Proper training separates unprepared guards from confident, capable ones.
On duty, you’ll face different challenges and unexpected situations. With online training, you can better prepare to face these scenarios and know how to react, helping you stay effective while minimizing liability risks.
Explore our top seven security guard training topics that you must learn to stand out to employers, excel in responsibilities, and grow in your career.
1. Legal Responsibilities & Authority
It’s important to know what authority you have as well as your legal limitations so you always act within the law while performing your duties.
Learning about this topic protects you from potential legal issues, such as allegations of excessive force, illegal detention, or false arrest.
What Our Training Covers
Our liability and legal aspects course breaks down everything you need to know about operating within legal boundaries as a security guard. You’ll get a practical look at:
- How the legal system applies to you: We cover the differences between civil and criminal law and explain how these laws apply to you when you’re on duty.
- Your legal authority: We explain what you can and can’t do when detaining someone, making an arrest, and handling certain incidents.
- Liability risks: You’ll learn about the most common liability concerns involving security guards, including excessive use of force, unreasonable searches, and negligence.
We also discuss specific case studies that touch on legal responsibilities and U.S. legislation so you can see how these laws play out in real-world situations.
Real-World Applications
With this knowledge, you can avoid any legal trouble by always knowing the correct procedures to follow throughout your duty. For example, you’ll know exactly what you’re allowed to do when detaining a shoplifter at a store you’re assigned to.
You can also tell when it’s time to call the police and how to handle disputes to prevent unnecessary complications that could put yourself or your security employer at risk.
2. Observation & Awareness
A security guard’s ability to detect potential threats early can prevent security and safety incidents. Developing strong awareness and observation skills will make you a more effective guard, helping you spot risks before they become serious problems.
What Our Training Covers
Our observation and documentation course equips you with the techniques necessary to stay alert, use your senses to recognize suspicious behavior, and describe your observations. Other areas we touch on include:
- Patrol procedures: You’ll find out about different awareness skills and best practices when patrolling on foot, in a vehicle, or on bicycles.
- Strategies for active surveillance: You’ll learn how to actively observe your environment and recognize the difference between normal and suspicious activity.
- Understanding physical descriptions: We explain how to identify a specific person and provide an accurate verbal description, including key features like height, build, clothing, and distinguishing characteristics, to help law enforcement or other personnel locate the individual.
Real-World Applications
After you build observation and awareness skills, you’ll be ready to respond to potential threats before they get out of control.
For example, if you notice someone acting suspiciously around a worksite, like lingering too long or appearing to case the area, you can approach them to assess their intentions or alert local authorities if necessary.
You’ll also know how to look for signs of fire hazards, unsafe conditions, or other security risks. When you notice these things and report them, you’ll be helping prevent accidents and keep others safe.
3. Access Control and Equipment Operation
Access control protects facilities and specific areas from unauthorized access.
As a security guard, you must know how to verify identities and use different types of access control systems to safeguard the different locations you’re assigned to.
What Our Training Covers
Our access control course shows you how to use electronic security systems, personal identification, and CCTV systems. We also go in-depth about:
- Access control systems: You’ll learn how to identify individuals through manual and electronic methods before allowing them access to a facility.
- Alarm sensors: We explore the different types of alarm sensors, including intrusion switches, magnetic switches, and audio sensors. You’ll also find out how to operate alarm systems and manage false alarms.
- CCTV: We discuss the use of CCTV systems in security and their role in access control when operated by security guards.
Real-World Applications
When on duty, you may need to monitor access points using electronic systems and manual identification methods.
For example, when a visitor arrives, you’ll be expected to check their ID and verify it against a secure access control system. If the system flags the individual as unauthorized, you can deny them access to protect other individuals or secure sensitive assets within the facility.
You might also need to use the CCTV system to figure out what triggered an alarm and take the right steps, like calling the police or securing the area until more help arrives. If you’re not familiar with the system, you could miss key details, which might lead to a delayed or incorrect response.
4. De-Escalation & Conflict Resolution
Many security situations don’t require physical intervention, and de-escalation is often the best approach.
Your ability to recognize the signs of conflict early and intervene appropriately prevents situations from turning violent, and you’ll be reducing the risk of injury and liability.
What Our Training Covers
In our course on handling difficult people, we discuss tactics for de-escalation and how to determine the appropriate action to take in situations with the public. We’ll cover:
- Conflict resolution responsibilities: You’ll learn your role in preventing violence and providing assistance when violent and other instances of conflict occur.
- Assessing behavior: We discuss the types of individuals that are more likely to pose a threat and how to identify them. You’ll also learn common causes of acting out, helping you prepare for potential situations.
- Appropriate interventions: You’ll see examples of different ways to intervene verbally, depending on the emotions and behavior of the individual you’re dealing with.
Real-World Applications
Your training in assessing behavior and using the right interventions helps you avoid confrontations and maintain a safe environment for everyone around you.
For instance, if you’re conducting a patrol in a mall and you notice a customer getting agitated and raising their voice at a store employee, you quickly assess their behavior and identify signs of escalating anger.
Based on your training, you approach calmly, using verbal de-escalation techniques to engage the person, acknowledging their frustration without escalating the situation.
5. Radio Procedures
Security teams rely on clear, fast communication to coordinate responses.
If you don’t understand standard radio procedures, it’s easy for messages to get mixed up. That kind of miscommunication can lead to serious consequences, sometimes even putting lives at risk.
When you know how to use radio codes and call-ins properly, you ensure that information is passed along clearly and efficiently, helping your team manage situations quickly, especially in high-stress situations where every second matters.
What Our Training Covers
In our radio procedures module, we provide a clear understanding of the importance of two-way radio communication. You’ll learn:
- Proper radio techniques: We’ll guide you through checking your radio before your shift, how to identify yourself properly, and best practices for carrying and maintaining your radio when it’s not in use.
- Phonetic alphabet and codes: You’ll become familiar with the standard radio procedures, including the phonetic alphabet, numeric pronunciation, and commonly used phrases for efficient communication.
- FCC regulations: We’ll cover the key Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules that govern radio use, ensuring you stay compliant while on duty.
Real-World Applications
After getting the hang of proper radio procedures, you’ll be able to communicate clearly and quickly, cutting down on miscommunication and helping everyone respond faster in urgent situations.
For example, while on patrol at a large event, you may need to report a potential security threat to your team. Using the radio communication techniques from your training, you’ll know that you should first check that your radio is functioning properly and within range.
When transmitting, you’ll be able to identify yourself using the correct radio call sign and use the phonetic alphabet to clearly provide key details, such as a description of the individual or their location.
With your training, you’ve made sure the message gets through without confusion, helping your team act fast and stay coordinated.
6. Incident Scene Preservation
As a security guard, you may sometimes be the first on the scene after a crime or accident. Your knowledge of preserving the area and evidence will make a huge impact on how the incident is handled and can support court proceedings.
If you don’t secure the scene properly or you mess with evidence, it could throw off the whole investigation and possibly affect the outcome of a case.
What Our Training Covers
Our incident scene preservation course explains what counts as evidence, when it can actually be used in court, and how to properly lock down a scene so nothing gets disturbed.
We also cover:
- Identifying witnesses: We’ll guide you through determining who might have knowledge of what happened after an incident and how to properly handle witness statements. We also cover the steps to secure an incident scene until law enforcement shows up.
- Crime scene protection: You’ll learn how to cordon off crime scenes and prevent contamination, as evidence can be destroyed or go missing if the scene is not properly preserved.
- Evidence: We’ll explain how to properly document and protect physical evidence. We also cover relevant laws, such as the exclusionary rule, which can affect what evidence is considered admissible in court.
Real-World Applications
Learning about incident scene preservation will help you properly handle evidence and support investigations.
For example, if you’re patrolling a parking lot and see a small accident, you’ll know what counts as evidence, such as damaged property or debris, and how to secure the area to prevent contamination. You’ll also understand how to document the scene, such as by taking notes or photos, and how to identify any witnesses.
7. Report Writing & Incident Documentation
There are several different security guard reports you’ll have to write. These reports, such as your Daily Activity Report or incident reports, impact how incidents are interpreted and managed.
It’s easy to make mistakes, like using incorrect grammar, which can change the meaning of a sentence. You might also forget to include important details, such as times, locations, or descriptions, which can lead to confusion.
Poor report writing will reflect badly on you and your employer, and in some cases, it will also create liability issues.
What Our Training Covers
Our documentation and reporting writing course will teach you how to write clear, professional reports and take well-organized notes that stand up to scrutiny in workplace reviews and legal settings. You’ll also learn:
- Common writing mistakes: We’ll guide you through common errors to avoid, such as grammar issues, improper punctuation, and unclear phrasing.
- Report structure: You’ll gain skills in organizing your reports and notes in a logical, easy-to-follow format.
- Statement gathering: You’ll develop the skills to record responses accurately from witnesses and securely manage any crucial documents.
Real-World Applications
The skills you gain from this course have a direct impact on how you perform various aspects of your job. For example, while managing daily activity logs, you’ll know how to document your shift in a way that’s organized, easy to review, and helpful for tracking patterns or issues over time.
Similarly, during a theft investigation, your ability to take accurate notes and gather clear witness statements can support law enforcement and protect your employer from liability.
And if you’re called to testify in court, your professional, fact-based reports can serve as reliable evidence and help ensure your testimony is clear and credible.
Master Security Guard Topics with Flexible Online Training
These seven security guard training topics are just scratching the surface of what we offer at Guard Training.
We have many more courses to explore, and you’ll get all the in-depth training you need with comprehensive PDFs, videos, and presentations.
Spend just a few hours each week studying, and you’ll sharpen your skills, improve your response times, and gain the confidence to handle any situation. Over time, those few hours each week add up, helping you stay prepared for anything that comes your way while on duty throughout your security guard career.
