It depends on when you last held an active licence. For a door supervisor or security guard licence, a first application or a return after more than three years needs a current full licence-linked qualification, and a renewal within three years needs your full qualification plus the refresher.[1][2]
Whichever applies, check the awarding organisation before you pay: a qualification BIIAB granted on or after 11 August 2026 will not be accepted.[3]
The SIA guidance quoted here applies across the UK. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 extends to the whole UK.
Applying for your first licence
Licensable security work needs a licence, and a front line licence needs a licence-linked qualification first. The SIA says the qualification is how it can be sure you have the skills and knowledge to hold a licence and do the job safely.[4][5]
Working without one is a criminal matter, not a paperwork gap. Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 it is an offence to engage in licensable conduct except under and in accordance with a licence, punishable on summary conviction by up to six months in prison, a fine up to level 5 on the standard scale, or both.[4][6]
For a first application, the qualification must be recent. You must have got it within the last three years.[7]
Not every SIA licence needs training. A non-front line licence and a key holding licence need no licence-linked qualification, although a key holder whose call-outs include manned guarding activities needs the front line licence for that work and its qualification.[8][9]
Getting the qualification
- Book with an approved training provider. Approval comes from the awarding organisations that offer SIA licence-linked qualifications.[10]
- The SIA does not train people itself and takes no money from course fees.[11]
- For door supervisor, security guard and close protection courses, hold a first aid qualification before training starts, with at least 12 months left to run.[12]
Passing is not the last step. The awarding organisation has to tell the SIA you have the qualification, and until that notification arrives you will not be able to submit your application.[13]
Renewing, or coming back within three years
For door supervisor and security guard licences, the guidance puts renewal and a recent return in the same place. If you are renewing, or you held that licence at any point in the last three years, you need both a full licence-linked qualification and the refresher for that licence.[2][14]
If you are renewing your door supervisor licence or you held a door supervisor licence within the last 3 years, then you must hold both of the following: a full licence-linked qualification the ‘Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)’ qualification
Your full qualification does not have to be a current one in this situation. An older qualification is accepted when your last licence was held less than three years ago and you also have the refresher.[15]
A public space surveillance (CCTV) licence has its own wording. The SIA may accept an older qualification from somebody who has held that licence before, if it became inactive less than three years ago.[16] The refresher guide sets out each licence in more detail.
Coming back after more than three years
Once more than three years have passed since your old licence was active, you need to get a new qualification.[17]
For door supervisor and security guard licences that means one of the current, full licence-linked qualifications. An older certificate with a refresher is accepted only inside the three years.[1][18][15]
The same line applies to a CCTV licence. After more than three years, the SIA asks for a new, current qualification before you can apply.[16]
The BIIAB cut-off
The statement appears in three sections of the SIA’s page: door supervisor, public space surveillance (CCTV) and security guard.[19] A BIIAB qualification granted before 11 August 2026 is still accepted.[3]
The page’s update history records the SIA ending its endorsement of BIIAB, and removing BIIAB’s training centres from its search for a training provider tool.[20][21]
If you have read “after 10 August 2026” somewhere, that was an earlier revision. The history shows the date later amended to 11 August, and the current wording in the body of the page is “on or after 11 August 2026”.[22][23][3]
Questions people ask
My door supervisor licence lapsed two years ago. Is that a renewal?
The guidance treats it the same way. Having held a door supervisor licence within the last three years puts you in the group that needs a full licence-linked qualification and the refresher.[2]
Do I need a qualification for a key holding licence?
No training or qualification is required for a key holding licence. If your call-outs include manned guarding activities, you need the front line licence for that activity and its qualification.[9]
Can I apply the day I pass?
Only once the SIA has heard from your awarding organisation. The SIA must receive that notification before you can submit your application.[13]
What this guide does not cover
- How to apply: the application form, identity and criminality checks, fees and processing times. None of these is in our source store.
- The SIA’s separate page on what the end of BIIAB endorsement means for you. Its update history links to it, but we have not archived it.
- Close protection, cash and valuables in transit and vehicle immobilising licences.
- How long a licence lasts once granted.
Where to go next
Refresher qualifications and the old top-up
Which licences name a refresher, and why a top-up no longer counts.
SIA documents
The licensing guidance and qualification specifications, linked to their publishers.
Door Supervisor mock test
A timed paper for the Door Supervisor qualification, with every answer sourced.
Sources
Each passage below is quoted from the copy of the document we checked on the date shown. Follow the link to read it in full on the publisher’s site.
You must hold one of the current, full, licence-linked qualifications listed below if you are applying for a door supervisor licence and either of the following points apply: you are applying for the first time and you got your qualification less than 3 years ago it has been more than 3 years since you previously held an active door supervisor licence
1. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a door supervisor licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026If you are renewing your door supervisor licence or you held a door supervisor licence within the last 3 years, then you must hold both of the following: a full licence-linked qualification the ‘Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)’ qualification
2. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a door supervisor licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026We will not accept qualifications granted by BIIAB on or after 11 August 2026. We will still accept qualifications granted prior to that.
3. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Door supervisor, CCTV and security guard sectionsUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026it shall be an offence for a person to engage in any licensable conduct except under and in accordance with a licence
4. legislation.gov.ukPrivate Security Industry Act 2001 (opens in a new tab)Section 3: conduct prohibited without a licenceUK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026Before you apply for a front line SIA licence , you need to train for a ‘licence-linked’ qualification. This is so we can be sure you have the skills and knowledge you need to hold a licence and do your job safely.
5. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)IntroductionUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.
6. legislation.gov.ukPrivate Security Industry Act 2001 (opens in a new tab)Section 3: conduct prohibited without a licenceUK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026If you are applying for a licence for the first time, you must have got your qualification within the last 3 years.
7. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)IntroductionUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026You do not need a licence-linked qualification to get a non-front line licence or a key holding licence
8. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)IntroductionUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026There are no training and qualifications required for a key holding licence. However, if the activities undertaken when you respond to a call-out may include those defined as manned guarding activities. If you undertake such activity you will need the appropriate front line licence and its associated qualification.
9. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Required qualifications for key holdingUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026You must get your training from an approved training provider. These are providers that have been approved by awarding organisations that offer SIA-licence-linked qualifications.
10. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Search for a training providerUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026We do not give training ourselves. We do not get any money from training providers’ course fees.
11. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Search for a training providerUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026You must have a first aid qualification before you can take the training required for a full qualification or the refresher qualification. Your first aid qualification must be valid for at least another 12 months.
12. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a security guard licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026Once you have successfully got the qualification you need for a front line licence, the awarding organisation will tell us. We must get this notification before you can submit your licence application. Otherwise, you will not be able to submit the application.
13. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)IntroductionUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026If you are renewing your security guard licence or you held a security guard licence within the last 3 years, then you must hold both of the following: a full licence-linked qualification the ‘Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)’ qualification
14. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a security guard licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026We will accept an older qualification if both of the following statements are true: it has been less than 3 years since you last held a door supervisor licence you also hold the ‘Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)’ qualification
15. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a door supervisor licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026If you are applying for a public space surveillance licence and you have held it before, we may accept an older qualification. We only do this if it has been less than 3 years since your old licence became inactive. If it has been longer than 3 years since your old licence became inactive, you need to get a new, current qualification before you can apply for a new licence.
16. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a public space surveillance (CCTV) licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026If you are applying for a licence you have held before, you need to get a new qualification if it is longer than 3 years since your old licence was active.
17. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)IntroductionUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026You must hold one of the current, full, licence-linked qualifications listed below if you are applying for a security guard licence and either of the following points apply: you are applying for the first time and you got your qualification less than 3 years ago it has been more than 3 years since you previously held an active security guard licence
18. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Qualification for a security guard licenceUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026Page sections ('Qualification for a door supervisor licence', 'Qualification for a public space surveillance (CCTV) licence', 'Qualification for a security guard licence') have been amended to reflect 11 August 2026 date change
19. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Update historyUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026Updated to include the fact that we are ending our endorsement of BIIAB.
20. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Update historyUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026explaining why we have removed BIIAB's training centres from our search for a training provider tool.
21. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Update historyUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026have been updated to reflect that we are no longer accepting qualifications granted by BIIAB after 10 August 2026.
22. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Update history, earlier entryUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026have been amended to reflect 11 August 2026 date change as we are no longer accepting qualifications granted by BIIAB after this date.
23. Security Industry AuthorityCheck what training you need to get an SIA licence (opens in a new tab)Update history, later entryUK wide · Checked 12 Sept 2026
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