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The SIA CCTV Licence allows the holder to legally work as a CCTV Operative in the United Kingdom
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One of the most popular SIA licences. The CCTV Licence, also known as the Public Space Surveillance (PSS) Licence, allows you to work in the private security industry as a CCTV Operator.
The licence is issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and is valid for 3 years. Employers include security companies, local councils and corporations.
CCTV Operators usually work in control rooms where camera footage from offices, shops or public spaces is displayed. Using the equipment, it's your responsibility to keep people and property safe by actively monitoring public areas, tracking individuals and identifying risk.
Your job is to notice and prevent crime before it happens. Businesses are investing heavily in camera systems, which means a growing number of CCTV Operator jobs open to you.
If you carry out any licensable activity of a CCTV Operative, or Public Space Surveillance Operative, then by law you require an SIA Licence — unless your employer has been given an exemption under Section 4(4) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Actively monitoring the activities of a member of the public
Using CCTV equipment to identify, focus on or track a particular individual
Reviewing recorded footage to identify individuals or investigate their actions
If you're serious about the work, the requirements won't be what stops you. And a past conviction doesn't automatically rule you out. The SIA looks at each case individually, so check before you count yourself out.
Check with our SIA Criminal Record tool
Be 18 years of age or older
Have the right to work in the UK
Pass the CCTV Operator Course — the Level 2 Qualification in CCTV Operations (PSS)
Pass the SIA's identity and criminal background checks
You will need to verify your identity to satisfy parts of your SIA application, namely your photo ID. The easiest way to do this is at the Post Office, where staff check your documents and take your photo.
You'll need one primary identity document, such as a passport or UK driving licence, plus two supporting documents, one of which must show your current address.
The SIA CCTV Licence costs £190 and the licence is valid for 3 years. The fee covers the cost of processing your application and is non-refundable. For further information, please refer to the Official SIA Website.
Applying for more than one licence in the same application? The first licence costs £190 and each additional licence is half price at £95. The discount only applies when the licences are part of the same application.
Good news: the CCTV Licence is one of the few SIA licences that requires no refresher training to renew. You simply re-apply on the SIA website and pay the £190 fee.
You can start renewing your current SIA CCTV Licence 4 months before it is due to expire. The new licence will commence only after your current licence has expired.
No refresher training required
Re-apply up to 4 months before expiry
£190 application fee, non-refundable
New licence starts when your current one expires
The SIA allows certain licence holders in one area to perform licensable activities in another. A Door Supervisor, for example, may conduct all frontline duties, including camera monitoring. And some camera work isn't licensable at all:
Monitoring the activities of the public is your job
You use cameras to identify or track particular individuals
You review recorded footage to investigate people's actions
Cameras are used solely to spot intruders or trespassers on a site
Cameras protect buildings or vehicles against theft or damage
You hold a Door Supervisor Licence covering frontline duties, including camera monitoring
To apply for the CCTV Licence, the SIA requires you to complete formal training and pass the assessment. The CCTV Operator training course runs over 3 days and contains 3 units:
The law, your powers and your responsibilities. When something happens on screen, you are the one who knows what to do.
Surveillance law, codes of practice and what you can and can't record. The control room runs right because you know the rules.
Hands-on camera control, tracking and evidence handling — then the exams, with results the same day.
Sustained focus, pattern-spotting and calm judgement under pressure. The course trains you for the control room, but these follow you everywhere.
The course is assessed by 2 multiple choice exams and a practical assessment. These are held on the last day and test your knowledge of the content taught during the course, with results the same day.
| Unit | Assessment | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Working in the Private Security Industry | Multiple-choice exam | The law, your responsibilities and how the industry works |
| 2 · Working as a CCTV Operator | Multiple-choice exam | Surveillance law, codes of practice and control room procedure |
| 3 · Practical Use of CCTV Systems | Multiple-choice exam | Operating cameras, tracking and handling footage correctly |
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The SIA Public Surveillance (CCTV) Licence costs £190, this is non-refundable once paid. This is paid directly to SIA, who are the licensing authority for the security industry.
To be eligible for the SIA CCTV (or SIA Public Surveillance) Licence, you need to pass the CCTV Training Course, be at least 18 years old and have the right to live and work in the UK.
The CCTV Operator Course introduces you to the fundamentals of working in the security industry and operating camera equipment. It runs over three days and is a requirement for obtaining the SIA Public Surveillance (CCTV) Licence.
The SIA checks the criminal background of applicants through a DBS check, as well as verifying their identity.
Having a criminal record does not rule you out from applying for an SIA licence. The SIA will make a decision on whether your conviction is relevant to your licence application.
With a Door Supervisor Licence you can undertake CCTV-2 activities. These are classed as using CCTV only to identify a trespasser or to protect property. If you want to carry out any other activities using CCTV equipment such as tracking individuals, you will need the SIA Public Surveillance (CCTV) License.
If you already have an SIA License the cost of another licence is discounted by 50%.
According to the SIA website, it takes 25 working days to process a licence application. In some cases, this can take up to 6 weeks due to additional security checks.
The SIA Public Surveillance (CCTV) Licence enables you to work in the use surveillance in public spaces. This licence allows you to look for individuals using CCTV.
It is illegal to work in the private security industry without the necessary SIA Licence unless your employer qualifies for an exemption under Section 4(4) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Most identity checks can be completed online. If you are using a passport as your identity document this can be electronically checked. If electronic checks cannot be completed you will be asked to identify yourself at the post office.
To renew your SIA CCTV Licence, you do not need to take any further training and can simply start a renewal application on the SIA website.
It will cost £190 to renew your SIA licence. Your new licence will last for 3 years.
You can start renewing your SIA licence 4 months before your current licence is due to expire. Your new licence will only commence after your current licence expires.
Licence Integration is where an SIA licence can be applied to another area that relates to the licence. The SIA allows individuals who meet the licensing criteria for one licensable activity to carry out another licensable activities. For example, individuals with a SIA Close Protection Licence can work as Door Supervisors. In the same way, Door Supervisors are able to carry out some licensable activities (within limitations) of a CCTV Operative.
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