Security update - January 2026
The January 2026 security update contains everything related to the delivery of the Security Licence Linked suite including the 2025 - 2026 Security Centre Management Handbook, SIA information and test guidance.
2025-2026 Security Centre Management handbook
The 2025 - 2026 Security Centre Management Handbook is now available on our website to download.
SIA Strategic Review of Qualifications
The SIA has now started their strategic review of licence-linked security qualifications. You can read updates on their progress and watch recordings of the webinars held in November last year with stakeholders, including training providers and licence holders.
SIA Operation Resolute
You may have seen recent updates from the SIA about action they are taking under Operation Resolute to combat training malpractice and protect the integrity of SIA licence-linked qualifications. In October they conducted a series of targeted inspections across the UK, and in November they carried out simultaneous unannounced inspections across London, Manchester, Bradford and Liverpool. As a result of these inspections, an individual has been arrested on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act 2006. The alleged offences relate to the delivery of SIA licence-linked training.
Read the governments press release on the arrest
You can read more information about Operation Resolute on the SIA blog.
Protecting public safety: our latest action against training malpractice
Test Notifications
A reminder that you are required to submit a separate test notification form for each test associated with all the licence-linked qualifications, including the Refresher qualifications. This requirement is clearly stated at the top of the test notification form. This means that if you are delivering a door supervisor course for example, you will need to submit 4 separate test notification forms, one for each unit.
A test notification form is required for paper-based and on-screen tests.
Centres found to be claiming certification for cohorts of learners that they have not submitted any test notifications for will be referred for maladministration and/or malpractice. For example, this means that if we receive learner answer sheets, but we have not been notified that the test was taking place, the tests will not be marked, the centre will be referred for maladministration and/or malpractice, and action may be taken against the centre. Action taken may include voiding the learners’ original test entries and requiring the learners to resit the test(s). Where centres have received support from Pearson but continue to not meet the test notification requirements, they may be referred to Pearson Centre Management, who will review centre performance and may choose to suspend or withdraw qualification approval.
Fraudulent First Aid Certificates
The SIA has reported a concern about fraudulent First Aid certificates being used to meet the pre-requisite requirement for security training. Please be vigilant when reviewing First Aid certificates presented by learners as meeting the pre-requisite requirement for joining security courses. As a reminder, the SIA expect centres to make reasonable efforts to confirm that First Aid certificates presented comply with the HSE requirements, and that the practical elements of the training were delivered and assessed face to face. Some examples of what the SIA mean by ‘reasonable efforts’ are:
- You have checked the information provided on the certificate
- You have researched the details of the course online
- You have contacted the organisation that delivered the course
- You have reviewed course material given to you by the learner.
You must keep a record of the checks you made to satisfy these requirements for a least 3 years.
A reminder that if you deliver the First Aid training yourself as part of the level 2 security courses, in addition to the standard EFAW syllabus you must also explicitly cover how to respond to life-threatening bleeding and how to open airways. You must keep an attendance register and assessment records for learners completing the required first aid training at your centre. These must be available for standards verification and inspection by Pearson and SIA staff.
You can view the full details of the SIA First Aid training requirements for door supervisors and security guards.
JCQ Instructions for Conducting Examinations (ICE) 2025 – 2026
As you know, centres are required to have a copy (paper or electronic) of the current JCQ ICE document available during all examinations. A reminder that the 2025 – 2026 version is available to download from the JCQ website.
Paper-based tests
Centres found to be running paper based tests otherwise than in accordance with the Security Centre Management Handbook and/or JCQ requirements may have their approval for paper-based qualifications removed and only be permitted to run onscreen tests. This includes centres who are found to be using secure storage facilities other than what was approved and/or that does not meet the requirements as outlined in the Centre Management Handbook.
On-screen tests
A reminder that all Security tests are available to sit on-screen as well as paper-based.
Advantages of on-screen tests:
- You do not need to have a separate secure room accessible only by examination staff
- You do not have to purchase and install a safe that meets JCQ secure storage requirements
- No printing or postage costs for tests
- Easy online test booking process
- No scanning and storing of completed answer sheets
- Alternative sites do not need to be within 90 minutes of your main approved site
- Tests can be sat online or offline
- Test results available on EOL more quickly than for paper-based tests
- Where a group of learners is sitting a test at the same time, they will be issued different versions of the test, thereby reducing opportunities for malpractice and increasing confidence in test results
- Learners who are unsuccessful will be eligible to take the test again the next day (5 working day test notification requirement still applies)
If you would like to have approval for the on-screen version of any Security qualifications that you are currently approved for you can contact us and we can sort this for you.
The Customer Support team is available Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm. 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. We recommend scheduling assessments during support hours when possible.
Discover how to run on-screen tests on our Pearson Onscreen Platform (POP)
Invigilation
A reminder that responsibilities of invigilators are outlined in the Security Centre Management Handbook. The full requirements are detailed in section 12 of the JCQ ICE document. It is the responsibility of the Head of Centre to ensure that invigilators are appropriately trained in their duties.
Download ‘ICE’ – Instructions for conducting examinations
A quick guide to the responsibilities of invigilators can be found on each of the qualification pages in the Teaching and Learning Materials section.
IQA Training
A reminder that all centres have received an internal quality assurance training exercise from the WBL Assessment team. This training is mandatory for all IQAs and must be completed. The training can also be accessed on our website.
Watch the Security IQA training video (1:04:04mins)
Once you have completed the training you must complete the confirmation exercise.
Internal Quality Assurance Confirmation Exercise
If you have any queries about the internal quality assurance process please speak to your SV.
Information about this training can also be found in the 2025-2026 Security Centre Management Handbook.
Close Protection Top Up
A reminder that all learners registered on the Close Protection Top Up qualification must be certificated by 31 January 2026.
You should ensure that all outstanding registered learners have completed their assessments by mid-January at the latest to ensure they can be certificated before the last certification date.
From 1 April 2026 anyone applying to renew their Close Protection licence must have the Close Protection (Refresher) qualification – as such, it is important Top Up learners are aware that they must complete their licence renewal application before 31 March 2026 in order to avoid their application being delayed or rejected.
New SharePoint Site
A reminder that a new Pearson SharePoint site for security qualifications was introduced in October 2025. You were provided with new login details, and upon gaining access, you are now required to commence using the new site immediately to upload student evidence. Centres who are found to be claiming certificates but are not meeting SharePoint requirements will be referred to Centre Management for review and may have certification temporarily suspended.
Further information about the new SharePoint site can be found in the 2025-2026 Security Centre Management Handbook.