Which SIA licence do you need?
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 22 August 2026 · Facts checked against SIA and GOV.UK guidance on the date above
There are 8 SIA licence classes, and which one you need depends on the job you actually do, day to day - not your job title, and not what your employer calls the role.
This guide sets out all 8 classes in plain English, walks through a short decision tree you can work through yourself, and explains when you might need more than one licence at once.
It's a companion to our main SIA licence guide, which covers cost, the application process and timescales once you know which class applies to you.
This is general information, not professional or legal advice. If you're genuinely unsure which licence your role needs, the SIA itself is the authoritative source - contact them directly before you apply.
Why does the licence class matter?
The licence class determines what work you're legally allowed to do, so applying for the wrong one can leave you unable to work the job you actually took, or paying twice.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) issues each class separately, with its own training requirement (or lack of one), its own format (physical card or letter), and in one case its own validity period, so getting this step right before you apply matters more than almost anything else in the process.
The 8 SIA licence classes at a glance
Six of the eight classes are "front-line" - meaning you do the hands-on security work yourself - and two are not.
| Licence class | What it covers | Front-line? | Training needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door supervision | Guarding licensed premises (pubs, clubs, venues) against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorder; includes searching people and belongings. | Yes | Yes |
| Security guarding | General guarding of premises that don't sell alcohol - shops, offices, warehouses, construction sites. | Yes | Yes |
| Public space surveillance (CCTV) | Operating CCTV systems that monitor public spaces. | Yes | Yes |
| Close protection | Guarding a named individual against physical assault or injury. | Yes | Yes |
| Cash and valuables in transit (CVIT) | Guarding property against theft or damage while transporting it in a security vehicle. | Yes | Yes |
| Key holding | Holding, or controlling access to, keys as part of a security arrangement. | Yes | No |
| Vehicle immobilisation | Immobilising vehicles - Northern Ireland only; wheel-clamping on private land is banned in England, Scotland and Wales. | Yes | Yes |
| Non-front-line | Managing, supervising or employing people who carry out any of the above, without doing the hands-on work yourself. | No | No |
Front-line licences are issued as a physical card that must be displayed while you work; non-front-line licences are issued as a letter and don't need to be displayed. Source: GOV.UK, SIA licence guidance, and the NPSA's official SIA licence summary.
Work out which licence you need: the decision tree
Answer these questions in order, and stop as soon as one applies to your actual day-to-day work.
- Do you manage, supervise or employ people doing licensable security work, without doing the hands-on work yourself? If yes, you need a non-front-line licence - no licence-linked training required, issued as a letter.
- Will you work the door of, or inside, premises that sell alcohol (a pub, bar or club), doing entry control, searches or dealing with disorder? If yes, you need a door supervisor licence.
- Will you guard a named person against physical assault or injury (bodyguard-type work)? If yes, you need a close protection licence.
- Will you guard cash or valuables and transport them in a security vehicle? If yes, you need a cash and valuables in transit (CVIT) licence.
- Will you operate CCTV monitoring public spaces (retail security, town-centre monitoring, control room work)? If yes, you need a public space surveillance (CCTV) licence.
- Will you guard premises that don't sell alcohol - shops, offices, warehouses, construction sites, static or mobile patrol - with no door or alcohol element? If yes, you need a security guarding licence.
- Will you only hold keys as part of a security arrangement, with no other guarding duties? If yes, you need a key holding licence, and no licence-linked training is required for this class alone.
- Are you in Northern Ireland and will you immobilise (clamp) vehicles? If yes, you need a vehicle immobilisation licence - this class doesn't apply on the England, Scotland or Wales mainland.
If more than one of these genuinely applies to your job - for example door supervision and close protection - you may need each class separately, and each front-line class you add costs an extra fee (see below).
Do you need more than one licence?
Sometimes, but not always - one qualification can cover more than one type of work.
A door supervisor licence, for example, is generally understood to also cover general security-guarding-type duties, so a door supervisor doesn't automatically need a separate security guarding licence as well.
The SIA has changed its licence-linked qualification structures before, so treat this "one licence covers two jobs" point as a helpful starting steer rather than a guarantee - check the current position directly with the SIA before you apply, especially if your role genuinely spans two classes.
If you do end up needing two front-line licences, applying for them together in the same application is worth doing, because the SIA charges a reduced fee for each additional class - see our main SIA licence guide for the exact figures.
What to do once you know your licence class
Once you've identified your class, the next two steps are training (for front-line classes) and the application itself.
Front-line licences other than key holding need a licence-linked training course with an SIA-approved provider first - see our SIA training courses guide to find the right course for your class and what it typically costs.
If your class is door supervision specifically, we've also got a dedicated door supervisor licence guide covering the training, cost and application steps for that class in full.
For the complete application process, fees, ID requirements and honest timescales across all classes, see our main SIA licence guide.
Frequently asked questions
What if my job doesn't fit neatly into one licence class?
Focus on the actual tasks you'll be doing rather than your job title, work through the decision tree above, and if it's still unclear contact the SIA directly - applying for the wrong class can mean your application is refused or you're not covered to do the work you're actually hired for.
Does a door supervisor licence cover CCTV or close protection work too?
No - the integration is generally understood to run from door supervision into general security guarding, not into CCTV, close protection or CVIT, which each need their own licence; check current SIA guidance if you're planning to do more than one type of work.
Do I need training for a key holding or non-front-line licence?
No - GOV.UK confirms that key holding and non-front-line licences are the two classes that don't require a licence-linked training course, unlike the other six.
Is the vehicle immobilisation licence available in England, Scotland or Wales?
No - it applies in Northern Ireland only, because wheel-clamping on private land was banned across England, Scotland and Wales in 2012.
Where do I apply once I know my licence class?
All SIA licence applications go through the same online-only process, via your own SIA account - see our SIA licence guide for the full step-by-step process, fees and ID requirements.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the SIA, GOV.UK or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or professional advice - for anything specific to your situation, contact the SIA directly or a licensing solicitor.