Security update - March 2026

Virtual Learning: updated SIA notification form

The SIA has updated the form centres are required to use to notify them of any courses being delivered via virtual (blended) learning. 

Updated changes to the template for Centres notification to the SIA are as follows:

• Document title: ‘Virtual Learning (VL)’ has changed to ‘Blended Learning’
  
• Course Title: course details in brackets have been added (note only DS, SO, CCTV and CViT courses permitted)
  
• Total Number of Learners: added learner:tutor ratio details in brackets (12:1 learner to tutor ratio to a maximum of 18:2 with all learners seen within 2 monitors)
• Full address of face-to-face delivery location(s) for each day of delivery: NEW

Please refer to the 'SIA Requirements for Using Blended Learning' and the current version of 'Get Training' to ensure all requirements are met.

You must send the completed form to virtualclassroom@sia.gov.uk at least 5 working days before the course start date.

Please use the file naming convention on the template: BL_Centrename_datesofdelivery_course title

Close Protection: face-to-face delivery only

The SIA has advised that full Level 3 Close Protection courses must now be delivered 100% face-to-face.

Printing test answer sheets

Please ensure that all details on the test answer sheets are legible when printed. If any details are obscured or illegible such as in the example below, it can cause a delay in processing the answer sheets.

To get the best results, we recommend printing directly from the original file from the secure link, and using these print settings:

Learner Identification Documents: External Tests

Learners must provide an original ID from the SIA Group A list when attending the external examination sessions. The full details are contained within Get Training:

‘Learners must provide an original ID from the SIA Group A list of acceptable ID documents before they can sit the knowledge assessments. If the Group A document provided does not include a photograph of the learner, then an additional identity document which does include a photograph of the learner must also be provided so the centre can confirm the identity of the person sitting the assessment.’

This means the following are not acceptable as proof of identity:

• A photocopy of the identity document
• A centre ID badge
• Any other non-Group A document

Unsuccessful visits / cancelling visits

A reminder that you must provide at least one working day's notice to cancel any announced quality assurance visits. This includes centre approval visits, LSV visits, SV visits and CQM visits. This also applies to cancelling or changing test bookings.

If you cancel a quality assurance visit with less than one working day’s notice, or do not attend an arranged visit, you may incur a charge. Centres who repeatedly fail to attend or cancel visits with late or no notice may be referred for maladministration/malpractice. In the event of proven serious maladministration or malpractice, programme and/or centre approval may be removed.

For full details see our Unsuccessful Quality Assurance Visit policy.

Centre premises

As part of our commitment to the continuous improvement of the quality assurance of the Security qualifications, we are reviewing the venue requirements for premises used for the delivery of licence-linked training.

Going forwards, main and sub (additional)site premises must be owned by your centre, or subject to a long-term (at least 12 month) lease for specific office space. Ad hoc and/or short-term lease arrangements will not be accepted for use as your main centre address or as a sub-site address. More information on what this means, for example if you wish to use a business centre to deliver Security courses, will follow in next month’s newsletter.