What is ACT training?

ACT stands for Action Counters Terrorism. It is a UK counter-terrorism awareness programme, and the e-learning is designed to help people who work in or around busy places recognise unusual behaviour, know how to report concerns and understand the basics of responding in an emergency. It is awareness training, not a licence-to-practise qualification.

Who can benefit from ACT training?

Anyone whose job puts them in a public-facing or access-controlled setting can benefit: door supervisors, security officers, CCTV operators, event and venue teams, retail and hospitality staff, and the managers who support them. You do not need an SIA licence to take it.

Why is ACT awareness useful for security professionals?

Security teams are often the first to notice that something looks wrong, whether that is at a door, on a screen or on a patrol. Knowing what is worth reporting, who to tell and how to describe it clearly makes your observations more useful to the people who act on them.

What subjects does it cover?

The official e-learning is organised into an awareness module and a security-focused module. Topics generally include spotting unusual or concerning behaviour, how hostile reconnaissance can look in everyday settings, the layers that protect a site, reporting routes and the national Run, Hide, Tell advice. The platform lists the current contents, so check it before you start.

How is the training delivered?

It is online and self-paced, hosted by ProtectUK, the police-backed protective security hub. You create an account, work through the modules when it suits you and can return later. SGS does not run or issue the e-learning; this page explains it and shows how it fits alongside your other security training.

What happens after I complete it?

The platform normally lets you download a certificate of completion from your profile. Keep a digital and a printed copy. The certificate shows you completed the e-learning; it is not an SIA licence, and whether a particular employer or site asks for it is their decision.

Do I need ACT training to get an SIA licence?

Requirements depend on the licence you are applying for and your circumstances, and they can change. Check the Security Industry Authority's current guidance rather than relying on a third party. Many employers like to see counter-terrorism awareness on a CV whether or not it is formally required. Our Get SIA Licensed guide explains how to find the official position.

What should I do if I see something suspicious right now?

In an emergency, or if there is a threat to life, call 999. To pass on information that is not urgent, you can use the police non-emergency route or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. If you are at work, also follow your site's own reporting procedure and tell your supervisor or control room.

Home / ACT Training

Counter-terrorism awareness

ACT Training for UK security teams: notice, report, be ready.

Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) awareness training helps people who work in busy places understand what unusual behaviour can look like, why reporting it matters and how to stay calm if the worst happens. This is your plain-English guide to it.

What the training covers → Get SIA Licensed

Security officer watching a bank of CCTV screens and radioing a colleague, a picture of everyday situational awareness

2official e-learning modules
Anysecurity role
UKvenues and sites

Overview

What ACT training is really about

Team of security staff in black uniforms gathered around a tablet in front of CCTV monitors during a briefing

ACT security training sits within a national awareness programme developed with UK counter-terrorism policing. Its e-learning is hosted on ProtectUK and is aimed at the people who spend their working day in places where crowds gather: venues, shops, offices, transport hubs and events.

It does not ask anyone to play detective. The idea is shared responsibility. A door supervisor who notices someone studying entrances rather than queuing, or a CCTV operator who sees the same unusual pattern twice, can pass that on in a few clear words. Preparedness grows from lots of small, sensible habits like that.

How To Complete ACT Training Online?

1A

Step 1A

Click Register & fill Form
1B

Step 1B

Check your Email and Verify
1C

Step 1C

Set up your account

Step 2

Complete the ACT Security e-Learning Module

2. ACT Security e-Learning

Step 2AClick on Learning menu in header
Step 2BSearch ACT Security e-Learning
Step 2CPress Continue and start course

Access the Course

Go to the ACT Security e-Learning page.

Start the Training

Log in to your account.
Click on the ACT Security e-learning course.
Begin the modules, which cover topics like identifying suspicious behaviour, securing environments, and response protocols.

Complete the Modules

Watch all videos and read the provided materials.
Participate in interactive exercises and quizzes.

Download Your Certificate

After completing the modules, download and save your certificate of completion.

Step 3

Complete the ACT Awareness e-Learning Module

3. ACT Awareness e-Learning

1
Access the Course

Go to the ACT Awareness e-Learning page.
2
Start the Training
- Log in to your account.
- Click on the ACT Awareness e-learning course.
- Begin the modules, which cover various aspects of terrorism awareness and reporting.
3
Complete the Modules
- Watch all videos and read the provided materials.
- Participate in interactive exercises and quizzes.
4
Download Your Certificate
- After completing the modules, download and save your certificate of completion.

By following these steps, you’ll efficiently complete both the ACT Security and ACT Awareness e-learning courses. You will need to download and

Step 3AClick on Learning menu in header
Step 3BSearch ACT Awareness e-Learning
Step 3CClick on start button

Download Certificate

1
User Profile

Click on user profile
2
Download

Download ACT e-Learning
3
Certificates

Please download both Certificates

Training information

The essentials at a glance

Format: Online e-learning, completed at your own pace.
Provider: ProtectUK, the official police-backed protective security hub.
Modules: An awareness module and a security module.
Access: Registration is required. Check ProtectUK for current access and cost details.
Time needed: Depends on your pace. Allow unhurried time for each module rather than rushing.
Suitable for: Anyone working in or around public places. No SIA licence is needed.

Why choose SGS

Guidance you can trust, from a UK training provider

Plain-English guidance

We turn official information into clear steps so you spend your time learning, not decoding instructions.

Part of a wider pathway

ACT awareness sits naturally alongside licence-linked training, and we help you see how the pieces fit.

Written for security roles

Examples and explanations are framed around real jobs such as doors, patrols and control rooms.

Honest about what is official

We point you to the official sources for current details and never overstate what a certificate means.

Awareness is the first habit of a good security professional

Make ACT awareness part of your preparation, then plan the rest of your route into licensed security work with a clear head.

Plan your SIA licence →Ask SGS a question

Choosing a course? See SIA Get Training, or read the joining instructions for booked courses.