The Level 3 CTPSaP qualification develops learners’ understanding of how terrorist attacks are planned and carried out, and how to assess and respond to the risks they present. It explores how counter-terrorism threat assessments are interpreted, and how appropriate mitigation strategies can be identified and applied in practice.

Learners will also build the capability to contribute to counter-terrorism risk assessment and preparedness planning – aligned with national counter-terrorism good practice – while understanding the limits of their role and when to seek advice or support from protective security specialists.

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Learn skills that protect people, places and organisations

Protecting people and places is no longer confined to a small number of specialist roles. Today, protective security is a professional standard across sectors, and preparedness is a core organisational responsibility.

This Level 3 Award is designed for anyone responsible for venues, sites or organisations who wants to strengthen protective security capability ahead of the implementation of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also referred to as Martyn’s Law).

Why choose Skills for Justice Training?

As the UK Sector Skills Council for justice, and part of The Workforce Development Trust Group:

• We have a unique understanding of the intent and expectations behind the national standard

• We have access to the sector expertise that underpins this qualification

• Our expert trainers combine decades of experience across counter-terrorism policing, protective security planning, crisis response and professional training

• We work in collaboration with Skills for Health and People 1st International to support organisations across health, justice, retail, transport, tourism, hospitality and protective services

This means delivery that reflects both sector context and organisational roles – supporting consistent, real-world capability across teams responsible for safety, security and operational response.

Meet our expert trainers

What you'll gain

  • Practical risk assessment skills: Identify vulnerabilities within venues, sites, and operations.
  • Preparedness planning: Develop counter-terrorism preparedness plans, including security measures such as evacuation, invacuation, and lockdown.
  • Understanding legislation: Learn how the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also referred to as Martyn’s Law) affects your workplace and your role*.
  • Positive security culture development: Learn how to influence and engage colleagues in maintaining safety.
  • Career progression: Strengthen your suitability for supervisory, management or advisory roles with responsibility for protective security and preparedness planning.

This qualification provides a solid foundation in counter-terrorism measures and is suitable for professionals across security, events, facilities, health, hospitality, retail, transport, and wider public-facing environments.

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*Training alone will not make an individual or organisation compliant with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also referred to as Martyn’s Law). However, the qualification has been developed to align with this legislation and provides the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to support an organisational approach to compliance.

Course overview

This is a tutor-led course comprising five days of face-to-face training.

Total qualification time: 90 hours. Guided learning: 41 hours.

View the full SFJ Awards Level 3 CTPSaP qualification specification.

Core content

Unit 1 – Introduction to Counter-Terrorism

Unit 2 – Positive Organisational Security Culture

Unit 3 – Counter-Terrorism Protective Security

Unit 4 – Counter-Terrorism Preparedness

Unit 5 – Completing a Counter-Terrorism Risk Assessment and Preparedness Plan

Unit 6 – Completing a Counter-Terrorism Written Recommendation

The assessment methods for this qualification are set by SFJ Awards, and consist of:

• Multiple-choice examination

• Written assignment

• A 1-2-1 professional discussion with your trainer (takes place post-training)

Pricing and booking options

As a not-for-profit organisation, our pricing is transparent and inclusive – what you see is what you pay, with no additional fees.

Classroom: £1,995 per learner | Early Bird £1,795 (on courses before 30 Sept 2026) | Book online

On-site at your organisation: £1,800 per learner | Early Bird £1,620 (on courses before 30 Sept 2026) | Book with the Business Development team via [email protected]

Group bookings (5+ classroom / 12 on-site): Additional discounts available | Book with the Business Development team via [email protected]

For group and organisational bookings, delivery can be structured to reflect your operating environment, workforce roles and existing procedures – supporting consistent understanding across teams responsible for safety, security and incident response.

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Classroom dates

We currently have the following classroom dates available – book your place now:

Additional dates to be announced soon. Sign up to our waiting list to be notified.

Frequently asked questions about the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness

What is the Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP)?

The SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP) is a qualification designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and understanding of terrorist attack methodologies, how to assess the likelihood of such threats, and the mitigation strategies available to reduce risk.

Following the introduction of the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also known as Martyn’s Law), protective security has become an increasingly important professional standard, while organisational preparedness has become a key responsibility. Developed by SFJ Awards in partnership with the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), this is the only policing qualification endorsed by Counter-Terrorism Policing.

CTPSaP is the acronym for the SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn’s Law, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025.

It introduced new legal duties for certain premises and events across the UK to improve security and preparedness against terrorism.

Martyn’s Law is the common name for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, which requires certain public venues and events in the UK to take proportionate steps to improve security and preparedness for potential terrorist attacks.

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also known as Martyn’s Law) applies to publicly accessible premises and events in the UK where 200 or more people may be present. It places legal duties on those responsible for these locations – individuals, organisations and companies – with requirements that increase according to venue size and level of risk.

There are two tiers:

Standard Tier (200-799 people) – Publicly accessible premises such as retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, museums, galleries, and places of worship etc.

Enhanced Tier (800+ people) – Larger venues and events in high-capacity crowds.

No qualification or training on its own will make a venue, site or organisation compliant.

Compliance is about more than this. However, this qualification provides an excellent foundation of knowledge from which organisations can develop a counter-terrorism risk assessment and preparedness plan as outlined in the requirements of Martyn’s Law.

As a registered training provider approved to deliver the SFJ Awards Level 3 Award in Counter-Terrorism Protective Security and Preparedness (CTPSaP), Skills for Justice Training offers this qualification through scheduled learner cohorts.

You can book onto one of our upcoming cohorts now.

As of 30 April 2026, the UK National Threat Level was raised to SEVERE. This means a terrorist attack is highly likely.

When the threat level is SEVERE, organisations should move to a heightened state of security, review contingency plans and ensure staff vigilance.

Find out more about how to review your security plans in response to the increased national threat level.

Yes, it is highly recommended and, in many cases, mandatory that organisations in the UK undertake counter-terrorism training, especially with the introduction of new legislation like the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also known as Martyn’s Law).

For more advice and guidance on counter-terrorism training, please visit Protect UK.

The Section 27 guidance for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (Martyn’s Law) was published in April 2026. It provides mandatory, actionable advice to help duty holders understand and comply with their legal obligations relating to security and public safety at qualifying premises and events.

For most places of worship, the government has stated that the requirements are not intended to be onerous or require significant physical investment.

A key consideration is whether it is reasonable to expect that 200 or more individuals may be present at the same time, even if only occasionally. Where this threshold is met, the premises is likely to fall within the scope of the Standard Tier under Martyn’s Law.