- Today first aid is required before SIA training for door supervision, security guarding and close protection, valid at least 12 more months at the start.
- The SIA opened a consultation on 28 August 2026 proposing first aid as a licence condition for close protection operatives, door supervisors and security guards.
- The consultation closes on Friday 23 October 2026; final specifications are expected in winter 2026 and new qualifications later in 2027.
- Nothing in the consultation is law yet.
What applies today
The SIA's training page lists first aid as required for three licence types, each with the same validity rule: it must still have at least 12 months to run when the training begins. For CCTV (public space surveillance) and cash and valuables in transit, the page does not mention first aid. Key holding needs no training at all.
| Licence | First aid today | Proposed in the consultation |
|---|---|---|
| Door supervisor | Required, 12+ months valid at start | Becomes a licence condition |
| Security guard | Required, 12+ months valid at start | Becomes a licence condition |
| Close protection | Required, 12+ months valid at start | Becomes a licence condition |
| CCTV operator | Not mentioned on the page | Not named in the first aid proposal |
| Cash and valuables in transit | Not mentioned on the page | Not named in the first aid proposal |
What is only proposed
The announcement says that if the proposal goes ahead, the SIA may take enforcement action against operatives who let a certificate lapse. It also describes a new security-specific first aid qualification built around the incidents operatives actually meet. The SIA cites research in which 91% of surveyed licence holders called first aid important to their role and over half said they had used it at work, from a survey of 1,442 holders. Other proposals in the same document include a new independent English language test, tougher conflict-management scenarios, new content on Martyn's Law awareness, spiking and drone technology, and a refreshed counter-terrorism module.
Timeline
- 28 August 2026: consultation published on GOV.UK.
- Friday 23 October 2026: consultation closes. Responses go through the SIA's consultation page.
- Winter 2026: the SIA says final specifications will be published.
- Later in 2027: new qualifications are due to launch.
Until then the rules in the first table apply. If you are booking training now, the door supervisor route is the one to follow, and a provider telling you the proposal is already law is wrong.
First aid certificates can be faked too
A first aid card is cheap to forge and easy to wave at a recruiter. Treat it like a licence: ask the awarding body, not the person selling it, and keep a note of the award date so the 12-month rule can be checked. Employers who rely on a forged certificate carry the risk if an operative cannot help at an incident. For licences themselves, see how to check an SIA licence and the licence types.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need first aid for an SIA licence?
For door supervision, security guarding and close protection, yes: GOV.UK says it must be valid for at least 12 more months when your training starts. The page does not list first aid for CCTV or cash and valuables in transit.
Is first aid becoming a licence condition?
It is proposed in a consultation the SIA opened on 28 August 2026, covering close protection operatives, door supervisors and security guards. It is not final, and the SIA says final specifications will come in winter 2026.
When does the consultation close?
Friday 23 October 2026, according to the SIA announcement on GOV.UK. New qualifications are expected to launch later in 2027, so nothing in the proposal changes what you need for an application made now.
What happens if my first aid certificate lapses?
At present the rule is about its validity when training begins. If the proposal is adopted, the SIA says it may take enforcement action against operatives who let a certificate lapse, but that is a proposal and not yet a rule.
How many licence holders use first aid at work?
The SIA's research reports that 91% of the 1,442 licence holders surveyed called first aid important to their role, and over half said they used first aid training on the job. Those are survey results quoted in the announcement.