Licence renewal
SIA Top Up Refresher Training
Top up courses sell both refresher pathways on one date at one centre. You pick the licence you hold when you book: the Door Supervisor refresher takes two days and the Security Guard refresher one, both with Emergency First Aid included.
- Deposit to book, balance at the centre
- Book online or by phone, no account needed
- Centres in London, Liverpool and Manchester
- Emergency First Aid included where shown
Next start dates
Next top up refresher dates
Choose the licence you hold when you book: Door Supervisor (2 days) or Security Guard (1 day), both with Emergency First Aid included.
StartsTue 27 Oct
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Tue 27 Oct at Forest Gate
2 days, to Wed 28 Oct · £200
StartsThu 29 Oct
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Thu 29 Oct at Forest Gate
2 days, to Fri 30 Oct · £200
StartsSat 31 Oct
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Sat 31 Oct at Forest Gate
2 days, to Sun 1 Nov · £200
- South West London, SW11 3HPBook Sat 31 Oct at South West London
2 days, to Sun 1 Nov · £220
More start datesFewer start dates
StartsTue 3 Nov
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Tue 3 Nov at Forest Gate
2 days, to Wed 4 Nov · £200
StartsThu 5 Nov
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Thu 5 Nov at Forest Gate
2 days, to Fri 6 Nov · £200
StartsSat 7 Nov
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Sat 7 Nov at Forest Gate
2 days, to Sun 8 Nov · £200
StartsTue 10 Nov
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Tue 10 Nov at Forest Gate
2 days, to Wed 11 Nov · £200
StartsThu 12 Nov
- Forest Gate, E7 9HZBook Thu 12 Nov at Forest Gate
2 days, to Fri 13 Nov · £200
London centres
London centres
Outside London
Top up refreshers in Liverpool and Manchester
Free practice tests
Practise for the exams before you book, with answers explained.
Choose your pathway
Door Supervisor top up with first aid, two days. Unit 1 covers lawful searching, recognising and supporting vulnerable people, terrorism related threats, and drink and drug spiking, with a 35 question exam in 55 minutes and a practical search. Unit 2 covers physical intervention: the risks, conflict management and personal safety, and safe restraint, control and escort, with a 30 question exam in 45 minutes, a practical assessment and oral questions.
Security Guard top up with first aid, one day. One unit refreshes effective searching, protecting vulnerable people and recognising terrorism threats, with a 28 question exam in 45 minutes and a practical search.
Both pathways include Emergency First Aid at Work, so you finish with the two certificates the SIA asks for in a renewal and nothing else to find.
Why the SIA requires it
From 1 April 2025 every Door Supervisor and Security Guard must complete approved refresher training before renewing. You need it if you are renewing on or after that date, if you qualified before April 2021 and never completed a top up, or if your licence has lapsed within the last three years and you want to return to the industry.
Timing matters more than difficulty. If your licence expires before the refresher and the renewal are both complete, you cannot legally work front line until the new licence arrives, so most officers book three to four months ahead.
Where it runs
Top up dates run at Forest Gate in East London, in South West London, and at our Manchester and Liverpool centres. The dedicated Door Supervisor refresher and Security Guard refresher pages list the same qualifications at the other London centres.
What to bring
Your licence number, photo ID, two proofs of address and passport photos, and your two free ACT counter terrorism certificates, completed online before day one.
Before you book
Frequently asked questions
What does top up training mean?
Top up was the name for the extra units the SIA required from licence holders who qualified before April 2021. Since April 2025 the same refresher training is required from everyone renewing, so our top up courses deliver the current refresher qualification. It is the same course under an older name.
Which pathway do I choose?
The one that matches your licence. Door Supervisors choose the two day pathway, Security Guards the one day pathway. If you hold both, renew as a Door Supervisor; it covers guarding.
Can I move from Security Guard to Door Supervisor on a top up?
No. Moving up to a Door Supervisor licence means taking the full six day Door Supervisor course, because it adds physical intervention and the door supervisor unit you have not been assessed on.
Is first aid included?
Yes. Every top up date includes Emergency First Aid at Work, which the SIA asks for with the renewal.
How much does it cost?
The deposit is the same for both pathways on a given date and the full fee depends on the pathway and centre. Each course page shows the figures, and you pay the balance at the centre.
Not sure which centre or date?
Call us and we will find you the next start that fits around your work.