The Security Guard licence is the licence for static, mobile and corporate guarding: reception security, retail, construction sites, patrols, access control and alarm response. The course is four days with us, including the first aid day, and it is the right choice if you know you want guarding work rather than door work. This guide covers who it suits, what the qualification contains, how each unit is assessed, what you need before Day 1 and how to apply for the licence afterwards. Dates and current prices are on the calendar.
Security Guard or Door Supervisor?
This is the first question I ask anyone who calls. The Door Supervisor licence covers everything the Security Guard licence does, plus door work at licensed premises, because its qualification includes the physical intervention unit. If there is any chance you will want to work in pubs, clubs or at events, do the Door Supervisor course instead.
Choose the Security Guard course if:
- you already have a guarding job lined up, or an employer who only needs the SG licence;
- you want the shorter course and have no interest in door work;
- you would rather not do physical intervention training.
If you later decide you want door work, you take the Door Supervisor course. A Security Guard licence cannot be topped up into a Door Supervisor licence.
What you need before you book
- Age. The Security Guard qualification can be delivered to learners aged 16 and over, but the SIA will not issue a licence until you are 18. We train adults, so expect to be 18 when you book.
- English at the SIA's required level. The specification requires reading, writing, speaking and listening equivalent to B2 on the Common European Framework, ESOL Level 1 or Functional Skills Level 1 in English, and centres must check it before training. We check when you book.
- A valid first aid certificate before the security training starts. The SIA requires an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or an equivalent meeting Health and Safety Executive guidance, valid for at least 12 months from the course start date. Our course includes the Highfield Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work day, completed before the practical security training as the specification requires.
- The right to work in the UK and documents proving your identity, for our ID check on Day 1 and the SIA's checks when you apply.
No experience is needed. Many of our Security Guard learners are changing careers or starting their first job.
What the qualification contains
The qualification is the Highfield Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry, qualification number 603/5536/0, the SIA licence-linked qualification for the Security Guard licence. It has three mandatory units, each with a multiple-choice exam and a practical assessment, and every part of every unit must be passed.
| Unit | What it covers | How it is assessed |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Principles of working in the private security industry | The law, the SIA and licensing, your responsibilities, health and safety, fire and emergency procedures, communication and customer service, record keeping, terror threats, keeping vulnerable people safe, post-incident management | 72-question exam, 110 minutes, plus a written evidential statement |
| 2. Principles of working as a security officer | Patrolling, access and egress control, searching people, property and vehicles, equipment and technology, alarms and alarm response, reporting and records, incidents and crime scenes, drugs awareness | 60-question exam, 90 minutes, plus a filmed search and communications practical |
| 3. Application of conflict management | Recognising, assessing and reducing risk in conflict, problem solving, communicating to de-escalate, working with colleagues, post-incident | 20-question exam, 30 minutes, plus a filmed conflict scenario |
Unit 1 is shared with the Door Supervisor and CCTV qualifications, so a Security Guard qualification holder can take the CCTV course on the shorter route later.
For the detail, read the Security Guard exam guide and the guide to the practical assessments.
How the training is structured
The awarding body sets 38 guided learning hours for this qualification, with a minimum of 28 hours of classroom contact where part of Unit 1 is covered by supported self-study, which is what your Highfield e-learning is. The specification also fixes the order: conflict management is taught before the Unit 2 practical, and the training must include practical scenarios under four headings, enforcement, defusing, confronting and high-risk, before you are assessed on one of them. The first aid day is completed before the practical security training.
The course runs at Yeading Community Centre, 2 Ditchfield Road, Hayes, UB4 9BH, with free parking on site. Start times and the day-by-day schedule for each intake are on the calendar under "View full schedule". Arrive 15 minutes early, dress smart-casual and keep your phone away during sessions.
The e-learning you must finish first
You cannot join the course without the online certificates. Four are needed:
- Highfield Security e-learning. Login details are sent by us after you book. Use the Learner login, complete every module to 100 per cent and download the certificate.
- Highfield First Aid e-learning. Same login, separate course and certificate, preparing you for the first aid day.
- ACT Security on ProtectUK, the free police counter-terrorism course. Create your own account and download the certificate when it shows complete.
- ACT Awareness on ProtectUK, a separate course and certificate.
The e-learning page has step-by-step screenshots and a checklist. Email the certificates to us before the course and bring digital copies on Day 1.
What to bring on Day 1
- Photo ID: an in-date passport or UK driving licence (provisional accepted).
- Two proofs of address from two different organisations, each dated within the last three months.
- The name and address must match across every document and should match what you will put on your SIA application.
- Your e-learning certificates.
Without the required ID and ACT certificates you cannot join the course. The information page lists everything.
Exams and results
Each unit's exam is a multiple-choice paper set and marked by Highfield, sat under exam conditions. We run them digitally and give results the same day. Do the free mock exams for each unit before the course. If you do not pass a paper first time, the ASA Exam Warranty covers your next two attempts at no extra cost, provided you attend, take part and book your retake promptly.
Applying for your licence
Your course fee is for training and assessment. The licence is applied for through your own SIA online account and paid directly to the SIA; the current fee and documents are on the SIA's apply for a licence page, and the licence lasts three years. See our guides to creating an SIA account and contacting the SIA. Apply as soon as your certificate is issued, because the SIA cannot say in advance how long its checks will take.
FAQ
What jobs can I do with a Security Guard licence?
Static and mobile guarding, corporate reception security, retail security, construction site security, patrols, access control and alarm response. It does not cover door supervision at licensed premises.
Is the Security Guard course shorter than Door Supervisor?
Yes. Four days including first aid, against six for Door Supervisor, because it has no physical intervention unit.
Do I need first aid before the Security Guard course?
Yes. The SIA requires an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, valid for at least 12 months from the course start, before the security training. Our course includes the first aid day and completes it first.
Can I upgrade to a Door Supervisor licence later?
Not by topping up. You would take the Door Supervisor course, which includes the physical intervention unit. If door work is a possibility, start with Door Supervisor.
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.