CITB Site Safety Plus

SMSTS Refresher Course

The CITB two-day SMSTS Refresher renews a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate for a further five years. Delivered by KeyOstas in-company or as a scheduled course, classroom or live online.

2 days CITB Site Safety Plus Renews for 5 years Holders of a current SMSTS
Key facts at a glance
2 days
Durationaround 17.5 hours, over consecutive days
CITB
Site Safety Plusrenews the recognised scheme certificate
5 years
New validitya further five years on the certificate
Before expiry
Timingmust be taken before the SMSTS certificate expires
The course
Quick answer

What is the SMSTS Refresher course?

The SMSTS Refresher is the CITB two-day course that renews a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate. It brings site managers up to date with current health and safety law and good practice, and extends the CITB Site Safety Plus certificate for a further five years. It must be completed before the existing certificate expires.

Renews an SMSTS certificate for a further five years
Two days, around 17.5 hours over consecutive days
Updates managers on current law, CDM and good practice
Must be taken before the existing SMSTS certificate expires
An SMSTS certificate is valid for five years. The SMSTS Refresher is the CITB course that renews it without a manager having to repeat the full five-day course. Over two consecutive days it brings site managers up to date with current health and safety law, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and any changes, risk assessments and method statements, and the leadership and monitoring expected of the site management role. It is a working refresher rather than a recap, and it ends with a CITB assessment. The course is for delegates who already hold a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate. It must be completed before the existing certificate expires: if the certificate is allowed to lapse, the refresher can no longer be used and the full five-day SMSTS course must be taken again. KeyOstas delivers the SMSTS Refresher in-company or as a scheduled course, in the classroom or as live online instructor-led training.
2 days
around 17.5 hours over consecutive days
5 years
the renewed certificate validity
Before expiry
when the refresher must be taken
Is it right for you

Is this course right for you?

The refresher is for site managers who already hold an SMSTS certificate.

Right for you if…

You hold a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate that is due to expire
You are a site manager, project manager or general foreman keeping your certificate current
You want to renew without repeating the full five-day SMSTS course
You can complete the course before your existing certificate expires
You want an update on current law, CDM and good practice

A different course fits better if…

You have never held an SMSTS certificate: take the full five-day SMSTS course
Your SMSTS certificate has already expired: the full course is needed again
You are a supervisor renewing an SSSTS certificate: see the SSSTS Refresher
After the course

What you will be able to do

By the end of the course, every delegate will be able to do the following.

Update the knowledge

Know current law

Outline current construction health and safety law and any recent changes.

Apply CDM 2015

Explain the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and the manager's duties.

Refresh risk assessment

Review the approach to risk assessments and method statements.

Know the standards

Outline current HSE guidance and good practice for managing a site.

Lead on site

Lead safety

Lead by example and set the health and safety standard on site.

Monitor the site

Monitor site activities and act on what monitoring shows.

Manage change

Respond to changes in regulation, guidance and site conditions.

Renew the certificate

Meet the CITB assessment and renew the Site Safety Plus certificate.

Course content

What the course covers

Two consecutive days updating site managers, ending with a CITB assessment.

01

Law and regulation updates

  • Current construction health and safety law and recent changes
  • The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
  • Current HSE guidance and good practice
02

Managing and leading safety

  • Risk assessments and method statements
  • Leadership in safety and monitoring the site
  • Reviewing site safety practices
03

Assessment

  • Group discussion and scenario exercises
  • The CITB end assessment
  • Renewing the Site Safety Plus certificate
Assessment

How the course is assessed and certificated

A CITB assessment that renews the Site Safety Plus certificate.

Format

Instructor-led, CITB Site Safety Plus

Delivered by KeyOstas in-company or as a scheduled course, in the classroom or live online.

Assessment

CITB end assessment

Delegates are assessed against the CITB standard before the certificate is renewed.

Certificate

CITB Site Safety Plus, valid 5 years

Successful delegates renew the CITB Site Safety Plus certificate for a further five years.

Full attendance of both consecutive days is required. The refresher must be completed before the existing SMSTS certificate expires.
Why KeyOstas

Why train with KeyOstas

Four decades of practical construction health & safety training.

01

In-company or scheduled

Run the refresher at your premises for a group of managers, or attend a scheduled course.

02

Classroom or live online

Take the refresher in the classroom or as live, instructor-led online training.

03

Construction specialists

Experienced tutors who keep the refresher grounded in real site work.

04

Specialists since 1984

Four decades of training UK construction workforces in health and safety.

FAQ

SMSTS Refresher course: frequently asked questions

Who is the SMSTS Refresher for?
Site managers, project managers and general foremen who hold a Site Management Safety Training Scheme certificate and need to renew it before it expires.
How long is the SMSTS Refresher?
It is a two-day course, around 17.5 hours, delivered over two consecutive days.
Does the refresher renew my certificate for five years?
Yes. Completing the SMSTS Refresher renews the CITB Site Safety Plus certificate for a further five years.
When do I need to take the refresher?
Before your existing SMSTS certificate expires. If it lapses, the refresher cannot be used and the full five-day SMSTS course must be taken again.
Can I take the SMSTS Refresher online?
Yes. KeyOstas delivers it in the classroom or as live, instructor-led online training, and in-company or as a scheduled course.
Is there an assessment on the refresher?
Yes. Delegates are assessed against the CITB standard before the Site Safety Plus certificate is renewed.
My certificate has already expired, can I still do the refresher?
No. Once an SMSTS certificate has lapsed the refresher can no longer be used, and the full five-day SMSTS course must be taken.
How is this different from the SSSTS Refresher?
The SMSTS Refresher renews a management-level SMSTS certificate. The SSSTS Refresher renews the supervisor-level SSSTS certificate.

Renew your SMSTS certificate

Tell us when your certificate is due to expire and whether you need an in-company course or scheduled places, and we will put together a quote and dates.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Checked against the awarding body and current course information.