PSIRA
Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority. Registers security officers and businesses and sets training grades under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act 56 of 2001.
South African security certifications
Everything you need to work legally in the private security industry — who regulates it, which certificates matter, and where each of our programmes fits.
The four regulators
Who governs private security training
SASSETA / QCTO
The Safety & Security SETA accredits training providers and assessors; the Quality Council for Trades & Occupations owns the occupational qualifications.
SAPS
The South African Police Service administers firearm competency and licensing under the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000 and accredits firearm training providers.
Employment & Labour
The Department of Employment & Labour approves First Aid training and enforces the Occupational Health & Safety Act 85 of 1993 in the workplace.
Core requirement
PSIRA registration & grading
No one may be employed as a security officer in South Africa unless they are trained to at least Grade E/D and registered with PSIRA. Grades build on one another.
| Grade | Level | Typical role | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade E | Entry | General security officer — access & egress control, patrolling, observation | None (foundation course) |
| Grade D | Entry | Security officer — full guarding duties, statement and report writing | Grade E |
| Grade C | Supervisory | Site / shift supervisor — supervision of officers, incident command, OB control | Grade D |
| Grade B | Junior management | Site manager — deployment, rosters, client liaison, investigations support | Grade C |
| Grade A | Management | Security manager — operations, contracts, compliance, discipline | Grade B |
Registration requirements (all grades)
- South African ID, or a valid passport with a work permit
- 18 years or older
- No criminal record — a SAPS clearance / fingerprint check is required
- Literacy in English and physical & mental fitness for duty
- A completed training course at a SASSETA-accredited centre
- Payment of the PSIRA application and annual renewal fees
The QCTO transition
The legacy grade system is being replaced by the Occupational Certificate: Security Officer (SAQA ID 121771, NQF Level 3) under the QCTO. During the transition both routes are recognised. We enrol learners on the current approved curriculum and advise you which certificate you will receive at the time of your intake.
Accredited delivery
SASSETA & unit standards
SASSETA accredits the training provider, the facilitators and the assessors, and quality-assures every assessment. Legacy grade training is built from registered unit standards on the National Qualifications Framework, for example:
- Access and egress control of people and vehicles
- Patrolling of a specified area
- Conducting a basic search of people, vehicles and premises
- Handling of complaints and conflict
- Reacting to incidents and completing the occurrence book
- Giving evidence in court and writing statements
On completion you receive a Statement of Results that feeds your PSIRA grade application.
NQF Level 3
Occupational Certificate: Security Officer
- SAQA ID 121771 — QCTO occupational qualification
- Knowledge, practical skills and a workplace component
- External integrated summative assessment (EISA)
- Recognised for PSIRA registration
Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000
Firearm competency for security work
Before a security officer may carry a firearm on duty they must be found competent on registered unit standards, hold a SAPS competency certificate, and be issued the firearm by their employer under a business-purposes licence.
| Unit standard | Title | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| US 117705 | Demonstrate knowledge of and apply the Firearms Control Act, 2000 | 3 |
| US 123515 | Handle and use a handgun | 3 |
| US 123519 | Handle and use a handgun for business purposes | 4 |
| US 123511 | Handle and use a shotgun | 3 |
| US 123514 | Handle and use a manually operated rifle or carbine | 3 |
| US 123516 | Handle and use a self-loading rifle or carbine | 4 |
From training to a firearm on your hip
Competency training & assessment
Complete the legal knowledge module plus the practical module for each firearm type, and be found competent by a registered assessor.
SAPS competency application
Apply at your local Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) with your Statement of Results, fingerprints and supporting documents. SAPS issues a competency certificate per firearm type and purpose.
Business-purposes licence
Your employer — a registered security business — applies under section 20 of the Act to licence the firearm for business purposes.
Firearm issued on a permit
The employer issues the firearm to you on a written permit for each shift, with a register of issue and return.
Business purposes — Regulation 21
Security service providers train and are assessed against the business-purposes standard (Regulation 21 of the Firearms Control Regulations), which is stricter than the self-defence standard: more rounds, tighter groupings, judgement shooting and use-of-force law.
Renewal & re-qualification
Firearm competency and licences are not permanent. Competency certificates and business-purpose licences must be renewed before expiry, and many employers require annual practical re-qualification (a "shoot") to stay armed on duty.
Workplace tickets
Statutory & safety certifications
These are not security-specific, but employers and clients ask for them constantly — especially on industrial, mining, retail and event sites.
First Aid Level 1–3
Training by a provider approved by the Department of Employment & Labour, as required by General Safety Regulation 3 of the OHS Act. Level 1 is the baseline; Levels 2 and 3 add trauma and advanced emergency care. Certificates are valid for three years.
Basic Fire Fighting
Fire prevention, fire classes, extinguisher selection and use, and evacuation procedure — aligned to unit standard 12484. Commonly renewed every two years.
Occupational Health & Safety
OHS Act awareness and SHE representative training under the Occupational Health & Safety Act 85 of 1993 — hazard identification, incident reporting and the duties of a section 17 representative.
Use of force & legal powers
The lawful powers of a private security officer — arrest by a private person (section 42 of the Criminal Procedure Act), the limits on the use of force (section 49), search and seizure, and the handover to SAPS.
Specialised disciplines
Advanced & sector-specific certifications
| Certification | What it covers | Framework |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Reaction Officer | Armed response to alarm activations, tactical movement, radio procedure, scene safety, defensive driving | PSIRA grade + FCA business-purposes competency |
| Close Protection Officer | Advance work, protective formations, embus/debus drills, threat & risk assessment, medical readiness | SASSETA close protection unit standards; PSIRA Grade B/A |
| Cash-in-Transit (CIT) | Crew and custodian duties, pavement and vehicle drills, ambush awareness, cross-pavement risk | SASSETA skills programme; FCA competency |
| Control Room / CCTV Operator | Surveillance operations, target tracking, evidence capture and continuity, incident escalation | SASSETA skills programme |
| Event & Crowd Safety | Crowd management, access accreditation, search lines, ejection and emergency egress | Safety at Sports & Recreational Events Act 2 of 2010 (SASREA) |
| Critical Infrastructure Protection | Protection of declared critical infrastructure, access control regimes, contingency planning | Critical Infrastructure Protection Act 8 of 2019 |
| K9 Patrol Dog Handler | Handler-dog teamwork, patrol and search deployment, kennel and welfare standards | SASSETA dog-handler unit standards; PSIRA dog-handler category |
| Security Driver / Anti-Hijack | Defensive and evasive driving, convoy procedure, hijack prevention and response | Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) where a firearm is carried |
Every specialised programme assumes you already hold — or will complete with us — the underlying PSIRA grade and, where a firearm is carried, the relevant Firearms Control Act competency.
Compliance note
South African security legislation, unit standards and PSIRA/SAPS procedures are updated regularly. Unit-standard numbers, credits and grade names on this page are provided for guidance. The curriculum, certificate and registration route that apply to your intake are confirmed in writing at enrolment. Hlophoyi Holdings Academy publishes its live accreditation numbers on all learner certificates and on request.
Not sure which certificate you need?
Tell us the job you want. Admissions will map it to the exact grades and competencies and build you a training plan.