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Renewing your security guard licence? Practise the refresher paper with 28 questions in 45 minutes, covering searching, terror threat awareness and protecting vulnerable people.
Each attempt picks a new set of questions from a bank of 45, so you can practise as often as you like.
Search records capture the time, date, people present and reason for the search. They protect both the officer and the person searched if there is a complaint or allegation.
CPNI became the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) in 2023. With NaCTSO and Counter Terrorism Policing it publishes guidance for security staff.
Illness, such as a diabetic emergency or a stroke, and hidden disabilities can look like drunkenness. Vulnerability is not always obvious, so check on the person and get help if needed.
A specific search is carried out on a particular person, vehicle or item for a specific reason, such as suspicious behaviour. A general search covers everyone and a random search covers a selection.
Self-search techniques keep your hands away from hidden needles or blades and reduce the chance of claims that items were planted or taken. You still check the contents yourself.
Concerns should be reported as soon as possible, to the police or through Crimestoppers, following your safeguarding procedure. Call 999 if a child is in immediate danger.
Religious items must be treated with respect. Explain what is happening, use other methods such as a hand-held detector, and offer a private area with an officer of the same sex if needed.
Invacuation (lockdown) moves people to a safer area inside when the danger is outside. Evacuating onto the street could put people in the attackers' path.
The question bank has 45 questions across these topics. Every attempt mixes them at random.
The security guard refresher is a one-day, one-unit course for officers renewing their licence, with Emergency First Aid in the first half of the day. You need your free ACT certificates from ProtectUK before you start. Its paper, the principles of working as a security officer (refresher), is 28 questions in 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 20 correct.
It focuses on three areas that have changed the most in recent years:
With 28 questions you can only get eight wrong, so a couple of unlucky guesses make a real difference. Use the quick round for short revision sessions on your breaks, then sit the full timed mock test the evening before your course.
28 multiple choice questions in 45 minutes. You need 20 correct to pass. There is also a practical search assessment.
No. The security guard refresher has a single unit on searching, terror threat awareness and vulnerable people. Physical intervention and spiking are only in the door supervisor refresher.
Yes, if you want to switch to a security guard licence when you renew. To keep a door supervisor licence you need the door supervisor refresher instead.
Yes. The SIA lets you renew before your licence expires or up to three years after it expires. You cannot work as a security guard until your new licence is granted, so book as soon as you can.
Yes. The top up was replaced by refresher training on 1 April 2025, so security guards renewing now take the Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Refresher).
Questions last checked: 17 October 2026. These are practice questions written for BookCourse, not the official exam papers.
Practise with our free mock tests until you pass comfortably, then book your course.