The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has started to accept licence applications from private security workers in Northern Ireland.
As of December 1 all door supervisors in Northern Ireland will need to be licensed, just as they are in the rest of the UK.
Andy Drane, SIA acting chief executive, said: "SIA regulation in Northern Ireland will ensure standards of training and professionalism in the private security industry are the same across the whole of United Kingdom.
"From 1 December, the public will benefit from one regulator and one licensing scheme, which will allow them to have confidence in a regulated and trusted industry."
John Montague, SIA head of investigation for Northern Ireland, said: "A number of people and organisations have already started to make good progress towards getting licensed. We advise all companies and individuals not to underestimate the time and resources it takes to get licensed and we urge those yet to start the licensing process to do so now."
For more information visit visit www.sia.org.uk