The security industry is more regulated than ever, and 2026 has brought changes that every new and returning applicant needs to understand.
Before you book anything, there are updated fees, new refresher requirements, and first aid rules that can catch you off guard if you are not prepared. These SIA licence courses are your route into a career that offers real stability, but only if you follow the right steps from the start.
Choosing Your Path: Which SIA Course Is Right for You?
The licence you choose shapes every job you can legally take. Getting this decision right from the start saves you time and money.
The Door Supervisor licence is the most versatile option in the industry.
It covers everything a Security Guard licence does, plus the ability to work in pubs, clubs, and alcohol-licensed venues. It also includes physical intervention training and search procedures.
If you are unsure which licence to start with, the Door Supervisor qualification gives you the most options.
The Security Guard licence suits those working in corporate offices, warehouses, retail, or construction sites.
It does not permit work in alcohol-licensed premises. The CCTV Operator licence is ideal for control room roles and is the only licence that does not require a first aid certificate.
Close Protection is for experienced professionals protecting VIPs and executives, it has the most demanding entry requirements and the highest training cost.
What You Need Before You Book Any SIA Course
Many applicants book their course before sorting out these requirements and end up delaying their licence. Handle these first.
You must hold a valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate before starting a Door Supervisor, Security Guard, or Close Protection course.
The certificate must have at least 12 months of validity remaining from the day your training begins. Since October 2024, EFAW courses must also cover how to respond to life-threatening bleeding and how to open airways.
A certificate that predates these updates will not be accepted. Close Protection applicants need a higher-level qualification, either First Aid at Work, FPOS, or FREC.
You also need to complete ACT Awareness and ACT Security e-learning before your course starts. Both are available free at the ProtectUK platform. Once completed, your certificates allow your training provider to skip the terror threat section of your course, saving valuable classroom time.
Certificates must be less than 12 months old when you present them.
Your training provider will also need to verify your right to work in the UK. Bring your passport, biometric residence permit, or driving licence. This is separate from the DBS check carried out later during the licence application itself.
What Each SIA Course Actually Covers
The Door Supervisor course runs over six days and covers four main units.
You will study private security law, health and safety, and emergency procedures. You will learn licensing law, powers of arrest, search procedures, and access control. Conflict management runs across four sessions covering how to avoid, defuse, and resolve confrontations.
Physical Intervention training teaches non-restrictive holds, escorting techniques, and breakaway skills, all assessed in a filmed practical exam.
The course also includes a vulnerability and spiking module, which was added to reflect the Spiking Act 2023 and covers how to identify and respond to spiking incidents at licensed venues. Assessment includes four multiple-choice exams and a practical physical intervention test.
The Security Guard course runs over three to four days.
It covers the same private security law and health and safety content as the Door Supervisor qualification, along with patrolling techniques, access control, incident reporting, and searching procedures.
There is no practical physical intervention, though the course includes awareness of physical intervention risks for personal safety. This licence does not permit work in alcohol-licensed premises.
The CCTV Operator course takes around three days and is the most legally focused of the three.
You will cover UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, the Human Rights Act, and how to handle public access requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Information Commissioner’s Office regulates CCTV operations and can fine operators for misuse. Assessment includes a 72-question multiple-choice exam, a practical camera operation test, and a written evidential statement.
The 2026 Refresher Requirement You Cannot Ignore
If you are renewing your licence, refresher training is now mandatory.
Door Supervisors must complete a two-day Top-Up Refresher course covering physical intervention, enhanced searching, vulnerability training, terror threat awareness, and conflict management.
Security Guards complete a one-day refresher covering similar topics, minus the physical skills practical. Close Protection operatives now require a five-day refresher from 1 April 2026.
All refresher courses require a valid EFAW certificate with at least 12 months remaining.
How Much Does an SIA Licence Cost in 2026?
The SIA application fee is £204 from 1 April 2026.
The temporary £20 rebate that reduced it to £184 ended on that date. This fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application. If you hold two licence types, you only pay one fee at a time.
Door Supervisor training typically costs between £249 and £350. Security Guard training runs from £149 to £250. CCTV Operator courses sit between £199 and £299.
Close Protection training is significantly higher, ranging from £1,500 to £2,500 depending on the provider. EFAW adds £80 to £120 unless your training centre bundles it in, always confirm this before booking.
Your SIA licence card arrives within approximately 25 working days of a completed application. Do not work in a licensed role before it arrives. The licence is what makes your employment legal,everything else is preparation.
