Armed Security Guard Training Requirements in West Virginia

West Virginia is known for its wide range of outdoor recreational activities that local people and tourists alike enjoy. With thousands of tourist coming in and enjoying the outdoors, security is very much needed in order to protect the safety of its people.  

The state of West Virginia is open for people who are interested in applying and working as an armed security officer. Like all states, there are requirements that each applicants must meet in order to qualify for the job. The applicant must be licensed in order to become an armed guard. Take note that all licenses are regulated by the West Virginia Secretary of States.

Here are some qualifications that an individual must meet before they can work as an armed security officer:

• Applicant must be at least 21 years old.
• Applicant must be a United States citizen.
• Applicant must have a proof of residency.
• Applicant must have a high school graduate, highs school diploma or an equivalency certificate.
• Applicant will be finger printed.
• Applicant must have his background checked via FBI style.
• Applicant should complete the number of hours needed for certified training.
• Applicant must have good moral character
• Applicant must not have been denied a security license before.
• Applicant must have a valid identification car or driver’s license.
• Applicant must have no history of assisting an inmate escape.
• Applicant must have no history of buying or selling stolen property.
• Applicant must not physical disabilities that would hinder his/her performance as an armed guard.
• Applicant was never denied a license or had one revoked in the state of West Virginia.

All applicants must be able to meet the outlined requirements however, if you plan on becoming a sole proprietor, you must be able to prove years of experience as a security guard. In West Virginia, certain training as well as experience is required by the company that hires you in order to become an armed security officer. With this being said, security guard training is needed for that individual.

Topics for training may include the following:

• Working with and addressing the public  
• First Aid Overview  
• Report Writing  
• Your role as an armed security guard  
• Legal Ramifications  
• Techniques for patrolling and observation  
• Incident Response  
• Surveillance operation and documentation 

Additional topics may be added depending on the instructor. For the firearms training, all applicants must meet all firearms requirement training set by the 61-7-4 West Virginia Code. Once license is approved, this is valid for two years and must be renewed before its expiration date. License holders may be required a refresher course depending on the new set of rules that will be applied, so do check for further updates.