How to Become a Close Protection Officer
Application → 18-day Programme → SIA licence → operational. One Programme, one venue, one instructor. 6 places per cohort. Selective by design.
Course Fee
Membership just £9.99/month — no contract, cancel anytime
Course Overview
Everything you need to know about this course
Duration
18 Days
Location
The Ops Con HQ, Battersea Power Station, London, UK
Cohort Size
Only 6 Places
Next Intakes
1 Jun & 16 Nov 2026
What's Included
Understand the role and responsibilities of a Close Protection Operative
Apply legal frameworks and use of force principles
Conduct threat and risk assessments
Plan and execute protective operations
Perform close protection drills and team movements
Operate safely and professionally around executive vehicles
Function effectively in urban operational environments
Selection-based entry (application and interview required)
Maximum 6 candidates per intake
Training delivered from The Ops Con HQ in London
Operational exercises across London
Executive vehicle drills (V-Class, S-Class, Range Rover)
Scenario-based training
Structured debriefs and instructor feedback
Final operational deployment exercise in London
Entry into The Ops Con network
Course Curriculum
Comprehensive training covering all essential competencies
Module 1 — Industry, Law & Professional Standards
The role and responsibilities of a Close Protection Operative, the legal framework you operate under, and the professional standards expected by clients, employers and the SIA.
Module 2 — Threat & Risk Assessment
Identifying threats, assessing risk and producing the kind of operational risk assessment a real CP team relies on day-to-day.
Module 3 — Surveillance Awareness & Counter-Surveillance
How hostile surveillance works, how to detect it, and how to protect a principal from being targeted in the first place.
Module 4 — Operational Planning & Reconnaissance
Route planning, venue recces, advance work and operations orders. The work that happens before the principal ever steps out the door.
Module 5 — Foot Drills & Formations
Single-operative and team formations, walking drills, embus / debus and protective movement on foot in real urban environments.
Module 6 — Vehicle Drills & Convoy Operations
Mercedes S-Class, V-Class and Range Rover. Embus / debus, convoy positions, anti-ambush drills and route security across Central London.
Module 7 — Conflict Management & Physical Intervention
Safe and lawful physical intervention, de-escalation, restraint techniques, and how to extract a principal from a developing incident.
Module 8 — Communication & Search Procedures
Radio comms, team handover briefs, venue and vehicle search procedures to professional standard.
Module 9 — Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work
HSE-compliant Level 3 EFAW qualification — included as part of the Programme so you leave with the first-aid ticket employers require.
Module 10 — Final Deployment Exercise
A live, instructor-graded operational exercise in Central London — the work you've trained for, executed end-to-end as a team. This is what your performance report is built on.
Lee Brett
Lead Instructor & Programme Director
Why Choose The Ops Con
Train with the best. Our instructors bring real operational experience from the highest echelons of military and protective services.
Career Built, Not Sold
Ex-Tier 1 American Special Forces operator. The Programme is built around what actually gets you working as a CPO — not what fits a syllabus.
20+ Years in the Industry
Two decades of real protective services experience means honest career advice — what the work pays, what employers really look for, and which routes are worth taking.
London-Based Network
Training with The Ops Con plugs you into a network of operators, employers and clients in London — the city where most UK CP work is.
Small Cohort, Personal Attention
6 places per intake. We know your name, your background and where you're aiming — and we mentor you individually through the Programme.
SFJ Awards Approved Centre
The Ops Con is officially recognised by SFJ Awards as an approved training centre, ensuring our qualifications meet the highest industry standards.
Entry Requirements
To attend this course, you must have:
Eligible to apply for an SIA Close Protection Licence
Able to meet basic fitness requirements
Demonstrates professionalism, maturity, and suitability for executive protection work
Must pass the Ops Con selection process
Participants must hold a valid Level 3 First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification, or an equivalent or higher certification, prior to the course start date.
Proof of First Aid certification must be provided before the programme begins.
Course Pricing
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Standard
£2699
Full Programme (18 days)
Level 3 Close Protection
Level 3 First Aid at Work
Live London deployment exercise
Battersea Power Station HQ
Klarna pay-in-3 available
Member Price
£2199
Full Programme (18 days)
Level 3 Close Protection
Level 3 First Aid at Work
Live London deployment exercise
Battersea Power Station HQ
Klarna pay-in-3 available
Priority application review
Exclusive member benefits
Best Value
Get FREE annual membership with this course!
Save £500 on this course alone — that's more than a year's membership (£99.99). Plus save on all future courses and store purchases.
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