Skip to content
Security Services Finder

How to check a security licence in New South Wales

Security Industry Act 1997 (NSW), administered by NSW Police Force, Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate

Published · Last updated

NSW issues security licences at two levels: a master licence for the business, and a Class 1 or Class 2 operative licence for each person who does the work. Every operative must work for a business with a master licence, or hold a master licence of their own.

This guide covers what the licences are called in New South Wales and where to check them. For what to confirm before you sign, see how to check a security provider’s licence in Australia.

Business licences

Master licence

Needed to run a business that provides people to carry on security activities, including locksmithing. The subclass sets how many people the business can provide:

  • MA: a self-employed individual doing the work themselves (they also need the matching Class 1 or Class 2 licence)
  • MB: up to 3 people
  • MC: up to 14 people
  • MD: up to 49 people
  • ME: any number of people

Individual licences

Class 1 operative licence

Guarding and related work:

  • 1A Security Officer: unarmed guarding, static or mobile, and crowd control
  • 1B Bodyguard
  • 1C Cash-in-Transit Guard
  • 1D Guard Dog Handler
  • 1E Monitoring Centre Operator: monitoring alarm activations
  • 1F Armed Guard

Class 2 operative licence

Specialist work:

  • 2A Security Consultant
  • 2B Security Seller: sells equipment and advises on it, but can’t install it
  • 2C Security Equipment Specialist: sells, installs, maintains and repairs security equipment, including CCTV, alarms and barrier equipment such as fencing and security roller doors, and can work as a locksmith
  • 2D Security Trainer
  • 2E Private Investigator

CCTV, alarm and lock work

CCTV, alarm and barrier equipment installers, and locksmiths, fall under Class 2C. So in NSW, ask an installer or locksmith for their Class 2C licence number and their business’s master licence number.

How to check a licence in New South Wales

Use the Verify NSW (NSW public register of security licences).

  • Look up the licence number the provider gives you.
  • Check the licence class covers the work: 1A for a guard, 2C for a CCTV, alarm or lock job.
  • Check the business on your quote holds a master licence, not just its staff.

New South Wales listings in this directory

We match NSW listings against Verify NSW, and each matched listing shows the date we checked. Of the 44 providers listed for areas in New South Wales:

  • Matched to a public register: 42
  • No security licence is listed for these services: 2

Browse them by area: Sydney, Regional NSW.

Sources

Checked September 2026. Licensing rules change, so confirm current requirements with NSW Police Force, Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate.

Other states and territories

Find security providers

Search the full directory, or start from your area.