Nancy Smith
September 16, 2022 SIA Training 0 Comment

In 2021, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) made a few modifications to the SIA training you must undergo before obtaining a front-line SIA licence as a door supervisor or security guard.

What Modifications Did They Make, And How Did They Affect SIA Licence Training?

On April 1, 2021,
  • Updated qualifications are for all sectors aside from vehicle immobilisation and close protection.
  • Before you may apply for SIA training to become a security guard or door supervisor, you must have a first aid certification.
On October 1, 2021,
  • Updated qualifications for close protection were introduced.
  • Before applying for a security guard licence and a door supervisor, you must hold one of the new qualifications of SIA licence training or complete SIA top-up training, which is required for the renewals of the licence.
In 2022, SIA announced additional adjustments. SIA announced a revision to the launch date for the new close protection qualification. On April 1, 2022,
  • The SIA introduced a new qualification for close protection operators, including new physical intervention skills. The integration arrangement that allows holders of close protection licences to serve as door supervisors will be maintained with the help of the new content.
  • To be eligible to apply for a close protection licence, one must meet the new requirements. Renewals are excluded from this.
More adjustments will be implemented as of October 1, 2022.
  • Before renewing your close protection licence, you must either have the updated qualification or complete additional training.
SIA implemented these adjustments to the SIA licence training to ensure that those who have received SIA training are capable of maintaining public safety, grasping recent changes in the law, adhering to new working norms, and making the most of modern technology.

First Aid Training

For a door supervisor or security guard

Both door supervisor and security guard candidates must successfully complete first aid training before enrolling in their SIA training if one of the following situations applies:
  • If you are renewing your SIA licence or applying for a licence for the first time.
  • It has been over three years since you last held an SIA licence for that activity.

For close protection operatives,

Candidates for a close protection SIA licence are expected to successfully complete a level 3 first aid course (such as First Aid at Work (FAW), First Response Emergency Care (FREC), or First Person on Scene (FPOS)) before enrolling in their license-linked SIA training.

The certification must be for emergency first aid at work or equivalent.

Top-Up Training for Some SIA Licence Holders

Door supervisors, security guards, and close protection operatives

Before you can apply for or renew a door supervisor or security guard licence, you must have one of the following:
  • One of The New Certifications Introduced In April 2021
  • One of The Older License-Linked Qualifications, And A “Top-Up” Qualification.
Any applications, including renewal, are covered by this. You must acquire one of the above by October 1, 2022, to apply for or renew an SIA close protection licence.

If you hold a licence as a door supervisor,

If you hold a licence as a door supervisor, you may select from the list below:
  • Renew your door supervisor licence by completing the top-up training.
  • Convert to a security guard licence after completing the top-up training for security guards.
Since the security guard top-up training is shorter than the top-up SIA training for door supervisors, it is probably less expensive. However, you should consider the regular tasks associated with your line of work. You must renew your SIA door supervisor licence if your job entails watching over a bar or a club, for example.

If you have a close protection licence

If you have an SIA licence for close protection, you can select one of the following from October 1, 2022:
  • Renew your close protection licence by completing the close protection top-up training.
  • Convert to a door supervisor licence after completing the door supervisor top-up training
In either instance, before enrolling in the top-up training, you must possess an Emergency First Aid at Work certification or equivalent.

Other changes

The SIA has moved some SIA licence training to the ‘common unit’ taken by all security operatives except close protection operatives. This SIA training includes dealing with emergencies and terror threat awareness. Moreover, the SIA has added new industry-specific material to the SIA courses. For example,
  • The door supervision training inculcates new modules on the use of body-worn equipments such as video recorders and breathalysers.
  • The public space surveillance (CCTV) course includes material on CCTV operational procedures and the law.
  • The security guard course has new material covering personal safety.

The SIA has increased the proportion of practical knowledge in the SIA licence training to enable the learners to strengthen their skills. The practical assessment covers searching, writing reports and statements, handling conflict, using communication equipment and the use of physical intervention skills for close protection operatives in the private security sector.