Training & skills

When you apply for a private security licence or certificate you need to prove you have the training or skills (competency) for the classes of work you will be doing.

Proof of training or skills needed to apply

If you want to work as a: You need to show:
  • crowd controller
  • property guard
  • personal guard

you’ve done the set training

Note: PSPPI (Minimum Training) Regulations amended in relation to Property Guards who are only working as monitoring officers

  • security technician
  • security consultant
  • private investigator
  • repossession agent
  • monitoring officer

you have the training or skills needed or are receiving on the job training

Good Practice Guidelines

The New Zealand Security Association in conjunction with E Tu, Worksafe New Zealand and others in the security industry have developed  Good Practice Guidelines for security guards. it is intended as a guidance document to help security providers manage the risk within the guarding industry.

Good Practice Guideline (external link)

Training - for crowd controllers, property or personal guards

You must have training to work as a crowd controller, property guard or personal guard.

Property guard work includes two functions. On-site guard work and monitoring security systems remotely, for example working in a control room monitoring cameras or alarm systems. Amendments to the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators (Minimum Training) Regulations 2013 have excluded the function of monitoring systems remotely from requiring the minimum training to be done. This type of work will be commonly referred to as a Monitoring Officer which is now a permit class type that you can apply for.

You only need to train once. You don’t need to do it again to renew your licence or certificate.

Upload your NZQA record of achievement

Once you’ve done your training, you must upload your NZQA record of achievement. You will then get a new badge to replace your temporary badge.

Before you upload your record you will need:

Upload your record of achievement(external link)

Temporary certificate of approval to work

You can apply for a temporary certificate of approval so you can work while you train. In most cases, this will take 10 days to come through. It lasts for 3 months. If you haven’t done your training by then you need to apply for another one.

If your application includes the classes: security technician, security consultant, private investigator, repossession agent or monitoring officer, you may need to meet the skills requirements for each of these categories before you can be issued a temporary certificate.

Request a temporary certificate of approval

NZQA unit standards needed

You need 3 unit standards. These add up to 12 credits.

  • NZQA unit standard 27364 (to demonstrate pre-employment knowledge of the security industry); and
  • NZQA unit standard 27360 (to demonstrate basic conflict situation management skills); and
  • NZQA unit standard 27361 (to demonstrate intermediate conflict situation management skills).

You are considered to have met these unit standards if you hold

  • NZQF New Zealand Certificate in Security (Foundation) (Level 3).
  • NZQF New Zealand Certificate in Security (Advanced) (Level 4).
  • NZQF New Zealand Diploma in Security (Level 6).
When you don’t need NZQF (unit standard 27364)

You don’t need NZQF (unit standard 27364) if you:

  • had an NZQF National Certificate in Security at Level 2 or higher. This must have been issued on or after 1 January 2009 and be version 6, 7 or 8, or
  • had an NZQF National Certificate in Security at Level 2 or higher and a licence or Certificate of Approval on 1 October 2013, or
  • had an NZQA unit standard 22604 on 1 October 2013.

Overseas training

If you trained overseas you should contact the NZQA to see if your qualification is accepted in New Zealand

Contact the NZQA(external link)

Skills - for security technicians, security consultants, private investigators, repossession agent or monitoring officer

The PSPLA works to ensure that all people working in the security industry have the proper skills to undertake the categories of work they are licensed for. To work as a private investigator, security technician, repossession agent or security consultant, you must show that you are either:

  • trained
  • getting training
  • competent (have the skills you need).

You need to supply evidence to support your application for each of these classes of work. Evidence of competency for the classes of security technician, security consultant and private investigator has been required since July 2016 and for monitoring officer and repossession agent since May 2019 so even if you already hold a licence or certificate, if it was issued before July 2016 you will be asked to supply evidence. You will only need to supply this evidence once unless you were an apprentice when you first applied for a certificate. Next time you renew your licence, the Authority will already have it on file.

You can show this through the following:

Examples of evidence for a security consultant application

  • a letter from your employer showing your work history. This can be your past or present employer
  • a letter from your employer showing that you are an apprentice or receiving on the job training
  • New Zealand National Diploma in Security (Level 6)
  • ASIS certifications Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Physical Security Professional (PSP)
  • Security Consultant Certificate of Competence (Micro-credential) (Level 4)
  • Evidence of any other relevant qualifications such as overseas qualifications or experience

Examples of evidence for a security technician application

Note: National Certificate in Electronic Security Level 3 and 4 will remain valid for a period of time as they are replaced by the New Zealand Certificates in Electrotechnology Level 3 and Electronic Security Level 4.

  • a letter from your employer showing your work history. This can be your past or present employer
  • a letter from your employer showing that you are an apprentice or receiving on the job training
  • New Zealand National Diploma in Security (Level 6) supplemented by on the job training
  • Electrical Installers licence issued by the Electrical Workers Registration Board
  • New Zealand Certificate in Electrotechnology (Level 3) with strands in Installation, and Service
  • New Zealand Certificate in Electronic Security (Level 4) with optional strands in Electrical Appliance Serviceperson (Endorsed), and Electrical Installer
  • National Certificate in Electronic Security (Systems Installation) (Level 3)
  • National Certificate in Electronic Security (Level 4)
  • Evidence of any other relevant qualifications or training

Examples of evidence for a private investigator application

  • Confirmation of experience and training as a police detective
  • a letter from your employer showing your work history. This can be your past or present employer
  • a letter from your employer showing that you are an apprentice
  • New Zealand National Diploma in Security (Level 6)
  • Evidence that you’re a member of the NZ Institute of Professional Investigators (NZIPI)
  • Professional Certified Investigator ASIS Certification (PCI)*
  • Certificate in Professional Investigation*
  • Evidence of any other relevant qualifications*
  • In addition to this qualification you need to provide a letter from a licenced private investigator confirming that your training has been, or is being, supplemented by on-the-job training.

Examples of evidence for a repossession agent or monitoring officer

  • a letter from your employer showing your work history. This can be your past or present employer
  • a letter from your employer showing that you are an apprentice or receiving on the job training
  • New Zealand National Diploma in Security (Level 6)

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