Are you a reliable, observant person with genuine concern for the safety of others?
If so, you might be a great fit for a job as a security guard, earning a starting wage of $17 an hour.
New laws set to roll out in January 2027 are designed to ensure fair and increased compensation for security guards, with private employers being required to pay their guards at the same rate as those working under public building contracts, including paid time off and benefits.
Prepare to break into the field just in time for the new laws to take effect, with free training programs available throughout New York City.
Mandatory Licensing
In order to work as a security guard in New York, you must complete an eight-hour pre-assignment training course, as the first step in getting your license. Upon successful completion, the student receives a certificate used to apply for the license. Next, the sixteen-hour on-the-job training course is a two-day class that must be taken within 90 days of initial employment as a security guard. It covers tasks related to the specific job sites and requirements of the employer. Finally, every year security guards must enroll in an eight-hour annual in-service training course as a renewal of their eligibility.
There are a number of locations dedicated to walking participants through the process. The first, considered the main pathway from the NYC government, is through Workforce 1.
Workforce 1
Run by New York City’s Department of Small Business Services, the program’s individual training grant gives trainees a voucher that covers everything needed to obtain a New York State security guard license–from classes to fingerprint processing fees and license filing.
How it works:
- Register online or in person at a Workforce 1 Career Center, which are located in each borough
- Meet with a counselor and take an assessment
- If approved (within 30 days), get the voucher for your free training
Minimum qualifications for those interested include being 18 years and older, holding a high school diploma or its equivalent, possessing an up-to-date resume and being in the process of looking for work.
If determined eligible, the student will receive a grant voucher that is viable at any Workforce 1 approved training school, like United Security Training Center and Star Security Training, to cover the cost of classes. Coursework should usually be completed within two weeks after the first course is taken.
Through Workforce 1, there is a pop-up unarmed security guard training on Tuesday, March 24, from 9:30 am at Guardian Group Services in Brooklyn! Learn more here.
CAMBA
CAMBA is a nonprofit agency with a combination of staff and volunteers, providing services that connect people with opportunities designed to improve their quality of life. They have a security guard training academy that is licensed by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services. CAMBA provides double the required training hours for students who need more time with the curriculum or more intensive assistance with the licensing paperwork. The curriculum spans topics such as report writing, emergency response, customer service and crime prevention, plus a specialized course in providing security for the human services field.
Students who successfully complete the course can access employment preparation programs and job placement support.
CAMBA’s eligibility criteria includes proof of work authorization and high school diploma or equivalent.
Interested applicants can visit the CAMBA office at 2244 Church Ave., Brooklyn, or reach out by calling 718-282-0108 x 66106.
Queens Educational Opportunity Center
In conjunction with CUNY’s York College, the Queens Educational Opportunity Center is offering remote, tuition-free security guard training with classes starting in March 2026. Participants will receive all the typical certification classes (eight hour pre-assignment course, 16-hour on-the-job training course) as well as job placement assistance. People interested in training at this center have the option of applying online, in person or virtually.
Their requirements include being 18 years or older, currently out of school, having no barriers to employment, meeting EOC eligibility guidelines and having a valid social security card or other work authorization.
