How to get your SIA License (The Ultimate Guide for Security Guards July 2019)

Before you apply…

Before you begin to apply for your SIA License there are a few things you need to consider to make sure that you meet the SIA’s licensing criteria as a license is not guaranteed unless you fully meet the criteria set by them and the license fee is non-refundable. 

• You must be of at least 18 years of age to apply for an SIA Licensed.
• To apply for an SIA Licensed you must hold the relevant qualifications (see Training Section)
• If you have a criminal record there is a chance you may not get a license, however the SIA will make their decision based on whether they consider your offences relevant to their decision, the sentence or disposal given to you for the offence and how recent the offences were. 
  CLICK HERE TO VIEW SIA’S CRIMINAL RECORD INDICATOR 
• You MUST have the right to work in the UK in order to be granted an SIA License.
• Any recent mental health problems where you have been compulsorily detained or any measures have been taken in the past five years will be taken into account when applying for an SIA License. 

Required Qualifications

When applying for a front line Security Guard License you must show that you have had the required training.
These qualifications include:

• Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Officer within the Private Security Industry
• Award for Working as a Security Officer within the Private Security Industry (Scotland) 

Older Qualifications

The SIA will accept some older qualifications in support of a license application as long as they meet the following conditions:

• If you are applying for the first time the qualification must have been achieved less than three years prior to your application. 
• If you have previously held a Security Guard License it has been less than three years since your previous license was active. 

Do I need to retake training to renew my SIA License?

No, there are no requirements to take refresher training if you currently have a license and you are looking to renew it.

ID and Documents Required

Identity

When applying for an SIA License you will need to provide proof of your identity, date of birth and address. Normally, at least two identifying documents are required for this process, depending on what you have available. The accepted documents are split into two categories, A and B. Documents in the A Category are better than documents in the B Category as they have more weight to them.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF QUALIFYING DOCUMENTS VIA TRAINING CIRCLE

You will also be required to supply two good quality, passport-size (45mm x 35mm) colour photographs of yourself. One of these will go to the awarding body and the other will be needed to submit with your license application and will be the picture that appearing on your SIA Card. 

Criminal Record Check

If you have a criminal record it does not mean you will not be able to qualify for an SIA License. However if you do have offences on your record the SIA will consider the nature of these offences, the sentence you received and how long ago it too place.

If you have only ever lived in the UK, the SIA will carry out a criminal background check for you and you don’t have to provide any additional documentation concerning the matter. However, if you currently live outside of the UK or have spent at least six continuous months oversears, you must include evidence of a criminal record check from the country you are currently living within. This will need to cover at least the past five years up to the point of your application.

SIA Training

When you complete an SIA Training course you should receive a certificate proving that you have passed. This certificate should be awarded by a recognised awarding body such as IQ Awards, Trident or Edexel. The certificate will act as proof of your qualification when applying for your SIA license.

What to do after passing your SIA Training

When you have completed your SIA training you now have the skillset to work legally as a Security Guard, Door Supervisor or CCTV Operative, however, you need to make sure you take the right steps after your training has been completed to ensure you get the best results.

Receiving your Licence

You do not need to wait for your certificate to be sent to you to apply for your SIA license, you simply require the results of the exam. Results can take around five working days to be released with the certificate taking about two weeks to get to you.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR YOUR SIA LICENCE ONLINE TODAY

Useful Links

To look for SIA Training Courses in your area visit: https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/search/courses?courseID=44&addressTxt=

To Apply for your SIA License visit: https://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/licensing-applying.aspx

If you only need to RENEW your license see: https://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/licensing-renewals.aspx