8-Hour Pre-Assignment Training Curriculum

This opening module establishes the foundation for the entire course. Students learn what it means to be a licensed security guard under New York State law, the difference between private security and law enforcement, and what is required to obtain and maintain their NYS registration.

• NYS Security Guard Act overview
• DCJS registration requirements and process
• Roles and limitations of private security
• Professional conduct and appearance standards
• Course overview and completion requirements

One of the most critical modules in the course. Students learn exactly what a security guard can and cannot legally do — including the narrow circumstances under which a citizen's arrest is lawful, the limits of search authority, and the serious legal consequences of overstepping those boundaries.

• Citizen's arrest authority under NYS Criminal Procedure Law
• Trespass law and authority to remove persons from property
• Search and seizure limitations — Fourth Amendment implications
• False arrest and false imprisonment liability
• When and how to involve law enforcement
• Documentation requirements after a detention or arrest

This module covers the legal and practical framework for use of force in a security context. Students learn the continuum from verbal commands to physical intervention, when each level is legally justified, and the serious consequences — criminal and civil — of using force improperly. De-escalation is emphasized as the preferred approach.

• Use-of-force continuum: verbal commands through physical intervention
• Proportionality and reasonableness standards
• De-escalation techniques and conflict avoidance
• Defensive tactics overview (non-hands-on instruction)
• Prohibited uses of force
• Post-incident procedures and mandatory reporting
• Liability for excessive or unjustified force

Security guards are often the first responders in an emergency. This module prepares students to act decisively and correctly in fire, medical, bomb threat, and active threat situations — including the nationally recognized Run, Hide, Fight protocol for active shooter events.

• Fire safety: detection, notification, evacuation, and extinguisher use
• Medical emergencies: CPR/AED awareness and first responder coordination
• Bomb threat procedures: recognition, response, and evacuation
• Active shooter / active threat: Run, Hide, Fight protocol
• Evacuation planning and assembly point procedures
• Emergency communication: radio, phone, and chain of command
• Post-emergency documentation and reporting

Effective patrol is the core operational skill of a security guard. This module covers how to conduct patrols that actually deter and detect threats, how to manage access control points, and how to document observations in a way that creates a defensible record.

• Patrol techniques: random vs. fixed patterns
• Perimeter security and access control
• Observation and surveillance best practices
• Visitor management and credentialing
• Key control and asset protection
• Patrol log documentation and shift handover procedures

A poorly written report can expose a security guard and their employer to serious legal liability. This module teaches students to write reports that are factual, complete, and legally defensible — skills that will serve them throughout their security career.

• The five W's of incident reporting: Who, What, When, Where, Why
• Factual vs. opinion writing — why the distinction matters legally
• Chronological narrative structure
• Common report types: incident, daily activity, use-of-force, property damage
• Chain of custody documentation
• Corrections and amendments to reports
• How reports are used in legal proceedings

Security guards interact with the public constantly — and how they communicate directly affects safety outcomes and their employer's reputation. This module covers professional communication, radio protocols, conflict de-escalation, and the cultural competency required to work effectively in diverse environments.

• Professional verbal and non-verbal communication
• Radio communications: protocols, codes, and proper usage
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation in public interactions
• Cultural sensitivity and implicit bias awareness
• Working with law enforcement: roles, handoffs, and cooperation
• Client relations and representing your employer professionally
• Social media and confidentiality obligations

The security profession is built on trust. This module reinforces the ethical obligations that every security guard carries — to their employer, their client, the public, and the law. Students learn the code of conduct expected of licensed security professionals in New York State.

• Security guard code of ethics
• Integrity, honesty, and accountability
• Conflicts of interest and prohibited conduct
• Confidentiality: client information, incident details, and proprietary data
• Professional appearance and uniform standards
• Substance abuse and fitness for duty
• Whistleblower protections and reporting misconduct

The final module brings the course to a close with a comprehensive review, assessment, and distribution of completion certificates. Students leave with a clear understanding of their next steps to obtain their NYS Security Guard registration and the continuing education requirements to maintain it.

• Course review and Q&A
• Assessment completion
• Certificate of completion distribution
• NYS DCJS registration next steps
• Continuing education requirements (16-hour annual training)