CITB SMSTS Courses

The CITB SMSTS is the five-day Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate, and the qualification principal contractors most often name for anyone running a construction site. It covers the legal duties, planning and day-to-day decisions that sit with a site manager, and the certificate is recognised UK-wide for five years.

Duration5 daysA minimum of 37 hours 30 minutes under the CITB scheme rules

Certificate5 yearsRenewed by the 2-day SMSTS Refresher before it expires

Entry requirementsNone formallyYou should hold, or be about to hold, a site manager role

Also coversHSA and SSSTSCITB accepts an SMSTS certificate in place of both

Who the course is for

This course suits you if

You are a site manager, agent or project manager, or about to step into one of those roles
A principal contractor or framework has specified SMSTS by name
You carry responsibility for health and safety across a site rather than a single team
You have outgrown supervisor-level training and need the management qualification

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements, so SSSTS is not a prerequisite
You should hold, or be about to hold, the role of site manager
Previous health and safety knowledge is recommended. CITB suggests those without health and safety management experience take the two-day SSSTS first
Written and spoken English at the level needed to operate at site management level

What the SMSTS course covers

The syllabus is set by CITB, so the content is the same whichever approved provider you book with. What differs is the venue, the format and the price, which is what this page lets you compare.

Health and safety law and the manager's legal responsibilities
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations in practice
Risk assessments, method statements and safe systems of work
Site set-up, planning and organising work safely
Managing occupational health, including vibration, noise, dust and asbestos
Working at height, excavations, confined spaces and lifting operations
Statutory inspections, records and reporting under RIDDOR
Leadership, worker engagement and building a safety culture

Course structure and attendance

This is a five-day course and CITB requires attendance of a minimum of 37 hours and 30 minutes, which includes the examination. All full days must be attended. If you miss a day through genuinely unforeseen circumstances you may re-enrol on another course to complete the missing days, but those days must be completed within 30 days. Providers also need a minimum of three delegates for a course to run, which is why advertised dates occasionally move.

Assessment and certification

Assessment combines a written examination at the end of the course with continuous trainer assessment of your participation across the week. Successful delegates receive a CITB Site Safety Plus certificate valid for five years. Worth knowing: CITB accepts an SMSTS certificate in place of Health and Safety Awareness and SSSTS, so you do not need those separately once you hold it.

Renewing your certificate

Your SMSTS runs five years from the date you pass. It is renewed by the two-day SMSTS Refresher, which must be completed before the expiry date. There is no grace period: let it lapse and you return to this full five-day course, and the CITB scheme rules state that this is not subject to appeal. Check your expiry date and diarise it the day you pass.

How you can take it

Classroom

Five days at a training centre, usually consecutive but sometimes split across weeks. Still the most widely available format.

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, which removes travel and keeps the team together.

Common questions

Do I need SSSTS before I can take SMSTS?

No. There are no formal entry requirements for SMSTS, so you can take it directly. CITB does recommend that anyone without previous health and safety management experience sits the two-day SSSTS first, but that is guidance rather than a condition of entry. If a contract has specified SMSTS, book SMSTS.

How long is the SMSTS course?

Five days, and CITB requires a minimum of 37 hours and 30 minutes of attendance including the examination. All full days must be attended. If illness or another genuine circumstance stops you completing a day, you can re-enrol on another course to make up the missing days, provided they are completed within 30 days.

How long does an SMSTS certificate last?

Five years from the date you pass. It is renewed with the two-day SMSTS Refresher, which has to be completed while your certificate is still valid. Once it has expired the refresher is closed to you and the full five days must be repeated, which the CITB scheme rules confirm is not subject to appeal.

Does SMSTS cover SSSTS and Health and Safety Awareness?

Yes. The CITB scheme rules state that an SMSTS certificate is accepted for Health and Safety Awareness and SSSTS, as well as for the SSSTS and SMSTS refresher courses. So there is no need to hold those separately alongside a current SMSTS.

Is the online SMSTS the same qualification?

Yes. A live, tutor-led online course leads to exactly the same CITB Site Safety Plus certificate as the classroom version. 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.

Is SMSTS the same as a CSCS card?

No. SMSTS is a training certificate; a CSCS card is proof of competence you carry on site. Most CSCS card applications need a vocational qualification such as an NVQ plus a CITB Health, Safety and Environment test pass. Holding SMSTS does not on its own get you a card.

Compare SMSTS dates and venues below

Envico lists scheduled SMSTS 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 your role needs? Try our free Site Safety Plus course finder, or browse all CITB Site Safety Plus courses.

SMSTS Courses by Location

Find a CITB SMSTS classroom course near you, with accredited providers across the UK.

SMSTS Online (Instructor-led) 23 courses

Bedfordshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Berkshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Buckinghamshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Cambridgeshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Cheshire (SMSTS) 3 courses

Cornwall (SMSTS) 1 course

County Durham (SMSTS) 2 courses

Derbyshire (SMSTS) 3 courses

Devon (SMSTS) 3 courses

East Yorkshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Essex (SMSTS) 4 courses

Gloucestershire (SMSTS) 4 courses

Greater Manchester (SMSTS) 7 courses

Hampshire (SMSTS) 4 courses

Hertfordshire (SMSTS) 2 courses

Kent (SMSTS) 4 courses

Lancashire (SMSTS) 5 courses

Leicestershire (SMSTS) 2 courses

London (SMSTS) 3 courses

Merseyside (SMSTS) 6 courses

Norfolk (SMSTS) 1 course

Nottinghamshire (SMSTS) 4 courses

Scotland (SMSTS) 2 courses

Shropshire (SMSTS) 1 course

Somerset (SMSTS) 2 courses

South Yorkshire (SMSTS) 7 courses

Staffordshire (SMSTS) 3 courses

Suffolk (SMSTS) 2 courses

Tyne & Wear (SMSTS) 2 courses

West Midlands (SMSTS) 4 courses

West Sussex (SMSTS) 2 courses

West Yorkshire (SMSTS) 4 courses

Wiltshire (SMSTS) 2 courses

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 improve their bottom line, stay compliant and avoid litigation.

Courses are delivered by CITB Approved Training Organisations, which are audited against the scheme rules. That is why the syllabus and 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) — 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 SMSTS is one of the most respected site management 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.