Who Needs a Licence?
If you want to work in any of the following roles for a private security company in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will need to get qualified by undertaking an SIA-recognised training and passing the assessments:
- Cash and Valuables in Transit
- Close Protection
- Door Supervision
- Key Holding
- Public Space Surveillance CCTV
- Security Guard
- Vehicle Immobilisation (only in Northern Ireland)
Different types of licences
There are two types of licence currently available from the SIA.
Most people who move into the industry will only need to apply for one of them. However, some of you who plan to work in other roles might need to apply for the second licence type.
The two licences available right now include:
- A front line licence for bodyguards
- A non-front line licence for managers, supervisors and other staff who don’t carry out front-line duties
Requirements to apply for a license
In order to qualify to apply for a front line licence, all applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Aged 18 or over
- Successful identity-check
- Pass the criminal record check
- Hold the appropriate, SIA recognised, qualification
- The qualification must have been achieved no more than three years before the licence application.
- Have a right to work in the United Kingdom (UK)
For those who wish to operate in non-front line roles, such as a manager or supervisor, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:
- Aged 18 or over
- Successful identity-check
- Pass the criminal record check
Applicants applying for non-front line licences do not necessarily need SIA recognised qualifications. And, the SIA may grant a non-front line licence to an applicant who does not have the right to work in the UK, if they are a director of a UK registered company which is linked to licence application.
Mental health
The SIA will take into account any recent mental health problems where the applicant has been subject to compulsory detention or been subject to other compulsory measures in the five years prior to their application.
The SIA will not seek out information about any mental health problems which have not been subject to compulsory measures or resulted in detention. If an applicant has any recent mental health problems requiring detention or other compulsory measures, they will be required to provide a current medical report outlining the condition and any ongoing treatment(s).
