Course information
Course Overview
This regulated qualification is designed for learners who want to apply for a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence and work as security officers within the private security industry.
The course develops the knowledge and practical skills needed to carry out security duties safely, manage access, conduct searches, patrol premises and respond to conflict.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is designed for learners aged 16 or over who want to work as security officers within the private security industry.
This qualification is required when applying for an SIA Security Guard licence. Learners must be at least 18 years old before they can apply for the licence.
Skills Covered
The qualification comprises three mandatory units:
- Unit 1 – Working Within the Private Security Industry: The purpose of the industry, relevant legislation, health and safety, fire procedures, emergency procedures and communication skills.
- Unit 2 – Working as a Security Officer: Security-officer duties and responsibilities, relevant legislation, patrolling, access control, searching, electronic systems and incident reporting.
- Unit 3 – Conflict Management: Conflict avoidance, risk assessment, de-escalation techniques, problem-solving strategies and post-conflict procedures. This unit includes practical role-play scenarios.
- Conducting security patrols
- Managing access to premises
- Carrying out safe and effective searches
- Using security-related electronic systems
- Completing incident reports
- De-escalating conflict through effective communication
Entry Requirements
- Minimum course age: 16 years
- SIA licence age: Learners must be at least 18 years old to apply for an SIA licence
- Previous qualifications: No formal qualification is required for course entry
- Language: English or Welsh competence equivalent to B1 CEFR, ESOL Level 1 or Functional Skills Level 1 is required
- Evidence: Learners must provide evidence of the required language competence
- Total Qualification Time: 28 hours
- Guided Learning Hours: 19 hours
- Minimum contact time: 18.5 hours
- Course duration: Four days when no distance learning is used
Assessment Method
Each mandatory unit is assessed through an externally set multiple-choice examination:
- Unit 1 examination: 40 questions completed in one hour. The pass mark is 70%.
- Unit 2 examination: 40 questions completed in one hour. The pass mark is 70%.
- Unit 3 examination: 20 questions completed in 30 minutes. The pass mark is 70%.
Pass requirements: Learners must achieve at least 70% in each of the three unit examinations.