How are Private Security Guards Trained?

How are Private Security Guards Trained?

Private security guards can be hired to keep a property or event safe. Whenever there’s a situation where crowd control and safety is needed for the general public, private security guards are trained to appropriately respond to many emergency situations, should they occur. As the population in Ontario continues to rise, the demand for security has also shown an increase. If you’re interested in becoming a private security guard in Ontario or you plan on hiring security for your next event, you may need more information about the training process.

Before becoming a private security guard in Ontario, a security licence must be obtained. These are issued by the Province of Ontario under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. In this case, the relevant licence would be a licence to act as a security guard. Before someone can apply for a security guard licence, they must complete the Ontario security guard training and licensing process.

BASIC TRAINING COURSE

The basic training course is a minimum of 40 hours long and also includes certification in Emergency First Aid/CPR. If a trainee opts out of Emergency First Aid/CPR training they must provide proof of a valid First Aid/CPR certificate, indicating they were trained by a St. John Ambulance or Workplace Safety Insurance Board-certified instructor.

The purpose of this security training course is to introduce the role of security guards and specifically outline their level of authority as well as their limitations. The private security guards in training will also learn how to respond to emergency situations, such as medical emergencies and emergency evacuation routines. They will be expected to exercise excellent communication skills and proper ethics and conduct in accordance with Provincial Regulations and Codes of Conduct.

Topics for the Private Security Guard basic training course include:

• Introduction to the Security Industry
• The Private Security and Investigative Services Act and Code of Conduct regulation
• Basic Security Procedures
• Report Writing
• Health and Safety
• Emergency Response Preparation
• Canadian Legal System
• Legal Authorities
• Effective Communications
• Sensitivity Training
• Use of Force Theory
• Emergency Level First Aid Certification

A properly trained security guard needs to be able to respond well to changes in their environment. This means being able to adapt to events such as movement in traffic and ensuring the safety of people between given locations. They should also be able to monitor and manage people and vehicles arriving and leaving the area. Extensive training sessions will teach security students how to assess the physical environment of a place and identify basic aspects of security and whether or not the security of a place has been compromised. Tapping into your intuition and applying it to the fundamentals of basic security procedures are a necessity for being successful while on the job.

BASIC TEST

The next step in training is to undergo testing based on the topics that were taught and practiced during the basic training course. The basic test consists of 60 multiple choice questions and trainees are given 75 minutes to complete the test.

After passing the test, the trainee is now able to apply for their security guard license with the Province of Ontario. Aside from test completion, the person applying for the licence must also meet the following requirements:

• The person has no past criminal record.
• The person has a clean criminal record and has not been convicted of any criminal offence, drug offence, or any other offence whether or not it has been pardoned.
• The person must be 18 years old or older
• The person must show proof of entitlement to work in Canada such as a work permit, visa, or Canadian citizenship.
• The person has successfully passed the basic training and basic test required.

Once a person obtains a valid licence they become a licensed security guard and they can now apply for a position within various organizations and industries. Although there is a demand for security almost anywhere, here are the most common options available today:

• Standard security
  • These types of security officers are assigned to various locations of businesses like banks, malls, and sometimes residential condominium buildings.
• Crowd control
  • A great option for part-time work. Manage the behaviour of crowds at public events like festivals and concerts.
• Personal bodyguard
  • Obtain work protecting one specific person or group of people at an event.
• Airport security
  • Provide security to airport premises such as within the terminals and parking lot areas. Protect travellers from any potential threats.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

In addition to initial training and certification, security guards attend additional training courses to ensure their knowledge and skills are kept up-to-date.

To learn more about private security guard training, call Security Guard Course at 1-(888) 409-1118 or contact us here.