Getting your SIA Licence

Thinking of becoming a Door Supervisor ?

Looking for a job within the Private Security Industry?

Not sure how to go about getting your licence?

I'm here to help !

 I have prepared a quick insight into how to go about gaining that all important licence you need to get that job and start earning a living !

Ok, im going to start to tell you a little about the SIA, they are responsible ultimately for issuing you with your licence. Here is a brief description of who they are and what they do...

The SIA is a government body set up to regulate and licence the private security industry in the UK. Established in 2003 following the Private Security Act 2001 and answerable to the Home Secretary.

The purpose of the SIA is to

Regulate the private security industry

Help to reduce criminal activity

Raise the standards and quality of service

The SIA have two main responsibilities

1. Compulsory licensing of each individual working within the sector described below.

2. Manage and maintain the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme [ACS] which was set up following consultation with industry representatives and with the mind to improve the professional standards of services providers.

If you are looking to work in the private security industry as a:

• Door Supervisor
• Security Guard
• CCTV Operator
• Vehicle Immobiliser
• Cash in Transit security person 

then you have by law, to be licensed to do that particular role.

You must have an SIA licence before you start work 

It is a criminal offence if you work without the appropriate licence and if found that you have been working without a licence, you could be fined up to £5000 or face a prison sentence for up to 6 months.

Furthermore, your employer knowingly allowing you to operate without a licence, will face criminal charges if found guilty in a cour of law.

These licences are issued by the SIA for all personnel that have completed the required training and passed the relevant examination that are provided by numerous training organisation some of which can be found on the SIA website.

Step 1 to gaining your licence

• The first step to gaining your licence is to search the web for a local training provider. There are many out there, so speak to them, listen to what they say. If you get someone say "yes I will guarantee you will pass" wink, wink say no more, then avoid that company at all costs.

• The problem is that there are plenty of cowboy operators out there simply interested in your money and not what they are teaching you. 

• All these companies are audited by the awarding body and by the SIA and if found that they are not meeting the legal requirement their licence to operate could easily be revoked.

• What that means to you is that if the company looses their licence to teach then by default you may loose your licence to operate within your chosen profession and your hard earned money you paid for the couse will be for nothing, you might have to do the course all over again. 

Is it worth cheating ?    NO ITS NOT !

Step 2 applying for your SIA licence

Once you complete a course with a training provider and have passed the relevant examination, you need to apply to the SIA for your licence. The cost for the licence is £220 and will look something like this:

The typical costs of becoming licensed vary dependant on which couse you take: 

Example:

Door Supervisor costs:

Couses can range  from between £110 - £200 + Vat dependant on the training organisation. Once you complete the training there is a short wait to see if you have passed the course. A certificate will be issued for the couse you have taken by the examining board. 

Some courses such as the Close Protection courses can run into  2 - 3 thousand pounds, again dependant on where you go for the training.

Please be advised, for these types of course, if your 18 wet behind the ears, there is very little point in shelling out for a close protection course .. so again b careful if you are thinking of applying for one of these courses, ask questions, a good training provider will tell you straight if its for you.

These courses are best suited to ex military personel or more mature people who have life experience.

Its a bit like saying if you was David Beckham and you wanted a close protection bodyguard would you go for ex military with advanced skills or an 18 - 20 year old to look after your children and wife.. simple answer really when you look at it that way!!

Unscrupulous training organisations will take your money knowing you have 

little or no chance of finding work. 

Buyer Beware !!!

Anyway, the examination board could be one of the following awarding bodies:

British Institute of Inn Keeping [BIIAB]

Highfield ABC

Edexcel

City & Guilds

NOCN

EDI

Example: Certificate

This is your proof that you have met the necessary requirements of the course. 

The above certificate is not your licence.

Obtaining you licence

To obtain your licence you have to apply to the SIA for your licence. The training organisation where you took the course usually has all the relevant details together with a service to assist you in filling in the application as something like 1 in 10 are sent back because they are incorrectly filled in.

There is usually a small charge made for this service. This could be between £10 - £20 for this service and is for the administration costs preparing and setting up the application. 

Part of the cost of the SIA licence is to complete a background check or a CRB: Criminal Records Bureau. It is very unlikely that if you have recent criminal activities on record you will be granted a licence.

Never the less it is my advice that anyone that wishes to obtain a SIA licence to be employed in the Private Security Industry: 

must complete their OWN DUE DILIGENCE

Check out the local training providers

Ask questions

Check out the facilities 

Make sure they have the resources

Get qualified

Get a licence

If you have any specific questions you want to ask then contact me via email or leave a comment below and i'll help any way I can.

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Thank you for reading and 

Good luck !

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