Security Guard Certification – The Road To Becoming A Security Guard
A security guard is an individual employed by an organization or government to protect the hiring party’s assets against a certain number of threats by enforcing preventive measures. This could be a crime, violence, sabotage or any other form of threat. Security guards may be contracted to work for a single firm or an entire organization. They may also work as part of a large network of employees who are trained in various areas and given varied reports to execute on. The primary duty of these individuals is to keep their employers and their properties safe from any form of threat or attack.
Security guards perform their duties in all sorts of settings. They guard commercial buildings, government buildings, private homes and companies. They are usually the first line of defense against criminals and are often faced with life and death situations. They take up the responsibility of protecting their employers and their property. In order to be a qualified and eligible candidate for working as a security guard, you should have a clean record with no history of criminal offenses or mental illness.
Security guards are also called upon to do tasks that involve chemical hazards, nuclear materials and other hazardous substances. Due to this, security guards must be certified in the use of weapons such as firearms. A high school diploma is required in most cases. There are also some states where GED is not a requirement for security guard employment.
When you enroll in any course designed to train you as a professional security guard, you will be given a standard training program. Most training programs will cover written and field practice as well as psychological assessment. The program will consist of classroom instruction, classroom demonstrations and fieldwork. The courses will help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge required to perform your duties successfully.
There are a number of organizations that specialize in training security guards. These organizations offer certificate and degree programs. The programs offered by the security industry are usually recognized by the American Academy of Security Executives (AAFSE), the National Security Agency (NSA) and the United States Army Marks and Stores Training and Research Center (MSTC). Security guard certification is offered by many professional organizations throughout the United States.
If you want to work as part of a security team, you should be prepared to undergo basic classroom training. Security guards are required to be knowledgeable in all areas of criminal behavior, human anatomy and physiology, management and leadership, investigation techniques, computer skills, first aid procedures and safety procedures. As part of the training, security guards will learn about emergency procedures, police tactics, weapon usage and other emergency procedures as well.
In addition to classroom instruction, you will also need to complete a minimum of eight hours of on-the-job experience working in a security environment. Most security guards receive some type of on-the-job training during their initial tour of duty. On-the-job experience will allow you to familiarize yourself with the daily operations of your job and the systems and equipment that are employed within your work environment. Security guards are usually assigned a specific area of responsibility where they will work to provide customer and security protection.
Security Guard Certification is achieved by taking a security guard training course that lasts between eight and twelve weeks. Security guard certification programs offered through the American Academy of Security Executives (AASE) are designed to help security guards who are preparing to take the examination. The exams for the certification program are based on the Security Guard Standards of Practice (SOPs). Once you have completed Security Guard Certification, you can work in your chosen profession without worrying about whether or not you have the right qualifications. Security guard training has certainly come a long way since your first days in college.