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.
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:
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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