Before you can start SIA licence-linked training for door supervision or security guarding, you must already hold a valid first aid qualification. It catches people out: they book the main course, turn up, and cannot be taken without it. This guide explains what counts and what to check first.
The short version: you need first aid before the course, not after. It must be an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification or an accepted equivalent, and it must still be valid for at least 12 months from the day your licence-linked training starts.
Which licences need it?
GOV.UK sets a first aid requirement for the three front line licences: door supervisor, security guard and close protection. It does not list one for CCTV, key holding, cash and valuables in transit or vehicle immobilising.
Close protection asks for a higher level of first aid. See our close protection guide.
What counts as first aid?
For door supervisor and security guard training, the SIA accepts:
- Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or First Aid at Work (FAW) from an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA, from a voluntary aid society (for example St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross or St Andrew's First Aid), or from a training provider whose programme meets HSE requirements or a voluntary accreditation scheme.
- FREC, FPOS or Casualty Care, but only if awarded by an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales or CCEA.
- A medical degree, or a nursing or paramedic qualification.
Whatever you hold has to meet the content requirements in the HSE guide for first aid at work courses. Since October 2024 that includes explicitly covering how to respond to life-threatening bleeding and how to open airways. If your certificate is a few years old, ask the training provider to confirm it is accepted before you book.
The 12-month rule
The qualification must remain valid for at least 12 months from the day your licence-linked training starts. So check the expiry date on your certificate first. If it runs out in, say, eight months, you cannot start the course on it, and you would need to retake first aid.
Renewing your licence
The same rule applies when you renew. Door supervisors and security guards need first aid that is valid for at least another 12 months before taking the refresher. Training providers must check it and keep a record, so expect to be asked for your certificate when you register. See our guides to door supervisor refresher training and renewing your licence.
If you cannot do the practical parts
If a mental or physical disability stops you completing all of a first aid course, the training provider may make reasonable adjustments. You must give them evidence, and they keep it for at least 3 years. In some cases they may accept a knowledge-only qualification, such as the QN UK Level 2 Essential First Aid or Red Cross First Aid for Adults. Speak to the provider before you book.
Booking it
- Find your first aid certificate and check the expiry date.
- If it has less than 12 months left, or you do not have one, book first aid before the main course.
- Some providers sell first aid and the licence-linked course together. If you do this, you must pass the first aid before the licence-linked training is completed. Ask how it works.
- Take your certificate to your first day, as the provider has to check it.
Compare first aid and licence courses on the Praesova training marketplace. Course fees are set by each provider.
Quick questions
Do I need first aid before I take the door supervisor course?
Yes. You must hold a valid first aid qualification before you can take the licence-linked training, and it must be valid for at least 12 months from when the training starts.
Is EFAW the same as First Aid at Work?
No, but the SIA accepts both. EFAW is the shorter emergency course, and FAW is the longer one. Either must meet the HSE content requirements.
Do I need first aid to renew my SIA licence?
For door supervisors and security guards, yes. You need a qualification valid for at least another 12 months before taking the refresher.
Does first aid count for my licence by itself?
No. It is a requirement for the training, not a licence on its own. You still need the licence-linked qualification and an SIA licence.
Is first aid needed for a CCTV licence?
GOV.UK does not list a first aid requirement for CCTV, key holding, cash and valuables in transit or vehicle immobilising.
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