Security is a wide field encompassing a number of opportunities for the qualified candidate. However, to become a qualified individual one has to go through a number of processes and most individuals are confused about where to even begin. Depending on the type of guard position you may be applying for and the city/state in which you apply, beginning a security career maybe as easy as walking into an office and getting hired. However, in most cases the first step that one initiates toward a security career is to find a state certified instructor or to attend a state run organization for licensing of security guards.

The best way to find out which option is relevant in your case is to simply approach a security organization in your locality and inquire about the licensing procedure. Once the individual has identified and applied for license in the prescribed format, then she/he shall be eligible for training. For the sake of thoroughness, we shall hope to enumerate in detail the following steps that most individuals have to go through in order to become a fully-fledged security guard:

1.  Certification: No matter in which state/city that one may apply to become a security officer, one will need to obtain a license first and foremost. This can be done by completing the prescribed form and hours of training, in most cases 40 hours of training is the norm and culminates towards an assessment at the end. Upon successful completion of the assessment, the individual is issued a license by the respective state/city. It is worthy to note that to apply for a license, in most states the applicant must be over 18 years of age and for specific guard jobs the minimum age for qualification is 21. It may also be required that the individual complete additional hours of training in case of some prescribed security positions to further enable them to be effective in said position.

2. Checks : An individual applying to become a security guard should likely prepare oneself for a barrage of tests, these include the standard background checks, drug screening, and the more detailed psychological evaluation in case of armed personnel. Background checks and drug checks are carried out to ensure the credibility of the applicant, while psychological evaluation gauges the mental stability of the individual.

3. Specialized Training: If one is looking to become an armed security officer, she/he will be expected to complete additional hours of training especially in case of fire-arms and other weapons. The type of training ultimately depends on the weapons themselves, with training given to carry anything from a baton to a gun to crowd control measures such as tear gas etc.