The SIA has today (5 November 2025) launched a major strategic review of the qualifications and linked training required to apply for an SIA licence.

The purpose of the review is to update the SIA’s licence-linked qualifications requirement, so it keeps pace with the demands on SIA-licensed operatives and ensures they have the safety-critical skills to keep the public safe.

This review is wide in scope; it will examine the content of qualifications and will consider:

• what new core content is required
• what changes are required to safety-critical skills like physical intervention and searching
• updates to counter-terror content
• how to meet emerging issues, like dealing with social media auditors and using new technologies and equipment
• how to make sure existing content remains as comprehensive as possible, especially on issues like spiking awareness and specialist searching techniques such as searching wheelchairs
• whether there is the right amount of content in key specialist areas such as close protection
• how English language skills are tested and demonstrated
• how first aid skills are demonstrated

This review will work with partners to examine other aspects of the qualifications and training delivery, including:

• technological innovation to make sure exams are much less vulnerable to those who might want to cheat
• new quality requirements of training providers
• a review of the occupational expertise and qualifications of trainers required to deliver licence-linked qualifications

The new standards and requirements will ensure security operatives have the essential, safety-critical skills and knowledge to keep them and the public safe. It is vital the qualifications keep pace with a continually complex, challenging and changing modern protective security landscape. The new standards must also provide the foundations to support those who contract or employ security to fulfil their responsibilities to provide continuous and role-specific on-the-job training.

Stay up to date with changes to the licence requirements at gov.uk.