If you’re searching for information on SIA licence renewal, the Door Supervisor licence, or the current SIA consultation 2026, here’s what you need to know upfront: no rules have changed yet. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to licence-linked qualifications, and it closes at 11:59 pm on 23 October 2026. Until any final decision is published, existing licensing and training requirements remain exactly as they are today.
This article explains what the consultation actually proposes, how it differs from current requirements, and what licence holders and applicants should realistically expect between now and 2027.
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The SIA is the statutory body responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, covering activities such as door supervision, security guarding, close protection, public space surveillance (CCTV), cash and valuables in transit, and key holding.
Licence-linked qualifications — the courses you must complete to apply for or renew an SIA licence — are built from documents called “specifications for learning and qualifications.” These specifications are reviewed periodically, and the current consultation is the result of a strategic review carried out during 2026, informed by industry engagement and independent research.
According to the SIA’s own published summary, the consultation seeks views on:
Because the consultation covers this many areas, it’s not a small formality — it’s a substantial review of the training and licensing landscape. The rest of this article breaks down the five changes most relevant to licence holders.
If you’re currently exploring your options, browsing SIA Security courses at Bright Learning Centre is a good starting point to see the current entry requirements before any changes take effect.
Today, first aid is an entry requirement, not an ongoing one. Before starting licence-linked training:
Once this requirement is satisfied and training is completed, nothing currently checks whether the certificate remains valid during the three-year life of the licence.
The SIA is proposing that holding an in-date first aid qualification becomes a licence condition for close protection operatives, door supervisors, and security guards. This would make first aid an ongoing obligation rather than a one-off entry check. In the SIA’s own words, this could mean the regulator “may take action against operatives who let their first aid certificate lapse.”
The SIA is also proposing a new, security-specific first aid qualification, designed around the kinds of incidents security staff are more likely to encounter, rather than a generic workplace first aid course.
Independent research commissioned as part of the review found that 91% of licence-holders surveyed considered first aid skills important to their role, and more than half said they had actually used their first aid training while working. This is the evidence base the SIA has cited to justify treating first aid as a continuing licence requirement rather than a one-time hurdle.
If your certificate is due for renewal, you can browse First Aid courses at Bright Learning Centre and book a session that fits your schedule, regardless of how the consultation is eventually resolved.
Currently, English language competence is assessed as part of the standard qualification process delivered by approved awarding organisations, without a separate independent test layer.
The SIA is consulting on changing how learners demonstrate English language skills, including the possibility of requiring an additional independent assessment alongside existing awarding-body assessment. The stated aim is to provide greater confidence in communication skills across the industry.
According to the SIA’s research, 81% of survey respondents confirmed that communication skills were important to their role — a figure the SIA has referenced alongside the first aid statistics to support the broader package of proposed changes.
The exact format of this additional test, and what would count as a pass, have not been finalised. This is explicitly one of the questions the consultation is asking industry stakeholders and licence holders to weigh in on. Functional Skills courses at Bright Learning Centre can also help strengthen your English proficiency if this is an area you’d like to work on ahead of any future requirement.
At present, individuals who hold a close protection (CP) licence can, in certain circumstances, also carry out door supervision or security guarding work without holding those licences separately — a practice generally referred to as licence integration.
The consultation asks whether this arrangement should continue. Specifically, it seeks views on whether close protection licence holders should still be able to perform door supervision and security guarding activities without holding those licences in their own right, or whether separate licensing should be required for each activity.
This proposal, if adopted, could affect close protection operatives who currently rely on licence integration to work across multiple roles without applying for and maintaining additional licences.
Currently, trainers delivering SIA licence-linked training are not required to hold an SIA licence themselves for the specific sector they are teaching, provided they meet the qualification and assessment standards set by awarding organisations.
The consultation proposes requiring trainers delivering SIA licence-linked training to hold an SIA licence for the sector they are teaching. The rationale appears to be aligning trainer credentials more closely with practical, current industry experience in the licensable activity being taught.
This change would primarily affect training providers rather than individual learners directly, but it could influence which trainers are available to deliver courses, and potentially affect course availability or cost if training providers need to adjust staffing to meet the new requirement.
Existing qualification specifications cover core knowledge and skills for each licensable activity: cash and valuables in transit, close protection, door supervision, public space surveillance (CCTV), security guarding, conflict management, and physical intervention.
The SIA has published draft specifications for each of these areas as part of the consultation, proposing updated content requirements. Publicly available detail suggests these drafts touch on:
The SIA has stated that these proposed changes mean some people will need to do more training than they currently do. The specifics of how much additional training, and which sectors are most affected, will depend on the final specifications published after the consultation closes.
If you’re considering a career in CCTV monitoring, CCTV courses at Bright Learning Centre currently follow the existing specification and remain the right starting point until any new requirements are confirmed.
What this doesn’t mean: none of this means that every CCTV operator will start monitoring drones, or that every security guard will become a first responder for medical or spiking incidents. The proposals describe awareness-level content designed to help operatives recognise and appropriately respond to situations as part of a wider team, not to expand job roles into specialist functions.
| Situation | What Applies Today |
|---|---|
| You already hold a licence | Nothing changes yet. These are proposals under consultation, not confirmed rules. |
| You’re currently training or about to book a course | Current requirements continue to apply until any new rules are introduced. |
| You’re due to renew your first aid certificate | It’s sensible to renew as scheduled regardless of the consultation outcome, since a lapsed certificate is already a practical gap in your readiness for the job. |
| You want your view considered | The consultation is open to individual licence holders, not just employers and training providers, and responses can be submitted before the closing date. |
Based on the SIA’s published consultation schedule, the expected sequence is:
These dates are the SIA’s stated intentions rather than guaranteed outcomes, and timelines for regulatory changes can shift as feedback is processed.
The SIA has provided two ways for individuals and organisations to submit feedback:
Responses must be submitted before the deadline of 11:59pm on 23 October 2026 to be considered as part of this review.
No. The consultation proposes future changes and does not alter the conditions of licences already issued. Any changes that are eventually adopted would apply from the point they come into force, following a transition period.
Not because of this consultation. If your existing first aid certificate is due to expire, renewing it is good practice regardless of the outcome, since first aid is already a genuine part of many security roles. You can book onto a course through Bright Learning Centre’s First Aid training page at a time that suits you.
The SIA has indicated that final specifications are expected in winter 2026, after the consultation period closes and responses are reviewed.
This is proposed, not confirmed. The SIA is consulting on introducing a new, security-specific first aid qualification, but the final content and implementation date have not been set.
Yes. The consultation is open to licence holders directly, in addition to employers, training providers, and other industry stakeholders.
The complete consultation document, along with draft specifications for each licensable activity, is published on the SIA’s official consultation page on GOV.UK (see Sources below).
The SIA consultation closing on 23 October 2026 outlines several proposed changes that could affect future licence-linked training and qualification requirements. However, these proposals are not yet confirmed, and current licence holders should continue following the existing SIA requirements until any official changes are announced.
If you’re planning to begin your SIA training or renew your qualifications, Bright Learning Centre encourages learners to stay updated with official SIA guidance and complete training based on the current approved requirements.
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the SIA consultation published on GOV.UK. The proposals discussed are subject to change following the consultation process. For the latest licensing requirements and training information, always refer to the official SIA guidance or consult a training provider such as Bright Learning Centre for guidance on current course requirements.
Readers are encouraged to consult these official sources directly for the most current and complete information, as this article summarises the proposals for general guidance only.
Whether you’re applying for your first SIA licence or handling your SIA licence renewal, staying informed about official SIA updates can help you understand any future changes. Bright Learning Centre provides training based on the current approved SIA requirements while encouraging learners to follow the latest official guidance.