What Units Are Included in CPP20218 Certificate II Security?

CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations includes 14 core units and no electives — 13 security-specific units covering communication, law, patrolling, screening and crowd control, plus HLTAID011 Provide First Aid. Every student completes the same 14 units; there are no specialist streams to choose. That all-core structure is the key change from the superseded CPP20212 it replaced in 2019 — the unit-by-unit comparison is set out in ALIT’s guide to the difference between CPP20218 and CPP20212 from at Certificate II level.

The unit set is fixed nationally on the training register, so the list below is the same at every approved provider — what differs between RTOs is how they deliver and assess it. Here’s every unit in the qualification, grouped by the skills it builds.

The complete list of 14 units

Foundations: working inside the security industry

Five units set up how a security officer operates day to day — communicating, staying legal, staying safe and serving clients:

• CPPSEC2101 Apply effective communication skills to maintain security
• CPPSEC2102 Apply legal and procedural requirements to work effectively within a security team
• CPPSEC2103 Apply WHS, emergency response and evacuation procedures to maintain security
• CPPSEC2104 Apply risk assessment to select and carry out response to security risk situations
• CPPSEC2105 Provide quality services to a range of security clients

Protecting people, property and premises

Five units cover the physical craft of guarding — the skills most people picture when they think of a security officer:

• CPPSEC2106 Protect self and others using basic defensive techniques
• CPPSEC2107 Patrol premises to monitor property and maintain security
• CPPSEC2108 Screen people, personal effects and items to maintain security
• CPPSEC2109 Monitor and control access and exit of persons and vehicles from premises
• CPPSEC2113 Escort and protect persons and valuables

Managing behaviour: crowds, conflict and removals

Three units focus on the people-side of the job — monitoring behaviour, handling intoxication and lawfully removing people from premises:

• CPPSEC2110 Monitor and control individual and crowd behaviour to maintain security
• CPPSEC2111 Apply security procedures to manage intoxicated persons
• CPPSEC2112 Apply security procedures to remove persons from premises

First aid

• HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

First aid sits inside the qualification as a core unit, so you graduate with the skills to respond to life-threatening emergencies — CPR, bleeding, shock and more — rather than needing a separate first aid certificate afterwards.

Why there are no electives

The qualification is deliberately tight. CPP20218 aligns with specific occupational licensing outcomes — security officer (unarmed guard) and crowd controller — so the training package makes all 14 units compulsory rather than offering electives. Specialisation happens later, at the licence class you apply for and the roles you choose to work, not in the classroom. If you want broader or higher-level study, that’s what Certificate III and beyond are for.

How the units map to real security jobs

The patrol and access-control units (CPPSEC2107, CPPSEC2109) are the daily bread of static guarding and patrol work — monitoring a site, controlling entry, reporting incidents. The screening unit (CPPSEC2108) is what shopping centres, corporate lobbies and events rely on for bag checks and metal detection. The behaviour units (CPPSEC2110–2112) are the core of crowd controller work at licensed venues, which is why Victoria Police’s crowd control licence pathway recognises this qualification — our crowd controller licence guide explains that pathway in full. And the defensive techniques unit (CPPSEC2106) exists to keep you safe first — it’s about protection, not aggression.

Because the same 14 units underpin every unarmed role, one qualification keeps several career doors open. The security licence application guide for Victoria shows how training feeds into licensing.

What studying the units is like

Like all nationally recognised training, CPP20218 is competency-based: you demonstrate each unit’s required skills and knowledge rather than just passing a written exam. Expect scenario work — screening drills, patrol exercises, crowd and conflict simulations — plus the hands-on first aid assessment in HLTAID011. At ALIT the course runs over 18 days in a blended format at our West Melbourne campus, with weekly intakes and an indicative fee of $999 (confirm current pricing and any promotions on the course page). Our article on what to expect in the CPP20218 course walks through the student experience.

Where CPP20218 leads next

Graduates move into unarmed guard, patrol, loss prevention and crowd controller roles, and the qualification is a stepping stone rather than a dead end — ALIT’s course page lists CPP30619 Certificate III in Investigative Services as the next step in the pathway. The CPP20218 course page at ALIT has the full course details, and the standalone HLTAID011 first aid course page explains the first aid unit in depth.

Frequently asked questions

Is HLTAID011 included or a separate booking?

Included. Provide First Aid is one of the 14 core units inside CPP20218, so it’s delivered and assessed within the course.

Are the units the same at every RTO?

Yes — the unit set comes from the national training register, so an approved RTO anywhere in Australia delivers the same 14 core units. What differs is delivery style, duration and support.

Can I skip units I’ve completed elsewhere?

If you hold a current statement of attainment for a unit — HLTAID011 is the most common example — ask about credit transfer before enrolling. The RTO assesses what can be recognised; it’s not automatic.

Do the units expire?

The qualification itself doesn’t expire, but first aid skills are commonly refreshed — CPR annually and the full first aid course around every three years in line with Australian Resuscitation Council guidance. Employers and Victoria Police may also expect your training to be current — confirm requirements with the relevant authority.

How many units is CPP20218 in total?

Fourteen — all core, no electives.

Reviewed by the ALIT Compliance & Training Team. Source: training.gov.au — CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations (current release). Unit titles are taken from the national register; delivery details are correct at the time of publishing and may change — always confirm current details on the ALIT course page.

Related ALIT guide: Certificate II vs Certificate III in Security.

Related ALIT guide: Certificate II Security Operations cost in Australia.

Related guide: how first aid fits inside CPP20218’s 14 core units.

Related ALIT guide: the jobs these units qualify you for.