SIA Licence: Types, Training and How to Apply in the UK

You need an SIA licence to work as a door supervisor, security officer, CCTV operator or close protection officer. Here is which licence to choose, the training and first aid you need, how to apply and the jobs it opens up.

By Tony Musso on Tue Oct 20 2026

If you want to work as a door supervisor, security officer, CCTV operator or close protection officer in the UK, you need a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) before you start. Working in a licensable role without one is a criminal offence, and so is deploying someone who doesn't hold one, which is why every reputable security employer asks for your licence number before your first shift.

The good news is that the route is short and clear. Most people go from no experience to a licence in a matter of weeks. This guide explains which licence you need, the training and first aid you must complete, how the application works and which jobs each licence opens up.

What is an SIA licence?

The SIA was set up under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to license people who work in specific security roles across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are two kinds of licence:

• Front-line licences are for people who do the security work themselves, such as standing on a door or patrolling a site. Most front-line licence holders must wear the card where it can be seen while on duty.
• Non-front line licences are for managers, supervisors and directors of security businesses who don't carry out front-line work. They don't need a security qualification.

A front-line licence lasts three years. After that you renew it, and the SIA runs its checks again.

The main SIA licence types

Each front-line licence has its own qualification. The table shows the ones most people apply for.

Scotland uses equivalent qualifications with slightly different names, and there are further licences for cash and valuables in transit work.

Which one should you choose first? For most newcomers it is door supervision. A door supervisor licence also covers security guarding, so it opens the widest range of jobs, from nightclub doors to retail and event work. A security guarding licence does not let you work on a door.

Who can get an SIA licence

To apply you must:

• be 18 or over
• prove your identity and give your address history for the last five years
• have the right to work in the UK
• pass the SIA's criminality check

A criminal record does not automatically rule you out. The SIA looks at the type of offence, how recent it was and the sentence, and some offences prevent a licence for a set period. If you have lived outside the UK for six months or more in a row during the last five years, you will usually need to provide criminal record information from the country you lived in, so start that early because it can take time to arrive.

Training centres also check that your English is good enough to do the job safely, because you need to write incident reports and deal with the public, the police and emergency services.

How to get your SIA licence, step by step

1. Get a first aid qualification. Before you start door supervisor or security officer training you need a valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate or an accepted equivalent. This is a one-day, face-to-face course and many training centres run it the day before the security course. Close protection needs a higher level of first aid qualification.

2. Book your security training with an approved centre. The course must lead to the recognised qualification for your licence, delivered by a centre approved by an awarding organisation. Door supervisor training is the longest of the Level 2 courses, usually around six days, because it includes physical intervention skills. Security officer and CCTV courses are shorter. Close protection training is considerably longer.

3. Pass the assessments. Expect multiple-choice exams plus practical assessments, such as role plays and, for door supervisors, physical intervention techniques. Topics include the law, conflict management, searching, dealing with emergencies, safeguarding vulnerable people and recognising terrorist threats.

4. Apply online. Create an SIA online account, choose the licence, upload your identity documents and pay the application fee. The SIA sets the fee and lists the current amount on GOV.UK. Your training centre uploads your qualification result, so the SIA can see you have passed.

5. Wait for the decision. The SIA checks your identity, right to work and criminal record. Allow several weeks. Some security firms that belong to the SIA's Approved Contractor Scheme can deploy you under a licence dispensation notice while your application is processed, but only under strict conditions, so don't assume you can work before the licence arrives.

6. Keep it up to date. You must tell the SIA about a change of name or address and about any new convictions. Put a reminder in your diary well before the licence expires, because you can't work in the role once it lapses.

What it costs

There are three main costs: the first aid course, the security training and the SIA application fee. Training prices vary a lot between providers and regions, so compare what is included, such as the first aid day, exam fees and resits. Some employers pay for training for new starters, and Jobcentre Plus sometimes funds SIA training through sector-based work academy programmes, so ask before you pay yourself.

Jobs an SIA licence opens up

• Door supervisor at pubs, clubs, venues, festivals and sports events. Much of the work is evenings and weekends, paid by the hour, which suits people who want part-time or second-job income.
• Security officer at shopping centres, offices, hospitals, construction sites, warehouses and universities, often on shift patterns including nights.
• CCTV operator in local authority, police partnership or private control rooms.
• Close protection officer, protecting high-profile clients. Our career data puts starting pay at £35,000 to £55,000, rising to £60,000 to £100,000 with experience. See the close protection officer career page and our close protection officer salary guide.
• Security driver, combining advanced driving with close protection. Starting pay in our data is £35,000 to £50,000; the security driver career page explains the route.

Some related jobs don't need an SIA licence. Airport security officers are usually trained to Department for Transport standards instead; the airport security officer career page has the details, with starting pay of £24,000 to £27,000. Security consultants who advise on risk only need a licence if they also do front-line work.

Tips for getting hired once you're licensed

• Put your licence type, number and expiry date near the top of your CV. Our security officer CV example shows where it goes, and CV Studio can help you build one quickly.
• List any customer service, hospitality, retail or military experience. Calm communication matters more than size in most security jobs.
• Add useful extras over time, such as a full driving licence, a higher first aid qualification or experience with CCTV and access control systems.
• Keep a clean record of incident reports and training. Supervisors and control room roles go to people who are reliable and write clearly.

Not sure security is the right long-term fit? Career Compass matches your interests, personality and strengths to UK careers, with pay data for each.

Take Career Compass

Not sure this is the right career for you? A good career test narrows the field before you commit to the training.