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The Security Guard Licence allows the holder to legally work as a Security Guard in the United Kingdom.
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The Security Guard Licence allows holders to work in the private security industry as a security guard.
The licence is issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and is valid for 3 years. With the SIA Security Guard Licence you can work in shops, malls, warehouses and office buildings. Your core responsibilities include keeping members of the public safe, and guarding property to prevent theft, damage or destruction.
If you are conducting the licensable activities of a Security Guard, such as protecting private property or members of the public, then by law you require an SIA Licence. In certain circumstances, however, your employer may have been given an exemption under Section 4(4) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
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 Security Guard Course
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 Security Guard 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.
If you're looking to renew your SIA Security Guard Licence, completing the SIA Top-Up Refresher Training for Security Guards is essential. It keeps you compliant with the latest SIA standards and fully prepared for today's security challenges.
You can start renewing your current SIA Security Guard Licence 4 months before it is due to expire. The new licence will commence only after your current licence has expired. The application cost is a non-refundable £190.
Book the Top-Up Refresher training
Terror threat awareness
Vulnerability awareness
Updated skills and knowledge that keep you ready for the demands of the role, and keep your licence valid.
The SIA calls this licensing integration. For some licences, individuals who meet one licensing criterion can carry out related licensable activities:
Security Guard work
Key holding work
Everything the Security Guard Licence covers
Working licensed venues — pubs, bars, clubs
To apply for the Security Guard Licence, the SIA requires you to complete formal training and pass the assessment. The Security Guard training course runs over 4 days and contains 3 units:
The law, your powers and your responsibilities. When something goes wrong, you are the one who knows what to do.
Patrolling, access control and protecting property. A site runs safe because the person guarding it knows this.
Reading a situation, stepping in early and talking trouble down — then the exams, with results the same day.
Staying alert, defusing conflict and keeping calm under pressure. The course trains you for the job, but these follow you everywhere.
The course is assessed by 3 multiple choice exams, one for each unit. 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 Security Officer | Multiple-choice exam | Patrolling, access control and protecting people and property |
| 3 · Conflict Management | Multiple-choice exam | Defusing confrontation and managing difficult situations |
The free starter pack and career guide. What the job pays, how the licence works, free mock exams, and how people get their first shift.
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The SIA Security Guard Licence costs a non-refundable £190. This is paid directly to SIA, who are the licensing authority for the security industry.
Yes, as of April 1st 2021 this course will require a first aid qualification before you can take the training. This should be an Emergency First Aid at work certificate or higher. These changes are aimed at keeping professionals working in the private security industry safer, as well as the general public.
Your SIA Security Guard Licence is valid for 3 years. Once it expires, you will need to reapply and take another course.
To be eligible for the SIA Security Guard Licence, you need to pass the Security Guard Training Course, be at least 18 years old and have the right to live and work in the UK.
The Security Guard Training Course introduces you to the fundamentals of working in the security industry and prepares you for various roles. It runs over 3 days and is a requirement for obtaining the SIA Security Guard Licence.
The SIA checks the criminal background of applicants through a DBS check, as well as verifying their identity.
You can still obtain an SIA Security Guard Licence if you have a criminal record, but this would depend on the type of offence and how SIA treat such offences. We would advise contacting the SIA directly if you are considering applying for a licence. Remember, the £210 licence application fee is non-refundable, so it’s best to check first.
With the SIA Security Guard Licence you can work in shops or offices as a security guard. Part of your job may be to protect private property or to keep members of the public safe.
It is illegal to work in the security industry without an SIA Licence.
The SIA Security Guard Licence is very similar to the Door Supervisor Licence, but the main difference is where you are allowed to work and what licensable activities you can carry out. With the Security Guard Licence, you cannot work on licensed premises where alcohol is served. Due to an additional module on the Door Supervisor Course i.e. Physical Intervention. The SIA Door Supervisor Licence, on the other hand, does not have this type of restriction and gives you greater access to employment opportunities. To give you the best chance with your career, Get Licensed recommends the Door Supervisor Licence.
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