- The qualification is the Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry, gained within three years before you apply.
- First aid is required and must be valid for at least 12 more months when the training begins.
- BIIAB qualifications are not accepted from 11 August 2026.
- The SIA licence fee is £204 for a single licence, is not refundable, and the licence lasts three years.
The route in order
- Get a first aid qualification that will still be valid for at least 12 months when your door supervisor training starts.
- Choose a training provider approved by one of the awarding bodies: Highfield Qualifications, Laser Learning Awards, NOCN, Pearson, QNUK or SFJ Awards. Highfield also offers the Scottish SCQF Level 6 version.
- Pass the Level 2 Award. The SIA says it does not provide training or receive course fees, so it never takes money for a course.
- Apply to the SIA for the licence, with identity documents and the criminal record checks that go with it.
What the SIA side looks like
| Item | What GOV.UK says |
|---|---|
| Age | You must be 18 or over to hold a licence |
| Qualification timing | Gained within the three years before the application |
| Fee | £204 single licence; a further licence in the same application is £102; not refundable |
| Identity | One Group A document (such as a passport or photocard licence) and two Group B documents, one showing your current address |
| Criminal record | You must pass checks, with overseas checks if you lived outside the UK for six months or more in the last ten years |
| Processing | No guaranteed time; the SIA has a decision timescale tool |
Renewing
If you are renewing within three years of your previous licence, the SIA expects the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) on top of valid first aid. If the gap is longer, you take the full award again. Check the renewal page for your own dates, and note that the proposals in the SIA first aid consultation are not yet rules.
Why no-course offers are scams
The qualification is a gate. A seller who promises a licence with no training is selling a fake or a clone, and both have led to convictions: see cloned and fake SIA licences. The same gate protects employers, who are exposed if they use an operative who cannot hold a licence (employing unlicensed security staff).
Before you pay a provider
- Is the awarding body one of the six named above, and does the provider name it?
- Does the certificate say Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor, not a generic security course?
- Is first aid sorted first, with 12 months of validity left?
- Is the price for the course only, with the SIA fee paid separately to the SIA through GOV.UK?
- Will the provider tell you the date of the award, so you can count back three years to your application?
Frequently asked questions
What qualification do door supervisors need?
The Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor in the Private Security Industry, from an approved awarding body. GOV.UK says it must have been gained within the three years before you apply, and first aid is required as well.
How long must first aid be valid?
GOV.UK says first aid must be valid for at least 12 more months when your training begins. That is why sensible candidates sort first aid before booking the door supervisor course, rather than the other way round.
Are BIIAB qualifications still accepted?
No, if granted on or after 11 August 2026. GOV.UK names Highfield, Laser Learning Awards, NOCN, Pearson, QNUK and SFJ Awards as the awarding bodies for the current award. Check the provider's awarding body before paying.
Does the SIA charge for the course?
No. The SIA says it does not provide training or receive course fees. You pay the training provider for the course and pay the SIA separately for the licence, which is £204 for one licence and not refundable.
How long does a door supervisor licence last?
GOV.UK says most SIA licences last three years, with the vehicle immobiliser licence the exception at one year. When you renew within three years of your last licence you also need the refresher award for door supervisors.