SIA Refresher Training Course: What to expect in 2025

Important dates

• 1st October 2024: SIA refresher training became available.
• 1st April 2025: Completing refresher training courses becomes mandatory for those wanting to renew their licence.
  

Is the course mandatory?

Yes, as mentioned, you must complete the course refresher if you would like to renew your SIA Door Supervisor or Security Guard license.

What does the refresher training course involve?

For door supervisors

• Conducting searches: includes refining techniques to perform effective and lawful searches.
• Physical intervention: updating methods for safely managing challenging situations.
• Protecting people in vulnerable situations: awareness and prevention of incidents including spiking.
• Terror threat awareness: recognising and responding to potential terror threats. This also includes the completion of ACT (Action Counters Terrorism) modules.

For security guards

• Conducting searches: ensuring searches are both safe and compliant with legal standards.
• Protecting vulnerable individuals: focusing on safeguarding vulnerable people in various settings.
• Terror threat awareness: similar to door supervisors, this includes ACT training, giving security guards the ability to handle potential terror threats effectively.

It’s worth noting that individuals holding a door supervisor licence can choose one of the below:

• To take their door supervisor refresher training course and renew their SIA door supervisor licence, or
• Take the security guard refresher training course and switch to an SIA security guard licence.

Are there any other mandatory requirements?

Yes, before enrolling in the SIA refresher training course, participants must have completed an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification or an equivalent certification. Accepted equivalents (provided they meet the Health and Safety Executive [HSE] guidelines) include First Aid at Work (FAW), First Person on Scene (FPOS), and First Response Emergency Care (FREC). This certification must be presented to your training provider upon course registration.

Having this first aid training is crucial for ensuring security professionals can effectively and efficiently respond to emergency situations.

What happens if I don’t complete the refresher training?

If you fail to complete the mandatory SIA refresher training course before your licence renewal, it might mean:

• That you are ineligible to work legally in the security industry
• You might lose your job in the security sector.
• You might then need to complete a full SIA training course, which would take a lot more time and have financial implications. 

How can I plan properly?

• Licence expiry: find out when your licence expiry date is, so you can schedule your refresher training course in good time.
• First aid course: ensure your first aid certification is up-to-date and meets SIA requirements.
• Find your nearest SIA refresher training course: By visiting the GOV.UK for a list of approved training providers. 

Are you looking for an SIA-trained security professional?

Being SIA trained is a legal requirement for those working in the private security industry. At Stonewall Security, we are committed to ensuring our services are of the highest standards, which is why all of our security personnel are SIA-trained and accredited.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss your security requirements.