The Security Industry Authority opened a public consultation on 28 August 2026 on changes to the licence-linked qualifications behind SIA licences — the training every operative completes before they can hold a licence. The proposals cover door supervision, security guarding, close protection, public space CCTV, and cash and valuables in transit, and amount to the most significant review of the training behind the badge in several years.
What the SIA is proposing
First aid is the headline change: a new security-specific first aid qualification, designed around the incidents security staff actually deal with, is proposed as a mandatory licence condition for door supervisors, security guards and close protection operatives.
The SIA also proposes an independent English language assessment alongside standardised testing from awarding organisations, strengthened conflict management training built on real-life scenarios, and a new post-licence standard for advanced physical intervention skills.
Course content would be refreshed across the board, adding Martyn's Law awareness, crime scene preservation and incident recording, wider spiking awareness training, updated counter-terrorism content, and newer topics such as drones and searching wheelchairs and mobility devices respectfully.
Why it matters
The proposals are grounded in the SIA's own research with more than 5,000 participants, including over 1,400 licence holders. 91% of those surveyed said first aid skills are important in the role, and 43% of licence holders reported facing increasing violence at work — figures that match what our teams see on London doors.
Nothing changes for current licence holders yet. The consultation closes on 23 October 2026, final specifications are expected over the winter, and the new qualifications are due to launch later in 2027.
Have your say
The SIA wants to hear from licence holders, employers, security buyers and training providers alike — responses go in through the consultation page on GOV.UK before 23 October 2026.
As both an employer and a training provider, we're following the consultation closely. Our SIA Door Supervisor courses continue to run to the current, fully valid specifications, and we'll move to the new ones as soon as they're released — anyone training with Luxe now is unaffected.