If you’re looking for jobs and a career related to training law enforcement in Los Angeles city, but you haven’t worked for a security agency before, aside from having security officer training experience, you also need to get a license to start your PSO trainer career in California.

How Do You Become A Security Officer?

California proprietary private security officers are usually unarmed professionals who interact with the general public while on duty and protect them in specific situations or crimes. They provide public relations directly to their employer and aren’t allowed to be contracted by another agency. Here are the important things you need to secure to start your security officer career.

Registration Requirements For A Security Officer Training

1. One of the important requirements is you need to be at least 18 years old to be qualified for having a career as an officer.
2. No criminal records after doing a background check through the California DOJ and the FBI.
3. Completed 40 hours of security guard training courses by a certified training security program and agency.
4. Fingerprinting via Live Scan.
5. Pay for the registration fee. Once the application is completed and you have submitted the fingerprinting, you should send your California security guard licensing requirements to the BSIS.

Application Process For A Security Officer Training

Aside from undergoing security guard training program, you need to apply for your Proprietary Private Security Officer registration, you must first prepare necessary requirements like three copies of a PSO Live Scan form.

Print all three copies of the live scan form, and head over to the Luna’s Training Academy (we are united with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services) to have your fingerprints electronically submitted to the DOJ and the FBI. 

The cost of the Live Scan is as follows:

• DOJ Fingerprint Processing Fee: $32

• FBI Fingerprint Processing Fee: $19

• Live Scan Processing Fee: $25

Subtotal: $76

You should also prepare the following documents:

• Application for Proprietary Private Security Officer form, which can be accessed here: 
• A money order for the application fee made payable to “Bureau of Security and Investigative Services”.
• The second copy of your Proprietary Private Security Officer Live Scan forms complete wit the ATI number and the Live Scan Operator’s signature.

Once assembled, mail the documents and payment to:

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

P.O. Box 989002

West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002

Once you’ve submitted all the relevant requirements, the BSIS will look into your records and criminal history. Once cleared, you will see your  Proprietary Private Security Officer registration on the BSIS website. You can check your BSIS approval through a g DCA License Search at https://search.dca.ca.gov/. 

When you see your Proprietary Private Security Officer registration on the BSIS website, you can then print out a copy of this approval form and use it as an interim Proprietary Private Security Officer registration card. You can use this interim card to look for a job as a Proprietary Private Security Officer. 

You should receive your Proprietary Private Security Officer registration card within 15 to 20 business days after your registration gets approved. It will be mailed to your address. When you’re on-the-job, you must keep your valid Proprietary Private Security Officer registration card and valid photo identification with you at all times.

Renewing Your PSO Registration

Once you get your PSO registration approved, you are expected to renew your registration every two years. 60-120 days before your schedule for renewal, you will receive a renewal application in the mail. If in some cases you do not receive your renewal application, you can print one out from PSO form here or BSIS renewal fees here.

When you’ve filled out your renewal application, send the forms and your payment to:

Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

PO Box 989002

West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002

You may also submit and pay for your renewal application using BreEZe to shorten processing time.

How Long is A Security Guard Course?

Every Proprietary Private Security Officer must complete a set of training courses within 6 months from the PSO registration approval. As per section 7574.5, 7574.7, and 7574.8 of the Business and Professions Code, the training course for this particular profession will require a total of 16 hours worth of Classroom Theory sessions. You will be able to learn tactical courses like:

The first 4 out of 16 hours will be spent in pre-licensing courses such as:

• Powers to Arrest (2 hours)

• Weapons of Mass Destruction (2 hours)

After these pre-licensing classes, the remaining 12 hours will cover topics such as:

• The Roles and Responsibilities of a Proprietary Private Security Officer
• Responsibilities of the Public and the Employer
• Liability Issues
• Emergency Procedures
• Communications and Conflict Management

Every year, every Proprietary Private Security Officer is also required to complete 2 hours of continuing education, specifically dedicated to the review of security officer skills. This annual training will be handled by your employer. 

The BSIS recommends that you keep all copies of your Certificate of Completion. 

If you’re interested in taking this course and getting your California Proprietary Private Security Officer license, contact us now!

How Do I Get a Security Guard Card?

1. You need to complete the security guard card training courses “Power to Arrest ” and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and pass the examination.
2. You and the training academy or the security guard training school must submit a security officer application for a guard card online. It will be sent electronically to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
3. You should also send your fingerprints electronically using Live Scan. Make sure to use the security guard Live Scan forms downloaded from the website of Bureau of Security and Investigative Services or get it from the California BSIS. The Live Scan operator will also collect the fees to process for your FBI and DOJ background checks.
4. Once you received your guard card through the mail, you should complete the additional 32 hours of educational security training courses.

The first 16 hours of mandatory security officer training classes covers:

• Observation & Documentation
• Public Relations (Community & Customer)
• Liability / Legal Aspects
• Communication and its Significance

And the remaining 16 hours is also important for aspiring security professionals since it covers electives such as Officer Safety, Patrol Techniques, etc.

How Do I Become a Security Trainer?

Professional security guard instructors are an elite class. Not only have they dedicated themselves to protecting the lives of others, they also have the knowledge and experience to train others to do the same. A person must have special training and years of experience in order to become certified as a security guard instructor.

1. You need to finish special security guard training.
2. Get relevant experiences like law enforcement, security report writing, and another related program. BSIS also includes specific requirements such as the required years of experience for you to get a certification to teach security officer training.
3. You must complete instructor courses security training for you to obtain a guard instructor license. A California security guard training center will accept courses approved by BSIS, including security guard instructor development courses and police training programs. Make sure your state approves courses before you register for them.
4. Obtain your license as a guard instructor license by sending an application to the California BSIS. The application will usually ask about your basic information, your educational background, your employment experience, your instructor training, and your experiences as an instructor. You also need to include photocopies of important documents such as certifications and transcripts.