SIA licence training changes

Security12/04/2022

Watchful Eye Security Ltd provide fully trained and licensed security industry operatives. As such, here is a timely reminder of licensing criteria which has either been changed or updated.

In 2021 some changes to the training you need to take before you can get a front line SIA licence.

The changes were:

we introduced new, updated qualifications for all sectors except close protection and vehicle immobilisation
you must have a first aid qualification 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 a door supervisor and security guard licence – this includes renewals

Further changes in 2022:

on 1 April 2022 an updated close protection qualification (read press release about this)
from 1 April 2022 you must have the new qualification to apply for a close protection licence – this does not include renewals
from 1 October 2022, you must have the new qualification or take top-up training before you can renew your close protection licence

Read these changes in more detail below.

We have also created a flowchart to explain what the changes mean for people applying for a door supervisor or security guard licence.

Why the changes?

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

First aid training for door supervisors and security guards

All applicants for a door supervisor or security guard licence to complete a first aid qualification before taking their licence-linked training.

You need to do this if either of the following apply:

you are applying for a licence for the first time
it has been longer than 3 years since you last held a licence for that activity

You also need to do this if you are renewing your licence.

The qualification must be an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification or equivalent.

The requirement for first aid training will improve your skills as an SIA licence holder. It will not change the obligations you have when responding to an emergency.

What do we mean by “equivalent”?

SIA accept other 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.

First aid training for close protection operatives

All applicants for a close protection licence to complete a first aid qualification at level 3 or above before taking their licence-linked training. Some examples are:

Level 3 First Person on Scene (FPOS)
Level 3 First Response Emergency Care (FREC)

SIA accept other qualifications. Your training provider can tell you more about this.

Top-up training for some licence holders

Door supervisors and security guards

You must have one of the following before you can apply for, or renew, a door supervisor or security guard licence:

one of the new qualifications set in place in April 2021
one of the older licence-linked qualifications and a ‘top-up’ qualification

This applies to any applications, including renewals.

Close protection operatives

From 1 October 2022, you must have one of the following before you can apply for, or renew, a close protection licence:

the new qualification introduced on 1 April 2022
one of the older licence-linked qualifications and a ‘top-up’ qualification

This applies to any applications, including renewals.

If you hold a door supervisor licence

If you hold a door supervisor licence you can choose one of the following options:

take the door supervisor top-up training and renew your door supervisor licence
take the security guard top-up training and switch to a security guard licence

In either case, you must have an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before you can take the top-up training.

The security guard top-up training is shorter than the door supervisor top-up training, so is likely to be cheaper. However, you should consider the day-to-day duties of the job that you do. If your job involves guarding licensed premises (such as a pub or a club) you will need to renew your door supervisor licence.

Other changes

More relevant course material

The SIA have moved some training to the ‘common unit’ that is taken by all security operatives except close protection operatives. This includes new training on:

terror threat awareness
dealing with emergencies

The SIA have introduced new sector-specific content – for example:

the door supervision course includes new material on the use of equipment such as body worn video recorders and breathalysers
the public space surveillance (CCTV) course includes new material on CCTV operational procedures and the law
the security guarding course includes new material covering personal safety
the close protection course includes a bespoke physical intervention unit, as well as material from the door supervision course needed to allow close protection operatives to work as door supervisors

More practical assessments

SIA have increased the number of practical elements in the training to help learners reinforce their knowledge. The practical assessments include:

searching
dealing with conflict
report/statement writing
using communications devices
application of physical intervention skills for close protection operatives in the private security industry