Online Security Guard Training and Career Center

Security Guard Training in Indiana

A state license may be required for unarmed security guards in Indiana. It is really up to the company that hires you. According to the Statues & Rules IC 25-30-1-11 Employees of licensee, an unarmed guard can be hired under the licensee, which is the hiring company. The hiring company is responsible for that unarmed security guard and must supply a photo ID and fingerprints of each security guard that isn’t licensed if requested.

However, for companies that require you to be licensed you must first meet certain criteria:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be finger printed
• Submit to FBI background check
• No felony convictions or any crime involving the illegal use of weapons
• Drug testing (which may be ongoing
• Completed of Indiana state certified training courses set forth by the Department of Public Safety for Indiana

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Basic Training Curriculum

A basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following:

1. Role of Private Security
2. Legal Aspects
3. Patrol and Observation
4. Incident Response
5. Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
6. Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
7. First Aid Overview

For more information, please visit Indiana Professional Licensing Agency or call (317) 234-3040.

Security Guard Training in Idaho

According to the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licensing office, there are no requirements set forth to become an unarmed security guard for the state of Idaho. However, there may be some requirements on the city and county levels in which case you must contact your local City Clerk’s office.

Standard requirements across state lines:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High School diploma or equivalent
• No felony convictions or any crime involving the illegal use of weapons

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good Communication skills
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time

For more information, you can call (208) 334-3233.

Security Guard Training in Hawaii

Effective July 1 2013, to become an unarmed security guard in Hawaii an applicant must meet certain criteria. However, a license is not necessarily required unless the hiring company requires you to have one. An unarmed security guard can work under the principal in the company (who is licensed) without needing to be licensed.

To become licensed an applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High School diploma or equivalent
• Four years of guard experience
• Pass an Exam
• Be mental sound and not suffering from any psychological disorder, which will impede you from performing security guard duties
• No convictions (not including expunged or annulled by the courts)
• Submit to a criminal background check
• Have good moral character
• Have not committed any acts of fraud
• Submit to fingerprinting
• Provide criminal background abstract for the last 10 years

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

For more information, see The Board of Private Detective and Guards FAQ.

Note: There are fees associated with the licensing process that refers to the entity. For fees to become a licensed unarmed security guard, contact the Professional and Vocational Licensing (808) 586-3000.

Security Guard Training in Kentucky

At present, Kentucky does not have a licensing policy in place for unarmed security guards at the state level. However, there may be some requirements on the city and county levels in which case you must contact the local City Clerk’s office. In addition, the company that is hiring you may have basic criteria that you must meet as well.

Standard requirements across state lines:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High School diploma or equivalent
• No felony convictions or any crime involving the illegal use of weapons

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good Communication skills
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time

For more information, please call Kentucky State Police at 502-782-1800.

Security Guard Training in Louisiana

According to the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners, an unarmed guard must be licensed through a contract security company that is hiring you. That license is only good for the company that hires you and cannot be carried to another company; however, your training will transfer to another company but you will have to go through the licensing process again if changing companies.

Minimum Requirements

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Driver’s License
• Social Security Card
• Must be finger printed
• Passport Photo
• Complete (2) 8-hour training: The first 8-hour course is about the contract security company. Classroom training can be administered by the hiring company or through Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners.

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Basic Training Curriculum

A basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following:

1. Role of Private Security
2. Legal Aspects
3. Patrol and Observation
4. Incident Response
5. Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
6. Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
7. First Aid Overview

Fees:

• Application fee $40
• Fingerprinting $55.25 (This includes state and FBI check)

For more information, please visit the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners or call 225-272-2310.

Security Guard Training in Maine

In Maine, an unarmed security need not be licensed as long as he or she is employed by a licensed security company. So in other words, the licensing requirements fall on the security company as opposed to the employee of that company. However, the company may request that certain criteria be met.

Basic Requirements for unarmed security guards in Maine:

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• No convictions punishable by jail time of one year or more in the last 5 years
• May be asked to submit to drug testing (which may be ongoing
• May be asked to submit to a criminal background check
• Must have good moral character
• Have not committed any acts of fraud

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Maine Security Training Curriculum

If training is provided or required, a basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following:

1. Role of Private Security
2. Legal Aspects
3. Patrol and Observation
4. Incident Response
5. Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
6. Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
7. First Aid Overview

For more information, please consult the Private Investigator Guard Handbook on the License and Permits page on the Main State Police website or call Maine State Police Licensing Division at 207-624-8775.

Security Guard Training in Maryland

To qualify as an unarmed security guard in Maryland you must be certified. An applicant for security guard agency can become certified through the company for which they are applying. Your application will go through that company and forwarded to the Secretary of State.

Basic Requirements for unarmed security guard in Maryland:

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• May be asked to submit to drug testing (which may be ongoing
• May be asked to submit to a criminal background check
• Must have good moral character
• Have not committed any acts of fraud
• Submit to fingerprinting

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Training Curriculum for Maryland

If training is provided or required, a basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following;

• Role of Private Security
• Legal Aspects
• Patrol and Observation
• Incident Response
• Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
• Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
• First Aid Overview

Fees: Certain fees for the application or finger printing may be required and forwarded with your application, if hired.

For more information, please read TITLE 19. SECURITY GUARD AGENCIES AND SECURITY GUARD CERTIFICATION or call the Maryland State Police Licensing Division at 410- 653-4500.

Security Guard Training in Massachusetts

To become an unarmed security guard in Massachusetts, certification is not required. However, there are some basic requirements that must be met under the Watch Guard Patrol Agency.

Basic Requirements for unarmed security guard in Massachusetts:

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• Drug testing (which may be ongoing
• Successfully passing a background check

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Security Guard Training

Training courses are not required by state for unarmed security guards in Massachusetts; however, certain training may be required by the company that hires you. Useful training would include:

• Role of Private Security
• Legal Aspects
• Patrol and Observation
• Incident Response
• Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
• Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
• First Aid Overview

For more information, please visit the website of the Massachusetts State Police or call 617-727-3200.

Security Guard Training in Michigan

In Michigan, the unarmed security guard does not need to be licensed. The company that hires you needs to hold the license and can hire unarmed security guards that are not licensed. However, there are basic criteria that the state requires.

Basic requirements for unarmed security guard in Michigan:

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• May be required to submit to drug testing (This is not required by the state but may be required by hiring agency)
• Successfully pass a background check

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Training Curriculum

If training from the company is provided or required, a basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following:

1. Role of Private Security
2. Legal Aspects
3. Patrol and Observation
4. Incident Response
5. Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
6. Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
7. First Aid Overview

For a list of frequently asked questions about security guard requirements in Michigan, please click here.

For your application, including information about fingerprint scans, which are required for your background check, please visit the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs or call 517-241-8205.

Security Guard Training in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the rules to become an unarmed security guard can be a little confusing because the rules talk mostly about something called a “Protective Agent.” But, with further reading, you will see that the Protective Agent is the company that is offering security services.

The contracting security agent must be licensed. However, an unarmed security guard hired by this Protective Agent doesn’t have to be licensed. He or she will fall under the license of the company. This then means that the company can require that certain criteria be met.

Basic requirements for unarmed security guard in Minnesota:

• Must be at least 18 year old
• Must be a United States citizen or registered resident alien
• Drug testing (which may be ongoing
• Successfully passing a background check

Other Requirements that May Be Helpful:

• Driver’s License
• Good physical conditioning
• Be able to stand long periods of time
• Good Communication skills

Training Curriculum

If training is provided or required, a basic training conducted may include but is not limited to the following:

• Role of Private Security
• Legal Aspects
• Patrol and Observation
• Incident Response
• Security Resources: Surveillance operation and documentation
• Customer Service Issues: Working with and addressing the public
• First Aid Overview

Fees may be applicable.

For more information, please read the State of Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services website or call (651)793-2666.