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The old SIA door supervisor top-up course is no longer the renewal route. For a door supervisor renewing a licence in 2026, the required qualification is the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher), or the applicable SCQF refresher award in Scotland. You also need an eligible Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate, or accepted equivalent, with at least 12 months remaining when refresher training starts.
What replaced the SIA door supervisor top-up course?
The replacement is the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) for use in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Scotland has a separate refresher award at SCQF level. The exact award title and nation must match the licence route you are renewing.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) introduced refresher training on 1 October 2024. It became mandatory for door supervisor licence renewals submitted from 1 April 2025. The older “top-up” qualification was linked to the transition to updated 2021 training; it is not the current qualification for this renewal route.
This refresher award does not replace your original licence-linked door supervisor qualification. The SIA renewal guidance requires you to hold the new refresher award as well as the licence-linked qualification you already earned.
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Do you need refresher training to renew your licence?
You need the refresher award when all of the following apply:
- You are renewing an SIA door supervision licence rather than applying for your first licence.
- Your existing licence is approaching its renewal point.
- You still hold the original licence-linked door supervisor qualification.
- You complete the refresher qualification accepted for the nation where the licence will be used.
Check the licence expiry date before booking. A course advertised simply as “top-up” may be describing an old qualification or using informal wording. Ask the provider for the full regulated award title shown on its registration and certificate.
The first-aid certificate you must have before training
Before starting the SIA refresher course, you must show the training provider an EFAW certificate or accepted equivalent that will remain valid for at least 12 months from the refresher course start date. The 12-month test is measured at the beginning of the SIA training, not merely when you make an enquiry or pay a deposit.
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What the first-aid course must cover
The SIA first-aid rules require content that includes responding to life-threatening bleeding and opening airways. Practical elements should be delivered and assessed face to face. A certificate that only records online theory may therefore fail the acceptance test even if it has not expired.
If your certificate expires too soon
- Compare the certificate expiry date with the planned first day of refresher training.
- If fewer than 12 months remain, ask the provider whether it accepts your certificate under the SIA rules; do not assume it does.
- Arrange a new EFAW or accepted-equivalent course with the required practical assessment before the refresher starts.
- Send the new certificate to the provider during registration and keep the original for your records.
Which refresher qualification applies in each UK nation?
| Where the licence will be used | Qualification route | Organisations listed by the SIA | Important qualification check |
|---|---|---|---|
| England, Northern Ireland and Wales | Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Refresher) | BIIAB, Highfield Qualifications, Laser Learning Awards, Pearson, Qualifications Network (QNUK), and SFJ Awards | Confirm the exact award title and that the issuing organisation is currently accepted. |
| Scotland | Separate door supervisor refresher award at SCQF level | BIIAB and Highfield are listed for the Scotland route | Ask for the Scotland-specific SCQF award, not the England, Northern Ireland and Wales Level 2 title. |
The SIA’s May 2026 Get Licensed publication included BIIAB in both lists. A later SIA notice changes how that entry must be interpreted: the SIA will not accept BIIAB qualifications granted on or after 11 August 2026. BIIAB qualifications granted before that date remain accepted under the stated cutoff. If you choose a BIIAB course, ask when the qualification will be awarded, not just when you attend the classes.
How to check whether a training provider is approved
The SIA does not run refresher courses and does not directly approve, vet or receive provider fees. Training providers are approved by the relevant awarding organisation. The SIA’s provider search can help you find organisations offering training, but appearing in a search result is not a substitute for confirming approval.
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- Ask the provider for the full name of the refresher qualification and the awarding organisation that will issue it.
- Check that the title matches your nation: the Level 2 award for England, Northern Ireland and Wales, or the SCQF route for Scotland.
- Contact the awarding organisation through its current official channel and confirm that the provider is approved to deliver that specific award.
- Ask the provider to confirm how your EFAW or equivalent certificate will be checked before enrolment.
- For BIIAB, obtain written confirmation of the planned award date and compare it with the 11 August 2026 acceptance cutoff.
- Keep the provider’s confirmation, booking details and certificates in case the SIA asks you to demonstrate that the qualification was validly issued.
What to compare when two eligible courses are available
Once you have established that a course leads to an accepted award, compare the practical details rather than choosing by the word “top-up” in an advert.
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|---|---|---|
| Qualification acceptance | What is the exact regulated title, nation and awarding organisation? | A similarly named course may not be the qualification required for renewal. |
| Provider approval | Can the awarding organisation confirm this provider is approved for the relevant refresher award? | The SIA does not provide direct provider approval. |
| First-aid eligibility | Will my EFAW or equivalent have at least 12 months left on the first training day, and does it meet the practical-content rules? | Without an eligible certificate, you may be refused entry or be unable to complete the route. |
| Assessment arrangements | Which parts are face to face, what assessments are used, and when are results issued? | You need to plan attendance and know when evidence of the award will be available. |
| Delivery and timetable | What are the dates, location, attendance requirements and any online components? | There is no single SIA-wide schedule or delivery format. |
| Total fee | What is included, and are first-aid training, registration, assessment or resits extra? | Official SIA material does not establish a universal price. |
The official material does not set one national duration, fee, timetable, delivery method or provider-specific assessment arrangement. Treat those as questions for the approved provider, and request the total cost in writing before paying.
A practical booking checklist
- Identify the renewal route. Confirm that you are renewing a door supervision licence and note the expiry date.
- Locate your original qualification. The refresher is additional; it does not replace the licence-linked award already held.
- Check the nation. Select the England, Northern Ireland and Wales Level 2 route or the Scotland SCQF route according to where the licence will be used.
- Audit first aid. Verify EFAW or equivalent content, face-to-face practical assessment and at least 12 months’ validity from the first refresher-training day.
- Shortlist providers. Use the SIA provider search as a starting point, then verify approval directly with the awarding organisation.
- Check the issuing date. If BIIAB is involved, ensure the qualification will be granted before 11 August 2026 to remain within the SIA’s stated acceptance policy.
- Get written course details. Confirm dates, venue, delivery format, assessment process, result timing and every component of the fee.
- Submit evidence promptly. Provide first-aid and identity or qualification documents requested at registration so an eligibility issue is found before the course starts.
- Retain the certificate. Keep the refresher award and original licence-linked qualification records together for the renewal application.
Important dates and policy changes
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 1 October 2024 | The SIA introduced door supervisor refresher training. |
| 1 April 2025 | Refresher training became mandatory for door supervisor licence renewals. |
| 11 August 2026 | The SIA will not accept BIIAB qualifications granted on or after this date; awards granted before it remain accepted under the stated policy. |
These dates matter because qualification acceptance can change while a course is being advertised. Check the SIA’s current guidance and the awarding organisation’s status close to booking and again when your award is issued.
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Common mistakes and how to fix them
Booking an old “top-up” course
Symptom: The advert uses “top-up” but does not show the Level 2 refresher award or the Scotland SCQF title. Fix: Request the regulated qualification name and awarding organisation in writing before paying.
Using a first-aid certificate with less than 12 months left
Symptom: The certificate is valid on the booking date but expires before 12 months have elapsed from the first refresher-training day. Fix: Reschedule, renew first aid, or obtain the provider’s confirmation that a new accepted certificate will be supplied before training begins.
Assuming the SIA approves the provider
Symptom: A provider claims to be “SIA approved” without naming an awarding organisation. Fix: Ask which awarding body approves it and verify that relationship with the awarding body directly.
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Choosing the wrong national framework
Symptom: A Scotland-based renewal is booked onto the England, Northern Ireland and Wales Level 2 course, or vice versa. Fix: Match the award to the nation where the licence will be used before registration.
Ignoring the BIIAB award date
Symptom: You attend a BIIAB course after the cutoff but receive the certificate later. Fix: Ask for the planned award date and choose an alternative accepted route if it falls on or after 11 August 2026.
What is and is not standard across providers?
The SIA establishes the qualification and eligibility framework, but it does not publish one universal course length, fee or timetable for every provider. Local availability, classroom location, online elements, assessment dates and result turnaround can differ. A provider may also sell first-aid training alongside the refresher, while another may require you to arrive with a separate certificate.
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Why the renewal route changed
The refresher requirement is part of the SIA’s effort to maintain the integrity of the licence and the mandated training required of licensed operatives. On 9 July 2026, SIA Executive Director of Licensing and Standards Tim Archer said: “Protecting the integrity of the SIA licence and mandated entry-level training that SIA licensed operatives require is essential for both public safety and public trust and confidence in private security.”
For a renewing door supervisor, the practical result is straightforward: use the current refresher award, prove that your first-aid certificate meets the timing and content rules, and verify the provider through the awarding organisation rather than relying on “top-up” wording in an advertisement.
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