If you’ve started looking into training as a security officer, you’ve probably come across one requirement that wasn’t around a few years ago: you now need a valid Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificate before you can even start your main course. For a lot of applicants, this comes as a surprise. Security work and first aid don’t feel connected at first glance one is about safety and order, the other about medical care. But the more you look at what security officers actually do on a shift, the more the link makes sense.
This guide walks through exactly why EFAW has become a standard entry requirement for security training in London, what the qualification actually involves, who it applies to, and how to get it sorted before you book your main course. By the end, you’ll know precisely what to arrange and in what order, so nothing holds up your route to a licence.
The Short Answer: What Changed
Since 2021, training providers delivering SIA licence-linked courses have required learners to hold a valid first aid certificate typically EFAW or an accepted equivalent before the main course begins. This isn’t a one-off local rule from a single training centre. It reflects a wider shift in how the security industry is trained across England and Wales, with an emphasis on making sure every licensed operative can respond to a medical emergency, not just a security one.
The requirement has been reinforced further in recent updates to licence-linked and refresher training, where a current EFAW certificate is checked at registration before learners are allowed onto the course itself. In practice, this means EFAW now sits at the very front of the process before your Security Guard course, not alongside it or after it.
What EFAW Actually Is
Emergency First Aid at Work is a widely recognised, regulated first aid qualification, usually delivered over a single day. It’s built for people who need practical, immediately useful skills rather than an in-depth medical education. The course typically covers:
- Assessing an emergency scene safely before acting
- Dealing with an unresponsive casualty, including recovery position
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using a defibrillator
- Managing choking incidents
- Controlling bleeding and treating shock
- Recognising when to call emergency services and what information to give them
Because it’s a one-day course, EFAW is designed to be accessible. You don’t need any medical background, and there’s no exam in the traditional sense most providers assess understanding through practical demonstration and short written checks throughout the day. Certificates are issued by Ofqual-regulated awarding bodies, so the qualification is recognised consistently across the country, not just by one training company.
Why Security Courses Specifically Require It
Security officers, whether working a retail floor, a construction site, an event, or a venue door, are very often the first person on the scene when something goes wrong physically, not just behaviourally. A customer can collapse. A worker can be injured on site. A patron at a venue can choke, fall, or have a medical episode in a crowd before paramedics can reach them. In all of these situations, the minutes before professional help arrives matter enormously.
Security training has always covered emergency procedures at a broad level how to raise the alarm, how to manage a scene, who to call. What it hasn’t traditionally covered in depth is the hands-on medical response itself: how to actually perform CPR correctly, how to control severe bleeding, or how to manage someone who’s choking. EFAW closes that gap. Rather than folding a full first aid module into the SIA syllabus itself, the industry decided to make a recognised, standalone first aid qualification a prerequisite, so every learner arrives at their security course already equipped with baseline life-saving skills.
There’s also a consistency argument behind the decision. By requiring an externally regulated qualification like EFAW rather than teaching a shortened first aid segment in-house, every security officer entering the industry is held to the same, independently verified standard, regardless of which training provider they use.
Who This Requirement Applies To
The EFAW requirement applies to people training for Door Supervisor and Security Guard licences, whether that’s a brand-new application or a renewal via refresher training. If you’re aiming for a Security Guard licence in London, you’ll need a valid EFAW certificate or an accepted equivalent in hand before your training provider will let you start the main course.
- New Security Guard applicants EFAW required before the licence-linked course begins
- New Door Supervisor applicants same requirement applies
- Licence renewals via refresher training a current EFAW certificate must usually still have a reasonable amount of validity remaining
- Close Protection Operatives typically need a higher-level qualification, such as First Aid at Work (FAW), rather than EFAW alone
One licence type that generally sits outside this requirement is CCTV (Public Space Surveillance), since that role doesn’t usually involve the same level of physical, on-the-ground incident response. If you’re planning to apply for more than one licence type, it’s worth checking the specific first aid requirement for each one before you book anything, since they’re not all identical.
Accepted First Aid Qualifications
EFAW is the most common route because it’s short, affordable, and widely available, but it isn’t the only qualification training providers accept. Depending on the provider, the following are generally recognised as meeting the requirement:
- Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) 1 day, the most common choice
- First Aid at Work (FAW) a more comprehensive 3-day course
- Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (RQF)
- First Response Emergency Care (FREC) qualifications
If you already hold one of these from previous employment or a different industry, you may not need to repeat the training but always confirm this with your chosen training provider before assuming your existing certificate will be accepted, since acceptance criteria can vary slightly between centres.
How to Get EFAW Before Your Security Guard Course
Because EFAW has to be completed before your main course, the sensible approach is to treat it as step one, not an afterthought. Most learners can complete the whole process first aid, then licence-linked training, then licence application inside a few weeks if they plan it in the right order.
- Book an EFAW course with an Ofqual-regulated provider many training centres run these regularly, including evening and weekend sessions
- Attend the full day and complete the practical assessment
- Keep your certificate somewhere accessible you’ll need to show it at registration for your Security Guard course
- Book your Security Guard course once your EFAW certificate is in hand
A lot of training providers in London, including centres running Security Guard courses, are used to learners arriving with this question, so it’s worth asking directly whether they can help you sequence both bookings efficiently, or whether they run EFAW sessions themselves.
What Happens If You Don’t Have It
If you turn up to a Security Guard course without a valid EFAW certificate, most training providers won’t be able to let you start the training that day. This isn’t a formality they can waive it reflects the standard they’re required to check before enrolling learners onto licence-linked courses. Being turned away isn’t just inconvenient; it usually means losing your place on that course date and having to rebook once your first aid certificate is sorted, which can add weeks to your overall timeline.
The safest approach is to treat EFAW as a hard prerequisite rather than something to sort out later. If you’re not sure whether your existing first aid training still counts, contact your training provider before the course date, not on the morning itself.
How Long an EFAW Certificate Stays Valid
An EFAW certificate is generally valid for three years from the date of issue, in line with wider first aid qualification standards. For new applicants, the certificate simply needs to be valid on the day your Security Guard course starts. For renewals and refresher training, providers typically expect the certificate to still have a reasonable amount of validity left often around 12 months at the point your refresher course begins, so it’s worth avoiding certificates that are close to expiry when you book.
If your certificate has lapsed, or is close to lapsing, the fix is straightforward: book a new EFAW day before your licence-linked training or renewal date, rather than waiting until it becomes a problem.
EFAW vs FAW: Which One Do You Actually Need?
For most people training toward a Security Guard or Door Supervisor licence, EFAW is enough it’s the minimum standard and the one most training providers expect to see. FAW, the three-day version, covers everything in EFAW plus additional topics like fractures, burns, and head injuries, and is generally aimed at higher-risk workplaces or roles such as Close Protection, where the level of expected medical competence is higher.
- Choose EFAW if you’re training for a standard Security Guard or Door Supervisor licence
- Choose FAW if you’re working toward Close Protection, or if your employer specifically requests the higher-level qualification
Unless your training provider or target role tells you otherwise, EFAW is the right starting point it’s shorter, cheaper, and fully sufficient to meet the entry requirement.
Why This Change Is a Good Thing for the Industry
It’s easy to see the EFAW requirement as just another box to tick before training, but it genuinely changes what a licensed security officer can offer on shift. A guard who can competently manage the first few minutes of a medical emergency controlling bleeding, starting CPR, using a defibrillator correctly is a meaningfully more capable member of a venue, site, or retail team than one who can only call for help and wait.
For learners, there’s also a personal upside. EFAW is a genuinely useful, transferable skill that applies far beyond the security industry in family life, at events, and in everyday situations. Many people who complete it say it’s one of the most practically valuable short courses they’ve ever taken, security career aside.
Common Misconceptions About the EFAW Requirement
A few misunderstandings come up repeatedly when people first hear about this requirement, and clearing them up early can save you time and stress.
- “It’s part of the Security Guard course itself” It isn’t. EFAW is a separate, standalone qualification you complete beforehand, with its own certificate and its own provider.
- “Any first aid certificate will do” Not necessarily. Providers generally expect EFAW or a specific accepted equivalent, so a very basic workplace induction or online-only certificate may not be sufficient.
- “I can do it after I’ve started my security training” This is the mistake that causes the most disruption. The requirement is to hold the certificate before the course begins, not during it.
- “It’s only relevant for door supervisors, not general security guards” Both licence types carry the same requirement, since both roles can involve being first on the scene during an incident.
Understanding these points upfront means you can plan your training in the right order the first time, rather than discovering the requirement at registration and having to delay your start date.
Planning Your Route to a Licence Step by Step
Because the process now involves two separate qualifications completed in a specific order, it helps to think of your route to a Security Guard licence as a short sequence rather than a single course.
- Step 1 Complete EFAW with an Ofqual-regulated provider (typically one day)
- Step 2 Enrol on your Security Guard course once your EFAW certificate is confirmed
- Step 3 Complete the SIA licence-linked training and pass the required assessments
- Step 4 Apply for your SIA licence, including the DBS background check
- Step 5 Start working once your licence is issued
Most people can move through all five steps within four to six weeks if they book each stage promptly rather than leaving gaps between them. The EFAW step is genuinely the quickest part of the whole process, which is part of why it makes sense to get it out of the way first and remove it as a variable before you commit to a Security Guard course date.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need EFAW before starting a Security Guard course in London?
Yes. Training providers require a valid EFAW certificate, or an accepted equivalent, before you can start licence-linked Security Guard training.
2. How long does an EFAW course take to complete?
EFAW is typically a one-day course, making it easy to fit in before booking your main security training.
3. Is EFAW the same as First Aid at Work (FAW)?
No. EFAW is a shorter, one-day qualification covering core life-saving skills, while FAW is a more comprehensive three-day course generally required for higher-risk roles like Close Protection.
4. How long is an EFAW certificate valid for?
EFAW certificates are generally valid for three years from the date of issue, though renewal courses may expect a reasonable amount of validity remaining.
5. Can I use an old first aid certificate from a previous job?
Possibly, if it’s still valid and meets the required standard. Always confirm with your training provider before assuming an existing certificate will be accepted.
6. What happens if I arrive at my Security Guard course without EFAW?
Most providers won’t be able to enrol you that day, which usually means losing your place and having to rebook once your first aid certificate is sorted.
7. Does the CCTV licence require EFAW too?
Generally, no. The first aid requirement is mainly linked to Door Supervisor and Security Guard licence-linked training rather than CCTV (Public Space Surveillance).
8. Why did the security industry introduce this requirement?
Security officers are often first on the scene during medical emergencies, so EFAW ensures every licensed guard has baseline, independently verified life-saving skills before working on shift.
9. Where can I book an EFAW course before my security training?
Many training providers run EFAW sessions regularly, including evenings and weekends, and some can help you sequence it alongside your Security Guard course booking.
10. Is EFAW required for licence renewals as well as new applications?
Yes. Refresher training for existing licence holders also requires a current EFAW certificate, so it’s worth booking one before you enrol on a Security Guard Course in London for your renewal.
