Each of the three units in the Security Guard qualification has a practical assessment as well as an exam, and the practicals have a pass mark of 100 per cent. You meet every criterion on the assessor's observation sheet or you repeat the assessment. Here is what each one involves and what the assessor is looking for, based on the current Highfield specification for the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry.
The three practicals
| Unit | Practical | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Principles of working in the private security industry | Evidential statement | A hand-written witness statement from a scenario we give you, about 15 minutes |
| 2. Principles of working as a security officer | Search and communications | A filmed, one-to-one assessment of searching a person and their possessions and using a radio, about 15 minutes |
| 3. Application of conflict management | Conflict scenario | A filmed role-play of one scenario with questions afterwards, about 15 minutes |
The practicals are set by the awarding body, assessed by us against its criteria, filmed and kept for a year so that Highfield's external quality assurers can sample them. You are assessed individually.
Practical 1: the evidential statement
You get a scenario, for example an attempted theft found during a staff search, and write a witness statement in the format used for a police Section 9 statement. The marking is about content and structure:
- who you are and your job (I am…);
- the date (On…);
- the location (At…);
- the time or your best estimate (About…);
- what you saw and what you did, in the order it happened (I saw… I did…);
- your signature.
Facts, not opinions. Times, names, descriptions, exact words said. A good statement lets someone who was not there understand exactly what happened and could be read in court a year later. We practise this on the course with worked examples before you write the one that is assessed.
Practical 2: search and communications
A volunteer conceals a prohibited item somewhere on their person or in their belongings while you are out of the room. You then conduct the search properly, on film. The assessor checks every one of these:
- You explain the search policy: why searches happen, what the search involves and that it is a condition of entry or of the site.
- You ask for and obtain consent before starting. If consent is refused you do not search; you refuse entry or escalate according to the site rules.
- You search in an appropriate place, with a witness where possible.
- You use the right equipment and PPE: gloves, a hand-held metal detector if provided, a torch.
- You carry out an outer garment search, a bag search and a person search, each systematic, so nothing is missed.
- You demonstrate a self-search, where the person turns out their own pockets and opens their own bags, for anyone who does not want to be touched or when a same-sex search is not available.
- You respond correctly when you find the item: seize, bag, record and decide whether it is a police matter.
- You communicate professionally throughout.
You are then asked how your approach changes for people with protected characteristics and for children: same-sex searches, a responsible adult present for a child, only outer garments removed, consent and understanding confirmed, and respectful language. Have a clear answer for each; the assessor picks the characteristics to ask about.
The communications part uses a radio. You do a radio check, use call signs, pass a short clear message using the standard procedure words and spell names or registrations with the phonetic alphabet. Learn the alphabet before the course and this is the easiest part of the day.
Practical 3: the conflict management scenario
The specification requires conflict management training to include practical scenarios under four headings: enforcement, defusing, confronting and high-risk. You are assessed on one scenario, filmed, followed by questions. The assessor is looking for:
- safe positioning and distance;
- a calm tone and open body language;
- listening and acknowledging before explaining;
- clear reasons and options rather than orders;
- addressing unacceptable behaviour without escalating it;
- knowing when to call a colleague or withdraw;
- what you do after the incident: reporting, recording, support.
The two ways to fail are to play the tough guy and escalate, or to freeze. Treat it like a real site: talk, explain, offer a way out.
Dress and kit
Smart-casual, flat shoes. Radios, gloves, a detector and the search props are provided. Bring water and your ID.
If you do not pass a practical
The assessor tells you exactly which criteria were missed and you repeat the assessment after going over them. Most repeats are a missed step in the search sequence. The ASA Exam Warranty applies to the multiple-choice papers; practicals are assessed in the room as part of the course.
For the written side, read the Security Guard exam guide. Course dates and current prices are on the calendar.
FAQ
Are the Security Guard practical assessments filmed?
Yes. The awarding body requires every practical to be recorded and retained for at least a year for quality assurance.
What is the pass mark for the practicals?
100 per cent of the criteria on the observation sheet. Miss one and you repeat the assessment after feedback.
Is there physical intervention on the Security Guard course?
No. Physical intervention is a Door Supervisor unit. The Security Guard practicals are the statement, the search and radio assessment and the conflict scenario.
How long do the practicals take?
Each is recommended by the awarding body to take about 15 minutes per learner, after the training and practice sessions.
Ready to book your course?
Current prices and dates are on our calendar. Everything about A Security Academy, the SIA-approved training centre in Hayes, West London, is on the home page.