No. The compulsory three-year revalidation training requirement in Queensland applies to the crowd controller and bodyguard functions. It does not apply in the same way to someone who is licensed only as a security officer (unarmed). That said, holding a licence and remaining professionally competent are two different things.

BARS Training Australia strongly encourages unarmed security officers to maintain ongoing professional development throughout their careers. First aid should generally be refreshed every three years and CPR every 12 months. If your duties involve equipment such as handcuffs or batons, maintaining practical competency and understanding the legal requirements surrounding their possession and use is equally important. Security technology is also changing rapidly. Modern unarmed security officers increasingly work with electronic alarm systems, CCTV surveillance, access-control systems, GPS tracking, digital communications and online incident-reporting and workforce-management systems.

A security officer who completed their qualification years ago and undertakes no further professional development can quickly find that the workplace has moved ahead of them. Employers and clients may also impose their own requirements for current first aid, CPR, equipment competencies or site-specific training even where these are not compulsory OFT three-year revalidation requirements.

So, no – an unarmed security officer does not have the same compulsory three-year refresher requirement as a crowd controller or bodyguard. But professional security officers should never regard receiving their licence as the end of their training. The industry, technology and risks continue to change, and maintaining your skills makes you safer, more professional and more employable.