The Security Guard Refresher, required by the SIA for every security guard licence renewal since 1 April 2025, has one multiple-choice exam and one short practical. This guide covers the exam, taken from the current Highfield specification for the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Refresher).
The paper at a glance
| Paper | Questions | Time | Pass mark | Correct answers needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of working as a security officer (Refresher) | 28 | 45 minutes | 71% | 20 of 28 |
The paper is externally set and marked by the awarding body and graded pass or fail. Every question is multiple choice with one correct answer and there is no negative marking. You have about 95 seconds a question, which is comfortable. Twenty correct out of twenty-eight means you can get eight wrong and no more.
What the paper covers
The refresher unit concentrates on the parts of the security officer role that have changed most and matter most: your responsibilities and the law as it now stands, the SIA and licensing, searching people, property and vehicles and your right to search, terror threats and the operative's role during an attack, keeping vulnerable people safe, communication and record keeping, and post-incident management.
If you qualified before 2021, the terror threat awareness and vulnerability content is newer than your original course and is the most common gap. If you qualified after 2021 you have seen it before, but three years on site is long enough to forget the detail the questions ask for.
How the exam is run
- The paper is sat after the unit has been taught, under exam conditions with a clock in view, invigilated by someone who did not teach you.
- We run it digitally and mark it on the day, so you leave knowing your result. The certificate follows once Highfield has processed the course, usually within a few working days, and the qualification then appears on your SIA account.
- Reasonable adjustments are available through the awarding body's policy if arranged before the exam, so tell us when you book.
How to revise
- Do the refresher e-learning as study. Your Highfield login is sent when you book.
- Sit the Security Guard mocks for the security officer unit. Our free SIA mock exams are sorted by course and unit, and the refresher paper draws on the same content.
- Reread terror threat awareness and vulnerability. The newest content and the most likely gap.
- Know the search rules. Consent, the right to search, what to do with what you find. They are in the paper and in the practical.
If you do not pass first time
You resit the paper. On courses that include the ASA Exam Warranty, your next two attempts are covered at no extra cost, provided you attended, took part and book the retake promptly. Renewal has a deadline, so tell us your licence expiry date when you book and any resit will be scheduled with time to spare.
Start with the mock exams, then read what the Refresher practical involves. The renewal process is in the Security Guard renewal guide, and dates and current prices are on the calendar.
FAQ
How many questions are on the Security Guard Refresher exam?
Twenty-eight multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, with a pass mark of 71 per cent.
Is there more than one exam on the Security Guard Refresher?
No. One paper, plus a filmed search and radio practical.
Do I sit the big 72-question industry paper again?
No. The Refresher has its own 28-question paper. The Unit 1 industry paper from the full course is not repeated.
Can I take the Refresher exam online?
No. Licence-linked exams are sat in the training centre under invigilation.
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.