SIA licence qualification consultation closed: what security employers should do next
Updated: Nov 5
Checked 26 October 2026. The Security Industry Authority consultation on proposed changes to licence-linked qualifications closed on 23 October 2026. These are proposals, not final requirements. The SIA says final specifications are expected in winter 2026, with new qualifications expected later in 2027.
What the consultation proposed
The consultation considered changes including an in-date first-aid requirement for certain front-line licence types, an independent English-language test, updated conflict-management content and other curriculum changes. Employers should treat these as change signals for planning, not rules that are already in force.
What has not changed
Current licence and qualification requirements continue unless and until the SIA publishes final changes.
The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) remains an active SIA approval scheme. It has not been officially replaced or ended.
Do not rewrite training contracts, competence matrices or client commitments around proposals alone.
Five practical actions for security employers
Map affected roles, licence types, renewal dates, first-aid expiry dates and training providers.
Record the consultation as a monitored external issue and assign an owner for the final SIA response.
Ask training suppliers how they will evidence readiness once final specifications are issued.
Scenario-plan time and budget for possible refresher, first-aid and assessment changes without treating them as confirmed.
Use controlled change management after final requirements appear: update procedures, competence records, communications and internal-audit checks.
Why management-system evidence matters
For ACS applicants and approved contractors, a controlled response should show more than awareness. Keep a dated source review, an impact assessment, a decision record, named actions and evidence that any final changes have reached training, recruitment and operations.
Official sources
How Clause Ten can help
Clause Ten Consulting provides hands-on SIA ACS preparation, gap reviews, controlled documentation, internal audits and ongoing system maintenance. We help security businesses turn official requirements into usable evidence rather than simply supplying templates.
Frequently asked questions
Is a new first-aid rule already in force?
No final change was verified as at 26 October 2026. First aid was among the consultation proposals. Organisations should check current SIA guidance and wait for the published final position before treating a proposal as mandatory.
Has SIA ACS ended or been replaced by BAS?
No. Current GOV.UK guidance continues to describe and accept applications for ACS approval. Clause Ten will not describe a replacement as final unless the SIA confirms it officially.
When are new qualifications expected?
The SIA announcement says final specifications are expected in winter 2026 and new qualifications later in 2027. Those timings remain subject to the final outcome.
Can consultancy guarantee SIA approval?
No consultancy can guarantee an SIA decision. Good preparation can improve clarity, control and evidence quality, but approval remains with the SIA.
Plan a controlled, evidence-led response
Need help reviewing your current ACS evidence, training controls or change plan? Contact Clause Ten Consulting for a practical gap review and prioritised action plan.
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