Booking SSSTS, SMSTS or another Site Safety Plus course is an investment of time and money, and not every provider offers the same value. This guide sets out the nine things to check before you book, from CITB approval and funding to trainer experience and renewal support.
Whether you are stepping into your first supervisory role or renewing a certificate you have held for years, choosing where to train matters. A good provider saves you money, delivers a certificate that sites will accept and leaves you better prepared for the job. A poor one can cost you a failed course, a wasted week or a certificate that is not what you thought it was. Here are nine things to check before you book.
This is the most important check. CITB awards approved status to training organisations that agree to deliver courses and qualifications to an industry-agreed standard. CITB’s quality assurance team also makes occasional visits to check approved providers’ training premises. Ask the provider to confirm its CITB approval, and then verify it yourself. CITB offers a Site Safety Plus locator tool for finding approved providers across the UK. Note that CITB’s approval terminology has been changing, so use CITB’s own pages as the final word.
SMSTS, SSSTS and the other Site Safety Plus courses are CITB products with set rules. For SMSTS, for example, you must attend the full 37.5 hours of training to earn the certificate. The refresher is two days and 15 hours. A provider offering a shortcut, such as fewer hours or no assessment, is not delivering the real scheme.
Funding has changed recently. One training provider reports that from January 2026 only plant operations, scaffolding and selected specialist courses receive support through the main grants scheme, while other short courses move to Employer Networks funding. Treat this as a prompt to ask questions, not as the final word. Ask the provider whether your course is currently eligible for any funding, which route applies and what paperwork you need. Then confirm on CITB’s website. Be cautious of any provider quoting old grant amounts as if they were guaranteed.
Site Safety Plus courses are available through classroom or remote delivery, and some are also on CITB’s eCourses platform. Good providers offer a mix: weekday blocks, day release, weekends and live online. Pick the format that fits your work, but confirm that the online version carries the same certificate as the classroom one.
A trainer who has run sites teaches the regulations in a way that sticks, and can answer “what would you do if…” questions. Check the provider’s website for trainer profiles, and ask on the phone about their backgrounds.
A good provider tells you up front what you need to bring and do. CITB’s own course pages list requirements such as good spoken and written English and a valid form of ID. Attendance rules matter too, because you must attend every hour of the course. If you will miss a session, ask what happens before you pay, not after.
Passing a refresher extends a valid Site Safety Plus certificate for another five years, but only if the original certificate has not expired. A provider that reminds you before expiry, or makes refresher booking easy, is helping you avoid a costly lapse. Ask what support they give after the course.
Ask for the full price in writing, including exam, materials and certificate fees, and whether VAT applies. Cheap headline prices that grow at checkout are a warning sign. Compare like with like: same course, same format, same number of days.
Look for recent, specific reviews on independent sites, not only testimonials on the provider’s own page. Also ask how and when certificates are issued. CITB runs a delegate and employer helpline for replacement certificates and help with its course search, which is useful if anything goes wrong later.
Choosing well takes a few minutes and protects a five-year certificate. And once you have the certificate, keeping track of expiry dates, refreshers and site records is where a digital assistant like KaelSite can help.
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