SIA Security Officer Practice Test 2026
To get an SIA security guard licence you need the Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Officer in the Private Security Industry. Its two main knowledge exams are multiple-choice, and you need 70% in each. This practice covers both: the shared industry principles and the security officer unit, including conflict management.
Kort antwoord
Het officiële examen heeft 132 vragen. Geslaagd: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions). Tijdslimiet: 200 minuten. Afgenomen door: Security Industry Authority (SIA); exams set and marked by SIA-approved awarding organisations. Minimumleeftijd: 18. Oefen hier gratis met 139 vragen, elk met het antwoord en een uitleg. Gecontroleerd aan de hand van officiële bronnen op 10 oktober 2026.
-
Vraag 1 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Written instructions for the duties at one particular site
Assignment instructions set out duties at a particular site, such as patrol times, access rules, contacts and emergency procedures.
-
Vraag 2 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Controlling access to a site and patrolling to deter and detect problems
Security officers protect people, property and premises by being visible, controlling access, patrolling and reporting.
-
Vraag 3 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Their supervisor or control room, as the instructions say
Assignment instructions give the chain of command and contacts. Asking for advice is better than making a risky guess.
-
Vraag 4 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. So they know the site's procedures, hazards and contacts before they need them
Knowing the procedures in advance helps the officer act quickly and correctly in an emergency.
-
Vraag 5 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. To make sure only authorised people and vehicles enter a site or area
Access control protects people and property by keeping unauthorised people out.
-
Vraag 6 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Confirm who they are, check with the host and issue a pass if approved
Visitor procedures confirm identity and reason for the visit and make sure the host knows they are coming.
-
Vraag 7 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. That the photo matches, it is in date and it has not been altered
Check the photo, expiry date and signs of tampering. A pass that does not match the holder should not be accepted.
-
Vraag 8 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Following an authorised person through a controlled door without using your own pass
Tailgating lets unauthorised people into secure areas. Officers should challenge it politely and follow procedure.
-
Vraag 9 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. So security knows who is on site and can account for everyone in an emergency
A signing-in register shows who is in the building, which is vital during an evacuation.
-
Vraag 10 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. That the delivery is expected and matches the paperwork
Checking that deliveries are expected and match the paperwork helps prevent theft and unauthorised entry.
-
Vraag 11 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Signed out and back in using a key register
A key register shows who has each key and when, so missing keys are noticed quickly.
-
Vraag 12 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. The way out of a site or building
Access is the way in and egress is the way out. Officers may control both.
-
Vraag 13 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. With the person's consent, often as a condition of entry
Security officers have no general legal power to search. Searches rely on consent, usually as a condition of entry.
-
Vraag 14 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. Politely explain the policy and, if they still refuse, refuse entry and record it
Without consent the officer cannot search. The person can be refused entry, in line with the site policy.
-
Vraag 15 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. An officer of the same sex as the person being searched
Same-sex searching helps protect dignity and reduces the risk of complaints. Follow the site's search policy.
-
Vraag 16 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. To protect both the person searched and the officer from false allegations
A witness or CCTV gives an independent record of how the search was carried out.
-
Vraag 17 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Open the bag and move items themselves where possible
Asking the person to handle their own items reduces the risk of injury from sharp objects and of allegations of theft or damage.
-
Vraag 18 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Follow the site policy, such as refusing entry or storing it, and record it
Assignment instructions say how to deal with prohibited items. Illegal items may need to be handed to the police.
-
Vraag 19 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: B. Ask the driver for consent and follow the vehicle search procedure
Vehicle searches, like person searches, depend on consent and the site's procedure. Records should be kept.
-
Vraag 20 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. To deter crime and detect hazards, security risks and anything unusual
Patrols make security visible and let officers find and report problems early.
-
Vraag 21 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. So criminals cannot predict where the officer will be
A predictable routine helps criminals plan. Varying patrols makes them more effective.
-
Vraag 22 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Making sure fire exits are clear and fire doors are closed
Patrols check fire exits, doors, windows, alarms, lights and hazards such as spills.
-
Vraag 23 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: D. Clear it if it is safe to do so, and report and record it
Blocked fire exits put lives at risk. Make it safe if you can and report it so the cause can be fixed.
-
Vraag 24 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: C. They record when and where an officer patrolled
Checkpoint systems give a record that patrols took place, which helps supervisors and clients.
-
Vraag 25 van 25
Toon antwoord
Antwoord: A. Stay outside, call the police and control room, and watch safely
An intruder may still be inside. Your safety comes first, and the scene may hold evidence.
Toetsenbord: 1–4 om te antwoorden, Enter voor de volgende vraag.
Het echte examen: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 60 questions)
Wat je moet weten voor het examen
- The Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry exam has 72 multiple-choice questions in 110 minutes. The pass mark is 70%.
- The Principles of Working as a Security Officer exam has 60 multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes, pass mark 70%, plus practical assessments of searching and using communication devices.
- The Application of Conflict Management unit has a 20-question exam (30 minutes, 70%) and a practical scenario.
- Before training you need a first aid or emergency first aid certificate that is valid for at least another 12 months.
- The course must last at least 5 days, or 4 days if up to 8 hours of self-study is used.
- All assessment is in English and/or Welsh. In Scotland the equivalent qualification is at SCQF Level 6.
Veelgestelde vragen
How many questions are in the SIA security officer exams?
The two main knowledge exams have 72 and 60 multiple-choice questions. There is also a 20-question conflict management exam, plus practical assessments.
What is the pass mark for the SIA security officer exams?
70% in each multiple-choice exam. The practical assessments must be passed in full.
Do I need a first aid certificate for SIA security officer training?
Yes. You need a valid first aid or emergency first aid certificate before you start, and it must be valid for at least another 12 months.
How long does an SIA security guard licence last?
A front-line SIA licence lasts 3 years. You must be 18 or over to apply.
I am renewing my licence. Do I need the full course?
If you are renewing, or held a licence in the last 3 years, you take the refresher qualification instead. Check the SIA's training page for your situation.
Bronnen
- GOV.UK: Check what training you need to get an SIA licence
- SIA: Requirements for awarding organisations and training centres delivering SIA licence to practice qualifications
- GOV.UK: Teaching SIA licence-linked training courses
- Private Security Industry Act 2001
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 24A