SMSTS Training Online: Is It Easy?
The SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) is the UK construction industry’s paramount qualification for site managers. Given its five-day duration and mandatory status for senior site leaders, many professionals are drawn to the convenience of the SMSTS Training Online format. But is it easier than the in-person version?
The short answer is no, the SMSTS isn’t necessarily an easy course, regardless of the format. It’s a rigorous programme designed to test a manager’s strategic competence, and legal knowledge. The online delivery offers more flexibility and convenience, but the high standard, complexity of the content, and mandatory final assessment remain the same.
1. Understanding What the SMSTS Course Involves
The training is a five-day intensive course developed by the CITB. It’s not an introductory safety course, but a deep dive into the legal and procedural duties of a Site Manager. The course involves learning how to implement, monitor, and enforce strategic health and safety management systems across an entire construction project. Key areas of study include:
- Legal Framework: Comprehensive coverage of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the detailed responsibilities under the CDM Regulations 2015.
- Risk Management: Developing legally robust Risk Assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) for complex, high-risk activities.
- Occupational Health: Managing risks associated with dust, noise, vibration, and site welfare.
- Site Procedures: Overseeing specific hazardous operations like demolition, scaffolding, and working near underground and overhead services.
The course aims to train individuals who are capable of taking legal responsibility for an entire site.
2. What to Expect from SMSTS Training Online
The digital course is delivered via a live, tutor-led virtual classroom. This crucial detail means the training is not a self-paced, pre-recorded video series; it’s a real-time, interactive commitment. Participants must attend all five days of live tuition, engage in mandatory group exercises, and participate actively in discussions. You’ll need a stable internet connection, a quiet environment, and a functioning webcam/microphone. The core difference is the location- you save on travel- but the content and duration are exactly the same as the classroom version.
3. The Level of Difficulty Compared to Other CITB Courses
Regardless of the format, the difficulty is higher than other CITB courses:
- Compared to HSA (Health and Safety Awareness): The HSA is a one-day introductory course for operatives. The SMSTS is five days, focused on management strategy, legal liability, and system implementation.
- Compared to SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme): The SSSTS is two days, focusing on implementing rules under supervision. The SMSTS is five days, focusing on creating and enforcing the rules for the whole site.
4. How SMSTS Training Online Tests Your Knowledge
The course tests your knowledge through a blended assessment approach, conducted at the end of the five-day period:
- Core Exercises: Mandatory practical exercises completed throughout the week, including creating a detailed Method Statement and conducting a Risk Assessment. These must demonstrate practical application of the principles.
- Final Exam: A comprehensive, multi-part written examination.
The examination requires not just recall, but contextual application- you must apply the correct legal and procedural responses to real-world site scenarios.
5. Key Skills Needed to Pass the Course
Passing the course relies on a specific blend of professional and academic skills:
- Practical Context: Sufficient site experience to understand the terminology and hazards discussed.
- Critical Thinking: The ability to analyse site scenarios, prioritise risks, and justify strategic decisions.
- Procedural Mastery: A deep understanding of how to document safety (RAMS, Audits, etc.) correctly.
- Commitment to Study: The discipline to dedicate evenings and time outside of the virtual class hours to essential revision and exercise completion.
6. Why SMSTS Training Online Isn’t for Beginners
The course is fundamentally unsuitable for beginners because it assumes foundational knowledge that a novice won’t have. The content immediately focuses on advanced topics like Principal Contractor duties, temporary works procedures, and subcontractor control. Without prior experience in these areas:
- The scenarios used for case studies lack context.
- The required RAMS exercises cannot be completed credibly.
- The legal liability discussed feels abstract, and difficult to internalise.
A beginner should first complete the SSSTS or gain substantial site experience before attempting the SMSTS.
7. The Role of Experience in Making the Course Easier
Experience is the most significant factor in making the SMSTS easier. For someone with years of site experience, the course material often serves as a formal validation of knowledge they already intuitively possess. They can link the regulatory requirement for a traffic management plan directly to a time they managed site vehicles, making the learning stick. Their familiarity with site documentation accelerates the completion of the mandatory practical exercises, allowing them to focus their energy on mastering the complex legal nuances.
8. How SMSTS Training Online Prepares You for Site Management
The course prepares you for site management by focusing on decision-making and accountability. The training teaches you how to identify the non-negotiable legal requirements for site operation. It provides the procedural templates for management systems and, through case studies, shows you the consequences of failure. Crucially, it clarifies the manager’s role in the hierarchy, empowering you to enforce compliance, manage diverse teams, and lead a safety culture that permeates the entire project.
9. Common Challenges Learners Face During the Course
Learners commonly struggle with:
- Information Volume: The density of legal and procedural information covered in five days.
- Contextual Application: Moving beyond theory to applying the rules correctly in the assessment scenarios.
- Time Management: Successfully completing the mandatory RAMS exercises and revision while attending five full days of virtual tuition.
- Legal Jargon: Interpreting the precise language used in regulations like CDM 2015.
The online format demands strong self-discipline, but is absolutely achievable.
10. Study Tips to Succeed in SMSTS Training Online
To maximise your chances of success, adopt these study tips:
- Pre-Read CDM: Familiarise yourself with the key roles (Client, PD, PC) and general requirements of the CDM Regulations before day one.
- Dedicated Space: Ensure you have a quiet, dedicated, professional workspace to minimise distractions during the live sessions.
- Take Mock Exams: Utilise practice exams extensively to refine your timing and test your application of knowledge for the final assessment.
- Annotate Materials: Use highlighters and quick notes on your digital or physical course materials for fast referencing during the assessment exercises.
11. Balancing Work and Study Commitments
Balancing work and study is perhaps the biggest logistical hurdle. Since the course runs for five full days, managers often need to delegate their core duties entirely. However, the online format helps by eliminating commute time. During the course week, treat the evenings as dedicated study time, focusing on completing the mandatory exercises. Clear communication with your employer about your need for focused study time is essential for avoiding interruption, and ensuring a successful outcome.
12. How SMSTS Training Online Builds Confidence in Legal Compliance
The course builds confidence in legal compliance by clarifying accountability. When you understand precisely what the law requires of you as a manager, you can act decisively. The course dissects legal case studies, showing how safety failures led to prosecutions. This deep dive into legal precedents empowers the manager to enforce safety protocols with authority, knowing their decisions are backed by legislation. This knowledge transforms managers into legally aware leaders who proactively manage risk.
13. The Importance of Active Participation and Discussion
Active participation in the virtual classroom is vital. The complex nature of site management means there are often multiple valid ways to address a safety risk. Engaging in discussion and debates helps you understand the nuances of the regulations, and the justification for choosing one control measure over another. Tutors use these discussions to verify your competence and understanding, and your active role contributes positively to the continuous assessment component of the course.
14. How Assessments Work in SMSTS Training Online
Assessments in the SMSTS are designed to be verifiable and secure. The overall pass is dependent on both the successful completion of the in-course exercises (proving practical skill) and passing the final examination (proving knowledge application). The comprehensive assessment ensures the high standards of the SMSTS are maintained across the virtual format.
15. What Makes the Online Format More Accessible
The online format significantly increases the accessibility of the SMSTS by:
- Eliminating Geography: Professionals can access the training regardless of their location, especially valuable for those in rural areas.
- Reducing Cost: Savings on fuel, accommodation, and parking make the training more affordable.
- Maximising Time: Allowing managers to be home immediately after the training sessions conclude, giving them more time for study or personal commitments.
This accessibility ensures that crucial professional development is available to a wider demographic of construction professionals.
16. How SMSTS Training Online Compares to the Classroom Version
The course is identical to the classroom version in three key areas: Syllabus, Assessment, and Certification. The differences are purely logistical: the online version requires more self-discipline and digital competence, while the classroom version offers fixed-time, face-to-face interaction. The certificate issued is the same, meaning both formats hold equal weight and recognition across the industry.
Conclusion (SMSTS Training Online: Is It Easy?)
It’s a demanding, rigorous management qualification that requires strategic thinking, full commitment, and a strong foundation of prior site experience. However, its difficulty is precisely what makes the certificate so valuable. The online format provides the essential flexibility required, but success depends on the professional’s ability to approach the training with discipline.
If you still have any questions regarding the course, then do not hesitate to get in touch.
Phone – 020 3488 4472
