2 Online Social Sciences Certificates Available

The 21st Century is a great century to be in a security career, and each century after this one will be an even better one. In an age of cyberhackers, identity theft and recessionary theft, shrewd but morally correct professionals are indispensable.

Schedule-wise, security is a great job option for vigilant... and athletic individuals who are available to work untraditional hours. Many security officers work part-time, complementing daytime work in other industries, but for others it is a full-time career that requires full dedication. Though less training is required to become a security guard (compared to other areas of law enforcement), many of the responsibilities are the same—the most important one being to protect one's employer from all kinds of crime. This includes vandalism, theft, trespassing, and even terrorism.

A license is required to become a security guard in most states. Earning a license involves having a background check and completing classroom training in relevant areas such as property rights, emergency procedures, and detention of individuals suspected of criminal activity. Aspiring security guards may also have to complete about 12-16 hours of on-the-job training. Some, but not all, employers require their security guards to be armed, so Firearms Training may also be an important part of the program. Security guard training programs are most commonly offered by private security training schools. School administrators are careful to work with individual students to make sure their program fits the requirements of their state, their employers, and their own career goals.

About half of security guards are employed by security agencies that send their workers to job sites on a contract basis; the other half are employed across almost every industry in the public and private sector. Armed security guards are paid the highest, because of the potential hazards inherent to the job.

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