For information relating to the new Refresher Qualifications for Door Supervision & Security Officers see below.

Following an update announced by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), there will be a new requirement to refresh your current training before renewing your SIA license.

The new SIA Refresher courses will be made available from 1st October 2024, and compulsory by 1st April 2025. (Only learners who have completed their training after April 2021 or have completed a Top-Up course will be eligible for the new refresher training).

The new refresher courses will replace the current Top-Ups effective from 31st January 2025.

Please note that if your SIA license is due for renewal between now and the 1st of April 2025, you must complete the Top-Up training before the 31st of January 2025, otherwise, you will have to retake the full course as you will not be eligible for the new Refresher training courses.

Refresher Courses:

  • The new Security Officer Refresher course will be 1.5 days, this includes the first aid element. ½ day if a first aid course is not required.
  • The new Door Supervisor Refresher will be 3 days, this includes the first aid element. 2 days if the first aid course is not required.

As before, first aid certificates must have at least 12 months left on them to be eligible.

There will be pre-coursework for candidates as part of the new refresher courses, this includes a workbook, ACT Awareness, and ACT Security e-learning courses. Previously completed ACT Awareness certificates can be no older the 3 months from the date of the anticipated exams.

There will be more information to follow in the coming weeks, which will give details on the course content, exams and the costs. We will publish this as soon as we receive it.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will do our best to offer guidance.

What are the new qualifications that are being launched by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in October 2024?
New ‘refresher’ qualifications have been developed by the SIA and the security sector awarding organisation forum.

Who needs to do the refresher training?
You will need to take the refresher training if you will be renewing a door supervisor or security guard licence after 1 April 2025.

Why do I need refresher training?
For 2 reasons:

  • skills fade over time
  • threats to public safety evolve

The refresher training focuses on skills that are critical to public safety. It includes new content on how to keep people in vulnerable situations safe.

Terrorist threats change and evolve, so it is important that you have the most up-to-date knowledge in this area. Our training requirements are informed by consultation with the private security industry, and other sources such as coroners’ observations and findings from public inquiries.

Guidance from the Health and Safety Executive states that first aid certificates must be updated every 3 years so that you are still able to administer help safely. Also, from October 2024, trainers delivering the first aid qualification to security operatives will expand on specific areas of the syllabus. This is so that we can incorporate lessons learned from the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

In which areas will these qualifications be available?
There are 2 new refresher qualifications that will be launched:

  • 1 for security officers and
  • 1 for door supervisors.

No CCTV refresher has been developed.

When will the new refresher qualifications be available?
The refresher training will be available from 1 October 2024. We recommend you allow plenty of time to take the training before you renew your licence.

When will it become mandatory for me to take the refresher training?
You will not be able to renew your door supervisor or security guard licence after 1 April 2025 unless you have taken the training and achieved the qualification.

Why is there a 6 month gap between the new refresher training becoming available and becoming mandatory?
This 6 month period is to allow the private security industry and SIA licence holders sufficient time to prepare.

How long will the training take?
The length of training will depend on which licence you want to renew:

  • The new Security Officer Refresher course will be 1.5 days, this includes the first aid element. ½ day if a first aid course is not required.

  • The new Door Supervisor Refresher will be 3 days, this includes the first aid element. 2 days if the first aid course is not required.

These times do not include the time required for you to take the first aid training.

What certificates will I need to show to the trainer?
You will need to show:

  • an up-to-date first aid certificate – this must have 12 months or more to run before it expires
  • certificates that show you have taken the ACT Awareness and ACT Security e-learning –you must have completed both within the last year

Will emergency first aid at work (EFAW) training be required before undertaking refresher training?
All learners must have an up-to-date emergency first aid at work qualification, or an equivalent, before they can take the refresher training.
They will need to show this to their training provider when they register for the course, and the training provider will be required to keep a copy.

Will I have to repeat the refresher training every time I renew my licence?
Yes. It is important that your training is kept up to date and fresh. Skills and knowledge can fade over time. The refresher training is designed to refresh key skills and ensure they are kept up to date.

What is included in the refresher training?
You must hold a valid first aid qualification to take the refresher training.

For door supervisors:

  • terror threat awareness
  • physical intervention skills (knowledge and practical)
  • searching
  • vulnerability training, including how to spot and stop spiking

For security guards:

  • terror threat awareness
  • searching
  • vulnerability training

Can I renew my licence early before April 2025 to avoid completing refresher training?
You can renew your existing licence up to four months before it’s due to expire. From 1 April 2025, you will need to have completed the refresher training to renew your licence. If you renew your licence before 1 April 2025, you will not yet need to have completed the refresher training. However, we strongly encourage you to take the refresher training at the earliest opportunity so that you have up-to-date and refreshed safety-critical skills to better protect the public. You will be able to take refresher training from 1 October 2024.

What content will be included in the new refresher qualifications?
Alongside the requirement to present an up-to-date emergency first aid certificate, the following will be covered in the refresher training.

For door supervisors:

  • conducting searches
  • physical intervention
  • protecting people in vulnerable situations, including content on spiking
  • terror threat awareness – action counters terrorism (ACT)/you can ACT certificate

For security guards:

  • conducting searches
  • protecting people in vulnerable situations, including content on spiking
  • terror threat awareness – action counters terrorism (ACT)/you can ACT certificate

What is the awareness of vulnerable people training?

This is training content for security operatives on how to recognise vulnerable people and keep them safe. Vulnerable people can include:

  • people with a mental health issue
  • people with learning or physical disabilities
  • pregnant women
  • the elderly
  • children or under-age adults

The definition could also include someone who is acutely ill or under the influence of drink or drugs. There will be training about identifying behaviours that may be exhibited by sexual predators, as well as identifying indicators of abuse.

Will there be an alternative Scottish version of the refresher qualifications?
Yes. There will be 2 different versions:

  • 1 for the Scottish accredited refresher qualifications;
  • and the other will cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

What qualification will a licence holder need to take if their licence has recently expired, and they wish to re-enter the sector and re-apply for a new SIA licence?
Any door supervisor or security officer SIA licence holder who achieved their qualification prior to April 2021 (and, therefore, holds the ‘old’ versions of these qualifications) will still have to complete top up training when re-applying for their licence.

Between 1 October 2024 and 30 November 2024, both the existing top ups and the new refresher qualifications will be available, with the new refresher qualifications being launched on 1 October 2024. Any licence holder applying to relicense between these dates, and who holds the old version of their qualification, will still have to do the top up qualification. They do not have the option to choose between the top up and the refresher, the premise being that learners cannot refresh content that they did not cover in their original qualification.

On 30 November 2024, the top up qualifications will be formally withdrawn. Any licence holder applying to relicense from 1 December 2024, and who holds the old version of the qualification,
will have to complete the full version of the qualification. The new refresher is simply not an option for any learners’ holding the old door supervisor or security officer qualifications.

Can learners claim any unit exemptions for previous units and qualifications that they have successfully completed?
There are no accreditation of prior learning (APL) opportunities that will allow for unit or credit exemptions leading to certification of the refresher qualifications.
Therefore, all units linked to this qualification must be completed in full for a learner to be awarded their certificate.

Will learners attending a refresher course have to undertake initial assessments before being enrolled onto the course?
Yes. The Training Centre must ensure that every learner is sufficiently competent in the use of the English and/or Welsh language.

Can learners complete their refresher multiple-choice question (MCQ) assessments electronically?
Yes. Paper-based and e-assessment formats will be available for the multiple-choice question assessments.
Hawkhill Training Services uses the Highfield E-Assessment Method, learners are welcome to bring their own device (Tablet, iPad or Laptop) to their training for note taking and assessment purposes.

I hold a door supervisor licence but I only operate as a security guard. Can I switch to a security guard licence?

From 1 October, 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 can you take the top 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.