Essential Information
New York has several schools that offer training for security guards. Community colleges host standalone courses consisting of 8 and 16 hours in order to meet state requirements. Courses may be held on Saturdays and may last a few days or weeks. A high school GED or diploma is the basic education requirement, as well as being 18 years old.
College at Brockport
The College at Brockport in Brockport offers security training through the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center. Potential security guards can complete an 8-hour pre-assignment course that awards students a New York State security guard registration card at its completion. The 16-hour on-the-job training program also is available and must be completed within 90 days of security guard employment.
Genesee Community College
Genesee Community College is a 2-year school in Batavia. The Best Center offers enrichment training classes in the areas of personal and career fulfillment. One of these courses is the 8-hour pre-assignment security guard training. Attendance is mandatory to receiving the certificate of achievement.
Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College serves over 13,500 students each year in Troy. The school offers a variety of workforce development courses on various topics, including security guard training. One of those classes is the security guard pre-assignment 8-hour training program that focuses on job roles, communication, emergency situations and more. The on-the-job 16-hour program examines terrorism, public relations and ethical behavior. Additionally, the school has a program dedicated to the annual security guard training requirement. This 8-hour course reviews any updated information to the state's protocols.
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York City's John Jay College of Criminal Justice is part of The City University of New York (CUNY) system. John Jay is a 4-year school serving more than 14,000 students each year. The Security Management Institute offers a variety of professional studies courses. The 8-hour pre-certification course covers job responsibilities, legal limitations, public relations and more. The on-the-job 16-hour class delves into report drafting, as well as the individual's job institution protocols. Additionally, John Jay offers the 8-hour annual in-service training course.
Mohawk Valley Community College
Utica's Mohawk Valley Community College is a 2-year public school. This higher-learning institution offers pre-assignment, on-the-job and in-service training courses to pursue and maintain a career as a security guard. As mandated, the program was certified by the New York State Division of Licensing and Criminal Justice Services and offers instruction on access control, emergencies, ethical issues and public relations.
Monroe Community College
Rochester's Monroe Community College is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) school system. The public safety and training facility offers all the necessary training courses to pursue and sustain employment as a security guard. The 8-hour pre-assignment training course covers the roles of the security officer, legality limitations and emergency procedures. The 16-hour on-the-job program examines job functions, ethics, command centers and more. Both courses require students to pass an exam. Additionally, an annual in-service 8-hour course is offered that overviews updated information related to job protocols.
Onondaga Community College
SUNY's Onondaga Community College is a 2-year school in Syracuse. The Public Safety Training Center offers an 8-hour pre-assignment security guard training course. This course explores ethics, communications and job functions, and to pass the course, students must complete an exam.
Orange Community College
More than 7,000 students attend Orange Community College in Middletown. The continuing and professional education department offers an 8-hour pre-assignment security training course. The class instructs students on the job roles, safety procedures, emergency procedures and ethics, and it includes a mandated exam.
Pace University - New York
Pace University - New York is a 4-year private, not-for-profit school. This higher-learning institution offers professional education courses through the continuing and professional education division. Security guards can complete an 8-hour security guard licensing pre-certification course, 16-hour on-the-job course and 8-hour annual re-certification course. Upon completion of the 8-hour pre-assignment and 16-hour on-the-job training course, students will receive a certificate of completion.
The City College of New York
The City College of New York, in New York, is a 4-year school with more than 16,000 enrolled annually. The continuing and professional studies division offers security guard training for beginning and working security guards. The 8-hour pre-assignment certification course educates students in the security industry, emergency response preparation and access control. To complete the course, students must pass an exam. The 16-hour on-the-job program gives an overview of report writing and delves deeper into what was learned in the prerequisite course.
Career Requirements
According to the New York State Security Guard Act, individuals must be certified to work as security guards. Job seekers are mandated to attend an 8-hour course and obtain a certificate. Once the certificate holder has landed employment, during the first 90 days the person must attend a 16-hour course. Additionally, in-service, 8-hour workshops are required annually thereafter.
School Comparison: At a Glance
| School Name | School Type & Setting | Security Guard Training Courses Offered | Graduate & Undergraduate Tuition & Fees (2018-2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College at Brockport | 4-year, public; fringe town | 8-Hour Pre-Assignment Security Guard Training, 16-Hour On-the-Job Training Course for Security Guards | $8,412, (In-state, Undergraduate); $18,192, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate); $12,024, (In-state, Graduate); $23,584, (Out-of-state, Graduate)* |
| Genesee Community College | 2-year, public; distant town | Security Guard 8-Hour Pre-Assignment | $4,640, (In-state, Undergraduate); $5,240, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| Hudson Valley Community College | 2-year, public; small city | Security Guard Pre-Assignment 8-Hour Training, Security Guard On-the-Job 16-Hour Training, Security Guard Annual In-Service 8-Hour Training | $5,812, (In-state, Undergraduate); $13,087, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 4-year, public; large city | 8-Hour Security Guard Pre-certification, 16-Hour Security Guard On-the-Job Training, 8-Hour Security Guard Annual In-service Training | $7,270, (In-state, Undergraduate); $14,940, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate); $11,212, (In-state, Graduate); $20,362, (Out-of-state, Graduate)* |
| Mohawk Valley Community College | 2-year, public; small city | 8-Hour Pre-Assignment Training Course for Security Guards, 16-Hour On-the-Job Training Course for Security Guards, 8-Hour Annual In-Service Training Course | $5,266, (In-state, Undergraduate); $9,636, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| Monroe Community College | 2-year, public; large suburb | 8-Hour Security Guard Pre-Assignment Training, 16-Hour Security Guard On-the-Job Training, 8-Hour Security Guard Annual In-service | $5,336, (In-state, Undergraduate); $9,716, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| Onondaga Community College | 2-year, public; large suburb | 8-Hour Pre-Assignment Training Course for Security Guards | $5,484, (In-state, Undergraduate); $10,384, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| Orange County Community College | 2-year, public; small suburb | 8-Hour Security Guard Pre-Assignment Training | $5,580, (In-state, Undergraduate); $10,556, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate)* |
| Pace University - New York | 4-year, private not-for-profit; large city | 8-Hour Security Guard Licensing Pre-Certification, 16-Hour Security Guard On-the-Job Training, 8-Hour Annual Re-certification | $45,280, (Undergraduate); $31,462, (Graduate) * |
| The City College of New York | 4-year, public; large city | 8-Hour Pre-Assignment Security Guard Certification Course, 16-Hour On-the-Job Training | $7,140, (In-state, Undergraduate); $14,810, (Out-of-state, Undergraduate); $11,082, (In-state, Graduate); $20,232, (Out-of-state, Graduate)* |
Source: *NCES College Navigator
