Straight answers to the questions we are asked most often about SIA training, licensing and booking a course at our Luton centre. If your question is not here, call 01582 958844, message us on WhatsApp or send us an enquiry.
How do I get an SIA licence?
There are four steps. First you complete the licence-linked qualification for the role you want, such as the Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors. Second you apply to the Security Industry Authority, either yourself or with our help. Third the SIA carries out its own identity and criminal record checks. Fourth, if it is satisfied, it issues your licence. Skills Pad delivers the training and can prepare and submit the application with you for £250 including our admin fee, but the SIA alone decides whether a licence is granted.
Which SIA course should I take?
If you want to work on the door at pubs, clubs, hotels, stadiums or events, take the Door Supervisor course. If you want to work in a control room monitoring public space surveillance cameras, take the CCTV Operator course. If you want to guard premises, sites or property without door duties, take the Security Guard course. If you already hold or recently held a front line licence and simply need to renew it, take the matching refresher. If you are not sure, call 01582 958844 and we will tell you honestly which one you need.
What is the difference between Door Supervisor and Security Guard training?
Door supervisor training includes conflict management and a physical intervention module, because door supervisors work at licensed premises where they may have to manage people directly. Security guard training does not include physical intervention. A door supervisor licence covers security guarding roles as well, which is why most people choose the door supervisor route even if they are not certain they will work on a door.
Do I need first aid before a Door Supervisor course?
Yes. A valid Emergency First Aid at Work certificate is a mandatory entry requirement for the Door Supervisor course and the Door Supervisor Refresher. If you already hold one, bring it with you and there is nothing more to pay. If you do not, you can add Emergency First Aid at Work for £95 when you book. It is not required for the CCTV Operator course.
How long does an SIA course take?
The full Door Supervisor course runs over six training days. The Door Supervisor Refresher is two or three days depending on the date you choose. The CCTV Operator course is three days. Emergency First Aid at Work is one day. Weekend days are not training days on our courses.
How much does an SIA licence cost?
Through Skills Pad the SIA licence is £250, and that figure includes our administration fee for preparing and submitting the application with you. You are free to apply directly to the SIA yourself instead, in which case you pay the SIA’s own application fee. The licence fee is separate from your course fee.
Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. An interest-free payment plan is available through Klarna at checkout, so you can spread the cost of your course rather than paying it in one go. Klarna carries out its own checks and its own terms apply. You can also pay in full by debit or credit card, processed securely by Stripe.
Are funded places available?
Sometimes. Skills Pad delivers funded and part-funded programmes alongside its commercial courses, including work with Luton Adult Learning. Eligibility depends on the specific programme, your circumstances and where you live, and funding is not available for every course. Call 01582 958844 and we will check honestly whether anything applies to you.
What identification must I bring?
You will need photographic identification and proof of your address, plus your National Insurance number. A current passport or a UK photocard driving licence is the simplest option, and a recent utility bill or bank statement usually covers proof of address. The SIA sets the exact requirements for licence applications and they can change, so if you are unsure what you have is acceptable, ring us before your course rather than turning up without it.
What happens if I fail an exam?
You are not the first and it is not the end of the road. Your tutor will go through what went wrong and you can retake the examination. A re-sit fee applies, as re-sits are not included in the course fee. We would rather you retook a paper and passed properly than scraped through without understanding the material you will be relying on at work.
When will I receive my certificate?
Certificates are issued by Highfield once your results have been processed. Standard processing is 10 to 14 working days. If you need it sooner, our faster speed service processes your certificate and paperwork in 5 to 7 working days for £44.95, and you can add it when you book.
Can I work immediately after completing the course?
No. Passing the qualification is only part of the process. You cannot work in a front line security role until the SIA has granted your licence, and that involves the SIA’s own identity and criminal record checks after your application is submitted. Anyone who tells you that completing a course lets you start work straight away is misleading you.
How do I apply for my SIA badge?
You can apply directly to the SIA yourself using its online application service, or you can have Skills Pad handle it. Our SIA licence option is £250 including our admin fee: we prepare the application with you, check your documents and submit it, which cuts down the mistakes that cause applications to be delayed or refused. You can add it when you book your course or arrange it afterwards.
Where is the training centre and how do I get there?
Skills Pad Training Centre is at 33 Park Street West, Luton, LU1 3BE. It is a few minutes’ walk from both Luton town centre and Luton railway station, and local bus routes serve the area. Learners regularly travel to us from Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Hemel Hempstead, Watford, Stevenage, St Albans and north London. Full directions are included in your joining instructions.
Do you train groups for employers?
Yes. If you need several staff licensed, or you want training arranged around your shift patterns, contact us and we will put a quotation together. Group bookings are usually more cost effective than booking people onto public courses individually.
Still not sure?
Ring us. It takes two minutes and we would much rather point you at the right course than take a booking for the wrong one. Call 01582 958844 or WhatsApp Skills Pad.
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Skills Pad is a training provider. We are not the Security Industry Authority. Passing a licence-linked qualification is a requirement for the matching SIA licence, but the SIA decides every application itself.