SIA Security Guard Course in London

The SIA Security Guard course runs over four days, Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 6.30pm, at our partner centre in Forest Gate, East London. Emergency First Aid is included, you sit every exam at the centre, and you finish with the qualification you need to apply for an SIA Security Guard licence.

Our London centre for guarding

In London, you can book the four-day Security Guard course at Forest Gate only. The centre is a short walk from Forest Gate station, which has Elizabeth line trains straight from Liverpool Street and Stratford, and Wanstead Park and Woodgrange Park on the Overground are close by. Directions are on the Forest Gate centre page.

Security Guard or Door Supervisor?

A Security Guard licence lets you work on static sites, offices, shops, building sites, gatehouses and warehouses, and on patrols. A Door Supervisor licence also covers guarding, but a Security Guard licence does not cover door work at pubs, bars and clubs. If you might want to work on the door later, the Door Supervisor course in Forest Gate keeps both options open.

What the course covers

The course leads to the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry, which has three units.

• Working in the private security industry. The law that applies to you, arrest procedures, health and safety, fire and emergency procedures, communication, record keeping, terror threat awareness and protecting vulnerable people.
• Working as a security officer. Access and egress control, security systems, patrolling, searching, drug misuse awareness, personal safety and responding to incidents.
• Conflict management. Spotting conflict early, assessing the risk, calming people down and stopping a situation from escalating.

Practical sessions cover searching, patrols, access control and conflict scenarios. The trainer demonstrates each procedure before you are assessed on it.

Exams and assessment

You sit three multiple-choice exams and a practical assessment at the centre. To get ready for the security officer paper, try our free SIA security guard mock test.

Emergency First Aid included

The SIA requires an Emergency First Aid certificate for Security Guard training, so it is part of the four days and there is nothing extra to book. It is taught as a half-day session in the first half of day one. If you already hold a valid first aid qualification, you may need to show evidence of it before the Security Guard part of the course.

Who can book

• You must be 18 or over, with the right to work in the UK
• No security experience is needed
• On day one, bring photo ID and two proofs of address dated within the last three months

The SIA sets minimum training hours for the qualification, so you need to attend all four days and arrive on time each morning.

How to book

Choose a date on this page and book online. The course costs £300 in total: £70 deposit to book, £230 at the centre on day one. Your confirmation and joining instructions arrive by email straight away.

FAQs

Do I need previous security experience?

No. The course is for people starting out in security, and no experience is needed.

What does the Security Guard course cover?

Working in the private security industry, the security officer role (access control, patrolling, searching and responding to incidents) and conflict management, plus Emergency First Aid on the first morning.

Are there exams during the course?

Yes. You sit three multiple-choice exams and a practical assessment at the centre.

Can I apply for an SIA licence after the course?

Yes. Once you pass, you can use the qualification to apply for an SIA Security Guard licence. The SIA still has its own licensing requirements, including identity and criminal record checks.

Can I work on the door with a Security Guard licence?

No. Door work at pubs, bars and clubs needs a Door Supervisor licence, which also covers guarding.