If your SIA licence is up for renewal any time soon, there’s a new hoop to jump through — and missing it means no licence. From April 2026, the Security Industry Authority requires all door supervisors and security guards to complete mandatory refresher training before they can renew. No refresher, no renewal. Simple as that.
The change has been on the cards for a while, but the deadline is now real. According to industry trainers speaking to South East Online, a Guildford-based safeguarding trainer has warned that too many officers still don’t know the rules have shifted under their feet.
Here’s what’s actually changing, who it affects, and what you need to do — in plain English.
What the new SIA refresher training rules actually say
The SIA has introduced a refresher training requirement that applies to anyone renewing a door supervisor or security guard licence. It’s not a brand-new full course — it’s a top-up. The point is to make sure every working officer is current on the things that have changed since their original training, sometimes a decade ago.
The refresher covers updated content on:
- Safeguarding vulnerable people — including spotting predatory behaviour, child sexual exploitation, and signs of spiking
- Counter-terrorism awareness, in line with Martyn’s Law expectations
- Mental health awareness and de-escalation
- First aid basics, including emergency response to incidents like cardiac arrest
- Updated physical intervention techniques (for door supervisors specifically)
The SIA says the goal is to raise the baseline. The industry has changed. The threats have changed. The training has to keep up.
Who needs to do it — and when
If you hold a front-line door supervisor or security guard licence and your renewal date falls on or after April 2026, you need to complete the refresher before you can submit your renewal application.
That means in practice:
- Renewing in early 2026? You may slip in under the wire — but check your exact renewal date.
- Renewing later in 2026 or beyond? Refresher training is non-negotiable.
- Already let your licence lapse? You’ll likely need to redo the full top-up qualification, not just a refresher.
Don’t leave it to the last week. Training providers are already reporting that course slots are filling up, and a backlog is forming as the deadline gets closer.
Why the SIA brought this in
The honest answer: a lot has changed since most working officers got their badge. The original Level 2 door supervisor qualification many people took years ago didn’t include serious safeguarding content, didn’t reflect Martyn’s Law, and barely touched mental health.
High-profile incidents — spiking cases, terror attacks at venues, deaths in custody-style restraints — have pushed the regulator to demand a higher baseline. The Guildford trainer quoted by South East Online put it bluntly: door staff are often the first people a vulnerable person encounters in a venue, and they need the tools to act.
Door staff must do more to safeguard vulnerable people.
That’s the message in a sentence. The refresher is how the SIA enforces it.
How to find an approved training provider
Only training delivered by an SIA-endorsed awarding organisation counts. That means courses certified through bodies like Highfield, Pearson, Qualsafe, or Industry Qualifications. If a provider can’t tell you which awarding body endorses their refresher, walk away.
Before you book, check:
- The course title matches the SIA’s published refresher specification for your licence type
- The provider is listed on the awarding body’s approved centre register
- You’ll receive a recognised certificate the SIA will accept at renewal
- The course covers in-person physical intervention assessment if you’re a door supervisor — online-only won’t cut it
Cost is typically in the £100–£200 range depending on provider and location. Some employers cover it. Many don’t. Ask.
What happens if you don’t do the refresher
Your renewal application will be refused. Full stop. You can’t work on the door without a valid licence, and your employer can’t legally roster you. If you turn up to a shift with an expired badge, the venue risks SIA enforcement action — which can mean fines for the operator and a black mark against your name.
Worse, if you let your licence fully lapse, you may have to retake the entire top-up qualification rather than just the refresher. That’s more time, more money, and more time off the rota.
What to do this week
Three quick actions:
- Check your licence expiry date on your SIA online account. Renewals open up to four months before expiry.
- Book your refresher early. A door supervisor training course provider near you will have refresher options listed alongside the full qualification.
- Keep your certificate safe. You’ll need to upload it as part of your SIA licence application at renewal.
The rules aren’t going away, and the SIA isn’t shy about refusing applications that don’t meet the new standard. A morning’s training now beats a month off the door later.
For close protection officers, the refresher rules differ — check the close protection course guidance for your licence stream specifically.
