⭐ 4.9 Google Rating ✅ 95%+ Pass Rate 🏆 Established 2014
LEVEL 2 · OFQUAL-REGULATED
SIA Security Guard Training Course
Learn to protect shops, offices, warehouses and building sites. Over four days, you cover the law, patrolling, access control and conflict management, then complete the Level 2 assessments that allow you to apply for your SIA security guard licence.
Duration
4 Days
Price
From: £179.99
Deposit
Pay: £49.99
- The £204 SIA licence fee is paid separately.
Not sure your first aid certificate qualifies? Contact our team before you book.
What Does a Security Guard Do?
A security guard, also called a security officer, protects people, property and premises from theft, damage, unauthorised access and disorder. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the role and issues the licence. You need the licence to do this work for a security contractor.
Day to day, the job can include:
- Patrolling a site and checking that doors, gates and windows are secure
- Controlling who enters and leaves, including checking passes and vehicles
- Searching people, bags or vehicles where the site rules allow it
- Writing up incidents and keeping evidence safe until it is needed
- Responding to alarms, fires and other emergencies
Security Guard or Door Supervisor?
| Security guard | Door supervisor | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical workplaces | Shops, offices, warehouses and construction sites | Pubs, bars, nightclubs and events |
| Licence covers | Security guarding only | Door supervision and security guarding |
| Minimum training | 4 days with self-study | 6 days with self-study |
A security guard licence does not allow you to work on the door at licensed venues. If that is the work you want, take the SIA door supervisor course instead. GOV.UK explains what each SIA licence covers.
Who Can Take the Security Guard Course?
Use this checklist to make sure you are ready to book.
First aid
A valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate or equivalent, with at least 12 months remaining on the day training starts. GOV.UK also accepts First Person on Scene and First Response Emergency Care. Read the GOV.UK first aid guidance.
-
Age
18 or over, which is the minimum age for any SIA licence
-
Identification
Valid ID to show on your first day. The SIA checks your right to work in the UK when you apply for the licence.
-
English
B2 level or equivalent, because the exams are written in English
-
Experience
None. You can start as a complete beginner.
Training Locations
Choose your city and book online
Security Guard Training
What the Security Guard Course Covers
The SIA does not run training itself. Instead, awarding organisations offer the qualification through training centres, and GOV.UK lists the awarding organisations that offer the security guard qualification: Highfield, Laser Learning Awards, NOCN, Pearson, QNUK and SFJ Awards.
We deliver the Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (qualification number 603/7280/1). It is built from three units, worth 38 guided learning hours in total.
Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry
- How the industry is structured and why it is regulated
- Laws that affect security staff, including arrest powers
- Fire, emergency and safe working procedures
- Report writing and record keeping
- Terror threat awareness and protecting vulnerable people
Principles of Working as a Security Officer
- Duties and responsibilities of the role
- Controlling access and exit points
- Alarms, CCTV and other protection systems
- Patrolling safely and searching people and property
- Drug-misuse law and how to respond
Application of Conflict Management
- Spotting the early signs of conflict
- Assessing risks before you step in
- Communicating calmly to defuse tension
- Solving problems and reviewing what happened afterwards
Exams, Assessments and Your Certificate
Each unit is assessed by a multiple-choice exam. Alongside the exams, you complete practical work that differs by unit. You must meet the assessment requirements for all three units.
| Unit | Exam | Pass mark | Practical work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Private security industry | 72 questions, 110 minutes | 50 | Written evidential statement |
| 2. Working as a security officer | 60 questions, 90 minutes | 42 | Observed searching assessment |
| 3. Conflict management | 20 questions, 30 minutes | 14 | Observed conflict scenario |
If you do not pass a unit, you resit that unit rather than the whole course. When you have passed all three, Pearson issues your Level 2 certificate.
How to Get Your SIA Security Guard Licence
- Qualification. Once you pass, the awarding organisation tells the SIA. The SIA must receive this notification before you can submit an application, and you must have qualified within the last 3 years.
- Application. Apply on the SIA website and pay the £204 fee. You will also need to prove your identity and your right to work.
- Checks and decision. The SIA carries out criminal record checks and then decides whether to grant your licence. A licence lasts 3 years.
There is no fixed processing time, because it varies between applications. The SIA licence application guidance lists what you need to provide. We offer free guidance on your application and email support after the course.
To renew, you must first complete a security guard refresher qualification. It takes between half a day and one day of in-person training, depending on how much self-study you do.
You can apply up to 4 months before your licence expires. An expired licence cannot be renewed, so you would need to submit a new application. See how to renew your SIA licence.
Security Guard Course Price
A place on our security guard course starts at £179.99, and a £49.99 deposit secures it. Adding first aid brings the price to £249.99.
| Course | Price |
|---|---|
| SIA security guard course | £179.99 |
| SIA security guard course with first aid | £249.99 |
| Security guard refresher (licence renewal) | £119.99 |
| Security guard refresher with first aid | £179.99 |
The £204 licence fee is separate and is paid to the SIA when you apply. The same applies to any first aid certificate you book elsewhere. For renewals, the refresher costs £119.99, or £179.99 with first aid.
What You Get When You Book With Us
Level 2 award from Pearson
Course dates shown per location
Help with your licence application
Email support after your course
Security Guard Jobs and Salary
Security guards work in shops, shopping centres, offices, warehouses, construction sites, hospitals and other premises.
The National Careers Service security officer profile reports:
- Pay: around £20,000 a year for starters, rising to £35,000 with experience
- Hours: 37 to 48 a week, with shifts that can include evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Passing the required qualification lets you apply for a licence, but we cannot promise you a job.
Where Our Security Guard Courses Run
We train in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. In London, our centre is on Romford Road in East London (E7). Select a location to see the available dates.
London
Security Guard Course
4 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £179.99
Glasgow
Security Guard Course
4 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £179.99
Birmingham
Security Guard Course
4 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £179.99
Manchester
Security Guard Course
4 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £179.99
Liverpool
Security Guard Course
4 Days · 9am–6pm
From: £179.99
Security Guard Course FAQs
How many days is the SIA security guard course?
The course runs for 4 days, from 9 am to 6 pm. This fits the SIA’s minimum of 30 hours over 4 days when self-study is included. Without self-study, the minimum is 38 hours over 5 days.
What qualification do I need to be a security guard?
You need the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry, followed by an SIA licence. You do not need any earlier security qualification, but you must hold a valid first aid certificate before the course starts.
Do I need first aid for the security guard course?
Yes. You need Emergency First Aid at Work or an equivalent qualification, with at least 12 months remaining on the day the course starts. If you do not have one, you can book the course with first aid included.
Can I work as a security guard without an SIA licence?
It depends on who employs you. If you are paid to guard premises for a security contractor, you need a licence. Some in-house roles, where the organisation employs you directly, may not need one.
Is the security guard exam hard?
It depends on how well you prepare. Each exam is multiple choice and tests what the course teaches. The pass marks are 50 out of 72 in Unit 1, 42 out of 60 in Unit 2 and 14 out of 20 in Unit 3.
What happens if I fail an exam?
You resit only the unit you did not pass, not the whole course. Resits are free apart from a small administration fee. Pearson issues your certificate once you have passed all three units.
Can a door supervisor work as a security guard?
Yes. With a door supervisor licence you can also work as a security guard. It doesn’t work the other way round, because a security guard licence doesn’t allow you to work as a door supervisor.
Can I take the course online?
You take the observed practical assessments in person, so the full qualification cannot be gained online.
What Our Students Say
Real reviews from students who trained with GRUPO Training.
Book Your SIA Security Guard Training Course
Choose your location, check the dates and reserve your place online.
