Ireland Security Guard Study Guide (PSA) 2026

PSA licensing

The Private Security Authority (PSA) licenses and regulates private security in Ireland under the Private Security Services Act 2004. Under the 2022 licensing regulations, individuals can hold three licence categories: security guard (guarding), door supervisor and private investigator. Guarding includes work at events.

You must be at least 18.
You must be a fit and proper person and comply with the Act and its regulations.
A licence lasts 2 years from the date of issue, unless a longer period is prescribed.
A licence is personal: it cannot be transferred or assigned.

Qualifications

Licence	Required QQI award (or equivalent)
Security guard (guarding)	Level 4 Minor award 4N20604 Security Guarding Skills
Door supervisor	Level 4 Minor award 4N20611 Door Security Skills

These requirements come from the Private Security (Licensing and Qualifications) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 574 of 2022), in force since 1 November 2022.

The Security Guarding Skills award

4N20604 is a 10-credit award at NFQ Level 4. Courses must follow the PSA's training requirements for guarding, door and event security, and be run by approved providers.

Assessment	Weighting	Notes
Examination (theory)	50%	Tests recall and use of knowledge in a set time. You must pass it.
Skills demonstration	50%	Practical tasks. You must pass it.

Grades: Pass 50–64%, Merit 65–79%, Distinction 80–100%. Learners whose first language is not English or Irish need at least CEFR B1 English.

What the award covers

The private security sector, its laws and standards, and the roles of security staff
Prevention, protection and detection
Irish criminal, civil, equality and safety law, and how to give evidence in court
Emergencies, including terrorist incidents and helping injured people
Patrols, access and egress control, alarms, evacuation and preserving incident scenes
Communication, customer care, report writing and managing conflict
Trespass, powers of arrest, and lawful search, seizure and detention
Event security and crowd control, key handling, confidentiality, retail security and cash handling

Most guarding work is preventing problems by being visible, watching carefully and reporting.

Observe: watch people, places and activity carefully
Deter: a visible, alert officer discourages crime
Report: pass on what you see by radio, phone or written report

Arrest and use of force

Security guards have no special police powers. Under section 4 of the Criminal Law Act 1997, any person may arrest without a warrant someone who is, or whom they reasonably suspect to be, committing an arrestable offence, or guilty of one that has been committed. An arrestable offence is one that can be punished by 5 years' imprisonment or more.

A person who is not a Garda may only arrest when they reasonably suspect the person would otherwise try to avoid, or is avoiding, arrest by the Gardaí.
The arrested person must be handed to the Gardaí as soon as practicable.
Tell the person why they are being held, keep them safe and record everything.

The Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 (sections 18 and 19) allows force to protect people, to protect property, to prevent crime and to make a lawful arrest. The force must be reasonable in the circumstances as you believe them to be. To protect someone else's property from trespass, you need their authority.

Whether force is reasonable depends on the threat, the people involved and the other options you have.

The threat faced
Whether force was needed at that moment
Proportionality: force in balance with the threat
Other options that could have been used
The aftermath and the duty of care

Trespass

Trespass is often a civil matter. Ask the person to leave politely. Under section 13 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, trespassing on a building or its grounds in a way that causes or is likely to cause fear is an offence. Call the Gardaí on 112 or 999 if there is a threat or a crime.

CCTV and data protection

CCTV images of people are personal data under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) regulates them. Its CCTV guidance says:

Most business CCTV relies on legitimate interests, such as protecting property and safety. Consent is unlikely to work.
Signs should be clear and well lit, giving the purpose of the system and who runs it, with contact details.
For normal security CCTV, keeping footage for more than one month is hard to justify, unless it shows an incident.
Access requests must normally be answered within one month, and footage must not be deleted while a request is open.
Give footage to An Garda Síochána on a formal written request, and keep a record. An urgent verbal request should be followed up in writing.
Covert CCTV is only allowed in exceptional, case-by-case situations, with a written policy and a data protection impact assessment.
Using CCTV to check staff attendance or performance is generally not appropriate. Avoid break rooms, changing rooms and toilets.

Safety, equality and good practice

The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires employers to manage risks and have a written safety statement. Employees must take reasonable care of themselves and others, co-operate with their employer, not be under the influence of intoxicants at work and report hazards. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) enforces the law.

A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Take one away and the fire goes out.

Heat
Fuel
Oxygen

The Equal Status Acts protect people from discrimination on nine grounds: gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community. Refuse service because of behaviour, never because of who someone is.

Notes should be written promptly, in order and in ink, with mistakes crossed out once and initialled.

Date
Time
Location
Details of what happened
Signature

Write notes and reports as soon as possible, sign keys in and out using a key register and keep client information confidential. Your notes may be used if you give evidence in court.