SLED processes your payment to begin the application process. The application process takes about six to eight weeks.
You will be informed in writing once your application has been approved.
Yes. You have 42 days from the day you lodge your application to provide a copy of your NSW Security Licence Course qualification to SLED. Once we receive your qualification we will continue processing your application. If the qualification is not received within 42 days your application may be refused.
Your security operative licence comes into force when you are photographed at a Service NSW Centre for your licence. You cannot commence the security activities authorised by the licence until you receive your new security licence card unless notified by SLED.
Class 1 licence applicants, except those applying for a 1E licence subclass, must provide evidence of:
Details of each Licence Course, including first aid requirements, is contained in the NSW Security Licence Courses fact sheet.
You can view the list of Approved Organisations that run NSW Security Licence Courses here.
For more information, click here to visit the Security Training page.
Once your fingerprints are taken SLED conducts probity checks to determine if you have a NSW or national criminal record. This takes four to six weeks to complete.
If your licence is granted you will receive a Photograph Advice letter via email. You then have 60 days to take the Photograph Advice letter to a Service NSW centre to have your photograph taken.
Please ensure you have provided your current email address to SLED so you can receive your Photograph Advice letter quickly and easily.
To be a self-employed security operative you need to have both a security Master licence and the appropriate security operative licence. Read more about Master licences here and more about Class 1 and Class 2 security licences here.
You can renew your Class 1 licence online from eight weeks before the licence expires.
Once the expiry date passes, you have up to 90 days to submit your renewal application. Late payment fees apply and must be paid when you submit your application. You are unlicensed until your licence has been renewed.
You cannot renew your licence once the 90 days have passed. If you want to continue to work in the security industry, you will need to submit a new application, including evidence that you meet the current security licence course training requirements.
If you’re not able to apply online, you can download an application form from the SLED website and post in your application. See a full list of application forms here.
Unarmed security operatives do not have to wear a uniform while carrying out security activities. However, if you are an armed security operative, you must wear a uniform while carrying out security activities. See more information about security uniforms here.
Licence holders must comply with all instructions from Enforcement Officers, whether written or verbal.
Enforcement Officers have the power to issue fines and court attendance notices to licence holders who fail to comply with their instructions.
You may be liable for a maximum $11,000 fine if you obstruct, hinder or interfere while enforcement officers are carrying out their duties. You can also be fined for failing to comply with any requirement of an Enforcement Officer.
If your security licence card has been lost or stolen, you have seven days to file a report with police and obtain an event number. You can report your licence card lost/stolen through the NSW Police Force Community Portal at www.police.nsw.gov.au. If you are unable to report online, you can call the Police Assistance Line on 131444. You then have 14 days to apply for a replacement licence via Service NSW.
If your security licence card has been damaged or destroyed, you have seven days to inform SLED. You then have 14 days to apply for a replacement licence via Service NSW.
Security licences cannot be transferred between states or from New Zealand to Australia. However, individuals who hold an interstate security licence may apply for the equivalent NSW licence in accordance with the requirements of the Commonwealth Mutual Recognition legislation.
SLED will contact the interstate licensing body to verify the statements or information provided in the application. SLED may grant or refuse the application, or postpone a decision for up to six months, in accordance with the Commonwealth legislation. Click here for more information about the Mutual Recognition Scheme.
To surrender your NSW security operative licence, send us an email to sled@police.nsw.gov.au including your name, your contact details and your licence number and state that you wish to surrender your licence.
You must also hand in your licence card at a NSW police station or post it to SLED at:
Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate
Locked Bag 5099
Parramatta NSW 2124
If money and other valuables are being transported within a building, for example between a gaming room and an office at a pub or club, then a 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) licence is not required. These activities can be carried on by a 1A (Security Officer) licensee, or a 1F (Armed Guard) licensee if armed and while holding the appropriate firearms licence.
Similarly, only a 1A licence, or 1F licence if armed, is required to transport money and other valuables between buildings on the same geographical site, for example a university campus, unless the transportation requires movement across public roads.
A 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) licence is required to transport money and other valuables at all other times. If carrying on this activity while armed, the 1F licence (and appropriate firearms licence) must also be held.
SLED conducts probity checks for all security licence applicants to ensure only appropriate people are granted a licence.
If you're on a visa and have lived in a country other than Australia for more than 12 months in the past 10 years you must have a Police Clearance Certificate from that country.
The certificate must have been issued within 12 months of your licence application, be translated into English (if applicable) and must be verified by that country’s embassy or consulate in Australia.
Yes. The certificate must have been issued within 12 months of your licence application, be translated into English (if applicable) and must be verified by the country’s embassy or consulate in Australia.
No, you don't. This requirement does not apply to you.
A monitoring centre is a facility defined by Australian Standard 2201.2:2004 (Intruder Alarm Systems - Monitoring Centres) and those businesses that carry out the monitoring of domestic and commercial alarms. A Monitoring Centre Operator's main duty is to monitor the alarm systems and action any alarm activations in accordance with client instructions.
Monitoring Centre Operations will require a 1E subclass security operative licence, which authorises you to patrol, protect or guard any property while carrying on monitoring centre operations.
Monitoring Centre Operators do not physically respond to alarm activations. They action alarm activations in accordance with client instructions, which may include requesting other security operatives to respond to security risk situations. Much of the day to day work involves using computers that monitor alarm systems, entering data and producing reports about alarm activations.
A control room is usually a facility within a specific site, such as an office building or large business complex, where the day-to-day operations are monitored within the site by close circuit television, internal alarm systems and site-specific security devices. A Control Room Operator is an Unarmed Guard (1A subclass) whose duties include shifts in the control room, physically responding to alarms and maintaining the security of the site or requesting other onsite guards to respond to any alarm activation or breach of security.
To add, change or delete subclasses from your security licence, you need to fill in the P645 Amend, vary or replace an existing Class 1 and/or Class 2 licence form and post it to SLED at:
Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate
Locked bag 5099
Parramatta NSW 2124
Note: If your licence has been issued under Mutual Recognition legislation, call the SLED Contact Centre on 1300 362 001 for information on how to add or delete subclasses to your licence.
Adding subclasses and renewing licences require two separate transactions and two separate payments. You can renew your licence online via Service NSW. Click here to renew your licence.
To add, change or delete subclasses from your security licence, you need to fill in the P645 Amend, vary or replace an existing Class 1 and/or Class 2 licence form and mail it to SLED at:
Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate
Locked bag 5099
Parramatta NSW 2124
Note: If your licence has been issued under Mutual Recognition legislation, call the SLED Contact Centre on 1300 362 001 for information on how to add or delete subclasses.
Changing your personal details, like your name, and renewing your licence requires two separate transactions via Service NSW and two separate payments. Click here to update your personal details. Click here to renew your licence.
Probity checks are conducted by agencies in other Australian states and SLED does not have any control over the timeframes involved in conducting these checks. Once SLED receives the results from the probity checks the next stage of the application process can begin.
Yes. You must make sure you keep your First Aid certificate current and renew it every three years while you hold a NSW security licence. Master licence holders are required to ensure all Class 1 security operatives they provide, except for Class 1E, have a current First Aid certificate.
Yes. A robotic security guard is considered security equipment and subject to licensing requirements in relation to its sale and repair.
Anyone using a robotic security guard would be considered to be patrolling, protecting or guarding property by electronic means and would need to hold a Class 1A (Security Officer) operative licence.
If a robotic security guard is not used for transporting people or goods, it is not considered to be a "vehicle" and therefore the display of a Master licence number on the device is not required. However, if the robotic security guard is also a "segway" and ridden by a security guard, then the device would need to display the Master licence number and the rider would need to hold a Class 1A (Security Officer) operative licence.
Yes. A drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is considered security equipment but only if it is designed or adapted to provide or enhance security for the protection of property. Whether the device is designed or adapted to provide or enhance security for the protection of any property will depend on an assessment of a broad range of matters, including its features and how it is marketed by the manufacturer.
Using such a device to conduct any of the defined security activities (e.g. patrolling property, crowd control) would constitute carrying on a security activity and subject to licensing requirements in relation to its sale and repair.
Anyone using a drone or UAV would need to hold the relevant security operator licence, i.e. Class 1A (Security Officer) licence, as well as the relevant authorisation under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998.
Note: Master licensees intending to introduce the use of drones/UAVs for security work should obtain independent legal advice to ensure compliance with State and Commonwealth legislation. It is possible that engaging in a security activity with such devices may breach the provisions of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007. For example, using a drone for crowd controlling or patrolling property may also involve using a listening device or tracking device recording or overhearing a private conversation or the ability to determine the geographical location of a person.
You must hold the Class 1C (Cash-in Transit Guard) security licence subclass.
The only exception is for Class 1A (Security Officer) licensees that held the former Class 1A (Unarmed Guard) subclass on 31 May 2023 and carried on unarmed cash-in-transit (CIT) activities under the authority of that licence. Those licensees may continue to carry on unarmed CIT activities until 1 December 2023 while holding the Class 1A licence subclass.
You must hold the Class 1F (Armed Guard) and Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) security licence subclasses as well as the appropriate firearms licence.
You must successfully complete the NSW Class 1C Cash-in-Transit Guard Licence Course or obtain the cash-in-transit related units of competency from the current NSW Class 1F Armed Guard Licence Course. See more information on cash-in-transit training here.
If you held the former Class 1A (Unarmed Guard) subclass on 31 May 2023 and carried on unarmed cash-in-transit (CIT) activities under the authority of that licence, you can continue to do so until 1 December 2023 while holding the new Class 1A (Security Officer) subclass.
To continue carrying on unarmed CIT activities after that date you must:
The Class 1C subclass will be added to your licence for free if you satisfy these requirements and a new portrait style security licence card issued. Late applications will not be accepted.
Details of organisations approved to deliver the NSW Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) Licence Course is available here.
Other licensees who want to add the new 1C subclass to their security licence must complete the required training and lodge a P645 Amend, Vary or Replace an Existing Class 1 and/or Class 2 Licence application form available here. An $80 licence variation application fee is payable.
Security licensees hold a position of trust and are expected to help the NSW Police Force to ensure a safe and secure NSW. There is an expectation that security licensees will work with NSW Police officers and provide any and all information about alleged criminal and non-compliance offences they may witness.
Clause 25 of the Security Industry Regulation 2016 states SLED can revoke a security licence if there is evidence that it would be contrary to the public interest for the licensee to continue to hold a NSW security licence. Refusing to assist police with their enquiries or to cooperate with a police investigation is considered to be contrary to the public interest.
In line with this clause, security licensees who refuse to assist police with their enquiries will be issued a show cause notice and asked to demonstrate why it is in the public interest for them to continue to hold a NSW security licence.
