Security update - February 2026
The February 2026 security update contains news, updates and reminders related to the delivery of the Security licence linked suite. Including information on how to access paper tests, cancelling SV visits and the new SharePoint site.
How to access paper tests
A reminder to centres that the rules governing the download of Security tests from the Secure Tests area of the website have changed.
Previously, tests could be downloaded up to 10 days prior to the test. To ensure the security of these tests remains robust, the period when tests can be downloaded from the website has been reduced. Tests can now be downloaded a maximum of 24 hours prior to the test.
In addition, the way tests are made available for download has changed. Previously, all test versions were available on the website for centres to access, and centres had responsibility for ensuring they rotated which test versions they used throughout the year.
To make this process easier for centres to manage and to increase the security of test materials, this process has been updated. A smaller selection of test versions are available to download, and are available for a limited time only. The selection of test versions available on the website is regularly rotated. Centres must ensure that learners sit a version of the test that was available to download on/within 24 hours of their test date.
The following requirements remain unchanged:
- Centres must ensure learners within a test sitting do not all sit the same version of the test
- Centres must ensure that learners who are resitting the test following an unsuccessful attempt(s) sit a different test version to that taken on any prior attempt(s).
Centres’ compliance with all the above requirements is monitored. Centres found not to be in compliance with these requirements may be referred for maladministration and/or malpractice.
Full details on how to administer paper-based tests can be found in the Security Centre Management Handbook.
Security test notification form
A reminder that a test notification form is required for:
- All tests taken as part of a security licence-linked qualification, including the Refresher qualification
- Each test *
- Onscreen tests
- Paperbased tests
* A separate test notification form must be submitted for each test, not for each course. For example, if you are delivering a Door Supervisor course, you must submit 4 separate test notification forms, 1 for each unit.
The security test notification guidance document provides detailed information on the process centres must follow to notify us of all tests they intend to deliver.
Customer Support Team
The Customer Support team is available Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm.
Security tests can be taken at any time, but please be aware that if issues arise outside of these hours, support will not be available until the next working day.
If you are delivering onscreen tests, we recommend scheduling assessments during support hours when possible.
Cancelling SV visits
A reminder that we require at least one working day’s notice should you need to cancel a pre-arranged in-person SV visit.
Cancellations, or requests to rearrange an in-person visit, made with less than 24 hours notice may result in your centre being charged a fee as per our Unsuccessful Quality Assurance Visit policy.
Remedial visits required as a result of a late or no notice cancellation may also incur a charge.
Action may be taken against centres who repeatedly seek to rearrange visits and/or who repeatedly fail to provide the required notice to cancel visits.
SharePoint
A reminder that centres need to use the new SharePoint site (made available to centres in October 2025) for all information relating to the delivery of the Security qualifications.
The previous SharePoint site has been decommissioned and should not be used for any new learner evidence. Any new learner evidence stored in the old SharePoint site will not be able to be reviewed by your SV. This will mean centres are in breach of Pearson requirements.
If you have not yet created your account on the new SharePoint, please search your inbox and spam/junk folders for an email from Invites.Microsoft on behalf of Pearson_Quals.
For further information, please refer to the following resources: