September 2014 update

Professional Investigators qualification now available

We're pleased to announce that the Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award for Professional Investigators is now available for learner registration.

The qualification is based on the Security Industry Authority (SIA) Specification for Learning and Qualifications for Private Investigation. It covers the understanding and skills required by those who want to operate as professional investigators, including planning and gathering information for investigations.

Professional investigators do not currently require a licence to practise, however in 2013 the Home Office announced its intention for the SIA to regulate private investigation activities. It is expected that the regulations to license professional investigators will come into force in 2015.

View the specification for this qualification

New security licence-linked qualifications

As you will be aware from previous updates, the SIA recently held a public consultation on their revised Specifications for Learning. As a result, awarding organisations have been updating the licence-linked qualifications to reflect the new Specifications for Learning.

The last registration date for the current licence-linked qualifications listed below is 31 December 2014:

• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in CCTV Operations (Public Space Surveillance)
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Door Supervision
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Security Guarding
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award in Vehicle Immobilisation
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Upskilling Door Supervisors
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award for Deliverers of Physical Intervention Training in the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate in Close Protection
• Pearson BTEC Award for Upskilling Door Supervisors (Scotland)
• Pearson BTEC Award in CCTV Operations (Public Space Surveillance) (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6
• Pearson BTEC Award in Door Supervision (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6
• Pearson BTEC Award in Security Guarding (Scotland) at SCQF Level 6. 

They will be replaced by the following new qualifications with effect from 1 January 2015:

• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Working as a CCTV Operative (Public Space Surveillance) within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Working as a Door Supervisor within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Operative within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Working as a Vehicle Immobiliser within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award for Upskilling Door Supervisors within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Award for Deliverers of Physical Intervention Training within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Level 3 Certificate for Working as a Close Protection Operative within the Private Security Industry
• Pearson BTEC Award for Upskilling Door Supervisors within the Private Security Industry (Scotland)
• Pearson BTEC Award for Working as a CCTV Operative (Public Space Surveillance) within the Private Security Industry (Scotland)
• Pearson BTEC Award Working as a Door Supervisor within the Private Security Industry (Scotland)
• Pearson BTEC Award for Working as a Security Operative within the Private Security Industry (Scotland). 

Further details about assessment and the Qualification Accreditation Numbers will be included in future editions of Insight.

Providing Security Services Apprenticeship 

As a result of the changes being made to the licence-linked qualifications, we will be updating the Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Knowledge of Providing Security Services to incorporate the new versions of the following licence-linked units contained within the mandatory and optional unit groups:

• Working in the Private Security Industry
• Conflict Management for the Private Security Industry
• Working as a Security Officer
• Working as a Door Supervisor
• Working as a CCTV Operator. 

This updated qualification will be included within the Providing Security Services Apprenticeship framework and will replace the existing qualification as the knowledge component from January 2015.

The Pearson Edexcel Level 2 Certificate in Providing Security Services will be extended. We are liaising with Skills for Security about the new review date but expect the qualification to be extended until at least 31 December 2017.

Further details will be included in next month’s edition of Insight.