SSSTS and SMSTS are the industry-standard site safety qualifications. This guide covers which one you need, what the courses cover, costs, renewal, and how they fit into your electrical career.
Free for 7 days · No charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime · Used by 1,000+ UK electricians
Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
1,000+
UK electricians
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical
SSSTS (Site Supervisors' Safety Training Scheme) and SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) are health and safety qualifications run by CITB (Construction Industry Training Board). They are the industry-standard site safety qualifications for anyone in a supervisory or management role on a UK construction site.
For electricians, these qualifications become relevant when you step beyond hands-on installation work into supervision, project management, or running your own team. Most major construction sites require anyone in a supervisory role to hold at least SSSTS, and site managers to hold SMSTS.
These are not electrical qualifications — they cover general construction health and safety. But they are essential for electricians who work on or manage projects on construction sites.
Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.
SSSTS is designed for people who have, or are about to take on, supervisory responsibilities on a construction site. For electricians, this typically means:
The course runs over 2 days and is assessed through a mix of group exercises, case studies, and a short written assessment. There is no formal exam — the assessment is continuous throughout the course. Most people who attend and participate pass.
SMSTS is the higher-level qualification for people with management responsibility for health and safety on a construction site. For electricians, this means:
The course runs over 5 days (usually one full week) and goes deeper than SSSTS into health and safety legislation, CDM (Construction Design and Management) Regulations, risk management, and management responsibilities. Assessment is through group exercises, case studies, and a written assessment on the final day.
Here is a practical guide:
AI-generated mocks, instant marking, and explanations on every question — targeted at your weakest topics. From £6.99/mo.
Start practising free
Both courses cover health and safety topics relevant to construction sites:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, and how they apply to construction. Your duties as a supervisor or manager. Enforcement and penalties.
How to carry out risk assessments, write method statements (RAMS), and implement safe systems of work. Practical exercises in identifying hazards and determining control measures.
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. Roles and responsibilities of client, principal designer, principal contractor, contractors, and workers. Construction phase plans and health and safety files.
Working at height, confined spaces, manual handling, asbestos, noise, vibration, fire safety, and electrical safety (from a management perspective). How to manage these risks on a live construction site.
CITB-registered employers may be eligible for grant funding that covers a significant portion of the course cost. Check with CITB or your training provider about grant eligibility. The courses are also tax-deductible as a business expense for self-employed electricians.
Both SSSTS and SMSTS certificates are valid for 5 years. To renew, you must complete a refresher course before your certificate expires:
Whether you hold SSSTS or SMSTS, you need professional tools to manage health and safety documentation on site.
Elec-Mate's AI health and safety tools help you create risk assessments, method statements, and site safety documentation.
Try it free for 7 daysVerified reviews from the UK App Store.
Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.
I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.
Real feedback from real sparks
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer
Sole Trader · DP Electrical
“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”
Nathan Perry
Electrician · NP Electrical Services
“The study centre got me through my AM2. Mock exams and flashcards are brilliant.”
Jake Pizey
3rd Year Apprentice · Apprentice
Join 1,000+ UK electricians using Elec-Mate for risk assessments, method statements, and site safety management. 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer, DP Electrical
From £6.99/mo after trial — less than a coffee a week
We use cookies to improve the app and measure what works. Cookie Policy