Most security guard CV advice online is written for Britain, America or Dubai. None of it mentions PSIRA, which is the only thing a South African security employer checks first. This is the local version.
Put Your PSIRA Grade at the Top
Security vacancies in South Africa are commonly advertised with wording like "must have a valid Grade C PSIRA certificate and clear criminal record" and "submit your CV with your valid PSIRA and SAPS clearance". That tells you exactly how your CV is being read: the employer is looking for a grade and a clearance, and everything else is secondary.
So do not bury it. Directly under your name and phone number, put a line like:
Sipho Ndlovu
072 555 0148 | Tembisa, Gauteng
PSIRA registered: Grade C | Registration no. 1234567 | SAPS clearance: valid
If your clearance is still being processed, say so honestly rather than leaving it out. "SAPS clearance: applied for, March 2026" is far better than silence, because silence reads as a problem.
Understanding the PSIRA Grades
PSIRA grades security officers from E up to A. Grade E is the entry level, covering patrol and basic guarding duties. Grade A is the highest, for supervisory and management roles. Most entry-level guarding vacancies ask for Grade C, which is why training centres sell the Grade E, D and C combination as one starting package.
| Grade | Typically covers |
|---|---|
| E | Entry level. Patrolling and basic security officer duties. |
| D | Access control, general guarding. |
| C | The grade most entry-level vacancies actually ask for. |
| B | Site supervision and shift leading. |
| A | Supervisory and management responsibility. |
Put the grade you actually hold. PSIRA registration is checkable in seconds, and claiming a grade you do not have ends the application and can end your registration.
A CV Summary You Can Adapt
People search for a security guard CV summary, objective or profile more than almost anything else, so here are two you can rewrite in your own words. Do not copy them verbatim, because recruiters see the same paragraph repeatedly.
With no experience:
PSIRA Grade C registered security officer with valid SAPS clearance, seeking a first guarding position in Gauteng. Trained in access control, patrolling and incident reporting. Reliable with shift work, including nights and weekends. Speak isiZulu, Sesotho and English.
With experience:
PSIRA Grade C security officer with three years of site experience at a retail complex in Tembisa. Handled access control for up to 400 visitors a day, completed daily occurrence book entries, and worked with CCTV and radio control. Valid SAPS clearance and firearm competency.
Skills That Belong on a Security CV
- Access control and visitor screening
- Patrolling and perimeter checks
- Incident reporting and occurrence book entries
- CCTV monitoring and control room basics
- Two-way radio communication
- Alarm response
- Crowd and queue management
- First aid, if certified
- Firearm competency, if you hold it
- Languages you can handle a confrontation in
Languages matter more in this job than most CV guides admit. Being able to calm a situation in the language the other person is speaking is a real, sellable security skill.
If You Have No Work Experience
Use a skills-based layout rather than a work-history one. Your PSIRA grade is your qualification, so it does the work that experience usually does. Then show that you are someone who turns up and can be trusted:
- Community or neighbourhood patrol involvement
- Church, school or event security you helped with
- Looking after a family business, spaza or stock
- Any role where you handled cash, keys, or people
- Sports teams, which show discipline and turning up on time
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Where to Apply, and What Should Never Cost Money
Real security vacancies are advertised by registered security companies, on Pnet, Careers24, CareerJunction, Indeed and company careers pages, and increasingly through PSIRA-accredited training centres that place their own graduates.
Some costs in this industry are genuine and some are theft, and the difference matters:
| Normal | Scam |
|---|---|
| Paying PSIRA your own registration fee | Paying a "recruiter" to be given a job |
| Paying an accredited centre for a grade course | Paying a deposit for a uniform before you start |
| Paying SAPS for a clearance certificate | Paying for a "background check" the employer runs |
You can also check whether a "security company" is real before you deal with them. A company that guards property must be registered with PSIRA, not only with CIPC, so a firm that appears on CIPC but not on PSIRA is not permitted to trade as a security provider. Our guide on checking whether a company is registered covers which register to use for which claim.
Common Questions
What must a security guard CV include in South Africa?
Your PSIRA registration number and grade, your SAPS clearance status, your ID and contact details, your highest grade passed, and any firearm competency or first aid certificates. South African security employers routinely ask you to submit your CV together with your valid PSIRA certificate and SAPS clearance, so if your grade is not on the first page of the CV, your application is harder to process and often gets skipped.
Can I get a security job without PSIRA registration?
No. It is illegal to work as a security officer in South Africa without being registered with PSIRA, and legitimate security companies will not employ you without it. If a "security company" offers you work and says PSIRA does not matter, either they are operating illegally or the job does not exist.
What is the lowest PSIRA grade and is it enough?
PSIRA grades security officers from E up to A. Grade E is the entry level, aimed at patrol and basic guarding duties, and Grade A is the highest, for supervisory roles. Most entry-level guarding vacancies ask for Grade C, which is why the Grade E, D and C combination is the usual starting package. Put whichever grade you hold on your CV, and do not overstate it, because it is verifiable in seconds.
How do I write a security guard CV with no experience?
Lead with your PSIRA grade and SAPS clearance, because those are what qualify you rather than years worked. Then use a skills-based layout: reliability, observation, incident reporting, access control, radio and CCTV familiarity if you have it, and your languages. Anything showing you turn up and can be trusted counts, including community patrol, church security, or looking after a family business.
Should my ID number be on my security CV?
Your PSIRA number should be. Your full ID number should not be on a CV you email around or hand to strangers, because that is an identity theft risk. Give your ID number on the official application form or in person once you are actually being hired, not on a document that circulates.
Do I have to pay for a security guard CV?
No. Nobody should charge you to write a CV so you can get a job, and no security company should charge you a registration, training deposit, or "uniform fee" to be hired. Paying PSIRA for your own registration and paying an accredited training centre for a course are normal costs; paying a "recruiter" to be given a job is not.
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Related Guides
- Free CV Builder
- Free Cover Letter Generator
- How to Write a CV With No Experience
- How to Check if a Company Is Registered (CIPC, PSIRA, FSCA and more)
- The "R250 Background Check" Scam