Why Your Security Certificate Means Nothing Without a Course Report

In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood — and most critical — aspects of security training in South Africa: the Course Report.

Many students believe that receiving a certificate means their training is complete. In reality, without a submitted course report, your grades are not uploaded, your registration cannot proceed, and your certificate may be meaningless.

In this in-depth discussion, we cover:

• What a course report is and why it matters
 • The difference between certificates and course reports
 • How E, D and C grades are submitted and processed
 • Why some training centres fail — and how students get caught
 • Red flags when choosing a security training provider
 • Why “cheap specials” often come at a long-term cost
 • How to verify your grades on the SIRA system
 • What changed with the move to the online SIRA platform
 • Why older grades may not reflect on your profile
 • Certificate fraud, printing restrictions, and booking challenges
 • Self-study vs in-class training — what’s legitimate and what’s not
 • Which centres are accredited for self-study
 • How instructor training really works (timelines, practicals, linking)
 • How long it actually takes to become an accredited instructor
 • RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) as an alternative pathway

This episode is essential viewing for:
 ✔ Security officers
 ✔ Students considering E, D or C grades
 ✔ Anyone struggling with missing SIRA grades
 ✔ Aspiring instructors
 ✔ Employers and training centre operators

If you’ve ever been confused about your grades, certificates, or registration status — this episode will save you time, money, and frustration.

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro / Episode Context
• 0:54 What Is a Course Report? (Simple Explanation)
• 1:45 Certificates vs Course Reports – The Critical Difference
• 3:03 Why Some Training Centres Fail to Submit Course Reports
• 3:54 Cheap Courses & Red Flags Students Must Watch For
• 5:44 What To Do If Your Grades Don’t Reflect on PSIRA
• 6:09 How to Verify Your PSIRA Grades Online
• 6:35 Old System vs New System – Missing Grades Explained
• 9:35 Certificate Fraud & Why Online Printing Stopped
• 11:14 Self-Study vs In-Class Training (What’s Legit)
• 14:57 Instructor Courses, Timelines & Practical Training
• 18:05 RPL Fast-Track Option & Final Advice