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SSSTS Courses by Location
Find a CITB SSSTS classroom course near you, with accredited providers across the UK.
SSSTS vs SMSTS — Which Do You Need?
The two best-known CITB Site Safety Plus courses suit different roles. Choosing the right one depends on your level of responsibility on site:
- SSSTS — a two-day course for supervisors, foremen and team leaders responsible for overseeing a team or work area.
- SMSTS — a five-day course for site managers with overall responsibility for managing a site.
SSSTS is not a prerequisite for SMSTS, so you can go straight to the five-day course if that is what your role requires. CITB does recommend SSSTS first for anyone without previous health and safety management experience. Many supervisors take SSSTS and progress to SMSTS as they move into site management.
Still unsure? Our free Site Safety Plus course finder matches your duties on site to the right course in three questions.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
About the CITB
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is the training organisation for the UK construction industry. Established in 1964, it works with construction companies to improve skills and respond to the challenges employers face. CITB courses help those in construction stay compliant, improve standards and avoid litigation.
Courses are delivered by CITB Approved Training Organisations, which are audited against the scheme rules. That is why the syllabus and the certificate are identical wherever you book.
CITB Levy & Grant Scheme
The CITB Levy funds industry-wide training and skills development, helping construction workers access essential qualifications and safety training.
- Employers with a wage bill over the annual threshold typically pay the levy.
- The amount is a percentage of total payroll.
- Employers can claim back grant funding for approved courses.
Site Safety Plus (SSP) Scheme
The CITB Site Safety Plus (SSP) scheme is a comprehensive suite of health and safety courses for those working in construction and civil engineering, covering every level from operatives to directors:
- Health and Safety Awareness (HSA) — one day, entry-level, preparing for the CSCS Green Labourer Card.
- Site Supervision Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) — two days, for site supervisors.
- Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) — five days, for site managers.
- Director's Role for Health and Safety — for directors and senior managers.
- Site Environmental Awareness (SEATS) — for environmental duties on site.
- Temporary Works Coordinator and Temporary Works Supervisor — for temporary works (BS 5975).
Refresher Courses
Certificate renewal options keep teams up to date: SSSTS Refresher (SSSTS-R), SMSTS Refresher (SMSTS-R) and Temporary Works Coordinator Refresher (TWCTC-R). Certificates are typically renewed every five years.
Not sure when yours runs out? Use the free Certificate Expiry Checker.
International Recognition
The CITB SSSTS is one of the most respected site supervision programmes in UK construction and is increasingly recognised internationally — widely accepted in Ireland and the Crown Dependencies, and valued where UK health and safety standards are influential, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other parts of the Middle East.
Further Reading
The law behind the course
Background on the legislation SSSTS is built around: the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the CDM Regulations that set out who is responsible for what on a construction project.
Putting it into practice
How it works once you are back on site: writing risk assessments that meet your legal duty, and building a safety culture that holds when nobody is watching.