. Still the most common format, and the one most often specified for group bookings.
Live online
The same CITB certificate, delivered by a tutor in a virtual classroom. You will need a quiet room, a webcam and a stable connection throughout.
On site for groups
Delivered at your own premises where you have enough delegates to fill a course, which removes travel and downtime entirely.
Assessment and certification
Attendance at the full 15 hours is a CITB requirement, so the days cannot be split or partially attended. Assessment is by a multiple-choice examination at the end of the course, alongside continuous tutor assessment of participation. Successful delegates are issued a CITB Site Safety Plus certificate valid for five years from the date of completion.
Common questions
How long is the SMSTS Refresher course?
Two days, totalling 15 hours of delivery under the CITB scheme rules. Attendance at all 15 hours is mandatory, so you cannot take the two days weeks apart or miss a session and catch up later. Some providers run the two days consecutively, others across a weekend.
Can I take the refresher if my SMSTS has already expired?
No. The refresher is only available while your existing certificate is still valid. The CITB scheme rules are explicit that anyone who does not hold an in-date certificate must complete the full five-day SMSTS course again if they wish to remain certificated, and that this is not subject to appeal. Book the refresher three to six months before your expiry date rather than in the final weeks, because popular dates fill and a course that runs after your expiry is no use to you.
How early can I take the SMSTS Refresher?
At any point while your certificate is still in date. Renewing early does not shorten your new certificate, which runs five years from the date you pass rather than from your old expiry date, so there is no advantage in leaving it late and a good deal of risk.
Is the online SMSTS Refresher the same certificate?
Yes. A live, tutor-led online refresher leads to exactly the same CITB Site Safety Plus certificate as the classroom course. It is not self-paced e-learning: sessions run to a timetable with a tutor present, and the examination is invigilated, so you will need a private room and your camera on.
Do I need to bring anything to the course?
Photographic identification is required at registration, and providers will ask for proof of your current SMSTS certificate. Without either, attendance can be refused on the day.
What happens if I fail the end-of-course test?
A re-sit may be available, subject to the CITB Site Safety Plus scheme rules and to the provider's own arrangements. Ask before you book if this matters to you, since arrangements differ between centres.
Compare SMSTS Refresher dates and venues below
Envico lists scheduled SMSTS Refresher dates from CITB-approved providers across the UK, so you can compare venues, formats and prices in one place rather than ringing round. Not sure which course you need? Try our free Site Safety Plus course finder, or browse all CITB Site Safety Plus courses.
