Training for security guards was mandated by the Security Guard Act of 1992. The Act requires that all security guards complete three training courses. Armed guards are required to complete two additional training courses. All courses must be conducted at approved training schools, by certified instructors. The Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office of Public Safety provides administrative oversight for private security training in New York State.

 

A security guard as defined in Article 7A of the General Business Law [§89-f (6)] is a person (other than an active police officer) employed in NYS to principally perform one or more of the following duties, and the person is not performing the functions of a private investigator as defined in Section 71 of Article 7 of the General Business Law:

 

• protection of persons and/or property from harm, theft, and/or unlawful activity;

• deterrence, observation, detection, and/or reporting unlawful or unauthorized activity;

• street patrol service;

• response to, but not installation or service of, a security system alarm.

 

The 8 hour Pre-Assignment for security guards course is a general introductory course. Upon successful completion of this course the guard is issued a training certificate. This certificate must accompany the security guard's registration application when submitted to the Department of State. Once the application is submitted, the guard has 90 days to complete the second training course, the 16 hour OTJ (On the Job) Training Course. Additionally, security guards are required to complete an 8 Hour Annual In-Service Training Course. This course is designed to meet current training needs and refresh or update guards in changes in the security field. The guard must complete this course as a prerequisite for renewal of his or her guard registration.