How to Become a Security Consultant

A security consultant provides solutions to individuals, commercial real estate and retail business owners looking to reduce security violations such as vandalism and shoplifting. To qualify for the professional certification needed to become a security consultant, you'll need to build several years' worth of experience as an internal consultant for a security company.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Certifiable professional security consultant designation
• Bachelor's degree (recommended)

1. Acquire a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. Generally, the degree you use when you apply to a certification program can be in any field, so long as it was completed satisfactorily.

2. Gain work experience in the security industry by working entry-level jobs. You will require the endorsement of a supervisor to verify that your work contributed to positive development of internal security procedures at your place of employment. Typically, you can gain this experience working as a security guard or for a private security company.

3. Continue to work your way upward, attaining positions with more responsibility for a period of at least 3 years. Remember that if you did not complete a bachelor's degree, most of the professional certification courses you'll encounter will require you to have 8 additional years of work experience to bypass the education requirement on your application.

4. Find an accredited program that offers industry-recognized certification in the field of security consulting. Sometimes, an institution will offer certification in tandem with the credentials needed to become a private investigator. You can learn more about what is needed for certification at the International Association of Professional Security Consultants website, a recognized professional organization (see Resources below).

5. Seek job positions with a higher degree of responsibility once your finish your certification courses and pass your examinations. You now have the credentials to become a security consultant.

6. Continue to explore career options by constantly upgrading your old skills and learning new ones. If you've got entrepreneurial spirit, you might even want to consider opening your own security consulting business one day.

Tips & Warnings

• You may not qualify for your professional certification if you have a felony on your criminal record. If you have a felony, you will have to attempt to have it expunged before you can attempt your certification.

Resources

• Certification policies at the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) website