The SIA Close Protection Officer Licence is a professional certification assessment in United Kingdom. Thorough preparation is essential to demonstrate your knowledge and competency in this field.
Our comprehensive collection of free SIA CP practice questions covers all exam domains and topics. Use these detailed study materials to build confidence and improve your test performance.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Application of Physical Intervention Skills for Close Protection Operatives) | 30 multiple-choice questions + practical assessment[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Principles of Working as a Close Protection Operative (unit exam)) | 52 multiple-choice questions + externally set workbook[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Number of questions (Principles of Working as a Door Supervisor for Close Protection Operatives) | 29 multiple-choice questions[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Time limit (Course length (Level 3 Certificate)) | Minimum 194 delivery hours over 18 days[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Passing score (Application of Physical Intervention Skills for Close Protection Operatives) | 80% MCQ; 100% practical[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Passing score (Principles of Working as a Close Protection Operative (unit exam)) | 70%[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Passing score (Principles of Working as a Door Supervisor for Close Protection Operatives) | 72%[1] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 15, 2026 |
| Exam fee | £204 per licence application (non-refundable)[2] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Retake fee (Renewal) | £204 renewal fee (same as a new licence)[3] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Validity | 3 years[2] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Renewal | Renew up to 4 months before expiry; Level 2 CP Refresher award required[3] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Delivery | Classroom training + externally set exams at approved training centres; licence applied for online[4] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Age 18+, Level 3 Certificate for Close Protection Operatives, Level 3 first aid, criminal record and right-to-work checks[2] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
| Registration opens (Renewal) | Renewal opens 4 months before licence expiry[3] | Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK · Oct 19, 2026 |
Important: The SIA CP examination requires thorough understanding of all core subject areas. Review the official UK exam guidelines and ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before scheduling your test date.
According to Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK, “Externally set and marked MCQ exam made up of 30 questions”[1]
The content areas below are copied from the official SIA CP content outline published by Security Industry Authority (SIA), UK. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| Foot drills[6] | Mixed practice tests above Practise this in the classroom and in the practical sessions, as we have no dedicated question set for it. |
| Journey management[6] | SIA CP Route Planning Practise planning primary and alternative routes and deciding what could disrupt a movement. |
| Legislation of a close protection operative[6] | SIA CP Legal Powers Practise what the law allows a private operative to do and where those powers stop. |
| Personal and professional skills[6] | SIA CP Communication and Teamwork Practise clear communication, team roles and professional conduct under pressure. |
| Prepare and carry out close protection assignment[6] | SIA CP Close Protection Principles & Threa... Practise linking planning, briefing and delivery into a sensible assignment sequence. |
| Reconnaissance[6] | SIA CP Venue Security Practise what to check at a location in advance and how to record what you find. |
| Roles and responsibilities of a close protection operative[6] | SIA CP Close Protection Principles & Threa... Practise telling apart the duties of the operative, the team leader and the client. |
| Route planning[6] | SIA CP Route Planning Practise choosing routes, spotting choke points and planning for changes. |
| Search procedures[6] | SIA CP Venue Security Practise methodical search of venues and vehicles and what to do when you find something. |
| Surveillance awareness[6] | SIA CP Surveillance Detection & Counter-Su... Practise recognising hostile surveillance and the correct response to it. |
| Threat assessment and risk management[6] | SIA CP Threat Assessment Practise judging likelihood and impact, then choosing proportionate controls. |
| Venue security[6] | SIA CP Venue Security & Route Planning Practise access control, entry and exit points and emergency planning for venues. |
Prepare for the SIA Close Protection Licence exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What does 'radio discipline' mean in a CP context?
Answer: A. Using the radio only when necessary, keeping transmissions brief and clear, and not blocking the channel with unnecessary traffic
Explanation:
The correct answer is that radio discipline means using the radio only when needed, keeping messages brief and clear, and not blocking the channel. This keeps the net free for urgent traffic and protects operational security.
Speaking slowly and loudly is wrong because discipline is about content and brevity, and loud speech can be overheard. Needing police approval is wrong because the team manages its own communications. Restricting radio to the team leader is wrong because every operative may need to report something urgent.
Rule to remember: short, clear, necessary transmissions, and the channel stays open for emergencies.
Question: How does the Human Rights Act 1998 Article 8 affect a CPO conducting close surveillance of a potential threat?
Answer: A. Article 8 protects privacy; surveillance must be proportionate and justified, not indiscriminate
Explanation:
The correct answer is that Article 8 protects privacy, so surveillance must be proportionate and justified rather than indiscriminate. The Human Rights Act 1998 shapes how far a private operative can go in watching someone, and the focus must be a genuine threat.
Saying Article 8 does not apply to private security is wrong because the privacy principle still constrains what you do. Saying it allows unrestricted surveillance is wrong because safety purposes do not remove the need for proportionality. Saying it applies only to police is wrong for the same reason.
Rule to remember: any watching of a person needs a clear reason and must be no more than the threat requires.
Question: What is 'tactical field care' in a CP medical context?
Answer: A. Medical treatment provided after the immediate threat has been addressed but before definitive medical care is available
Explanation:
The correct answer describes tactical field care as treatment given once the immediate threat has been dealt with, or while in a protected position, but before definitive medical care is available. More thorough assessment and treatment can happen in this phase.
Hospital emergency medicine is wrong because that is definitive care itself. Treatment only by paramedics is wrong because the phase is defined by when and where care happens, not only by who gives it. Care during an active gunfight is wrong because that is the earlier phase, when the priority is dealing with the threat.
Rule to remember: match the care to the phase, starting from threat control, then field care, then evacuation.
Start with the official material from your training centre and the SIA pages on GOV.UK, so you know which units you are sitting and the pass mark for each. Then take the free SIA CP practice test cold to see where you stand.
Use the blueprint table to turn weak areas into short sessions. Take one topic set at a time, such as threat assessment, route planning or legal powers. After each set, read the explanation for every question you got wrong, and for the ones you guessed, then write down the rule behind the answer in your own words.
Go back to your course notes for any rule you cannot explain. Repeat the sets after a gap and watch whether the same topics keep catching you out. Add the first aid sets because Level 3 first aid is part of eligibility.
Keep practical skills such as foot drills for your training sessions, since question sets cannot replace them. In the final days, mix topics and review only your written rules. Our questions are original practice, not real exam questions, so use them to test understanding rather than to memorise answers.
Join thousands of candidates who have used our free practice tests to prepare for the SIA Close Protection Officer Licence. Start practising today and build the confidence you need to succeed.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.