Construction / Specialty Contractor License / New York
- New York
- Site Safety Training Card
- Worker & Supervisor
- Updated Oct 2026
How to Get Your New York City Site Safety Training (SST) Cards
In New York City, construction workers and supervisors on many job sites need a Site Safety Training (SST) card from the Department of Buildings. This page covers the Worker and Supervisor cards: the training hours, what they include and how to renew.
Last updated October 27, 2026 from New York City Department of Buildings requirements
Application fee
Not stated
Training providers set course costs
Exam time
Not stated
The card is earned through training hours
Time to get license
40–62 hrs
40 hours for workers, 62 for supervisors
Continuing ed
8–16 hrs
Refresher in the 12 months before the card expires
Overview
Do you need a New York specialty contractor license?
Not a license, but a card. In New York City, you need an SST card to work on a site that requires a Site Safety Plan and a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager. Supervisors in those roles need the Supervisor card.
License required when
- You work construction or demolition on a NYC site that requires a Site Safety Plan
- The site has a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager
- You work as a Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager (Supervisor card)
Common exceptions
- Sites that don’t require a Site Safety Plan or a designated superintendent or safety coordinator
- The SST card is a New York City requirement, not a statewide one
Working without a card
Our source notes don’t list penalty amounts. In general, the Department of Buildings enforces site safety rules on NYC job sites, so make sure your card is current before you report to a covered site.
Your fast-track New York specialty contractor license checklist
The New York application, one page
- Know which card you need: Worker or Supervisor
- A DOB-approved training provider
- 10-Hour OSHA (worker) or 30-Hour OSHA (supervisor)
- Fall Prevention, Site Safety, scaffold and drug and alcohol courses
- General and special electives completed
- Refresher date on your calendar before the card expires
Types
New York specialty contractor license types and classifications
There are two SST cards. Pick the one that matches your role on site. Training must come from a DOB-approved course provider.
SST Worker
Most common
Worker Site Safety Training Card
For workers on sites that require a Site Safety Plan and a designated superintendent or safety coordinator.
Exam
40 hrs training
Limit
NYC job sites
SST Supervisor
Supervisors
Supervisor Site Safety Training Card
For Construction Superintendents, Site Safety Coordinators and Site Safety Managers.
Exam
62 hrs training
Limit
NYC job sites
Requirements
New York specialty contractor license requirements, class by class
Both cards share most of the same courses. The Supervisor card adds the 30-hour OSHA course and four short supervisor topics.
| Requirement | Worker card | Supervisor card |
|---|---|---|
| Total training | 40 hours | 62 hours |
| OSHA course | 10-Hour OSHA | 30-Hour OSHA |
| Fall Prevention | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Site Safety | 8 hours | 8 hours |
| Scaffold and Drug & Alcohol | 4-Hour Supported Scaffold + 2-Hour Drug & Alcohol | 4-Hour Supported Scaffold + 2-Hour Drug & Alcohol |
| Supervisor topics | Not required | 2 hrs each: Site Safety Plan, Toolbox Talks, Pre-Task Safety Meetings |
| Electives | 4 general + 4 special | 4 general + 4 special |
| Refresher to renew | 8 hours | 16 hours |
Steps
How to get your New York specialty contractor license, step by step
- Pick your cardBefore you start
Workers need the 40-hour Worker card. Superintendents, Site Safety Coordinators and Site Safety Managers need the 62-hour Supervisor card. - Find a DOB-approved providerBefore you train
Your hours only count if the course comes from a provider approved by the Department of Buildings. - Complete your OSHA courseTraining
Workers take 10-Hour OSHA. Supervisors take 30-Hour OSHA. - Finish the rest of the hoursTraining
Fall Prevention, Site Safety, Supported Scaffold, Drug and Alcohol Awareness, electives and, for supervisors, the extra supervisor topics. - Get your SST cardAfter training
Apply through the Department of Buildings for your card. Call 212-566-5000 or visit nyc.gov/site/buildings with questions. - Renew before it expiresWithin 12 months of expiry
Take the 8-hour (worker) or 16-hour (supervisor) SST Refresher from a DOB-registered provider.
Exam
What to expect on the New York specialty contractor exam
The SST card is earned by completing DOB-approved training hours. Our source notes don’t describe a separate state exam, so check with your course provider about any course assessments.
Format
DOB-approved training courses
Questions
Not stated
Passing score
Not stated
Exam vendor
Not stated
Scoring & content
- Worker: 40 hours, including 10-Hour OSHA
- Supervisor: 62 hours, including 30-Hour OSHA
- Both: 8-Hour Fall Prevention, 8-Hour Site Safety, 4-Hour Supported Scaffold, 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness
- Both: 4 hours of general electives and 4 hours of special electives
- Supervisor only: 2 hours each of Site Safety Plan, Toolbox Talks and Pre-Task Safety Meetings
Retake policy
- Retake rules aren’t stated in our source notes
- Training must come from a DOB-approved provider
- Ask your provider how they handle incomplete or failed course modules
Exam references
The state hasn’t published a reference list for this exam in our sources. Check the candidate bulletin from the exam vendor before you buy books.
Prep
Best New York specialty contractor exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet.
Costs
How much does a New York specialty contractor license cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| DOB card fee | Fixed | Not stated |
| 40-hour Worker training | Variable | Varies by provider |
| 62-hour Supervisor training | Variable | Varies by provider |
| 8- or 16-hour refresher | Variable | Varies by provider |
| DOB fees | Training costs are set by each provider | Not stated |
Our source notes don’t list DOB fees, so check with the Department of Buildings or your provider.
Reciprocity
Does New York accept out-of-state specialty contractor licenses?
The SST card is a New York City requirement, and our notes don’t describe any card from another city or state that replaces it.
No reciprocity agreements
Out-of-area workers complete the DOB-approved training hours like any new applicant.
Local
Do New York cities and counties have their own specialty contractor licensing rules?
SST cards are a city requirement. They apply on New York City job sites, not across the rest of New York State.
State handles
- Statewide licensing for other trades (not the SST card)
- Our notes don’t describe a state role in SST cards
City & county handle
- SST card requirements on NYC job sites
- Approving SST training providers
- Issuing SST cards
- Site Safety Plans and site safety enforcement
New York City
Department of Buildings
- SST card needed on sites that require a Site Safety Plan and a designated superintendent or safety coordinator
- Worker card: 40 hours of DOB-approved training
- Supervisor card: 62 hours of DOB-approved training
- Renew with an 8-hour (worker) or 16-hour (supervisor) refresher
Governance
Who regulates site safety training in New York City
Oversight responsibilities
- Sets SST training requirements for NYC job sites
- Approves and registers SST course providers
- Issues Site Safety Training cards
- Enforces site safety rules
Maintenance
How to renew your New York specialty contractor license and keep it active
To renew, complete the SST Refresher with any DOB-registered course provider within the 12 months before your card expires. Workers take 8 hours and supervisors take 16 hours.
Renewal cycle
Not stated
CE hours
8 worker / 16 supervisor
Renewal fee
Not stated
Late penalty
Not stated
NYC Department of Buildings
SST card rules and approved providers from the DOB
FAQ
New York specialty contractor license FAQs
Who needs an SST card in NYC?
Anyone working on a site that requires a Site Safety Plan and a designated Construction Superintendent, Site Safety Coordinator or Site Safety Manager. Supervisors in those roles need the Supervisor card.
How many hours is the Worker SST card?
40 hours of DOB-approved training, including 10-Hour OSHA, 8-Hour Fall Prevention, 8-Hour Site Safety, scaffold, drug and alcohol awareness, and electives.
How many hours is the Supervisor SST card?
62 hours, including 30-Hour OSHA plus extra supervisor topics: Site Safety Plan, Toolbox Talks and Pre-Task Safety Meetings.
Can I take SST training online?
Yes, if the provider is approved by the Department of Buildings. Only DOB-approved training counts toward the card.
How do I renew my SST card?
Complete the SST Refresher within the 12 months before your card expires: 8 hours for workers, 16 hours for supervisors, from a DOB-registered provider.
Is the SST card required across New York State?
No. It’s a New York City Department of Buildings requirement for NYC job sites.
Is there an exam for the SST card?
Our source notes don’t describe a separate exam. The card is earned by completing the required training hours.
Sources
Official sources for the New York specialty contractor license
- New York City Department of Buildings
- NYC Department of Buildings, Site Safety Training card requirements
- NYC Department of Buildings, SST Refresher training requirements
Last updated October 27, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the New York City Department of Buildings.