Changes to the training you need for an SIA licence
What the changes are, when they will happen, and how they affect SIA licence applicants and licence holders.
Changes coming in April 2025
From 1 April 2025, you must have a ‘refresher’ qualification before you can renew your door supervisor or security guard licence.
You must have an an up-to-date Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before you can take the refresher training (read about the first aid qualifications we accept). You will need to show this to your training provider when you register for the course.
Changes we have already introduced
In 2021 we introduced new, updated qualifications for all sectors except close protection and vehicle immobilisation.
We also made it a requirement that:
- you must have an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before you can take the training required for a door supervisor or security guard licence
- you must have one of the new qualifications or take top-up training before you can apply for or renew a door supervisor and security guard licence
In 2022 we introduced an updated close protection qualification. We also made it a requirement that you must have the new qualification or take top-up training before you can apply for or renew a close protection licence.
Why are such changes necessary?
We need to make sure that people working in the private security industry can:
- keep the public safe
- follow new working practices
- understand recent changes to the law
- make the best use of new technology
Switching to a different licence
If you hold a door supervisor licence you can choose one of the following options:
- take the door supervisor refresher training and renew your door supervisor licence
- take the security guard refresher training and switch to a security guard licence
If you already hold a close protection licence you can choose one of the following options:
- take the close protection top-up training and renew your close protection licence
- take the door supervisor refresher training and switch to a door supervisor licence
First aid training
Door supervisors and security guards
You must complete an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before taking your licence-linked training. This applies both to the full licence-linked training courses and to the refresher training.
We accept qualifications that comply with the relevant guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. Some examples are:
- First Aid at Work (FAW)
- First Person on Scene (FPOS)
- First Response Emergency Care (FREC)
Your training provider can tell you more about this.
Close protection operatives
You must complete a first aid qualification at level 3 or above before taking your licence-linked training. Some examples are:
- Level 3 First Aid at Work (FAW)
- Level 3 First Person on Scene (FPOS)
- Level 3 First Response Emergency Care (FREC)
We accept other qualifications. Your training provider can tell you more about this.
Find out more
Read Changes to SIA licence-linked training: your questions answered to find out more.
Updates to this page
Published 5 February 2021Last updated 21 February 2025 + show all updates
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Updated the page to remove out of date content and to make it clearer.
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Updated with information that was originally published on 16 August as a GOV.UK guidance page. This brings both sets of information into one place.
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Page updated to show that the changes scheduled for 1 October have come into effect.
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Updated the 'First aid training for close protection operatives' list to now include 'First Aid at Work (FAW)'.
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Updated the section about top-up training to add new information (the option to switch from close protection to door supervision at renewal).
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Page updated to include new information relating to close protection qualifications.
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Updated the text to show that the changes to training made on 1 October have happened.
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Page amended to reflect a new implementation date for the updated close protection qualifications (1 April 2022).
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Added a link to the new 'Changes to SIA licence-linked training: flowchart' page.
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Page updated to show that the changes scheduled for 1 April have come into effect. Also amended the section about top-up training to a) make it clearer and b) add new information (the option to switch from door supervision to security guarding at renewal).
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Corrected the first bullet point (from "on 1 April 2021, we will introduce updated qualifications for all sectors except close protection" to "on 1 April 2021, we will introduce updated qualifications for all sectors except close protection and vehicle immobilisation").
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Updated to include a link to 'Changes to SIA licence-linked training: your questions answered'.
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Amended the second bullet point to clarify the new requirement (from "you must have a first aid qualification before you can apply for a door supervisor or security guard licence" to "you must have a first aid qualification before you can take the training required for a door supervisor or security guard licence").
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First published.