Resources and publications: Security guards

Associations

International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators (IASIR)

The International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators (IASIR) provides information about state and provincial security licensing statutes, regulations, and requirements.

The Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR)

The Council on Licensure, Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR) is an international association of state and provincial officials involved with occupational and professional licensing and regulation issues.

Study guides

Security guard exam study guide

All principals and certified trainers must demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in the following areas:

All topics in the security guard pre-assignment training course

See the pre-assignment training study guide below.

General security management

Washington Access to Criminal History (WATCH) (Washington State Patrol)
Start a business (Department of Revenue)
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) (Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated)

 

Legal and liability issues related to the security guard industry

Protection Officers Training Manual (available at many online retailers)

Washington laws and rules regarding security guard licensing and regulations

Security guards (RCW 18.170)
Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act (RCW 18.235)
Firearms and dangerous weapons (RCW 9.41)
Washington criminal code (RCW 9A)
Private security guard companies and private security guards (WAC 308-18)

Pre-assignment training study guide: Security guards

Pre-assignment training must include the following areas of required knowledge:

1. Basic principles

Basic role of the security guard
Washington licensing laws
Observation
Proper actions, reactions, ethics, and diversity
Homeland security: Terrorism and surveillance

Resources

International Association of Chiefs of Police
Protection Officers Training Manual (available at many online retailers)

2. Report writing: It's a legal document

Elements and characteristics of a report

Resources

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Material Safety Data Sheet
Protection Officers Training Manual (available at many online retailers)

3. Safety and accident prevention

Hazardous materials including MSDS
Accident reporting

Resources

Mayo Clinic: First Aid
American Red Cross
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

4. Emergency response

How to define what is or is not an emergency situation
Response to fires
Response to medical emergencies
Response to criminal acts
Bomb threats

Resources

Washington Criminal Code
Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act
Protection Officers Training Manual (available at many online retailers)
Citizen Arrest

5. Legal powers and limitations

Citizen arrest 
Authority to detain, question, or search a private citizen 
Authority to search or seize private property 
Use of force 
Building relationships with law enforcement 
Avoiding liability

Resources

Department of Homeland Security
Washington State Laws Regulating Private Security Guards
Protection Officers Training Manual (available at many online retailers)

Post-assignment training study guide: Security guards

The following topic areas are used for post-assignment training. Training topics may also include the subjects listed under WAC 308-18-300.

Basic role of private security guards

Security awareness
Private security guards and the criminal justice system
Information sharing
Crime and loss prevention

 

Job assignment and post orders

Assignments and tasks
Patrol

 

Life safety awareness

Safety hazards in the workplace/surroundings
Emergency equipment placement
Fire prevention skills
Hazardous materials
Occupational safety and health requirements (e.g., OSHA-related training, bloodborne pathogens, etc.)

 

Emergency response procedures

Critical incident response (e.g., natural disasters. accidents, human-caused events)
Evacuation processes

 

Principles of safeguarding information

Proprietary and confidential

 

Principles of access control

Enter and exit control procedures
Electronic security systems

 

Principles of communication

Interpersonal skills
Verbal communication skills
Building relationships with law enforcement
Customer services and public relations
Workplace violence

Report writing

Observation and incident reporting

Observation techniques
Note-taking

 

Security officer conduct

Ethics
Honesty
Professional image

 

Legal aspects of private security

Evidence and evidence handling
Use of force
Court testimony
Incident scene preservation
Equal employment opportunity (EEO) and diversity
State and local laws

Explanation of abbreviations

• RCW—Revised Code of Washington (Washington State laws)
• WAC—Washington Administrative Code (Washington State agency regulations)

News updates

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