Level 4 Professional Certification
Level 4 Certificate in
Terrorism Risk Management (CTRM)
Understand the threat. Assess the risk. Strengthen your organisation's preparedness.
A practical, professionally focused programme for those responsible for understanding, assessing and managing terrorism related risks within organisations, premises and events.
About the course
Develop the knowledge and practical skills to manage terrorism risk.
The Level 4 Certificate in Terrorism Risk Management is designed for professionals who need a deeper understanding of terrorism, protective security and organisational preparedness.
Moving beyond basic counter terrorism awareness, the programme explores how terrorist threats develop, how organisations can identify and assess their exposure, and how proportionate protective security, preparedness and response arrangements can reduce risk.
Learners develop practical skills in terrorism risk assessment, hostile reconnaissance, protective security, incident preparedness and crisis management, alongside an understanding of the legislation and organisational responsibilities that shape the UK counter terrorism environment.
The course is particularly relevant as organisations prepare for the requirements of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, commonly known as Martyn's Law, while also recognising that effective terrorism risk management extends beyond legislative compliance.
Whether you are responsible for security, risk, resilience, operations, facilities or organisational preparedness, the programme provides a structured approach to understanding and managing one of the most challenging risks facing organisations today.
Endorsed by
Curriculum
What you'll learn.
A comprehensive eight unit programme covering the threat, legislation, risk assessment, protective security, preparedness, response and organisational recovery.
01Unit 1
Understanding Terrorism and the Contemporary Threat Landscape
Develop an understanding of terrorism, terrorist methodologies and the changing threat environment.
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Unit 1
Understanding Terrorism and the Contemporary Threat Landscape
Develop an understanding of terrorism, terrorist methodologies and the changing threat environment.
Topics include:
- Definitions and characteristics of terrorism
- Terrorist motivations and ideologies
- The UK and international terrorism threat landscape
- Contemporary terrorist attack methodologies
- Emerging and evolving threats
- Lone actors and self initiated terrorism
- Terrorist targeting and target selection
- Threat levels, intelligence and threat information
- Learning from previous terrorist attacks
02Unit 2
Counter Terrorism Legislation and Organisational Responsibilities
Understand the legal and organisational framework surrounding terrorism risk management and protective security.
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Unit 2
Counter Terrorism Legislation and Organisational Responsibilities
Understand the legal and organisational framework surrounding terrorism risk management and protective security.
Topics include:
- The UK counter terrorism legislative framework
- The Terrorism Act 2000 and associated legislation
- Terrorism prevention and organisational responsibilities
- The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, Martyn's Law
- Standard and enhanced duty premises
- Qualifying events
- Responsible persons and organisational accountability
- Reasonably practicable measures
- Governance and oversight
- The role of the Security Industry Authority as regulator
- Wider health and safety, security and duty of care considerations
03Unit 3
Terrorism Risk Management Principles
Develop a structured and proportionate approach to identifying and managing terrorism related risk.
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Unit 3
Terrorism Risk Management Principles
Develop a structured and proportionate approach to identifying and managing terrorism related risk.
Topics include:
- Principles of security risk management
- Threat, vulnerability, impact and risk
- Understanding organisational context
- Identifying critical assets, people and activities
- Risk appetite and risk tolerance
- Risk ownership and accountability
- Risk treatment strategies
- Proportionality and reasonably practicable measures
- The relationship between security, business continuity and organisational resilience
- Monitoring and reviewing terrorism risk
04Unit 4
Terrorism Risk Assessments
Learn how to undertake and document a structured terrorism risk assessment.
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Unit 4
Terrorism Risk Assessments
Learn how to undertake and document a structured terrorism risk assessment.
Topics include:
- Establishing the scope and context of an assessment
- Identifying credible terrorist attack scenarios
- Threat assessment
- Vulnerability assessment
- Impact and consequence assessment
- Assessing likelihood
- Determining overall terrorism risk
- Identifying existing controls
- Recognising vulnerabilities and control gaps
- Developing proportionate risk treatment recommendations
- Recording and communicating assessment findings
- Reviewing and updating terrorism risk assessments
Learners will explore how terrorism risk assessments can be used as practical decision making tools, rather than simply compliance documents.
05Unit 5
Hostile Reconnaissance and Attack Planning
Understand how hostile actors identify, research and assess potential targets, and how organisations can identify and disrupt this activity.
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Unit 5
Hostile Reconnaissance and Attack Planning
Understand how hostile actors identify, research and assess potential targets, and how organisations can identify and disrupt this activity.
Topics include:
- The terrorist attack planning cycle
- Target identification and selection
- Hostile reconnaissance
- Information gathering and online research
- Physical reconnaissance
- Indicators of suspicious activity
- Understanding normal and abnormal behaviour
- Detecting potential hostile reconnaissance
- Security minded communications
- Reporting and escalation
- Disrupting hostile activity
- Creating a security aware organisational culture
06Unit 6
Terrorism and Protective Security
Explore how proportionate protective security measures can reduce vulnerability and mitigate the consequences of a terrorist attack.
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Unit 6
Terrorism and Protective Security
Explore how proportionate protective security measures can reduce vulnerability and mitigate the consequences of a terrorist attack.
Topics include:
- Principles of protective security
- Defence in depth
- Physical security measures
- Hostile vehicle mitigation
- Access control
- Perimeter and boundary security
- Vehicle security measures
- CCTV and surveillance
- Personnel security
- Security procedures
- Security culture and staff awareness
- Protecting crowded places and publicly accessible locations
- Considering different attack methodologies
- Designing proportionate security measures
- Avoiding unintended consequences of security controls
The emphasis throughout is on developing a proportionate, risk based approach, rather than applying security measures without consideration of the actual threat and operating environment.
07Unit 7
Terrorism Preparedness, Response and Incident Coordination
Understand how organisations can prepare for and respond effectively to a terrorist incident.
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Unit 7
Terrorism Preparedness, Response and Incident Coordination
Understand how organisations can prepare for and respond effectively to a terrorist incident.
Topics include:
- Terrorism preparedness
- Emergency and incident response arrangements
- Recognising and responding to different attack methodologies
- Evacuation, invacuation and lockdown
- Dynamic decision making
- Initial incident priorities
- Command and control arrangements
- Escalation and activation
- Communication during an incident
- Working with the emergency services
- Multi agency coordination
- Casualty considerations and staff welfare
- Building organisational confidence before an incident occurs
08Unit 8
Crisis Management, Recovery and Organisational Learning
Understand how organisations can manage the wider consequences of a terrorist incident and support effective recovery.
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Unit 8
Crisis Management, Recovery and Organisational Learning
Understand how organisations can manage the wider consequences of a terrorist incident and support effective recovery.
Topics include:
- Transition from incident response to crisis management
- Crisis management structures
- Strategic decision making
- Crisis leadership
- Managing uncertainty
- Crisis communications
- Stakeholder management
- Business continuity considerations following an attack
- Supporting affected employees and communities
- Recovery management
- Exercising and testing terrorism response arrangements
- Post incident reviews
- Identifying and implementing lessons
- Strengthening organisational resilience following an incident
Delivery & assessment
Flexible delivery, practical learning and supported assessment.
How it's delivered — in person or distance learning. The programme is available through two study routes.
In person
Three day classroom course, blended with distance learning.
The in person programme combines flexible distance learning with an intensive three day classroom course. Learners complete an initial period of distance learning before attending the three day programme. This provides the underpinning knowledge required to make the classroom sessions more practical, interactive and scenario focused.
The three classroom days are delivered by experienced practitioners and use real incidents, practical activities, discussion and scenario based learning to apply the principles covered throughout the qualification.
Following the classroom programme, learners complete a further period of supported study before submitting their final assessment.
Course fee: £1,500 including VAT.
Distance learning
Flexible study, at your own pace.
The distance learning programme allows you to work through the complete qualification flexibly and at your own pace.
Study is supported by comprehensive learning materials, practical activities and tutor guidance, enabling you to complete the programme alongside professional and personal commitments.
Learners have up to 12 months to complete the programme; however, it is designed to be completed within as little as 12 weeks.
Course fee: £1,350 including VAT.
Assessment
Written assignment, approximately 3,000 words.
Assessment is through a written assignment of approximately 3,000 words, completed following the taught elements of the programme.
The assignment is designed to demonstrate that learners can apply the principles covered during the course to realistic terrorism risk management challenges, rather than simply reproduce theoretical knowledge.
Students receive ongoing support and guidance from their tutor throughout the assessment process. Learners have up to 12 months to complete the programme and submit their assessment.
Who is this course for?
Designed for professionals with responsibility for security, risk and organisational preparedness.
The Level 4 Certificate in Terrorism Risk Management is particularly suitable for:
It is also suitable for professionals looking to develop their career within security risk management, counter terrorism, resilience or protective security.
Security Managers and Security Professionals
Counter Terrorism and Protective Security Practitioners
Risk and Resilience Professionals
Business Continuity and Crisis Management Professionals
Facilities and Property Managers
Health and Safety Professionals
Event and Venue Managers
Operations Managers
Emergency Planning Professionals
Local Authority and Public Sector Professionals
Those responsible for Martyn's Law preparedness
Consultants supporting organisations with terrorism risk and protective security
Why study Terrorism Risk Management with Oakwood?
Practitioner led. Risk based. Built for the real world.
Terrorism risk management requires more than theoretical knowledge.
Our programmes are designed and delivered by practitioners with extensive experience across counter terrorism, policing, protective security, security risk management, crisis management and organisational resilience.
Throughout the programme, learners are encouraged to consider how terrorism risk management works in practice.
Not only
"What security measures could we put in place?"
But
"What is the threat, where are we vulnerable, what are the consequences, and what measures are proportionate to the risk?"
This practical approach helps learners develop the confidence to make defensible, risk based security decisions within real organisations.
Recognition & certification
Professionally recognised and independently endorsed.
QLS Level 4 Endorsed Programme
The Level 4 Certificate in Terrorism Risk Management is endorsed by the Skills and Education Group through the Quality Licence Scheme at Level 4. The Quality Licence Scheme provides independent recognition of high quality training and learning programmes. Successful learners also receive the Certificate in Terrorism Risk Management (CTRM) from Oakwood.
Professional Development
The programme provides a structured progression route for professionals wishing to develop more advanced capability in terrorism risk management, protective security and organisational resilience. It bridges the gap between introductory counter terrorism awareness training and more advanced security risk management practice.
Built for Today's Threat Environment
Course content reflects the contemporary terrorism threat landscape and the changing responsibilities placed upon organisations responsible for protecting people, premises and events. The programme includes specific consideration of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, Martyn's Law, while maintaining a broader focus on effective terrorism risk management and protective security.
Next step
Develop your capability in
Terrorism Risk Management.
Build the knowledge and practical skills required to identify terrorism related risks, assess organisational vulnerabilities and develop proportionate protective security and preparedness measures.
Choose between our flexible distance learning programme for £1,350 including VAT, or our blended three day in person programme for £1,500 including VAT.