A security guard is a trusted, valuable role, and not everyone is ready to take it on.
Can you stay calm under pressure?
Do you understand the rules and your authority?
Can you handle aggressive individuals while preventing harm?
Do you know how to write an accurate report?
If not, that’s perfectly fine, as you can gain a lot from training. It will help you build the skills, knowledge, and confidence you’ll need to handle the challenges of a security career.
If you answered yes, that’s fantastic. You’re already on the right track toward becoming a capable and trusted guard. But don’t sit back just yet, since there’s always more to learn and master to stay effective, advance in your career, and excel in every situation you encounter on the job.
This guide will cover all aspects of security guard training, including its benefits, key skills and topics to learn, how to choose courses and providers, and how security firms can leverage training to improve their teams. Let’s dive in!
What is Security Guard Training?
Security guard training involves current or aspiring guards building new skills and expanding their knowledge for the roles they perform. Training can be a one-time lesson or part of a larger, ongoing course. It depends on your goal or the employer’s requirements.
Courses are often divided into lessons or modules, with each lesson designed to be completed within a set timeframe. Some programs focus on licensing requirements, while others are built around skill development, compliance updates, or specialized response training.
Security guard training can be completed either in person or online.
- In-person Guard Training involves attending a live class led by an instructor. These sessions typically include guided presentations, group discussions, scenario walkthroughs, hands-on exercises, and practical demonstrations. In some cases, a security firm may arrange for an instructor to come directly to the company’s location to conduct on-site training.
- Online Guard Training is self-paced and completed through digital modules where guards access coursework from a laptop, desktop, tablet, or phone. Many programs include progress tracking and quizzes to assess how well learners understand the topic, and upon completion, participants often receive a certificate documenting their training.
Who Should Complete Security Guard Training
You should consider completing security guard training if you:
1. Want to become a security guard in the future
If you’re applying for your first security guard role, training is a way to help you put your foot in the door in the industry.
In some states, you can’t even work as a guard without completing a set number of training hours or specific courses. For example, in California, anyone who wants to obtain a guard card, which is a license required to work as a security guard, must complete mandatory BSIS-approved courses. Other states have their own requirements, so make sure you complete training through a state-approved provider if you want your license.
2. Are currently applying to security jobs
Training is one of the best ways to gain an advantage over other candidates. Completing courses shows employers that you are committed to the role and willing to invest in your own development. It also makes writing your CV easier, as you’ll have more practical skills to highlight, and you can include certificates to demonstrate your completed training and qualifications.
For example, completing online courses in report writing, conflict management, or access control can demonstrate that you already have foundational knowledge that other applicants may lack.
Some employers may even prioritize candidates who have completed specialized certifications, such as active shooter preparedness or technology-based security training.
3. Looking to advance your current security career
Even if you’re already employed as a guard, additional training can unlock new opportunities in your career, and advanced or refresher courses can prepare you for higher-level positions or supervisory roles. For instance, training in legal responsibilities or emergency response can prepare you to manage teams and oversee sites.
Completing courses also signals initiative, showing supervisors and clients that you are serious about excelling in your profession, and can put you at the top of the list if a more responsible or higher-paying role becomes available.
The Advantages of Security Guard Training
There are many perks of security guard training, both for an individual guard and their employer.
For guards, training can help them:
- Grow confidence: When guards understand different topics related to the role and continue to build their knowledge, they will perform their duties with more certainty. Training reduces hesitation and helps them respond calmly in high-pressure situations.
- Improve decision-making: Training can help reduce hesitation and let guards respond calmly under pressure and make sound decisions in a split second, especially if they practice role-playing different scenarios.
- Land new roles: Additional certifications from courses can open doors to higher-level assignments and even help guards land leadership positions.
- Reduce workplace stress: When guards are confident in their own abilities, they’ll be more likely to enjoy performing their duties and feel less anxious or stressed.
For security firms, guard training can help them:
- Improve performance standards: Firms can upskill their guards through training, making them more reliable and better performing different tasks and duties.
- Reduce risk and liability: When all guards within a firm are trained and updated on their legal authority, the security firm is less likely to face liability issues that can come from improper actions or non-compliance with state and federal regulations.
- Strengthen client trust: Investing in training for guards can be a selling point for the firm itself, as clients will feel more confident deploying well-trained and knwoldgeable guard to protect their sites and assets.
- Increase retention: Guards who see training opportunities are more likely to stay with the company, as it indicates that the employers care about their growth and development.
- Improve orientation: The early stages of a new guard’s employment are incredibly important, and when training is integrated into the orientation process, it helps new hires learn procedures faster and more clearly understand the firm’s expectations.
Online Training Benefits
Online training can be particularly beneficial because it can be completed in small portions each day, without learners needing to commute to another location. This flexibility allows guards to fit training around their schedules instead of rearranging shifts or travel plans.
Lower overall costs (since there are no travel expenses) also make online programs more accessible for both guards and employers. With fewer logistical barriers, guards are more likely to engage consistently with the material and move through lessons at a steady pace, without added outside pressure.
Key Skills and Topics to Learn Through Guard Training
Guard training covers a wide range of topics, and new trends continue to shape what guards are expected to know. For example, technology proficiency has become a required skill, as guards are increasingly expected to work with tools such as electronic access control systems and remote patrol tracking apps as part of their daily responsibilities.
Some training courses focus on core security guard skills, such as communication, observation, and report writing. A guard may understand procedures clearly, but without the ability to write accurate and reliable reports, their documentation may fail to support their actions or protect their employer.
Other courses focus on specific security guard topics. For example, legal responsibility courses cover topics such as appropriate use of force, false arrest, criminal and civil law, and the limits of a security guard’s authority.
Choosing a Guard Training Course
With so many topics and skill areas available, narrowing down which courses to prioritize can feel overwhelming.
In many cases, security firms assess guard performance first, then assign targeted or refresher training based on what they find. Performance can be evaluated through data gathered from supervisor observations or client feedback, which show how well a guard is performing their duties and following orders.
When patterns appear, such as incomplete documentation, hesitation during incidents, or gaps in legal knowledge, training can be assigned to directly address those areas.
In other situations, guards may choose to complete courses independently.
When doing so, they can narrow their options by considering their current role and the expectations of the site they are assigned to. For example:
- A guard who mainly works in industrial sites might focus on courses in access control and officer safety.
- A guard in a healthcare facility could prioritize evacuation procedures and active shooter preparedness.
Some guards may also choose courses to strengthen weaker areas highlighted in past evaluations or skills they feel less confident performing:
- If a guard struggles with managing situations, they could take a course focused on handling difficult people or de-escalating situations.
- A guard who wants to move into supervisory roles might focus on leadership or supervision courses that teach them how to manage the responsibilities that will be expected of them.
Learn More About Security Guard Training and Begin Your Training Journey Today
Guard training is an ongoing process that keeps your skills sharp and your knowledge up to date. Even before your career starts, you can begin with basic topics to prepare for the situations you’ll face on the job. When applying for positions, training helps fill gaps in your skill set, and once you’re hired, you can continue investing in yourself to become the best guard you can be.
For security firms, guard training can improve your entire team’s performance, helping you deliver exceptional security services and stay ahead of your competitors.
If you want to learn more about security guard training, licensing, career building, or running a security business, check out our blog.
If you’re ready to start training, explore our full list of courses or get in touch with our team to find the right program for you.
Security Guard Training FAQs For Individuals
How do I choose the right online security guard training classes?
If you want to find the right guard training platform for your needsTo find the right platform for your needs, start by considering your goals and the topics you want to learn.
Then, make sure the platform offers courses covering those areas.
Next, think about your preferred learning style and check if the platform supports it. For instance, at Guard Training, we offer a mix of PowerPoints, videos, and PDFs to make learning engaging and flexible, so guards can absorb information in the way that works best for them.
Can online training replace in-person courses?
Many states allow online courses to satisfy licensing requirements, but some programs or skills, such as physical security exercises, are best practiced through in-person instruction. However, it depends on each learner, as some guards may prefer to learn in their own time and at their own pace. It’s also important to check your state regulations for information on any required training and options for completing it.
How long does security guard training take?
It depends on the program. Short courses may be completed in a few hours, while comprehensive licensing programs can take several weeks. It also depends on how much time each day you plan on studying, but usually an hour or two per day is enough to make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed.
Do I get a certificate after completing online training?
It depends on the course provider. At Guard Training, we do provide a certificate of completion for every course we offer, which can be used to show employers or licensing boards that you’ve met training requirements.
What should I look for when choosing guard card classes online?
When selecting guard card classes online to become a licensed guard in California, make sure the program is state-approved. Otherwise, the course won’t count toward your required training hours, and you won’t be eligible to apply for a guard card.
Security Guard Training FAQs For Firms
How do I track employee training and progress?
Many online platforms offer progress dashboards and reporting tools that let firms monitor each guard’s training, including which courses they’ve completed and the marks they get in the quizzes. Then, they can use this information to assign more courses as needed or have one-on-one conversations arranged with guards who appear to be falling behind.
How often should guards complete refresher training?
Ideally, refresher training should be completed at least annually. But, this can depend on other factors, such as whether a firm has recently expanded its team, and they can assign refresher training to current guards to ensure everyone is up to date and aligned.
Can training improve client satisfaction and site safety?
Absolutely. Well-trained guards will be more likely to handle incidents correctly and follow protocols consistently, leading to more satisfied clients and additional protection of their property and the people on it.
What’s the best way to combine online and in-person training for my team?
If your firm wants to take a hybrid approach, you can schedule annual or bi-annual in-person courses where guards practice hands-on skills, participate in scenario drills, and review critical procedures. Then, throughout the rest of the year, assign online courses based on each guard’s skill gaps or knowledge needs.
