The SIA CCTV Operators Course is the licence-linked training you need before applying to the Security Industry Authority for a front line public space surveillance (CCTV) licence. Over three days at our Luton centre you complete the Highfield Level 2 Award for Working as a CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) in the Private Security Industry.
The course fee is £300. Training takes place at 33 Park Street West, Luton, LU1 3BE, a short walk from Luton town centre and Luton railway station, running from 9.30am to 4pm on each training day.
Who this course is for
- Anyone who wants to work in a CCTV control room and needs their first SIA licence.
- Door supervisors and security officers adding a second licence to widen the work they can take.
- People who would prefer indoor, screen-based security work to standing on a door.
- Employers training staff to monitor a retail park, shopping centre, campus, local authority or transport network.
No previous security experience is needed.
Why CCTV instead of door supervision?
Control room work suits people who want security work without the physical confrontation of a door. It is indoor, largely screen based, and there is no physical intervention module. It also does not require a first aid qualification, unlike the door supervisor licence. Many people hold both licences, which makes them useful to a much wider range of employers, particularly at events, shopping centres and larger venues.
The qualification you will achieve
- Qualification: Highfield Level 2 Award for Working as a CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) in the Private Security Industry
- Awarding body: Highfield Qualifications
- Level: 2 (Regulated Qualifications Framework)
- Length: Three days
- Delivery: Classroom and practical, in person, at our Luton centre
- Course fee: £300
What is included, and optional extras
The £300 fee covers three days of classroom and practical training, all Highfield examinations and the practical assessment, learning materials and your Highfield certificate. Optional extras you can add when booking include the SIA licence (£250) covering our administration fee, Emergency First Aid at Work (£95) (not required for a CCTV licence, but useful if you also plan to apply for a door supervisor licence), passport sized photographs (£8), and faster processing (£44.95), reducing processing time from 10–14 working days to 5–7.
Entry requirements
You must be at least 18 years old and bring original photographic identification on the first day, such as a valid passport, UK photocard driving licence, biometric residence permit or EEA national identity card. Because the examinations are written and taken in English and the role involves writing incident logs and statements, you will need English at around B1 / Level 1 standard. First aid is not required for this course or for a CCTV licence.
What you will learn
- Working in the private security industry – the role of the SIA, relevant legislation, health and safety, and communication skills.
- Working as a CCTV operator – data protection and privacy, handling recorded material as evidence, control room procedures and logs, and working with the police and other agencies.
- Practical operation of CCTV equipment – operating cameras, controls and monitors, tracking a subject across multiple cameras, retrieving and exporting footage, and reporting incidents accurately.
Assessment and applying for your licence
Knowledge units are assessed by multiple choice examination and the equipment unit by practical assessment; a re-sit fee applies if you do not pass first time. Once Highfield issues your certificate, you can apply to the SIA for a front line public space surveillance licence, which involves confirming your identity, giving a five-year address history and consenting to a criminal record check. Skills Pad can handle this for you for £250, including our administration fee, or you can apply directly to the SIA. Completing this course does not guarantee that a licence will be granted.
Where a CCTV licence can take you
Licensed CCTV operators work in local authority control rooms, shopping centres and retail parks, transport networks, hospitals, universities, business parks, stadiums, data centres and private monitoring stations, often on a shift basis including nights and weekends.
Where you will train
Training takes place at Skills Pad, 33 Park Street West, Luton, LU1 3BE, around a ten-minute walk from Luton railway station, with no on-site parking. Learners travel to us from Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Watford and north London.
Explore our full range of SIA training courses in Luton, view other accredited qualifications, or add the SIA Door Supervisor Course to hold both licences.
