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Sales: 0808 175 4117 Support: 0344 477 9991 Contact Us Staff & Client Login As security professionals, there’s a lot of expectation that falls on us.
We need to understand how to keep people safe and secure in a range of different environments, as well as the best strategies for managing and de-escalating conflict. These are crucial skills for an effectively trained security officer.
Alongside those key skills, however, is the SIA licence. It’s a must-have for anyone working in the security industry in any capacity. But what is an SIA licence, and why is it so important for anyone looking to work in security?
We’ll explore:
At ProFM Group, we fully understand the need for effective licensing in the security industry and what that means for the exceptional people who work for us. With this article, we’ll break down the importance of this, as well as what it means for your career.
An SIA Licence is an essential qualification needed to work in any area of security. . It’s a legal requirement to work in the private security industry and to work as a door supervisor across any venue in the UK.
First established in 2003, the SIA (Security Industry Authority) was made to help ensure the quality of the private security industry. It was implemented to help provide much more stability and security to both private (like shops, hotels and offices) and public (like hospitals, schools and government buildings) sectors.
For a security professional, this also introduced SIA licence courses and the process to become an officially recognised security professional. An SIA licence will allow you to work across a huge range of sectors and roles, which include:
There’s no alternative or way around getting an SIA licence – it’s an essential part of working in the security industry and offers reassurance to potential employers that you understand the importance of what you do as a security professional.
As we’ve just touched on, the SIA licence is an unavoidable qualification you’ll need if you want to work in the security industry. It’s the biggest requirement for becoming a security officer or guard, or for working as a door supervisor at properly licensed premises and events.
By getting your SIA licence, you’re certifying that you’re committed to a career in the security sector. It shows that you’ve undergone the proper training to certify you as someone who’s capable of delivering an effective security service and that you’ve got no prior convictions or incidents that could impact that.
Not only that, but it’s been proven time and again that those who go through the SIA licensing process can apply for more notable roles and can command a higher wage.
This is most evident with private sector security positions compared to in-house ones (such as working for a supermarket). These generally have a higher base rate of pay and more control over the hours and days you work.
Plus, with an SIA licence under your belt, you can continue to progress through the ranks of security to higher paid and more influential positions, such as becoming a supervisor or manager. That’s the exact career path that much of the upper management here at ProFM have taken.
An SIA licence also allows you to take on further training, which makes you a much more appealing prospect to potential employers and premises. Security guards are often the first on the scene in the event of an emergency, and having experience in first aid or CPR is a highly desirable trait.
There are two different types of SIA licences – a front line SIA licence and a non-front line SIA licence. There are a couple of key differences between these, which we’ll break down now.
A front line SIA licence allows you to get directly involved with security activities, dealing with the general public and responding to any issues or threats to security. It’s what many immediately think of when they hear about an SIA-licensed professional.
There are several different categories of front-line SIA licences:
One thing to note here is that all front-line licences allow you to perform the duties afforded by non-front line licenses. This means that if you’ve got any of the above SIA licences, you don’t need an additional one to perform any non-frontline duties.
The counterpart to the front-line licence we’ve just discussed, the non-front line SIA licence qualifies you for a select few duties that relate to the security industry. This includes:
Generally, we would advise those looking to get into the security industry to opt for a front-line SIA licence, as this allows you to experience security duties on the front line while still being able to complete the roles mentioned above.
To get an official SIA licence, you’ll first need to complete an SIA-accredited course. We’d strongly advise sourcing these through the official SIA Training Providers Page – other providers who claim to offer an SIA licence course that aren’t listed on the official page could be trying to take your money.
You should also look for the awarding body that will be giving out your SIA qualification. This is the company that will issue your licence, and can be used to double-check that your training provider is officially recognised if you’re concerned.
The SIA lists a few different recognised accreditation bodies on their website. These include:
These courses range in price, with a qualification in door supervision costing an average of £240, and close protection qualifications costing upwards of £2,000. We’ll examine costs more in our next section.
Once you’ve completed an accredited SIA training course, you’ll need to apply for your SIA licence by creating an account on their official website. This is a simple process, but there are certain things you’ll need to have with you to ensure that the application is completed as smoothly as possible:
The application process is around 10 pages and can take upwards of 20 minutes to complete, so ensure you’ve got plenty of time to double-check what you’ve said. Any false information can delay your application, and even result in you being disqualified from applying for the SIA.
You may also be asked to provide documentation to support your identity, name and address, but these can be submitted as a photograph or a scanned copy through the SIA online portal.
As we touched on earlier, there are a couple of different costs associated with getting your SIA licence. Of course, there’s the initial cost of getting your relevant qualification. As a recap, here’s a brief look at how much that might cost you:
Once you’ve finished your course, you’ll then need to pay a fee to become accredited with the SIA. This fee helps keep the SIA afloat, contributes towards further funding and schemes for the development of the security industry, and helps show your commitment to working in the security sector.
Your first licence with the SIA costs £184, but bear in mind that some licences cover you across multiple areas. Looking back at our previous section, here’s a quick overview of how SIA licences work:
Most people choose the Door Supervision licence as their first, simply as that allows them to get out into the field as soon as possible, and fully experience front line security.
The biggest barrier to entry for the Close Protection Officer role is, naturally, the cost, but it’s also true that these roles are much less common and will often go to those with more experience in the industry.
You can also choose to purchase multiple SIA licences, which provides a discount of 50% on any subsequent ones you purchase. This makes the price £92 instead of £184. You might choose to do this because you’ve got an additional qualification, or you’d like to become licensed to further develop in the security sector.
The only exception to this is the Vehicle Immobilisation licence (only available in Northern Ireland), which isn’t subject to the same discount and so will cost £184 regardless.
As an example, if you wanted to go from no prior experience to a fully qualified and SIA-licenced door supervisor, you’d need to pay approximately £424, with £240 of that being for your initial Door Supervision course and the remaining £184 for your SIA licence.
It’s natural we’d wonder how to get an SIA licence for free. The costs can be a stumbling block for looking to start a new career in security, especially if you’re unsure whether it’s the right role for you. There are options available, though, that can help you get a discounted or even free SIA licence.
Let’s break down the available options.
The primary method for getting an SIA licence for free is through the government’s Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Recently integrated as part of the Department for Education, this provides funding for adults who are looking to apply for a course that will better their career.
More guidance on how to use the ESFA to receive a free SIA licence can be found on their official government page.
Some security companies may offer funding if you’ve not yet completed your course or if you’re looking to expand on your current SIA licence. This depends on the specific employer, and while you’ll be getting your SIA licence for free, you’ll likely still need to pay this back over time.
If you’re unsure whether your employer will be able to do this, the easiest way to find out is to get in touch with them. They’ll be able to give you more guidance on whether they can offer you a free SIA licence, as well as your next steps should you want to pursue a career in security.
If you’re out of work, there are certain funded courses that you can apply for. Take this course offered by New City College in London, which offers a place on a free SIA course for those who are unemployed.
The major disadvantage of this is that courses like these fill up extremely quickly and can be very competitive to get into. They’re also very few and far between, with places quickly being filled.
Your SIA licence lasts for 3 years, after which time you’ll need to undergo a renewal or “top-up” course. This ensures that you’re still up-to-date with the latest developments in the security industry and that you’re confident in your abilities.
You’re able to apply for an SIA licence renewal up to 4 months before your current licence expires, and it’s recommended that you submit your renewal request sooner rather than later, just so you can avoid being unable to work for any time due to delays in processing.
Any time you had remaining on your licence will then be added to your new licence, meaning you don’t lose out on anything. Plus, your new licence will be activated from the day it’s granted, so you’ll experience no disruption to your working schedule.
The cost of an SIA licence renewal is the same as a new SIA licence – £184. This is another unavoidable part of working in the security industry and is necessary if you want to continue working in the sector. All of the same checks are carried out on renewals as they are on a new SIA licence application.
Occasionally, you may be required to take additional training as part of this renewal process, but this is only when new topics have been added that are integral to you performing your role. A good example of this happened in April 2021, when the SIA introduced a compulsory training module on first aid.
At ProFM Group, we’re exceptionally proud of all the people we bring on board with us, and that’s especially true of our superb security personnel. All of the guards, supervisors and close protection professionals we employ have full SIA-licensing and the necessary qualifications.
We employ the very cream of the crop and aim to uphold the stellar reputation we’ve built up across the last 29 years through exceptional service, consummate professionalism and a strong understanding of the security industry.
If you’re looking to work for us, check out our vacancies page here. Alternatively, if you’re looking for superb, tailor-made security solutions for your event or business, get in touch with our knowledgeable team today for your free, no-obligation quote.
CCTV & Electronic Systems
John has a proven track record for motivating and leading high performance teams and has helped mentor and develop many people at ProFM who now hold key or senior positions within the business. John is committed to delivering only the finest services, exercising compelling leadership, maintaining good internal morale and striving to resolve any challenges efficiently and effectively.
