What is the Step-by-Step Process to Become a Security Guard in Victoria or NSW?

To become a security guard in Victoria or NSW you complete an approved security qualification — CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations plus first aid — then apply for your licence through the state regulator: Victoria Police’s Licensing and Regulation Division in Victoria, or the NSW Police Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate (SLED) in NSW. Training alone does not authorise you to work: the licence is the legal authority, and it is issued only after the regulator checks your training, identity, background and suitability.

The two states run the same broad sequence — eligibility, training, application, checks, licence — with different regulators, forms and first-aid rules. This guide walks the process end to end for both states so you can see where you stand and what comes next. For the Victorian path in full detail, see ALIT’s guide to how to get a security licence in Victoria.

Step 1: Check you are eligible before enrolling

Both states apply the same basic gate: you must be at least 18, be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (or hold a visa with full working rights), and be a fit and proper person — the regulator assesses criminal history and any outstanding matters against the state’s private security legislation, the Private Security Act 2004 in Victoria and the security industry provisions in NSW. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you, but it can lengthen assessment or require explanation. Confirm current requirements with the relevant licensing authority before you pay for a course.

Step 2: Complete the approved training

CPP20218 replaced the earlier CPP20212 qualification in 2019; if you hold the older code, ALIT’s guide to the difference between CPP20218 and CPP20212 explains what changed and what it means for licensing.

The entry qualification in both states is CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations, delivered by an approved registered training organisation. In Victoria it is the approved training for unarmed guard, crowd control and control room operator activities, with 14 core units and first aid embedded in the approved packaging. In NSW the Class 1A security officer course aligns to the same qualification — the NSW Security Licence Course (SLC) delivered via a SLED Approved Organisation. Training currency matters: Victoria Police accepts training completed within 12 months of your application, so time the course close to when you will lodge. ALIT is a registered RTO (45156) and delivers CPP20218 in Victoria as an 18-day blended program over approximately three weeks (one live online class, online self-study and three practical classes at its West Melbourne campus, including First Aid). Current fees and intake dates are on the Certificate II in Security Operations course page.

Step 3: Meet the first-aid requirement

First aid is the requirement people most often miss. In Victoria, first aid is embedded within the approved CPP20218 packaging, so you complete HLTAID011 Provide First Aid as part of the course rather than beforehand — and under rules that took effect in 2025, licence holders whose licences expire on or after 5 October 2026 must complete approved first-aid training before renewal. In NSW, SLED requires Class 1A and 1C applicants to hold HLTAID011 issued within the past three years by a registered training organisation, and to keep it current — renewed every three years — while the licence is held. Specialist subclasses differ: Class 1B bodyguard, 1D guard dog handler and 1F armed guard require the higher HLTAID014 Provide Advanced First Aid. Whether you need a separate certificate before enrolling is unpacked in ALIT’s guide to first aid for the Cert II Security enrolment.

Step 4: Apply through the state regulator

In Victoria, once training is complete you apply directly through Victoria Police’s Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD): complete the individual operator licence application, arrange fingerprinting, provide 100 points of identity, evidence of right to work, and your CPP20218 statement of attainment, then submit it following Victoria Police’s current instructions and pay the fee when notified. Licence approval is a separate process and is subject to meeting the regulator’s requirements. Processing times vary, so apply as soon as training is finished rather than waiting for a job offer. In NSW, you apply online through Service NSW: complete the SLED Pre-Enrolment Assessment (including a language, literacy and numeracy test) before the course, then lodge the Class 1 application with your first-aid certificate and SLC statement of attainment attached. SLED runs a probity assessment on every applicant.

Step 5: Fingerprints, background check and the decision

Both states fingerprint. In NSW the applicant attends a police station for finger and palm prints (SLED contacts you with instructions); in Victoria fingerprinting is required for all applicants and is booked online with Victoria Police (using form VP616) before you submit your application. Both regulators then run national criminal history checks as part of suitability assessment. If the licence is granted you receive it in the class or activities you applied for — in NSW a Photograph Advice letter arrives by email before the card. If refused, you receive a letter explaining the reasons and the review or appeal process.

Step 6: Start work in the roles the licence authorises

A Victorian licence authorises the activities you hold approved training for — unarmed guard, crowd controller, control room operator. A NSW Class 1A licence authorises security officer work, with subclasses (1C cash-in-transit, 1B bodyguard, 1D guard dog handler, 1F armed guard) requiring additional units on top. The entry roles both states open — security guard, static guard, patrol officer, loss prevention officer, crowd controller — are mapped in ALIT’s guide to the jobs you can get with Certificate II in Security Operations.

FAQ

Can I use Victorian training to get a NSW licence?

The qualification is nationally recognised, but NSW requires the Security Licence Course through a SLED Approved Organisation and its own first-aid and assessment steps — confirm with SLED how your existing units map before enrolling.

How long does the whole process take?

ALIT’s CPP20218 is an 18-day blended program delivered over approximately three weeks. Licence processing is separate and depends on the regulator’s current processing times; completing training does not equal licence approval.

Do I need first aid before enrolling?

In Victoria no — HLTAID011 is embedded in CPP20218 and included within ALIT’s three on-campus practical classes; in NSW you need HLTAID011 issued within the past three years to apply, so time it into your plan.

Does a criminal record stop me applying?

Not automatically. The regulator assesses suitability case by case against its legislation; disclose honestly and expect a longer assessment if there is history.

Is the licence valid in both states?

No. Licences are state-based; working across both states means holding a licence in each, with each regulator’s training and currency rules applied.

For more information on security licensing pathways, see our guide on applying for a security license in NSW after Cert II.