subject: Who Needs Bsis Training? [print this page] The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services doesn't allow just anyone to run around calling him or herself a security guard. In California, you'll need BSIS training to work for an alarm company, locksmith, as a private investigator, in private security, and as a repossessor. Not only will you need the training and certification to be considered for the job, but you'll need to maintain your certification on an ongoing basis.
People who work in these industries are in a position to either help or harm various individuals. As an employee of an alarm company, for example, you are entrusted with the secret numerical and verbal codes that are designed to keep a family safe in their home. A locksmith could use his or her talents and tools for good or evil. Private investigators or security guards who carry firearms need to know how to use a weapon in a responsible manner.
During training, you'll be instructed in how you will need to comply with state and federal mandates and regulations in your business and as an employee. As a security guard, for instance, you can be either un-armed or armed with a firearm. Either way, you'll need to know how to deal with aggressive behavior, threats to your client, and the proper use of a handgun. Far from being an impotent "rent-a-cop," yours will be a valuable and valued service provided to protect individuals from outside threat.
Many BSIS training facilities additionally offer companies and businesses assessments of their security systems and feedback on where they need to be improved. This can be invaluable. Hospitals, airports, and other facilities where large numbers of people are congregated can become targets of terrorists and other baddies, and knowing how to prevent such attacks can save thousands of lives. Working hand in hand with your security force in order to support their efforts will keep you and your clients safer.
For those who work in the BSIS regulated industries, the training you'll require will teach you how to do a good job. You'll learn observational techniques along with the skills to deescalate a tense situation. If people insist on becoming violent or hostile, your knowledge of firearms (if you carry one) could be crucial to yours and others' safety. Continuing certification keeps you up-to-date and helps you master your skills over time.
BSIS training facilities are easy to find. A simple internet search should yield information about a facility near you, and you can begin your own training or contact them with your questions.
