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SIA News – Changes to the training you need for an SIA licence

🚨 Important Update: New SIA Training Requirements from 1 April 2025

As of 1 April 2025, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has introduced significant changes to the training requirements for renewing a Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence. These updates have profound implications for both individuals and training providers, and only professional, fully licensed security firms — such as Reassurance Security Services Ltd — can issue legally compliant SIA‑certified guards.

📝 What’s New?

1. Refresher Qualification Now Mandatory
From 1 April 2025, any applicant seeking to renew a Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence must complete a new ‘refresher’ training course. It’s not optional – your licence renewal depends on it.

2. First Aid Certification a Prerequisite
Before starting refresher training, you must hold a current Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification, or a Level 3 equivalent for Close Protection roles. Training centres will ask to see this certificate at registration .

3. Refresher Courses Available from October 2024
Refresher courses were released on 1 October 2024 to allow plenty of time before the April 2025 renewal deadline .

🔍 Why the Update?

The SIA’s aim is to boost security industry standards and reflect the evolving security landscape. These changes ensure licence-holders:

  • Have up‑to‑date first aid skills

  • Are trained in counter‑terrorism and emergency response

  • Understand modern legal and technical practices

🎯 What’s Included in the Refresher?

According to SIA guidance and training providers:

  • Door Supervisors: Training covers terror threat awareness, physical intervention, search procedures, and vulnerability/spiking awareness.

  • Security Guards: Focused on terror threat, search techniques, and vulnerability awareness

Additionally, many providers include modules on conflict management, act awareness, effective communication, and first aid refreshers get-licensed.co.uk+1gov.uk+1.

🔄 Licence Switching Options

If you currently hold a Door Supervisor licence, you have two routes at renewal:

  • Complete the Door Supervisor refresher to renew that licence, or

  • Take the Security Guard refresher to downgrade to a Security Guard licence

Hold a Close Protection licence? You can either:

  • Do a Close Protection top-up to renew, or

  • Drop to Door Supervisor with the appropriate refresher

⏱️ Timing & Cost

  • Start now: Refresher courses have been available from October 2024.

  • Course duration: Typically 0.5–1 day for Security Guards; 1.5–2.5 days for Door Supervisors (excluding first aid)

  • Expense: Prices vary with providers—expect between £100–£200 for refresher and first aid combined .

✅ What You Must Do

  1. Ensure your first aid certificate is current (at least 12 months remaining).

  2. Book your refresher course early—before your licence expiry in April 2025.

  3. Provide your first aid certificate at registration.

  4. Complete both refresher and training modules to qualify for renewal.

✔️ Why Choose Reassurance Security Services Ltd

At Reassurance Security Services Ltd, we exclusively provide fully SIA‑licensed security guards. That means:

  • All personnel are up-to-date with the latest SIA training including mandatory refreshers.

  • Every guard has been vetted, first-aid qualified, and is legally cleared to work.

  • We stay ahead of regulatory changes—so our clients don’t have to.


In summary: the SIA’s April 2025 licence renewal rules introduce a mandatory refresher plus first aid requirement. To stay compliant and operational, begin your training now with a reputable provider. Rest assured, Reassurance Security Services Ltd supplies only properly trained, fully licensed guards.