GET ANY COURSE FOR £10.99 ONLY !
BIG LEARNING. BIGGER SAVINGS.
Offer Ends In!
05Hours
40Minutes
24Seconds
Copy Your Coupon
  • Home
  • Blog
  • SMSTS Refresher Course UK: Cost, Rules and Expiry
SMSTS Refresher Course UK Cost, Rules and Expiry

SMSTS Refresher Course UK: Cost, Rules and Expiry

When your SMSTS renewal is coming up, check your certificate’s expiry date before you book. That date determines whether you can take the two-day refresher or need the full five-day course. This guide explains how to find your training record. You’ll also learn how to compare classroom and live online fees and check whether employer funding is available.

You can take the two-day SMSTS refresher if you hold a valid CITB SMSTS certificate and complete the course before it expires. Your current certificate can be from the original five-day course or a previous refresher. If it has already expired, you’ll need to take the full five-day SMSTS course again to regain certification.

When comparing bookings, check the final training date as well as the price. A course can start while your certificate is valid and still finish too late.

If you want to revisit site safety topics at your own pace, Learnera’s SMSTS Course (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) covers risk assessment, construction health and safety and CDM regulations. It’s a CPD course for building or refreshing your knowledge. 

TL;DR: What Should Readers Know?

Your certificate’s expiry date determines which course you need. Check it before comparing dates or fees.

  • Find your training record. You can check it online if you’ve lost your certificate.
  • Check both training dates. Complete the refresher before expiry. A booking alone does not extend your certificate.
  • Confirm the course. Look for approved SMSTS-R training when comparing classroom and live online options.
  • Compare the total fee. Check VAT, what the price includes and whether your employer can access funding before you pay.
SMSTS Course (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) CTA banner

Who Can Take the SMSTS Refresher and When Is It Due?

You can take the SMSTS refresher if you hold a valid CITB SMSTS certificate and finish the course before the expiry date shown on your certificate or training record.

Your Certificate Status What To Do
In date Give the training provider evidence of your current certificate. This can be from the full course or a previous refresher.
Close to expiry Check the final training date before you pay. Look for an earlier course if your preferred booking finishes too late.
Already expired Take the full five-day SMSTS course to regain certification. The renewal rules give no grace period.
Certificate copy missing Use CITB’s online training record checker to verify your record. If the provider cannot verify it and you have no other evidence, you’ll need the full course.

Suppose your certificate expires on 18 June. You book on 1 June for a course running on 17 and 18 June. Although you booked while your certificate was valid, the course finishes on the expiry date. Choose a course that ends by 17 June. Leaving a little more time gives you room to rebook if the provider changes the dates.

Passing the refresher renews your CITB Site Safety Plus certificate for five years. Use the expiry date on the renewed certificate when planning your next course.

What Happens on the Two-Day SMSTS Refresher?

The SMSTS refresher involves two days of training, at least 15 hours of attendance and an end-of-course exam. The 15 hours include the exam. Breaks and any exam retake are separate from the 15 hours.

Approved providers can deliver the course in a classroom or through live remote training. In both formats, the tutor revisits how site managers apply health and safety law and guidance. Topics include risk assessments, method statements, site welfare and incident reporting. The course also covers developments in legislation and working practices. The SMSTS Refresher assessment rules set out the exam format.

What Happens on the Two-Day SMSTS Refresher

How Much Does the SMSTS Refresher Cost and Can Employers Get Funding?

Advertised prices for the two-day SMSTS refresher ranged from £299 to £354 per person across the listings reviewed. Eligible employers in Great Britain can check whether CITB’s Employer Networks will contribute towards the fee.

How Much Does the SMSTS Refresher Cost and Can Employers Get Funding

The ranges include VAT where charged. Use the five-day range for budgeting if your certificate has already expired. Before paying, check whether the fee covers course materials, registration and certification. Ask separately what an exam resit would cost.

The CITB Employer Networks funding list shows a £55 contribution towards the Site Safety Plus refresher for eligible employers in England, Scotland and Wales. Funding depends on eligibility and the available budget. Ask your employer to arrange the training through its Employer Network before you pay. Employers in Northern Ireland should check the separate funding arrangements with CITB NI.

Is a Current SMSTS Certificate a Legal Requirement?

The construction regulations in Great Britain and Northern Ireland do not name SMSTS as a legal requirement. An employer or client can still require a current certificate for a particular role or site.

Where The Requirement Comes From What It Means In Practice
Construction law The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 apply in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own CDM Regulations 2016. Both require appointed designers and contractors to have the skills, knowledge and experience needed for their role. Organisations also need the relevant organisational capability.
Regulator guidance HSE guidance explains that the skills, experience and training needed depend on the work and its risks. Training records can form part of that evidence. In Northern Ireland, HSENI provides guidance on the local regulations.
CITB renewal rules The five-year renewal cycle applies to the Site Safety Plus certificate.
Employer or client policy A project can specify what evidence it accepts for site access or a management role. Check the written requirement if your certificate is about to expire or has already expired.

A current SMSTS certificate is one piece of training evidence. When assessing someone for a role, employers also need to consider their experience, the duties they’ll carry out and the risks on that project.

What Should You Check Before Booking a Refresher?

Before paying, check that the provider is approved to deliver Site Safety Plus, the booking is for SMSTS-R and the final training day falls before your certificate expires.

  • Confirm who delivers the course. If you book through a marketplace, ask which provider will deliver the training and confirm that it will register you for SMSTS-R.
  • Read the joining instructions. Check which ID and certificate evidence the provider accepts. Confirm the venue and start time for classroom training. For live remote training, check what equipment you need and how you’ll receive the materials.
  • Check the booking terms. Find out what happens if the provider moves the course or you need to transfer. If your employer is paying, confirm who should book and receive the invoice.

An online course title can tell you the subject without telling you which certificate you’ll receive. Check the outcome before choosing a course.

If You Need To…

What To Look For

Renew your CITB SMSTS certificate

Approved SMSTS-R training with scheduled attendance and an end-of-course exam. Successful completion renews your Site Safety Plus certificate.

Revisit site safety topics at your own pace

Self-paced CPD. Any completion certificate records your CPD learning.

What If You Miss Part of the Course or Fail the Exam?

If you miss training, you’ll need to make up the missed day or restart the course. If you fail the exam, your score determines whether you qualify for a resit. Contact your training provider promptly to arrange your next step.

What Happened What To Do
You missed all or part of the first day Arrange to restart the full refresher. The first day must be attended in full.
You missed the second day Ask the provider whether you can attend the missed day in full on another course. Under the standard arrangements for extenuating circumstances, this must be within 30 days of your last day of attendance.
You scored 23–25 out of 32 You’re eligible for one resit. The provider can offer it on the same day if you agree and have time to prepare. Appendix H gives a 30-day window for a later sitting.
You scored below 23 or did not pass the resit The resit option is limited to scores of 23–25. An unsuccessful resit means repeating the refresher, subject to your certificate status. Ask your provider which course you’re eligible to book.

If your original certificate expires before a rearranged training day or resit, ask your provider to confirm how the CITB renewal rules apply to your booking. A resit or missed-day arrangement does not extend the expiry date on your certificate.

Check Your SMSTS Expiry Date Before You Book

Use your certificate’s expiry date to choose the right course before you pay. Once you receive your new certificate, share it with whoever maintains your employer’s training register and set a reminder for your next renewal.

An upcoming project can also help you decide what’s worth revisiting between renewals. If the work involves excavation or working at height, check the relevant module in Learnera’s SMSTS Course before enrolling. Start with the topic you’re likely to discuss at your next site planning meeting.

SMSTS Course (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) CTA banner

Frequently Asked Questions

The scheme recommends running the refresher on consecutive days, but providers can sometimes deliver it on two separate days. Check the timetable before booking, especially if your certificate is close to expiry.

Ask your training provider when it expects to issue or send your certificate after you pass. If your employer needs evidence sooner, ask the provider what confirmation it can give and whether your employer will accept it.

Yes. Some approved providers offer dedicated courses for employer groups. Your training coordinator can ask about group size, suitable venues and available dates before arranging a booking.

The refresher issues a CITB Site Safety Plus certificate. If your role also requires a CSCS card, check the application or renewal requirements for the specific card you hold or need.

No. You can book with a different approved Site Safety Plus provider. The new provider will need evidence that your current CITB SMSTS certificate is still valid.

Yes. Contact the training provider before booking if you need an adjustment. Explain what would help and ask what the provider can arrange under the scheme’s assessment rules. Check whether it needs any supporting information.

The provider must give each delegate their own copy of GE700 at the start of the course. If you’re attending remotely, ask how you’ll receive it and whether you need to set up access in advance.

Changing employers does not reset your certificate’s expiry date. Give your new employer a copy or the details they need to verify it. Then check whether the new project has any additional training or site access requirements.

Table of Contents

All Categories

Recent Blogs

Is The SMSTS Course Mandatory For Site Managers In The Uk

Is The SMSTS Course Mandatory For Site Managers In The UK?

November 13, 2026

Stepping into site management often raises one question about SMSTS. Is it required by law or simply expected? SMSTS is not named in UK legislation. CDM 2015 instead requires contractors to appoint people with suitable skills, knowledge and experience. Many contractors accept SMSTS as evidence. This guide explains the legal position, employer expectations, certificate renewal and the Black CSCS card.

Read More
What_It_Is_Really_Like_to_Work_as_a_Physiotherapy_Assistant_in_the_UK

What It Is Really Like to Work as a Physiotherapy Assistant in the UK

November 3, 2026

Physiotherapy assistant work reaches beyond hospital wards and exercise equipment. Depending on the service, it includes supporting patients in schools, residential homes and their own homes. These settings bring different responsibilities and opportunities to support everyday movement. This guide explores the working day, the training involved and what makes the role rewarding alongside its practical demands.

Read More

Learnera provides high-quality online courses covering a variety of topics along with certificates issued by top organisations.

  • info@learnera.co.uk
  • +447478023018
  • 01284662050
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X-twitter Youtube
Explore
Important Links

Payment methods possible

Copyright © 2026 Learnera. All Right Reserved.

Privacy Policy  |  Terms & Conditions