What's the nature of your enquiry?

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.

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 in the post. You then have 60 days to take the Photograph Advice letter to a Service NSW centre to have your photograph taken.

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 the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. 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.

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.

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, you do. Under the legislation, anyone involved in the sale, installation, maintenance, repair or servicing of security equipment needs to hold a Class 2C security licence. See more information about Class 2 licences here.

Generally, yes. With some exceptions (see Security Licence Exemptions), individuals who sell or install security doors, roller shutters or other forms of security equipment, or who provide advice about such equipment (for example, by assessing customers’ needs and recommending appropriate products), are required to hold a Class 2B and/or a Class 2C security licence. See more information about Class 2 licences here.

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.

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 the Master licence certificate in the post.

You do not need any training to apply for a Master licence.

Yes. Any business that provides licensed security operatives to carry on a security activity must have a security licence. Both the original Master licensee and the subcontracting Master licensee must hold a licence subclass that covers the number of security operatives they intend to provide under the subcontracting arrangement.

You can renew your Master 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.

If you only wish to provide security operative licence holders to carry out security activities, you do not need any other licences.

If you want to carry out security activities yourself within your own business, you will also need to have the relevant security operative licence.

Yes. If you want to run a security business, you will need to have a Master licence as well as a security operative licence. Click here for more information about Master licences.

An individual Master licence covers people who hold a class 1 and/or class 2 security licence and wish to run a security business as a sole trader.

A corporation Master licence covers registered corporations that wish to provide or hire security operatives to carry out security activities.

A Fitness for Work policy is a formal statement you make as an employer that staff are not to come to work, or carry out security activities under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. It should state your company’s position in relation to the use of alcohol and other drugs by staff and what the consequences are for breaching the policy, for instance, “Intoxicated staff will be sent home”. This policy should apply to all staff members, including subcontractors.

All Master licence holders are required to have a Fitness for Work policy and to ensure that all Class 1 and/or Class 2 security operatives they provide follow this policy.

We recommend you make the Fitness for Work policy part of your induction process for all new employees and get them to sign a copy to indicate they have read and understood what they need to do to comply with the policy. If you are implementing a new policy for existing staff we recommend you do a brief training session with them and get them to sign a copy to indicate they have read and understood the new policy.

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.

An application for a Master licence may only be made by an individual, corporation or government agency/public authority. Security industry legislation does not recognise a trust as a legal entity.

Where a corporation applying for a Master licence acts as a trustee for a trust, the application for the Master licence must provide the ABN issued to the corporation (not the trust).

A close associate is any person involved in a security business who can significantly influence its conduct or operation due to their personal influence, company position or financial interest.

Click here for more information about Close Associates.

Locksmiths must hold a Class 2C licence to work in the security industry. While there are no specific training requirements to apply for a Class 2C licence, locksmiths must have completed their relevant training.

As long as your client is the party paying the invoice you have provided to them, they do not need a security licence. However, if your client passes that invoice on to another party and assumes the role of the security provider, then they are required to have a security Master licence.