Foundation PSIRA grades, firearm competency and specialised tracks — each one ends in a certificate a South African employer and regulator will recognise.
Foundation
Complete a grade, receive your Statement of Results, and register or upgrade with PSIRA. Durations are indicative full-time days.
Introduction to the industry and the law, access & egress control, patrol technique, observation and reporting, radio and telephone procedure, basic conflict handling.
Entry: 18+, ID or passport + permit, English literacy. Outcome: PSIRA Grade E registration eligibility.
Full guarding duties, statement and report writing, occurrence book, crime-scene preservation, searching of people and vehicles, handover to SAPS.
Entry: Grade E. Outcome: PSIRA Grade D — the common minimum for employment.
Supervision of a security detail, briefing and inspection, incident command, roster basics, discipline and grievance handling, client reporting.
Entry: Grade D. Outcome: PSIRA Grade C.
Multi-post deployment, operational planning, investigations support, contract service levels, budgets and equipment control, labour relations basics.
Entry: Grade C. Outcome: PSIRA Grade B.
Security operations management, contract and tender management, compliance and audits, risk assessment, senior discipline, executive reporting.
Entry: Grade B. Outcome: PSIRA Grade A — the highest grade.
Bundle: most new entrants take Grade E + D together (about two weeks) to reach the employable minimum in one intake. Apply for the E+D bundle →
Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000
Legal-knowledge module plus a practical module per firearm type, assessed against registered unit standards. You leave with a Statement of Results to lodge your SAPS competency application.
Entry: 18+, no criminal record, PSIRA Grade E/D recommended. Duration: ~2–4 days depending on firearm types. Outcome: unit-standard competence → SAPS competency certificate.
See the unit-standard table and the full SAPS process.
Specialised tracks
Response to alarm activations, tactical vehicle and foot movement, building approach and clearing principles, radio and control-room procedure, scene management and defensive driving.
Entry: PSIRA Grade D (Grade C advised) + firearm competency (can be completed with us). Duration: ~5–10 days.
Advance work and route planning, protective formations on foot and in vehicles, embus / debus drills, threat and risk assessment, protective medicine and etiquette.
Entry: PSIRA Grade C (Grade B for team leader), medically fit. Duration: ~10–15 days.
Crew and custodian duties, vault and ATM procedures, pavement and vehicle drills, cross-pavement risk, ambush indicators and immediate action, evidence and reporting.
Entry: PSIRA Grade D + firearm competency. Duration: ~5 days.
Surveillance operations, camera systems and target tracking, evidence capture and continuity, incident classification and escalation, shift handover and log discipline.
Entry: PSIRA Grade E/D, computer literacy. Duration: ~3–5 days.
Crowd dynamics and management, accreditation and access, search lines, ejections, emergency egress and stadium command structures under the SASREA Act.
Entry: PSIRA Grade E/D. Duration: ~3 days.
Handler–dog teamwork, obedience and control, patrol and area search deployment, tracking basics, kennel management and animal welfare standards.
Entry: PSIRA Grade D, physically fit. Duration: ~10 days.
Statutory & safety
Department of Employment & Labour–approved. Emergency scene management, CPR, bleeding and shock, common medical emergencies. ~2 days · valid 3 years.
Fire theory and classes, extinguisher selection and hands-on use, hose reels, evacuation. ~1 day · commonly renewed every 2 years.
Duties under the OHS Act 85 of 1993, hazard identification, inspections and incident reporting for a section 17 representative. ~1–2 days.
Pick your programmes on one application form. You can add firearm categories and specialised tracks in the same submission.
