If your SIA licence is close to running out, you may be asking what steps you need to take before you can renew it. This is where Security Officer Refresher Training comes into the picture. It is now a required part of the renewal process for most licence holders, and skipping it can leave you unable to work legally while your paperwork is sorted out.
The rules around SIA licensing have shifted over the past couple of years, and 2026 brings fresh requirements that catch many officers off guard. Whether you work as a security guard, a door supervisor, or a close protection operative, understanding what refresher training involves, who needs it, and when to book it will save you time, money, and stress. This guide walks you through everything step by step, using plain language and real examples from the security industry in the UK, so you can plan your renewal with confidence and keep working without a break in your licence.
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Before you book a course, it helps to know what this training actually covers and why the SIA brought it in.
Security Officer Refresher Training is a short course that licence holders must complete before they can renew certain SIA licences. It was introduced because the security industry changes quickly, and skills that felt current five years ago can go out of date. Threats such as terrorism, safeguarding risks, and public disorder have changed shape, and the SIA wants every licensed officer to keep pace with these changes rather than relying on training taken years earlier.
The course is not a full repeat of your original licence-linked qualification. Instead, it focuses on updates: new legislation, new procedures, and any lessons learned from recent incidents across the country. It is shorter than the original course but still classroom based, and it ends with an assessment to check that you have taken in the material.
Anyone renewing a Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence has needed this training since April 2025. Close Protection operatives joined this list from April 2026. The SIA introduced the requirement to raise standards across the board and to close the gap between newly trained officers and those who qualified some years back.
Not every licence type carries this requirement, so it is worth checking where you fit before you book anything.
If you hold more than one licence type, check each one separately, since the rules and course lengths differ. The table below sums up the current position for each licence.
| Licence Type | Refresher Required? | Typical Course Length |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | Yes, since April 2025 | 1 day |
| Door Supervisor | Yes, since April 2025 | 2 days |
| Close Protection | Yes, from April 2026 | 3 to 5 days |
| CCTV Operator | Not currently required | N/A |
| Key Holding | Not currently required | N/A |
Refresher courses are built around real risks that officers face on the job, not abstract theory. Here is what most SIA Refresher Training courses cover.
Each of these topics ties back to situations officers meet on shifts, from a busy nightclub door to a quiet retail unit, so the training stays practical rather than academic.
The rules have moved on from previous years, and it helps to know exactly what is different now.
The biggest change is that Close Protection licence holders now fall under the same refresher requirement as Door Supervisors and Security Guards. Before April 2026, only the latter two groups needed refresher training to renew. Now, anyone submitting a Close Protection renewal application on or after that date must show proof of the refresher qualification alongside their existing licence-linked training.
Alongside this, providers now expect officers to bring proof of ACT Awareness and ACT Security e-learning, both completed within the past 12 months, on top of the refresher course itself. This e-learning is free through ProtectUK and covers counter-terrorism basics that link closely with what is taught in the classroom.
Existing licence holders often ask why they need this training if they have worked in the industry for years. The answer is straightforward: licensing standards apply equally to everyone, regardless of experience. The SIA treats refresher training as proof that your knowledge is current, not just that you once passed an exam.
Take a door supervisor who has worked at the same venue for eight years. They may handle conflict well and know their site inside out, but refresher training still matters, since it brings them up to speed on changes in the law around search powers, updated safeguarding referral routes, and revised guidance on protecting venues against terror threats. None of this replaces years on the job, but it fills gaps that day-to-day work alone cannot cover.
First aid sits alongside refresher training as a separate but connected requirement, and the order you complete things in matters.
Is first aid mandatory? Yes. You cannot start your refresher course without a valid first aid certificate already in place.
Which qualification is accepted? For Security Guards and Door Supervisors, an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate is accepted. For Close Protection operatives, the bar is higher: you need a Level 3 first aid qualification, such as FAW, FPOS, or FREC.
What order should candidates complete training? The correct order is: renew or check your first aid certificate first, making sure it has at least 12 months of validity left, then book your refresher course. Training providers will usually ask to see your first aid certificate at registration, so turning up without one can mean losing your place on the course.
The table below sets out what is needed for each licence type.
| Licence Type | First Aid Level Needed | Minimum Validity at Start of Course |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | 12 months |
| Door Supervisor | Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | 12 months |
| Close Protection | Level 3 (FAW, FPOS, or FREC) | 12 months |
Once you understand the pieces involved, the renewal process itself follows a clear path. Here is the order to work through.
A few avoidable errors cause most of the delays and stress around SIA renewals. Watch out for these.
The Security Guard refresher usually takes one day, the Door Supervisor refresher takes two days, and the Close Protection refresher runs across several days, often between three and five.
The core refresher course is classroom based and includes practical assessment, so it cannot be completed fully online. Supporting elements, such as ACT Awareness e-learning, can be done online.
Prices vary between training providers and depend on the licence type, but Security Guard and Door Supervisor refreshers tend to sit in a similar price range, with Close Protection courses costing more due to their length.
You cannot legally work as a licensed security officer once your licence expires. You would need to apply as a new applicant rather than renewing, which can take longer and cost more.
Yes. The requirement applies regardless of how many years someone has worked in the role.
Aim to book at least two to three months before your licence expiry date, giving yourself room for any delays.
Yes, most providers expect proof of ACT Awareness and ACT Security e-learning completed within the last 12 months, alongside your refresher certificate.
Yes, you can apply up to four months before your licence expires, and doing so is generally the safest option.
The refresher certificate itself does not carry its own separate expiry date in the way a first aid certificate does. It is tied to the renewal window it was completed for, so the safest approach is to complete it close to your actual renewal application rather than years in advance.
No. Refresher training is separate from your original licence-linked qualification. You keep the qualification you already hold and add the refresher course on top of it, provided your renewal falls after the date the requirement became mandatory for your licence type.
Renewing an SIA licence in 2026 means more steps than it used to, but each one is manageable if you plan ahead. SIA Refresher Training now applies to Security Guards, Door Supervisors, and, as of this year, Close Protection operatives too. Pair this with a valid first aid certificate, up-to-date ACT e-learning, and a licence application submitted in good time, and there is no reason your renewal should cause trouble.
The officers who struggle are usually the ones who leave things too late, not the ones who lack experience. Check your expiry date today, book your refresher course with an approved provider, and keep your career moving without a gap in your licence.
