SMSTS vs SSSTS: the difference and which to take

What is the main difference?

The level of responsibility. SMSTS is built for people who manage a site and its teams. SSSTS is built for people who supervise work on the ground.

The courses cover similar subjects, such as health and safety law, risk assessment and high risk work, but SMSTS is longer and is aimed at the management level.

The figures below come from the CITB scheme documents issued in February 2026 and the CITB course pages.

SMSTS: five days, at least 37.5 hours. Exam of 25 questions in 35 minutes, 32 marks, pass mark 81% (26 out of 32). Certificate lasts five years, with a two-day refresher.

SSSTS: two days, 15 hours. Exam of 25 questions in 30 minutes, 30 marks, pass mark 80% (24 out of 30), and four safety critical questions at the start of the paper. Certificate lasts five years, with a one-day refresher.

Both are Site Safety Plus courses run by approved training providers, so the way you book and attend is similar.

Which one do I need?

Start with your job title and what you are responsible for. If you will plan, organise and control a site or a team of supervisors, SMSTS is the usual fit. If you will direct a trade gang or a work area, SSSTS is the usual fit.

CITB gives no formal entry requirements for either course. It does advise that people with no health and safety management experience take the SSSTS before the SMSTS.

Your employer, client or contract may name the course they expect. Ask them, because that decides it in practice.

Whichever you choose, you must attend the full course and pass the trainer review before you can sit the exam.

What do the exam differences mean in practice?

The SMSTS paper gives you 35 minutes for 25 questions, and seven of them are worth two marks each. The SSSTS paper gives you 30 minutes for 25 questions, with 22 multiple choice and three short written answers.

The SSSTS has an extra rule: four safety critical questions that must all be right. The SMSTS scheme document sets no safety critical questions. You pass on your total score, 81%.

Both courses also have a trainer review that you must pass before you sit the exam. For SMSTS it looks at the core exercises and the course overall. For SSSTS it looks at teamwork, engagement and a toolbox talk.

Our guides on SMSTS and SSSTS each cover the course in more detail, and you can compare the two side by side.

Can I move from SSSTS to SMSTS, and what mistakes should I avoid?

Yes. Some people take the SSSTS first and the SMSTS when they step up to a management role. Each course is booked separately and has its own exam.

Ask your training provider which course suits your next role before you book.

Do not pick a course on length or price alone. A shorter course is no use if your client expects the management-level one.

Do not assume one replaces the other. They are separate certificates, each with its own refresher, and CITB gives five years for each.

If you are unsure, ask your employer what the contract or site rules require, then confirm with a training provider.

Does either of them give me a CSCS card?

No. CSCS says neither course is accepted as part of a card application. CSCS does say you can add them to the My Skills section of the My CSCS app, which records the training but does not count towards a card. Our guide on CSCS cards explains more.

If you want to get a feel for the style of paper first, our free practice paper is a low-pressure way to start. It does not replace the approved course.