Who is Licensable? (Employees)

If you work as:

• a Security Guard (Guarding) or
• a Door Supervisor in a licensed premises or
• a Cash-in-Transit employee carrying out cash-handling duties or
• a Security Guard (Monitoring) or
• a Private Investigator or
• in Event Security or
• *an Enforcement Guard

…then you must have a PSA licence.

From the 1st November 2022, employees in the Private Investigator Sector are required to hold a Private Security Authority (PSA) Licence. Licensing applies to all employees who are engaged in a licensable activity including private investigators, operational directors, management, supervisory and other staff including administrators who are carrying out an activity subject to PSA licensing. For the purposes of PSA licensing, a Private Investigator who solely works for a single PSA Licensed Private Investigator contractor is deemed to be similar to an employee and requires a Private Investigator employee licence.

*NOTE: From 31st March 2024, employees working in the Enforcement Guard sector must hold an employee Enforcement Guard licence. Applicants for a licence will be required to complete the prescribed training course. Employees in the sector who on the 31st March 2024 have operated using a door supervisor or security guarding licence will be allowed to continue to do so until their scheduled renewal date.  On renewal they will be required to apply for an Enforcement Guard licence if they wish to continue working in the sector.

When you have received your licence you will be placed on our register.

The licensing of private security employees is covered by law and copies of our legislation can be found by clicking on the “About us” and then the “Legislation” option on our homepage. Here you can find such information as:

• what is the definition of a Security Guard (SI No 574 of 2022)
• what is covered by the term “licensed premises” (SI No 574 of 2022)
• what types of Cash-in-Transit employees are covered by licensing (SI No 484 of 2012)
• what is the definition of a Security Guard (Monitoring) (SI No 54/2018)
• Information Note for Private Investigators (PSA 87:2022)
• Information Note for Event Security Employees (PSA 88:2022)