No – if your CITB SSSTS or SMSTS certificate is out of date you will need to resit the complete CITB SSSTS/SMSTS course again.

Yes, as specified by CITB:- Delegates are required to attend all sessions in accordance with the course programme (regardless of the delivery method undertaken) to achieve the necessary learning objectives to qualify for the certificate.

Failure to complete the full course will result in delegates failing and, as a result, they will not receive a certificate and they will need to complete the whole course again.

If a delegate is indisposed, in extenuating circumstances (such as bereavement or certified illness), the delegate may enrol on a new course to cover the missing days, provided the same training Provider is used, to ensure consistency of the course delivery. This must be carried out within 90 days of the last day of the delegate’s attendance.

Goldcross will do its utmost to provide for all extenuating circumstances however, delegates should be aware that they will need to provide the requiste documentary evidence that such circumstances are applicable prior to being enrolled on an alternative course.

All of our CITB courses have the exam fee’s incorporated within the initial cost, you are also entitled to a free re-sit on the day should it be necessary providing you have met the minimum criteria.

Yes, our CITB tutor-led remote courses provide the same qualification as those undertaken in the classroom.

There are however clearly some differences between how these courses are delivered and you can read more about that here.

The following CITB examinations last for the period specified:

• Health and safety awareness (HSA) – 30 min
• SSSTS – 30 min
• SMSTS – 35 min

The CITB SMSTS certificate is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.

In order to remain certified the CITB SMSTS Refresher two day course must be undertaken before your certicate expires.  Failure to undertake the refresher course before your certificate expires will require you to complete the full CITB SMSTS course again.

The CITB SSSTS certificate is valid for a period of five years from the date of issue.

In order to remain certified the CITB SSSTS Refresher two day course must be undertaken before your certicate expires.  Failure to undertake the refresher course before your certificate expires will require you to complete the full CITB SSSTS course again.

The course is delivered over five days which provides approximately 37.5 hours of training.

Goldcross delivers ‘tutor led’ CITB SMSTS courses both in the classroom and ‘remotely online’ which can be taken in the following formats:

• Block – over a 5 day period Mon – Fri
• Weekends – over 2 1/2 weekends
• Day Release – one day a week over a 5 week period

The course is delivered over two days which provides approximately 16 hours of training.

Goldcross delivers ‘tutor led’ CITB SSSTS courses both in the classroom and ‘remotely online’ which can be taken in the following formats:

Block – over a 2 day period i.e, Mon – Tue, Tue – Wed, etc
or at Weekends

Certificates are generally provided by CITB within 10 working days however on occassion this may take longer.

Goldcross will dispatch the certificate direct to the individual/organisation who booked the course upon receipt.

There are no pre-requisites to undertaking the CITB SMSTS course other than you must have a good understanding of spoken and written English.  We would recommended however that delegates have a good understanding/knowledge of construction site safety and where possible have previously successfully completed the CITB SSSTS course.

Further details regarding the SMSTS course can be found here.

There are no pre-requisites to undertaking the CITB SSSTS course other than you must have a good understanding of spoken and written English.  We would recommended however that delegates have a reasonable understanding/knowledge of construction site safety and where possible have previously successfully completed the CITB Health and Safety Awareness course.

Further details regarding the SSSTS course can be found here.

The course that is best for you will largely depend on your current role or the role that you are aiming to fulfil:

If you are a construction site manager, project/contract manager or are aiming to obtain such a position then the SMSTS (Site Managers Safety Training Scheme) course is almost certainly the course that you should be undertaking.  Generally the SMSTS course is seen as a progression from the SSSTS.

For construction site supervisors, team leaders, foreman, etc then the SSSTS (Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme) course is invariably the course you require unless you are looking to step up into a construction site management position.

Short Course Grants

All CITB registered employers can apply directly for a grant whether or not they are paying a levy.

If you purchase your short course through Goldcross Training, a registered CITB approved training organisation (ATO), all you will need to do is provide us with your CITB number on making your booking and we will notify the CITB once the course has been successfully completed so that the funds (grant) you are entitled to can be automatically paid to you.

If you are using a training provider who is not a CITB Approved Training Organisation (ATO) you will need to make your grant application via the CITB online system here.

Short qualification grants

To claim a ‘short qualification’ grant that covers training, such as construction supervision/management NVQs or NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK), you must download, complete and submit the relevant documentation to the CITB (grant.claimforms@citb.co.uk) within 52 weeks of the achievement date.  Bulk claims for multiple employees are also provided for.

Goldcross Training can help and will assist you with your claim should you require us to.

The commercial benefits of the CITB Levy system are significant, particularly for small employers who may not even pay a levy at all. The availability of grants to cover some (or even cover the total) cost of your training needs, not only helps to meet the cost of your training supporting you financially but also helps support organisations efficiency and employee skills base, enhancing your overall productivity.

For those taking short courses such as CITB SSP: HAS, SSSTS, SMSTS and the respective refreshers, these grants can cover in the region of 50% of the course costs.

For those taking NVQs, the grants have increased to £1,250 for Supervisor NVQs and £1,500 for Manager NVQs.

The CITB currently offers grants in the following categories:

• Apprenticeships
• Long qualifications
• Short qualifications
• Into Work grant
• Advanced Craft (Scotland only)
• Short courses

The most common grants utilised by our customers and delegates are ‘short courses’ and ‘short qualifications’.  Full details of the grants available can be found on the CITB website.

The levy assessment process will apply to your organisation if the primary focus of your business is within the construction industry and when your construction activities take up more than 50% of your total employee’s time – this includes subcontractors.

All employers registered with CITB can apply for a grant, regardless of size or whether they pay a levy to CITB.  They must however have registered with CITB and be up to date with their levy returns.

Notably CITB grants are not only available to employees but also, business owners/partners, and all subcontractors, providing they are on the payroll.