Getting a California Guard Card
If you plan on getting California guard card, you will be required to take an eight hour training course.
This can be done online or through a local training facility. Not all training facilities are employers. Many will not help you get jobs after your training has been completed. Some training facilities do offer job placement assistance though, and you can find out easily enough by simply asking them.
The first requirement for getting your CA guard card is an eight hour course called 'Powers to Arrest.' This course reviews the authority you will have once you get your California guard card. Once you get a printed copy of your guard license you can start working.
But your training does not end there. Within thirty days after you have your guard card or after you begin employment you must take sixteen extra training hours. These courses involve two mandatory courses and two courses you can select.
Most of the practical security guard training you will receive is on-the-job. Every employer has unique security needs. Most employers will provide some level of training before you start working. If you find that you are working at a place where no or minimal job training, and you are not sure what your duties are, take it upon yourself to ask your employer so there is no confusion. It's always better to know too much than too little. While your California guard card may give you a license to work as a security officer, it does not make you aware of the specific needs that clients have and the expectations that they have of you. For this reason, make sure you understand what you employer's expectations are of you from the beginning, so you can avoid any confusion and potentially save yourself a lot of aggravation.
Once you get your California guard card you must also decide where you want to work. It's best to pick places that are of interest to you. Before you start looking for security guard jobs, consider what your expectations are from the job. This should include issues such as minimum pay, preference of shift/schedule, and general job duties. Many new security guards are hesitant to state what their job preferences out of fear of not getting hired. However, it is much better to voice your needs, then it is to take a position only to find that it is not what you're looking for. So be sure to ask relevant questions when you are interviewing and don't be timid about letting the prospective employer know about your expectations.
Remember though, if you get caught working without a CA guard card you can get your employer and yourself in a great deal of trouble. So if you are really serious about becoming a security guard, the first step is to get a license. Getting your California guard card does not take a great deal of time and it is easy to get started. So what are you waiting for? Start your new career in the security guard industry today.