What Kind Of Training Does A Security Guard Need?

Security guards and surveillance personnel enforce regulations and standards of behavior. They also protect the property and maintain the security of the general public. You could work as a security guard in a bank, a hotel, a hospital, a retail store, a restaurant, a bar, or a school, as well as for building management firms and governments. 

Gaming surveillance officers only work in casinos and other licensed gambling establishments. If you want to work in one of the higher-paying occupations, you should have a degree in criminal justice or security management. While some people can find work without a degree, many top security organizations prefer security guard training.

Educational Programs

While there are no academic requirements to become a security guard, if you wish to be a security guard or surveillance officer, or advance to a managerial role, a 2-year associate's degree program or a 1-to-2 semester certificate program in a criminal justice-related field is beneficial. With some official security guard training, you'll have an easier time getting work.

Here are a few examples of the types of training a security guard might receive:

• Surveillance police are trained to utilize surveillance cameras in a casino-like setting.
• Armed guards are trained in weapons retention, self-defense
• Guards are taught the rules governing the use of force
• To be certified by the US General Services Administration, security guards hired by the federal government must have some experience in the field, pass a written exam, and pass firearms and first aid examinations.

Security guards must be licensed in most states. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, pass a background check and a drug test, and complete security guard classes on areas such as property rights, emergency procedures, and detention of suspected criminals in most states.

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