State Approved Training Programs

Advance Your Career with
Certified Training

Choose the package that fits your professional development goals. The first 3 packages include state required certification.

State Required Certificate

$65 $85
  • ✓ State Required Guard Card Included
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ No career enhancement electives
  • ✓ Redeem with 1 certificate credit  
MOST POPULAR

State Required Certificate + 1 Elective

$95 $125
  • ✓ State Required Guard Card Included
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ Career Enhancement Elective
  • ✓ Boost Job Readiness
  • ✓ Redeem with 1 State credit and 1 Elective credit
Advanced

State Required Certificate + 3 Electives

$140 $205
  • ✓ State Required Certificate Included
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ 3 Career Enhancement Elective
  • ✓ Boost Job Readiness
  • ✓ Redeem with 1 certificate credit and 3 elective credits   
You cannot obtain a California Guard Card entirely online. California requires specific BSIS training. While the initial course may be taken online, security officers must complete additional training hours after receiving their Guard Card.

The State Certificate includes the 32 hours of training required within the first 6 months after obtaining your Guard Card, as required by California regulations.

Career Enhancement Electives are optional training courses taken in addition to your state required certification. Guards who complete electives earn approximately 23% more per hour than those who don’t. Examples include De-escalation Training, Power to Arrest, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Explore all electives

1 Elective

$35 $40
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ 1 Career Enhancement Elective
  • ✓ Boost Job Readiness
  • ✓ 1 elective credit   

3 Electives

$90 $120
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ 3 Career Enhancement Elective
  • ✓ Boost Job Readiness
  • ✓ 3 elective credits

5 Electives

$125 $200
  • ✓ State Approved Training
  • ✓ 5 Career Enhancement Elective
  • ✓ Boost Job Readiness
  • ✓ 5 Elective Credits   

Three Simple Steps to Get Started

  • Step 1
    Choose Your Package

    Start with the State-required certification, or bundle in 1–3 career enhancement elective to grow your skills and earning potential.

  • Step 2
    Complete Checkout

    Complete checkout in seconds. Your account instantly shows your available certification and career enhancement elective credits.

  • Step 3
    Redeem Your Credits

    Begin your state-required certification immediately. Use your career enhancement elective credits anytime to choose the specialty courses that help you qualify for better-paying posts.
Get Started

Courses Available in California

Explore Our Complete Library of Career Enhancement Electives

Your career path is unique, and your training should be too. With access to over 60 state-approved career enhancement electives, our package system puts you in control. After your purchase, you can redeem your credits for any course in our library—whether you’re fulfilling site requirements like Fire Safety or advancing into high-paying Executive Protection roles, all at your own pace.

Administrative
SPECIALTY CERT: PUBLIC RELATIONS - COMMUNITY & CUSTOMER (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: ID VERIFICATION TRAINING (1 HOUR) SPECIALTY CERT: LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND USE OF FORCE (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: SITUATIONAL RESPONSE, RESPONDING TO & DOCUMENTING CRITICAL EVENTS (4 HOURS)
De-escalation / Use of Force
SPECIALTY CERT: DE-ESCALATION OF FORCE SPECIALTY CERT: LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND USE OF FORCE (4 HOURS)
Emergency / Crisis Response
SPECIALTY CERT: DEFENSIVE DRIVING – DRIVER AND VEHICLE SAFETY (2 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: BASIC AND EMERGENCY FIRST AID (2 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: FIRE SAFETY AND FIRE WATCH TRAINING (1 HOUR) SPECIALTY CERT: SITUATIONAL RESPONSE II (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: SITUATIONAL RESPONSE, RESPONDING TO & DOCUMENTING CRITICAL EVENTS (4 HOURS)
Specialized / Advanced Skills
SPECIALTY CERT: DEFENSIVE DRIVING – DRIVER AND VEHICLE SAFETY (2 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPORTANCE (4 HOURS) SPECIALTY CERT: GENERAL DUTIES, WRITING REPORTS, & CONDUCTING PATROLS (6 HOURS)

Better training equals higher hourly rates

We Offer State-Required Certification

Get all the mandatory security training you need to qualify for work. Our certification courses meet state requirements and give you the foundational knowledge every guard must have to get licensed and hired.

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Career-Enhancement Electives

Take your skills beyond the basics. Add optional career enhancement electives that strengthen your professionalism, expand your capabilities, and help you earn higher hourly rates than the average guard.

The only online security guard school

Built by security guards for security guards

that you will need to maximize your hourly earning potential.

On-Demand Learning

On-Demand Learning

Train anytime and anywhere at your own pace. Access all courses 24/7 so you can study whenever it fits your schedule.

Fully Convenient

Fully Convenient

Works seamlessly on phone, tablet, or desktop. No classrooms, no appointments. Learn your way instantly.

Easy & Accessible

Easy & Accessible

Clear lessons, intuitive navigation, and instant progress tracking. Designed to make learning simple for every future guard.

Cost-Effective Pricing

Cost-Effective Pricing

Affordable training with no hidden fees. Only pay for the career enhancement electives you choose, nothing extra.

Built to Meet Professional Security Training Standards

Every course we offer has been crafted to reflect the real requirements of the security industry. From foundational state-mandated training to advanced elective courses, our programs follow clear quality criteria, ensuring your learning is consistent, up-to-date, and job-ready.Whether you're preparing for state licensing, upgrading your skills, or working toward higher-level roles, our training gives you a strong, credible foundation.

Why Security Guard School is Better

Guards we get certified make more.

Security guard training isn't just about meeting state compliance; it is about establishing a competitive advantage in the job market. In today's security landscape, top-tier employers are actively seeking candidates who possess specialized skills beyond the basic Guard Card. By completing our comprehensive certification packages—which include essential career enhancement electives like Power to Arrest and De-escalation—you position yourself for the highest-paying roles in the industry. Whether you are targeting high-traffic retail environments or specialized private protection, our curriculum is specifically designed to maximize your hourly earning potential immediately upon hire.

  • Healthcare & Hospital Security: Commands higher pay for patient restraint and crisis intervention skills.
  • Corporate Office Protection: Professional "Class-A" environments requiring advanced access control knowledge.
  • Retail Loss Prevention: Active theft deterrence roles that pay significantly more than passive observation.
  • Event & Venue Security: Lucrative contracts for guards certified in crowd management and bag checking.
  • Construction Site Patrol: High-liability zones requiring specific asset protection and fire watch training.
  • Educational Campus Safety: Specialized positions mandating training in student interaction and campus patrol.

Our guards who take advantage of career enhancement electives make on average 23% more per hour.

Kevin Turner

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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Dylan Grant

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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Deshawn Carter

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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Tyrone Brooks

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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Marcus Bell

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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Derrick Mason

Hear from Our Graduates: How Our Course Transformed Their Security Careers

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See How We Stack Up

Features Security Guard School ShieldForce Academy National GuardCert Network Sentinel Security Institute
Fully Online Courses ✓
Access from phone, tablet, and computer		 Limited Limited Limited
Nationwide Certification Coverage ✓
Coast-to-coast compliance		 X X X
Instant Certificate Download ✓
Download anytime, anywhere		 X X X
Specialty Certifications ✓
Expand your skills + pay		 Limited Limited Limited
Interactive Online Training ✓
Modern & mobile-friendly		 X Limited X
Real Human Support, 24/7 ✓
Chat, phone & email		 X Limited Limited
Built by Industry Pros ✓
Career-focused curriculum		 X ✓ X
Government-Sponsored Training ✓
Eligible for state programs		 Limited X Limited
Trusted by 100K+ Guards ✓
Proven results		 X Unknown Unknown

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Started

Will my guard certification cover all cities and towns in California?

Yes, your security guard certification in California is valid statewide including cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and more covering all cities and towns. Once you obtain your certification (guard card) from the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), you can work as a security officer anywhere in the state, as long as you keep your certification up to date with any required renewals and training.

What qualifications do you need to become a security officer in California?

Yes, your security guard certification in California is valid statewide, covering all cities and towns. Once you obtain your certification (guard card) from the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), you can work as a security officer anywhere in the state, as long as you keep your certification up to date with any required renewals and training.

What disqualifies you from becoming a security guard in California?

In California, you can be disqualified from becoming a security guard if you have felony convictions, certain misdemeanor convictions (especially those involving violence, theft, or moral turpitude), or if you fail the FBI and California Department of Justice background check. Being on probation, parole, or having a history of substance abuse can also disqualify you. Additionally, failure to complete the required training or providing false information on your application can lead to disqualification.

How much does it cost to take a Level 2 training course to become a security officer in California?

In California, the cost of a Level 2 security officer training course, which includes the required 8-hour training for an unarmed guard, typically ranges from $100 to $300, depending on the training provider. Security Guard School provides this course for $49.00 Additional fees for fingerprinting, background checks, and applying for a guard card through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) can add another $100 to $150, bringing the total cost to around $200 to $450.

What are the levels of security guards in California?

In California, security guards generally fall into two levels: unarmed guards and armed guards. Unarmed guards are required to complete a 40-hourtraining program and obtain a guard card from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) to perform basic security tasks. Armed guards, in addition to the 40 hour training, must complete specific firearms training, obtain a firearm permit, and undergo live range qualification to carry a weapon while on duty. Both levels must pass background checks and maintain certification through continuing education.

Are Level 2 non-commissioned security guards allowed to carry a firearm in California?

In California, security guards generally fall into two levels: unarmed guards and armed guards. Unarmed guards are required to complete a 40-hourtraining program and obtain a guard card from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) to perform basic security tasks. Armed guards, in addition to the 40 hour training, must complete specific firearms training, obtain a firearm permit, and undergo live range qualification to carry a weapon while on duty. Both levels must pass background checks and maintain certification through continuing education.

How do I get my security guard license in California?

To get your security guard license in California, you must complete a 40-hour training course approved by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), pass a background check with the FBI and California Department of Justice, and submit your fingerprints. After completing training, you apply for a guard card through the BSIS website. Once approved, you will receive your guard card and be eligible to work as a security officer across the state.

Expert Advice for Security Professionals