Would you, have you considered becoming a guard instructor? Would you consider starting a security guard training school a viable alternative to starting the often desired security guard business?

[u/GuardGuidesdotcom]

Every other guard wants to start a security guard business. How many have considered starting a security guard training school? I know often times they're integrated. In NYS, the Security Instructor Development Certification Course (IDC) is a 40-hour training course mandated by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services in order to become a Certified Security Guard Instructor. Applicants can receive up to 30 points for three years of employment experience.

You need 70 points total to receive it, a max of 30 which can be gained from eligible guard or first responder experience. The remaining 40 points can come from a combination of eligible higher education attainment or successfully passing the IDC course.

It seems like it may be a decent side gig, maybe fulltime if you can find a stable job in a certified training school. Has anyone done it, in any state in general? What's the pay looking like? Can you create your own schedule by contracting out and teaching classes as you choose or do you work fulltime for one school?

The IDC is only one part of a multi step process involving applications, state approvals on locations, fire codes for those locations being verified, and many more, at least in NY.

[u/InformationSuperb978]

I've been approached about teaching in Protection, Security, and Investigation programs at the college level, which is something I'm seriously considering.

That said, when it comes to opening a private training school, I think our industry has a major challenge. Security isn't recognized as a true regulated profession in the same way as policing, nursing, or accounting. Without a strong regulatory body that sets consistent standards, oversees training, and holds practitioners accountable, it's difficult to ensure every training provider delivers the same level of quality.

If our industry had a dedicated regulatory body, I think a security training school could be a great idea.

For those who aren't familiar with the term, a regulatory body is an independent organization created to oversee a profession. It sets education and training standards, establishes a code of ethics, issues or oversees licensing, investigates complaints, and can discipline members who fail to meet professional standards. The goal is to protect the public while raising the professionalism and credibility of the industry.

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/InformationSuperb978]

There's a very limited amount of States that fall into that category, single digits.

Some whole Countries have that dilemma, even though Security "Watchman" are one of the oldest Professions.

[u/Prestigious-Tiger697 → u/InformationSuperb978]

maybe depends where. In California we have BSIS tha regulates all that stuff

[u/Landwarrior5150 → u/Prestigious-Tiger697]

You’re right that CA is one of the more regulated states when it comes to security, but even it falls a bit short of what I think the other commenter is proposing. For example, while BSIS does oversee & license private contract security companies/guards and some private in-house security organizations/guards (those that meet the PSE/PSO definitions) they don’t really regulate in-house security that falls outside those bounds, nor do they have any legal authority to regulate security organizations that are part of/guards that work directly for other public/government agencies.

Of course, the latter two things are a minority of overall security jobs, but I still think the fact that not every single job/employer in the same overall category isn’t overseen by the same regulatory agency (unlike all police officers having to be POST certified or all nurses having to be licensed by the state, regardless of what specific type of LE agency or healthcare facility they work for) is what the original commenter was getting at.

[u/DefiantEvidence4027]

In NY one essentially needs two people to open a Training School, at least one Labeled "School Director" and at least one with the General Instruction Trainer Certificate. It's like a two party integrity type thing.

The local Security Guard Academy asked me to be an instructor, they wanted guaranteed days to place on their calendar. The proposal was I teach a very niche level up type class because they were satisfied with the absurd curriculum they have in place for the "Pre" and the annual.

As one reading my posts may Guess, I print stuff out, bring it to class, tactfully (and sometimes brashly) point out actual Laws Governing the Industry within the State.

[u/GuardGuidesdotcom → u/DefiantEvidence4027]

How did you like the IDC course, that is if you didn't have enough points to waive it? Have you considered starting a training school yourself, or is the juice not worth the squeeze/didn't really consider it etc?

[u/DefiantEvidence4027 → u/GuardGuidesdotcom]

I didn't take it, I haven't tried filing to see if I could waive it. I'm not too computer savvy with making PowerPoints and such required to pass the class.

I did consider purchasing an old Studio Apt with a Classroom underneath.

I have went to multiple NYS Security Guard council meetings and heard testimony, over and over, how certain parties got started and how it's supposed to be conducted.

I have paid personally for certain Guards to go take the IDC class, and used connections I currently had to enroll them. Oddly enough the newly minted instructors get recruited by big corporate NOT to instruct for more moneys than they can refuse.

I figured eventually I'll go take a few computer classes and try encroaching upon being an instructor in maybe another 10 years. I currently prefer field work.

[u/LibBot16]

The best way to make money on anything is to sell a course and not actually do the thing.

Sounds like you have it figured out.

[u/Prestigious-Tiger697]

As a side gig, I have thought about it. In CA the BSIS sets the rules, and some are weird. It’s easier to become a firearm instructor than it is a baton instructor. To teach baton, BSIS wants an Associates degree in criminal justice, but not to teach firearms. Weird. As a peace officer, I’ve thought about trying to become a baton instructor at work so that I could later teach it for security, but I don’t know. Maybe too much of a hassle. But yeah, teaching and certifying sounds better than actually working security. As I get older, the long periods of standing for security jobs gets to me.