How to choose a counter terrorism course that is worth your money

Since Martyn's Law received Royal Assent, demand for counter terrorism training has risen sharply and the market has responded with courses of wildly varying quality. Some lead to regulated qualifications that employers recognise. Others hand you a PDF and wish you luck. Here is how to tell them apart before you spend anything.

Start with the awarding body

The single most important check is whether the course leads to a regulated qualification. Look for an awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual and a qualification with a level attached, such as a Level 3 Award. A certificate of attendance proves you were in the room. A regulated qualification proves you were assessed against a national standard. The CTPSaP® Level 3 Award, for example, is certificated by SFJ Awards, an Ofqual regulated awarding body.

Ask who is teaching

Counter terrorism is a practitioner discipline. Ask who delivers the course and what their operational background is. You want instructors who have worked in protective security or counter terrorism roles and can teach from experience, not trainers reading from a script they were handed last month.

Check the content is current

The threat picture and the legal duties have both moved significantly in the last two years. Any course that does not address Martyn's Law, current attack methodologies and modern protective security practice is teaching you history, not capability. Ask to see the syllabus and check when it was last updated.

Understand the assessment

Meaningful qualifications are assessed, and the assessment tells you a lot about the provider. Understand what you will be required to produce, whether that is written assignments, practical tasks or examination, and who marks it. A course everyone passes is a course employers have learned to ignore.

Think about where it leads

A good first qualification should open the next one. Check whether the course connects to a progression route, such as the Certified Security Risk Manager (CSRM®) pathway, or whether it can be combined through one of the course bundles so your investment compounds rather than stopping at a single certificate. You can compare upcoming dates on our course dates and booking page.