Explore related resources and publications for security guard licenses.
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
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Security guard exam study guide
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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)
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Pre-assignment training study guide: Security guards
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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
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)
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Post-assignment training study guide: Security guards
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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)
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