Renewing your SIA licence is more than just a procedural task—it’s essential for maintaining your eligibility to work in the UK’s security sector. To do this, you need to pass your SIA refresher training first. This guide covers exactly how to complete SIA refresher training: which course you need, how the exam works, what happens on the day, and how you go from booking to a renewed licence. It’s built for door supervisors, security guards, and close protection operatives who are due to renew and want to get it right the first time.
Since April 2025, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has mandated this refresher training to ensure that door supervisors and security guards are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge, including emergency first aid and counter-terrorism awareness. From April 2026, refresher training has become mandatory for close protection operatives as well.
Let’s take a look at the new requirements for SIA licence renewal to stay compliant and take timely action.
Key Takeaways
- SIA refresher training is a mandatory requirement for renewing SIA licences and legally working in UK security.
- Refresher training content covers updated security protocols, emergency response, and physical intervention (door supervisors only).
- Door Supervisor refresher training takes 2 days; Security Guard refresher takes 1 day; Close Protection refresher takes 3-5 days.
- SIA renewal costs £204 per licence. Dual-licence holders get 50% off the second licence (£102), but from 1 June 2026, only if both applications go in on the same day, on the same form.
- You can apply to renew up to 4 months before your licence expires. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks, though straightforward renewals can clear in 2-3 weeks.
- You need a valid first aid certificate, EFAW for Door Supervisor/Security Guard, Level 3 First Aid (RQF) for Close Protection, with at least 12 months left before you can book.
What Is SIA Refresher Training?
The SIA refresher courses are a mandatory qualification introduced by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to ensure that security professionals stay updated with the latest industry standards, safety protocols, and legal regulations. This SIA training is specifically required for door supervisors, security officers, and close protection operatives who are renewing their SIA licences, reinforcing their skills in emergency response, public safety, and conflict management.
What Changed, in Brief
Mandatory refresher training replaced the old one-time top-up qualification on 1 April 2025 for Door Supervisor and Security Guard licence renewals. Top-up training itself was retired and became invalid after 31 January 2025.
If your licence is due for renewal now, refresher training is simply part of the process, not a temporary transition rule. For a fuller overview of the whole refresher training landscape, see our guide to SIA refresher training.
Recommended Reading: SIA Top-Up vs SIA Refresher Training
Which SIA Refresher Training Do You Need?
Your licence type decides your course. Use this table to find yours, then jump to the section that applies to you.
| Licence Type | Training Needed | Refresher Duration | Starting Price From | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SIA Door Supervisor Licence | Door Supervisor Refresher | 2 days | £139.99 | Valid EFAW certificate, 12+ months remaining |
| SIA Security Guard Licence | Security Guard Refresher | 1 day | £99.99 | Valid EFAW certificate, 12+ months remaining |
| SIA Close Protection Licence | Close Protection Refresher | 3-5 days | TBA | Valid Level 3 First Aid (RQF), 12+ months remaining |
Close Protection refresher training has been available since 1 October 2025, and it’s been mandatory for any CP renewal application submitted on or after 1 April 2026. If you hold a CP licence expiring soon, book this course in good time; it’s longer than the DS or SG equivalents.
Before You Book: Check your First Aid Certificate
You need a valid first aid qualification before you can book refresher training, EFAW for Door Supervisor and Security Guard, Level 3 First Aid (RQF) for Close Protection, with at least 12 months’ validity remaining. If yours has lapsed or is close to expiry, sort that first. We’ve covered the details on EFAW content and renewal separately in SIA top-up refresher & first aid updates, worth a read if you’re not sure your certificate still qualifies.
How to Complete Your SIA Refresher Training Step-by-Step
1. Book your course. Choose Door Supervisor, Security Guard, or Close Protection refresher based on your licence.
2. Complete pre-course distance learning. You’ll work through e-learning modules before you turn up to the classroom.
3. Attend the classroom day(s). 1 day for Security Guard, 2 days for Door Supervisor, 3-5 days for Close Protection.
4. Sit the exam (and practical, for Door Supervisor). See pass marks below.
5. Get your certificate. Issued once you’ve passed all required units.
6. Submit your SIA renewal application. Upload your certificate as evidence; you can apply up to 4 months before your licence expires.
7. Wait for processing. Typically 4-6 weeks, though straightforward renewals with no changes to personal details can clear in as little as 2-3 weeks.
8. Receive your renewed licence.
What Happens on the Refresher Training Days
Door Supervisor Refresher (2 Days)
Your two days cover Terror Threat Awareness, Vulnerability Awareness (including spiking), and Advanced Physical Intervention Skills. Expect a mix of classroom discussion and hands-on physical intervention practice, since Unit 2 includes a practical assessment as well as a written exam.
Watch a real course walkthrough here:
Security Guard Refresher (1 Day)
Your single day covers Terror Threat Awareness, Advanced Search Techniques, and Vulnerability Awareness (including spiking). There’s no physical intervention module that’s specific to Door Supervisor licences. If you want a fuller run-through of what to prepare before the day, check out this guide on preparing for your security guard refresher course to ensure you don’t miss any essential prep work.
Close Protection Refresher (3-5 Days)
The longest of the three, reflecting the scope of the CP role. You’ll need your Level 3 First Aid certificate in date before you start, and the Close Protection refresher course itself runs across several days of classroom and practical content.
SIA Refresher Training Exam: Format and Pass Marks
Pass marks and question counts for the SIA refresher training exam below reflect the current awarding body specification; confirm against the latest spec before you sit the exam, as awarding bodies do update these from time to time.
| Course | Unit | Questions | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | Single unit | 35 multiple-choice | 71% (25/35 correct) |
| Door Supervisor | Unit 1, knowledge | 35 multiple-choice | 71% (25/35 correct) |
| Door Supervisor | Unit 2, physical intervention | 30 multiple-choice + practical | 80% (24/30 correct) |
*Close Protection refresher assessment covers the same content areas, but the SIA hasn’t published a specific pass mark or question count for it
Want to test yourself before the real thing? Try our SIA mock exams to check your knowledge ahead of the day.
After the Course: Your SIA Renewal Application
Once you have your refresher certificate, you can submit your SIA licence renewal application up to 4 months before your current licence expires. The renewal fee is £204 per licence. If you’re renewing two licences, you can get 50% off the second one (£102), but from 1 June 2026, that discount only applies if you apply for both licences on the same day, using the same application form.
Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks. Renewals are often quicker than new applications, since your identity and DBS checks are usually already on file. Straightforward cases with no changes to personal details can sometimes clear in 2-3 weeks. For a full walkthrough of the renewal application itself, see our guide to renewing your SIA licence. Get Licensed doesn’t process licence renewals directly; we get you course-ready; the SIA handles the application.
Recommended Read: Can I Renew My SIA Licence Online?
Stay Compliant with SIA Refresher Training
Refresher training isn’t optional, and leaving it until your licence is close to expiring adds risk you don’t need, including a gap where you can’t legally work. Book your course today, sit the exam with confidence, and keep your renewal moving.
Get Licensed offers refresher courses across the UK. Book your SIA refresher training now and keep your career on track.
SIA Refresher FAQs
Door Supervisor refresher training starts from £139.99. Security Guard refresher training starts from £99.99. Close Protection refresher pricing varies, contact Get Licensed for a quote. Whichever SIA refresher course you need, book early; prices and availability get tighter the closer you get to your licence expiry.
Security Guard refresher is 1 day. Door Supervisor refresher is 2 days. Close Protection refresher is 3-5 days.
You can apply to renew your SIA licence up to 4 months before it expires. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks, though straightforward renewals can clear in 2-3 weeks.
If your SIA licence expires, you can no longer legally work in security until it’s renewed. You can still apply to renew within the 3-year window above, but you’ll need to complete refresher training first and submit it as evidence with your application.
Yes. You can renew your SIA licence after it expires, as long as it’s been less than 3 years since it lapsed, the same applies if your SIA badge has expired rather than your licence itself. You’ll still need in-date refresher training (or full retraining, depending on how long ago it expired) as evidence for your renewal application. If your SIA licence expired 3 years ago or more, you’ll need to retake full SIA training rather than a refresher course. For the full step-by-step process, see our SIA licence renewal checklist.
You’re still within the 3-year renewal window, so you can renew using refresher training rather than starting over. You’ll need in-date refresher training as evidence for your application — the process is the same as if it expired more recently.
No. SIA top-up training was a one-off requirement for anyone who qualified before April 2021, and it’s no longer valid, it was retired after 31 January 2025. Since 1 April 2025, every Door Supervisor and Security Guard renewal requires SIA refresher training instead, and that applies at every renewal, not on a 3-year cycle.
Close Protection refresher training became mandatory for renewal applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026. As of July 2026, CCTV licence renewal doesn’t carry the same mandatory refresher requirement as Door Supervisor, Security Guard, and Close Protection; check the SIA website for the current position before booking a CCTV course.
Part of it, yes. Pre-course e-learning, including first aid theory, can typically be completed online. Physical intervention training and practical assessments must be done in person.
No. Top-up training was a one-time update for people who qualified before 2021, and it’s no longer valid, it was retired after 31 January 2025. Refresher training is the ongoing requirement for every Door Supervisor and Security Guard renewal since 1 April 2025. See our full breakdown in SIA top-up vs SIA refresher training.
