Private security certification in Greece: the exams

Greek Law 2518/1997 requires a vocational training title relevant to the work before a work licence is issued (art. 3 §4). According to EOPPEP, the National Organisation for the Certification of Qualifications is exclusively responsible for certifying people without a recognised professional title in this field, and it assigns the exams to the Centre for Security Studies (KEMEA) of the Ministry of Citizen Protection.

Those who pass receive a Certificate of Competence (art. 25 §1 Law 4186/2013), which is among the titles accepted for a category A work licence. It is not the only accepted title; the others, and the licence conditions, are in how to become a security guard in Greece.

The exams are built on the same course: they test what its thematic units teach. The framework is set by EOPPEP decision ΔΠ/11556 (Gazette Β΄ 4491/2022), as amended (2026 announcement).

• Ask the centre whether it is contracted with KEMEA for this specific course.
• Keep the certificate of successful attendance: it is one of the application documents (for courses held from March 2023 onwards).
• Do not leave a long gap between the course and the exams — the material is freshest right after.

According to the EOPPEP announcement, the application comes with:

• the application form, filled in and signed;
• a copy of your ID card (or passport with birth certificate; specific documents apply to people of Greek descent and EU citizens);
• a copy of an education title — lower or upper secondary school, vocational training or apprenticeship, university — or proof of experience as private security staff (a certified work licence, tax or social-insurance records);
• the certificate for the 105-hour course;
• proof that the exam fees have been paid, as set out in the current announcement.

Documents are scanned (pdf or jpeg) and sent by email, to the address and in the way the announcement sets out; applications made any other way are not accepted. If something is missing, you are notified and given a deadline to complete it. The date and place of your exam are announced and sent by SMS at least a week ahead — so give your mobile number correctly.

EOPPEP runs several exam periods a year — it has announced four for 2026 — and each announcement has its own short application window. Follow the announcements page.

• Theory part: 20 multiple-choice questions from the theory question list, chosen to cover the whole syllabus (EOPPEP FAQ, question 7).
• Practical part: topics from the practical question list, testing the skills the course teaches.
• Where: at exam centres in Athens and Thessaloniki, and in Crete when there are enough candidates (question 8).
• Special needs: candidates in the defined disability and learning-difficulty categories may, with a medical report, take the theory part orally (question 6).

On exam day bring your ID card or passport: your identity is checked before the exam (Gazette Β΄ 4491/2022, art. 5).

The list of questions and answers is posted on the EOPPEP and KEMEA websites (Gazette Β΄ 4491/2022, art. 4.2); you will find it in the question bank. Among other things it covers the private security law (Law 2518/1997), the ID card and badge, patrols, alarms, fire and evacuation, and scenarios from real posts, such as guarding the main gate.

• Study to understand, not just to memorise: many practical-part questions are scenarios, and the examiner sees whether you know what to do at the post.
• Split the material into units and go back over the questions you get wrong.
• Talk the scenarios through out loud: answer each practical scenario as if explaining it to a supervisor — what you see, what you do, who you alert, what you record.

The exams test the basics. What makes a guard good at the job beyond them is in security guard skills.

• Grade: the final theory grade and final practical grade are added and divided by two; decimals are rounded (question 9 of the EOPPEP FAQ).
• Results: published on the EOPPEP and KEMEA websites (question 10).
• Appeals: there is no re-marking or re-examination. Within one month of the results being approved, you can ask to see a photocopy of your theory paper (question 11).
• Resitting: anyone who fails or does not attend can sit any later period, with a new application and all fees paid again (questions 14 and 16).
• Carrying fees over: only for a documented health problem or for conscripts refused leave, on a request to KEMEA within 15 days of the exam date (question 15).

• Certificate: posted to the address you gave, right after the results are announced (question 12 of the EOPPEP FAQ).
• Work-licence application: according to EOPPEP, you apply to the Security Sub-Directorate or Department, or where there is none, the police station of your place of residence (question 18). The law states the licence is issued by the Police Directorate of the prefecture or the Security Directorate of the place of residence (art. 3 §5).
• Validity: the work licence is personal, valid for five years and renewable (art. 3 §6).

Once you hold the licence, or while you wait for it, you can apply to OVIT — say which stage you are at. What comes next: your first day in a security job.