Courses / Security Officer Basics
Free online course · Certificate of completion
Security Officer Basics: What the Job Is and How to Get Started
A free introduction to working as an unarmed security officer: what the job involves, how licensing works in your state (with DC, Maryland and Virginia in detail), your authority and its limits, and the everyday skills employers look for.
This free course is general information to help you get started. It is not state-approved security officer training: to get licensed in any state, you will still complete that state's approved training.
- 1What a security officer does 3 min
- 2Getting licensed in your state 3 min
- 3Your authority and its limits 2 videos5 min
- 4Patrols, post orders and staying alert 3 min
- 5Writing a clear report 3 min
- 6Emergencies, safety and professional conduct 3 min
- 7Getting hired and growing a career 3 min
You've completed this course. Your next steps:
Resources and next steps: official links for licensing, training, jobs and more, with what each one is for.
Straight answers
Seven short lessons on what the job really involves, written for people new to security.
Built on official sources
Licensing facts come from state agencies and the U.S. Department of Labor, and pay data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Free certificate
Pass the 15-question quiz (80% or better) and download a certificate of completion as a PDF.
Who it's for
- Anyone thinking about a job in security
- New officers who want a refresher before their first post
- People comparing security work with other entry-level jobs
- Career changers from retail, hospitality, the military or customer service
What you'll learn
- Understand what security officers do, where they work and what they earn
- Get licensed the usual steps, DC, Maryland and Virginia in detail, and how to find your state's rules
- Know your limits where your authority comes from and where it stops
- Do the job well patrols, reports, emergencies and professional conduct
The certificate you'll receive
About the certificate
The certificate shows you completed the course and passed its quiz: something to show employers you took the time to learn. It is not a license or state-approved training, so to work as a security officer you will still complete your state's required training and licensing.