Temporary Works Supervisor or Coordinator: which course, and when to refresh?
Course guides 5 min read Updated
CITB runs separate courses for temporary works supervisors and coordinators, both built on BS 5975. Here's how the two roles differ, who should attend which, what to know before you go and when to refresh.
Scaffolds, props, formwork, falsework, excavation support and hoardings all need managing, and on most sites that's split between a temporary works coordinator (TWC) and one or more temporary works supervisors (TWS). CITB runs a course for each role. They sound alike and share a lot of content, so here's how to tell which one you need.
Where the roles come from
Both roles are set out in BS 5975, the British Standard code of practice for temporary works procedures. CITB's current courses are built around BS 5975-1&2:2024. The law doesn't name either role, but CDM 2015 requires contractors to plan, manage and monitor their work so it's done safely, and following the BS 5975 process is the accepted way of showing temporary works are under control. Most principal contractors expect it.
The coordinator: owns the process
The TWC makes sure every item of temporary works goes through a controlled process from first idea to removal: the temporary works register, design briefs, design checks, inspections, and the permits to load and to dismantle. They're appointed by the designated individual in the contractor's organisation, and they coordinate the people who design, check, build and inspect, rather than doing all of that themselves. Our earlier guide, what does a temporary works coordinator do?, covers the role in detail.
The supervisor: day-to-day control on site
The TWS looks after temporary works day to day, working under the coordinator. That includes making sure items are built to the design, carrying out checks, keeping records and flagging problems early. Where the procedure allows, the coordinator can ask a supervisor to carry out certain tasks, but the coordinator stays responsible for them.
The two courses compared
| Temporary Works Supervisor | Temporary Works Coordinator | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1 day | 2 days |
| Written for | Those responsible for supervising temporary works on site | Those responsible for managing all forms of temporary works on site |
| Typical delegates | Supervisors, foremen, section engineers | Site managers, engineers, senior supervisors appointed as TWC |
| Refresher | Check with us before your certificate expires | One-day TWC Refresher, taken before expiry |
Both courses cover the need for and duties of the role, the other key roles in temporary works, how BS 5975 applies, typical temporary works documents, other legislation and guidance, risk management, and CITB's "four Cs": communication, coordination, cooperation and competence. Each ends with an exam.
Which one should you book?
Book the coordinator course if
- you've been, or are about to be, appointed TWC on a project
- you're a site manager on a smaller job where you'll be TWC as well
- you're the person who issues permits to load and dismantle
Book the supervisor course if
- you look after scaffolds, props, formwork or excavations day to day under a TWC
- you inspect temporary works and report back, but don't run the register
- your employer wants more people on site who understand the process
If you'll be both, book the coordinator course: it covers the supervisor's role in the wider process.
What you should know before you go
Neither course has formal entry requirements, but CITB expects delegates to arrive with a working knowledge of the main health and safety law, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management Regulations, CDM 2015, PUWER, LOLER and the Work at Height Regulations. CITB notes that people who hold SSSTS or SMSTS will have the background it expects, though it isn't compulsory. CITB also recommends bringing a copy of BS 5975-1:2024, and has a free temporary works awareness eLearning module that's worth doing first.
Questions people ask
Do I need SSSTS or SMSTS first?
No. CITB says they give useful background but aren't a prerequisite. If you've never had any formal health and safety training, though, it's worth reading up on CDM 2015 before you attend, or doing CITB's free awareness module.
Can a supervisor move on to the coordinator course later?
Yes, and many do. Supervising temporary works under an experienced coordinator is good preparation for the TWC role. Take the coordinator course when you're about to be appointed, not years before, so the knowledge is fresh when you need it.
Is this a technical design course?
No. CITB is explicit that neither course is a temporary works technical course. They're about the process: who does what, which checks happen when, and how to stop anything being loaded or struck before it's ready.
A course is not the whole of competence
CITB is clear on this, and we'd rather say it plainly: attending the course doesn't make you competent as a TWC or TWS on its own. Competence comes from education, training and experience together, and it's judged by the designated individual in your organisation. Training is an essential part of it, which is why most contractors ask for the certificate, but they'll also look at what you've done before appointing you.
When to refresh
The TWC certificate is valid for five years. To stay certified, take the one-day TWC Refresher before your certificate expires. CITB's rules say the refresher is only for people holding a valid TWC certificate: miss the expiry date and you'll need to retake the full two-day course. Book a few months ahead so you have a choice of dates.
If you hold the supervisor certificate and it's nearing its expiry date, call us and we'll tell you the current renewal route.
Where to take it
The Temporary Works Supervisor course, the Temporary Works Coordinator course and the TWC Refresher all run in the classroom at our Rotherham training venue at Bradmarsh Business Park, and live online with a tutor. For temporary works teams on city-centre schemes, our page on health and safety courses for Sheffield lists the next dates together. If several of your supervisors need training at once, we can run the course at your premises.
Published by Site Safety Training on 29 September 2026, last updated 14 October 2026. Course rules and card schemes can change: if you're unsure what applies to you, call 07939 593032 or check with the awarding body.