NZ Security Guard Study Guide (CoA) 2026

Who needs a licence or certificate

In New Zealand, private security work is licensed under the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010. The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA) decides who may hold a licence or certificate.

Who you are	What you need
A company that sells security services	A company licence, plus a certificate for every staff member doing security work
A sole trader who sells security services	An individual licence
An employee or contractor of a security business	A Certificate of Approval (CoA)
A crowd controller hired by a bar, club or event	A Certificate of Approval

Bar staff who only make drinks or clear tables do not need a certificate. If crowd control is part of their job, they do.

Penalties are serious. Working without a certificate, or employing someone without one, can lead to a fine of up to $20,000. A company with no company licence can be fined up to $60,000.

Who does not need one

Unpaid volunteers
Government employees such as police and armed forces staff
Licensed electrical workers installing security equipment (unless they also give security advice)
Licensed tow truck drivers

Classes of security work

When you apply, you choose the classes of work you will do. Your certificate only covers those classes.

Class	What the work involves
Crowd controller	Checking who enters premises or events, keeping order and removing people (bouncers, door and event security)
Property guard	Guarding property and attending alarm callouts on site
Personal guard	Protecting people (bodyguards)
Security technician	Installing, repairing or removing alarms, safes and other devices
Security consultant	Giving advice about security devices or services
Monitoring officer	Watching systems remotely from off site, without responding to callouts
Private investigator and repossession agent	Investigation work, and repossessing goods

Training and the temporary certificate

Crowd controllers, property guards and personal guards must complete 3 standards worth 12 credits in total. A training provider assesses you and the results go on your NZQA record.

Standard	Title	Level and credits
27364	Demonstrate knowledge of the security industry in the pre-employment context	Level 2, 4 credits
27360	Describe conflict management in a security context	Level 3, 4 credits
27361	Manage conflict situations in a security context	Level 3, 4 credits

These unit standards are being replaced by skill standards 40146, 40145 and 40147. NZQA lists 31 December 2027 as the last date to be assessed against the old ones. The New Zealand Certificate in Security (Foundation) (Level 3) or (Advanced) (Level 4) also meets the rule.

Temporary certificate

If you have not finished training, you can get a temporary Certificate of Approval so you can start work. It usually takes about 10 days to issue and lasts 3 months. If you are still not finished, you must apply for another one by mail. When you finish, upload your NZQA record of achievement to get a permanent badge.

The minimum training is done once. You do not repeat it to renew. Monitoring officers are excluded from this training rule. If you trained overseas, check with NZQA or ask the PSPLA.

Applying, disqualification and your duties

A colour, passport-style photo taken less than 6 months before you apply (head coverings only for religious or medical reasons)
Photo ID: passport, NZ driver licence, Kiwi Access Card or NZ firearms licence (with an overseas passport, also proof you can work in security here)
Evidence of your training, or a request for a temporary certificate

Disqualifying grounds

Some grounds apply whenever they happened, such as ever being sentenced to imprisonment or serious sexual offending. Others apply if they happened in the last 7 years, such as convictions for dishonesty, violence, drug supply, harassment or breaching a restraining order, or having a licence or certificate cancelled. Being bankrupt is also a ground.

Grounds are not automatic. You must declare and explain them, and you can ask the Authority to waive them. References and course certificates can help.

Your duties

Wear your certificate while working and show it when asked
Tell the Authority if your name or home address changes, or you are no longer eligible
Replace a lost badge using the substitute form
Licence holders file an annual return every year

Knowledge for the job

Standard 27364 covers the roles of guards, their legal limits, health and safety, emergencies and reporting. Key laws named in it include the Crimes Act 1961, Trespass Act 1980, Summary Offences Act 1981, New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, Privacy Act 2020, Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Protective security words

Deter: discourage a crime before it starts, often by being visible
Delay: slow an intruder down so help can arrive
Detect: notice that something is wrong
Respond: act, report and call for help

Health and safety

The PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) has the main duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, but workers must also take care. Guards learn to manage hazards such as working in isolation, traffic, bodily fluids, slips and faulty equipment.

Emergencies and reports

A first line response is what you do before emergency services arrive: protect people and property and limit loss. In an evacuation, follow the site's procedure, use the exit routes and send people to the assembly point.

Reports answer who, what, when, where, why and how. Guards use notebooks, log books and incident reports, the 24-hour clock (9:30 pm is 2130) and the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) on radios.

A good incident report records the facts in order.

Managing conflict

Standards 27360 and 27361 teach you to understand conflict and handle it safely. The aim is a safe outcome: the person calms down or complies, or everyone stays safe until emergency services arrive.

Identify the risk
Assess it
Control it
Monitor what happens
Review afterwards

Duty of care applies before, during and after a conflict
Keep distance, use your body position well and leave an exit route for the person and for yourself
Use active listening: reflect, rephrase, summarise and ask clarifying questions
Watch for signs of rising aggression, such as clenched fists or a raised voice
Use tactical withdrawal when de-escalation has failed, your safety is at risk and you can move away

Conflict often builds, peaks and then calms; talking early can stop it rising.

After an incident, check on everyone's wellbeing, arrange first aid if needed, take part in the debrief and record the incident in your notebook or log book.