How Can You Become a Security Instructor for SIA Qualifications?
Becoming a security trainer is not as simple as it may sound. There are many different aspects to consider when deciding if this is the right career path for you. One of the first things to think about is how much education and training will be required. If you're looking at becoming a security instructor, there's no doubt that your time in training will be extensive. You'll need at least 2 years frontline experience to start.
With many different teaching and assessing qualifications and the new requirements set by the SIA from 2021 for security trainers. It is time that we give you a clear understanding of the requirements needed taking you from experienced security operative to qualified trainer.
With an average salary of £200 per day and lots of opportunities to combine your frontline experience with career progression which is valuable outside of the security industry, having your teaching qualifications will literally sky rocket you to the top of the employment line for any jobs that you wish to apply for.
We will be looking at the common security trainer roles for Security Officer, Door Supervisor, Close Protection and CCTV.
Teach Security Officer and Door Supervisors training
1. Experience - There is no actual requirement for you to hold a current SIA licence however you must have a minimum of two years frontline experience in the past five years for Security Officer, Door Supervisor, CCTV Operator and 3 years for Close Protection. The reasoning for this is to ensure your skills remain current. With exception to Close Protection, your experience must be within the UK.
2. Education and Teaching qualifications – You need a minimum of a Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET). You will need to complete a theory workbook and complete a Microteach session demonstrating your skills as a potential tutor. The Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training (CET) is ideal if you are looking at teaching a wider variety of qualifications outside of security but not essential.
3. Assessor qualifications – From 2021, it is now a requirement to hold an assessor qualification such as the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) as you will be assessing conflict management skills and physical intervention if you are teaching the Level 2 Award in Door Supervision. You only need to complete the Level 3 Understanding the Principles and Practices of Assessment and Vocational Training. This does not qualify you as an assessor but satisfies the SIAs minimum requirements for a tutor. This qualification will limit you teaching any qualifications outside of the SIA so it is worth the investment of upgrading to the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA). The workbook is the same but you’ll get the evidence you need for Unit 2 of the full Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) teaching the SIA course anyway so for no extra work, you can still gain a recognised qualification that will allow you assess in all sectors. Personally, the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) is our most popular course and I will recommend it.
4. Counter-terrorism course. This is a recent requirement where all security instructors new and old have to complete the free online training in ACT Awareness’ e-learning course before you deliver your next course. You must refresh the certificate every year.
Become a CCTV Instructor
5. Level 3 Award in Delivering Conflict Management – Essential for those teaching the Security Officer, Door Supervisor and Close Protection courses. This course is basically an extended exam to the Level 2 Conflict Management as part of your SIA licence and then module 2 builds on the Level 3 Award in Education and Training where your microteach session is a 30-minute session teaching a part of conflict management. If you do this as a package with your Level 3 Award in Education and Training, you can use this microteach session as part of your Level 3 Award in Education and Training saving you having to do more assessments. It also can be combined with the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement therefore if you are brand new to the training world, you are advised to complete the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA) and the Level 3 Award in Delivering Conflict Management all at the same time.
For CCTV tutors only steps 1, 2, 3, 4 listed above are needed to teach. So you will need the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA)
Become a Close Protection tutor - only steps 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are needed to teach.
6. Level 3 Award in Delivering Physical Intervention – this is a standalone qualification for those delivering the Door Supervisors course. You can still teach the Door Supervisor without it but you cannot teach this unit so employers are unlikely to allow you to teach the other parts of the course until you are qualified. This is a practical course designed to help you teach the physical intervention unit. There are only a handful of providers that can deliver this course however all of the companies that deliver the course have their own Physical Intervention techniques which most are very similar anyway so it doesn’t matter too much which training provider you choose. You will need to refresh this course every year.
There you have it to deliver the Door Supervisor course.
As you are full aware of the new regulations from the SIA for all staff to be first aid trained, it makes sense for all security trainers to get qualified to deliver first aid qualifications as well. More strings to your bow but you’ll get extra work to deliver which pays for it immediately.
To deliver the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work and the Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work, you will need to occupational knowledge and experience in first aid which can be demonstrated by holding a current First Aid at Work certificate, FPOS (First person on Scene) or FREC (First Response in Emergency Care). Or you could be lucky enough to be a registered nurse, Doctor or paramedic. There is no requirement for occupational experience other than holding a first aid certificate so the standards are relatively low. As for a teaching and assessing qualification to deliver it, the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training and the Level 5 Diploma Education and Training are all suitable qualifications for you to hold to teach and run a first aid course.
Do you want to become an IQA?
The requirements for SIA courses now include an Internal Quality Assurance. This was something not needed before, so a lot of companies are on the lookout for qualified IQAs. The SIA have made the standards low for the SIA requirements. To be an Internal Quality Assurer for SIA courses, you need to have the SIA tutor qualifications and experience for the sector required and then simply just working towards an IQA qualification such as the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice meaning that you don’t have to hold a relevant qualification for one as long as you are supported by a qualified Internal Quality Assurer.
Internal Quality Assurers (IQAs) will verify that the course tutor and assessor have been delivering the qualification to the required standards and put action plans in place to make sure the quality is good and improvement plans are actioned. The Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice is a valuable qualification to hold and there needs to be one for every organisation in every subject. The main qualification is the Level 4 Award in the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice. Again, this is a requirement to be an IQA for First Aid.
We have explained the competence, qualifications and expertise required to be a SIA trainer in Security Guarding, Door Supervision, CCTV, Close Protection and even First Aid. Book your SIA trainers course with us today at the Education and Training Academy.
