⭐ 4.9 Google Rating ✅ 95%+ Pass Rate 🏆 Established 2014
LEVEL 2 · OFQUAL-REGULATED
SIA CCTV Operator Training Course
Train for CCTV control room work and meet the SIA’s training requirement for a public space surveillance licence. You learn to track people on camera, record evidence and follow data protection and privacy law.
Duration
3 Days
Price
From: £199.99
Deposit
Pay: £49.99
- The £204 SIA licence fee is paid separately.
Already a security guard? A guard licence does not cover CCTV monitoring.
Do You Need an SIA Licence to Work as a CCTV Operator?
You need a public space surveillance (CCTV) licence if you use CCTV to identify people or monitor what they are doing. The licence applies when the aim is to guard premises against disorder or damage, or to protect people from injury or assault caused by someone else’s unlawful conduct.
It also covers viewing recorded footage for those purposes. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) issues the licence, and GOV.UK explains which activities need one.
Public Space Surveillance and CCTV Operator Training
The SIA uses the term public space surveillance, while most employers and job adverts say CCTV operator. Both refer to the same licence, and both lead back to the same Level 2 qualification.
Entry Requirements for the CCTV Course
First aid
Not required for CCTV. GOV.UK applies the first aid rule to door supervisor, security guard and close protection training.
-
Age
You must be 18 or over to hold an SIA licence
-
Identification
Valid ID to show at the start of the course
-
English
Reading, writing, speaking and listening at B2 level or equivalent, such as ESOL Level 1 or Functional Skills Level 1 in English
-
Experience
No previous CCTV or security experience needed
If you are unsure about your English level, contact our team before you pay.
How Many Days Does CCTV Training Take?
The SIA sets minimum contact hours and days for this qualification. The figure depends on whether part of the course is completed as self-study.
| How the course is delivered | Minimum contact time | Minimum days |
|---|---|---|
| With self-study for part of Unit 1 | 22 hours | 3 days |
| Without self-study | 30 hours | 4 days |
Up to eight hours of Unit 1 can be done as self-study, such as a workbook or e-learning. Your training provider must keep evidence that you completed it.
What You Learn on the CCTV Operator Course
Our course leads to the Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for CCTV Operators (Public Space Surveillance) in the Private Security Industry, qualification number 603/7282/5. You can read the details on the Pearson qualification page.
The qualification has two units. GOV.UK lists the awarding organisations that offer it in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry
This unit builds the foundation for any security role. You learn how the industry is regulated and which laws apply to you, including when a citizen’s arrest may apply.
It also covers fire and emergency procedures, clear communication and record-keeping, terror threat awareness and how to keep vulnerable people safe.
Principles and Practices of Working as a CCTV Operator in the Private Security Industry
This unit is where the course becomes specific to CCTV. Operators handle footage of members of the public, so the legal content matters as much as the equipment skills.
The law and the rules you follow
- Data protection, freedom of information and human rights law
- The Surveillance Camera Code of Practice and the Information Commissioner’s CCTV code
- Covert surveillance rules and the offence of voyeurism
Equipment and techniques
- How cameras, display screens, recording systems and video management software work
- Newer technology such as facial recognition and number plate recognition
- Surveillance techniques, including pattern recognition and lost contact drills
- Capturing images that can be used as evidence
In the control room
- Your role within the control room team and how you work with the police and other agencies
- Operational procedures and emergency procedures specific to CCTV
- Responding to criminal and non-criminal incidents, from theft to a missing person
- Health and safety rules for working with display screens
How the CCTV Qualification Is Assessed
Each unit has a multiple-choice exam and a practical part. You need to pass both to pass the unit.
| Unit | Exam | Pass mark | Practical part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | 72 questions, 110 minutes | 50 | Written evidential statement |
| Unit 2 | 40 questions, 60 minutes | 28 | Surveillance exercise, audit trail and workbook |
The Unit 2 practical has three parts:
- Workbook. You answer six short-answer questions under controlled conditions, and you need 12 out of 15 marks.
- Surveillance exercise. You work through an externally set scenario and are assessed on it.
- Audit trail. You produce the documents that go with the scenario, such as an incident report, evidence labels and a statement.
The surveillance exercise and the portfolio of audit trail documents need 100%. Once you have passed both units, Pearson issues your Level 2 certificate. If you do not pass a practical, you can retake it.
From Qualification to SIA CCTV Licence
- Achieve the qualification. Pearson then notifies the SIA, and the SIA must receive this notification before you can submit your application.
- Create your SIA online application and pay the £204 licence fee.
- Verify your identity and show that you have the right to work in the UK.
- The SIA runs its criminal record checks and decides whether to grant your licence. You receive its decision in your online account and by email.
A licence lasts 3 years. The SIA cannot say exactly how long a decision will take, so apply as soon as you qualify. Its licence application guidance lists the documents you need.
Our team gives free guidance on your application. A pass does not guarantee a licence, because the SIA makes the final decision. Wait until it confirms that your licence is granted before you start licensable CCTV work.
Before You Apply: Identity and Background Checks
The SIA asks for proof of your identity when you apply. You need one document from its group A list and two from group B, and the application guidance explains which documents count.
If you have spent six continuous months or more outside the UK in the last 10 years, you also need evidence of an overseas criminal record check.
CCTV Operator Course Price
Our SIA CCTV operator course starts at £199.99. A £49.99 deposit reserves your place.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| SIA CCTV operator course | From £199.99 |
| Deposit to reserve your place | £49.99 |
| SIA licence fee (paid to the SIA) | £204 |
Booking Your CCTV Course With GRUPO
Same price at every location
Pearson Level 2 CCTV award
Three-day course, 9 am to 6 pm
Resits: small admin fee only
Where CCTV Operators Work
CCTV operators usually work in control rooms, watching camera feeds from shops, offices and public spaces. In practice, that means watching for disorder, damage or unlawful conduct, identifying individuals and reviewing recorded footage when something has happened.
Qualifying does not secure a job, and we cannot promise one. Pearson names the Level 2 Award for Security Officers as a related qualification if you later want guarding work. See our SIA security courses.
Where the CCTV Course Runs
You can train with us in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Our London centre is in East London (E7), on Romford Road. Select a location to see the next available dates.
London
CCTV Operator Course
3 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £199.99
Glasgow
CCTV Operator Course
3 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £199.99
Birmingham
CCTV Operator Course
3 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £199.99
Manchester
CCTV Operator Course
3 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £199.99
Liverpool
CCTV Operator Course
3 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £199.99
Your CCTV Operator Course Questions
Can I take the CCTV course with no experience?
Yes. The qualification has no experience requirement.
What age do I need to be for an SIA CCTV licence?
You must be 18 or over to hold any SIA licence. Pearson approves the qualification for younger learners, but you cannot hold the licence until you turn 18.
Does a security guard licence cover CCTV work?
CCTV monitoring needs its own public space surveillance licence. GOV.UK states that a security guard licence does not extend to using CCTV or viewing recorded footage for those purposes.
How long does an SIA CCTV licence last, and how do I renew it?
A licence lasts 3 years, and you renew it through the SIA’s online service. The refresher training required since April 2025 applies to door supervisors and security guards, and GOV.UK does not list it for CCTV operators.
What does the practical CCTV assessment involve?
You track a person using pan, tilt and zoom, complete a lost contact drill and capture an identification image. You then produce the audit trail documents, such as an incident report and evidence labels.
Can I get a CCTV licence with a criminal record?
It depends on the offence. The SIA looks for relevant criminal activity, links to criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, then decides whether you are suitable. Read its criminal record guidance before you book.
What Our Students Say
Real reviews from students who trained with GRUPO Training.
Book Your SIA CCTV Operator Training Course
Choose your location, check the dates and reserve your place online.
