SIA license Renewal
Recent SIA badge / license renewal, changes and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s). Reassurance Security Services are an approved SIA contractor.
How many month before your SIA training runs out can you do your refresher?
You can usually do your SIA refresher training well before your licence expires. There is no rule that says you must wait until a specific number of months before expiry.
The key points are:
- The refresher qualification must be completed before you apply to renew your licence.
- The SIA allows you to submit a licence renewal application up to 4 months before your licence expires.
- The SIA has encouraged licence holders to take refresher training as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the last minute.
One thing to watch out for: if you’re a Door Supervisor or Security Guard, your Emergency First Aid at Work (or equivalent) certificate must be valid for at least another 12 months when you start the refresher course.
So, for example:
- If your SIA licence expires in December 2026, you could do the refresher several months beforehand (e.g. summer or autumn 2026).
- You can then submit your renewal application from August 2026 onwards (4 months before expiry).
When do I have to do a refresher course for SIA?
You need to do an SIA refresher course when you renew certain SIA licences:
- Door Supervisor: refresher training is mandatory before renewal from 1 April 2025.
- Security Guard: refresher training is mandatory before renewal from 1 April 2025.
- Close Protection: refresher training is mandatory before renewal from 1 April 2026.
You do not have to wait until your licence is about to expire. You can take the refresher course in advance, but you must have completed it before submitting your renewal application. The SIA allows renewal applications up to 4 months before licence expiry.
For Door Supervisor and Security Guard refreshers, you’ll also need a valid Emergency First Aid at Work certificate (or equivalent) that has at least 12 months remaining when you start the refresher course
What is the SIA Security Act 2001 first aid requirement update?
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 itself has not been amended to add a new first-aid requirement. Instead, the SIA updated its licence-linked training requirements, which now make first aid a prerequisite for certain licences and renewals.
Current first-aid requirements
Door Supervisor and Security Guard licences
- You must hold a valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification (or an accepted equivalent) before taking the licence-linked training or refresher training.
- When renewing, the first-aid certificate must generally have at least 12 months’ validity remaining when you start the refresher course.
Close Protection licences
- From 1 April 2026, a refresher qualification is required for licence renewal.
- You must hold a Level 3 First Aid qualification (such as FAW, FPOS, or FREC, or an accepted equivalent) before taking the refresher training.
Recent update to first-aid content
The SIA has also strengthened the first-aid content expected in training. Guidance was updated to explicitly include:
- responding to life-threatening bleeding (including haemostatic dressings), and
- airway management / keeping airways open.
If you’re renewing a Door Supervisor licence
You now need:
- A valid EFAW (or accepted equivalent) certificate.
- The Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) qualification.
- Your existing licence-linked qualification
Do I have to pay for more training for the SIA Door Supervisor if my current is expiring soon?
Yes. If your Door Supervisor SIA licence is expiring soon and you want to renew it, you will normally need to pay for and complete the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) course before you can renew your licence. Since 1 April 2025, refresher training has been mandatory for Door Supervisor licence renewals.
You’ll also need:
- A valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate (or accepted equivalent) before attending the refresher course.
- The first-aid certificate must generally have at least 12 months remaining when you start the refresher training.
After completing the refresher course, you’ll still need to pay the SIA renewal fee when you submit your licence renewal application.
Is First Aid included in SIA renewals?
Not necessarily.
The SIA renewal process does not include a first-aid course. Instead, you must already hold a valid first-aid qualification before you can take the required refresher training for Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence renewal.
For a Door Supervisor renewal, you need:
- A valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate (or accepted equivalent).
- The Door Supervisor Refresher qualification.
- Your existing licence-linked qualification.
Whether first aid is “included” depends on the training provider:
- Some providers sell a combined package (First Aid + Refresher course).
- Others require you to obtain the first-aid certificate separately before attending the refresher course.
If you already have a valid EFAW certificate with enough time remaining on it (generally at least 12 months when you start the refresher course), you usually do not need to pay for another first-aid course.
The UK’s Security Industry Authority’s most significant recent licensing changes are
SIA license Renewal
Stricter licensing criteria (effective 1 December 2025)
The SIA updated its licensing decision rules to raise standards and improve public protection. Key changes include:
- Expansion of the list of criminal offences considered when assessing applicants.
- New “absolute refusal” categories for certain serious sexual and child-related offences.
- Longer overseas criminal-record disclosure requirements for applicants who have lived abroad for extended periods.
2. Mandatory refresher training for licence renewals
The SIA has now fully rolled out refresher-training requirements for SIA license renewal
- Door Supervisors and Security Guards must complete approved refresher training before renewing their licences.
- Close Protection operatives must also complete refresher training and hold an approved first-aid qualification before SIA license renewal
3. Licence fee increase from April 2026
This is technically the end of a temporary discount rather than a new fee rise:
- From 1 April 2026, the application/renewal fee returned to £204.
- The temporary £20 rebate ended, increasing the amount many applicants pay compared with previous years for SIA license renewal
4. Qualification review underway
The SIA is conducting a broader review of licence-linked qualifications. The review could lead to future changes in training content, assessment methods, and competency requirements across security sectors. Some industry providers expect updates over the next few years, though final reforms are still being developed for SIA license renewal
At a glance
| Area | Recent change |
|---|---|
| Criminality checks | More offences considered; tougher refusal criteria |
| Overseas checks | Longer look-back period for overseas residence |
| Renewals | Refresher training now required for key licence types |
| First aid | Required before certain refresher courses |
| Fees | £204 from 1 April 2026 |
| Qualifications | Industry-wide review in progress |
🚨 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 SIA license renewal for 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 SIA license renewal and 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:
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Have up‑to‑date first aid skills
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Are trained in counter‑terrorism and emergency response
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Understand modern legal and technical practices
🎯 What’s Included in the Refresher?
According to SIA guidance and training providers:
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Door Supervisors: Training covers terror threat awareness, physical intervention, search procedures, and vulnerability/spiking awareness.
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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.
🔄 Licence Switching Options
If you currently hold a Door Supervisor licence, you have two routes at renewal:
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Complete the Door Supervisor refresher to renew that licence, or
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Take the Security Guard refresher to downgrade to a Security Guard licence
Hold a Close Protection licence? You can either:
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Do a Close Protection top-up to renew, or
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Drop to Door Supervisor with the appropriate refresher
⏱️ Timing & Cost
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Start now: Refresher courses have been available from October 2024.
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Course duration: Typically 0.5–1 day for Security Guards; 1.5–2.5 days for Door Supervisors (excluding first aid)
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Expense: Prices vary with providers—expect between £100–£200 for refresher and first aid combined .
✅ What You Must Do
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Ensure your first aid certificate is current (at least 12 months remaining).
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Book your refresher course early—before your licence expiry in April 2025.
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Provide your first aid certificate at registration.
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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:
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All personnel are up-to-date with the latest SIA training including mandatory refreshers.
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Every guard has been vetted, first-aid qualified, and is legally cleared to work.
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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.