Private Security Officer Education Requirements And Courses

Private security officer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, private security officers don't need a college education. The most common degree for private security officers is high school diploma with 31% graduates, with only 29% private security officer graduates earning bachelor's degree. Private security officers who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or University of Houston. Some good skills to have in this position include patrol, emergency situations and foot patrol.

What education do you need to become a private security officer?

What degree do you need to be a private security officer?

The most common degree for private security officers is high school diploma, with 31% of private security officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 29% and bachelor's degree degree at 26%.

High School Diploma, 31%

Bachelor's, 29%

Associate, 26%

Diploma, 7%

Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a private security officer?

You should major in criminal justice to become a private security officer. 38% of private security officers major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a private security officer include business and general studies.

Criminal Justice, 38%

Business, 14%

General Studies, 8%

Psychology, 4%

Other Majors, 36%

Best majors for private security officers

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Criminal Justice	37.7%
2	Business	14.3%
3	General Studies	8.4%
4	Psychology	4.5%
5	Computer Science	3.5%

Show more common private security officer majors

20 best online courses for private security officers

Advertising disclosure

1. Security in Google Cloud

Through recorded lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on labs, participants explore and deploy the components of a secure Google Cloud solution, including Cloud Identity, the GCP Resource Manager, Cloud IAM, Google Virtual Private Cloud firewalls, Google Cloud Load balancing, Cloud CDN, Cloud Storage access control technologies, Security Command Center, Stackdriver, Security Keys, Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys, the Google Data Loss Prevention API, and Cloud Armor. Participants learn...

2. Security Guard Training Course

4.4

(383)

Security Officer Training In Today's Job Market...

3. Security Management: Excellence in Private Protection

4.5

(905)

A complete Security Management knowledge suite of managing security operations, programs/services, budgets, & personnel...

4. Automotive Cyber Security

4.2

(1,627)

A learners Guide: Covers Automotive Security, Concepts of Security and many more...

5. Planning and Implementing a Security Incident Response

4.4

(1,105)

Learn all about planning and implementing a Security Incident Response along with best practices and recommendations...

6. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

4.5

(656)

Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...

7. CCSO - Certified Cloud Security Officer

4.7

(1,162)

Prepare for the Mile2® Certified Cloud Security Officer Exam (CCSO) with this course...

8. AWS Security: DevSecOps & AWS Security Services & Terraform

4.5

(331)

Cloud Security in AWS Implement SAST, SCA & DAST in AWS Dev Sec Ops Pipeline from scratch and Security Services in AWS...

9. ISO/IEC 27002:2022. Information security controls

4.5

(770)

Learn about the comprehensive set of information security controls proposed by ISO/IEC 27002:2022...

10. Build Security Incident Response for GDPR data protection

4.5

(1,330)

CIPT, CIPM FREE GDPR and Incident Response Templates & Documentation - Practical GDPR and Incident Response Blueprint...

11. The Ultimate Dark Web, Anonymity, Privacy & Security Course

4.7

(7,465)

Learn how to access & use the dark net and the clear net privately, anonymously and securely...

12. Cyber Security: Awareness For Everyone (2023)

4.6

(343)

Cyber Security First Steps: Privacy, Phishing, Social Engineering, Malware, Email Security, and Hackers...

13. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

4.2

(267)

A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

14. Cyber Security Guidelines for Organizational Users

4.4

(469)

ISO 27001 Cyber Security Guidelines to stay Safe & Secure online for Users in Office, Working-From-Home or Roaming Users...

15. AWS Certified Security Specialty Course SCS-C02 [NEW 2023]

4.7

(503)

Ace your AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam [SCS-C02] AWS Security Specialty Practice Test included NEW [2023]...

16. IT Security 101 - Cyber Security for Beginners

4.2

(390)

Learn cyber security best practice tips on securing computer networks from internal & external IT cyber security threats...

17. Linux Security and Hardening, The Practical Security Guide.

4.5

(3,902)

Secure any Linux server from hackers & protect it against hacking. The practical Linux Administration security guide...

18. The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security!

4.6

(16,367)

Volume 2 : Network Security, Wi Fi Security, Wi Fi Hackers, Firewalls, Wireshark, Secure Networking. + Password Managers...

19. Cyber Security Fundamentals in Bangla

4.5

(329)

Learn Personal Data Security Basics...

20. Cyber Security: Info Security, Combat Cyber Threats, ChatGPT

4.4

(760)

Cyber Threats, Attacks, Viruses, Chat GPT & Cyber, Cyber Crimes, Firewalls, Cyber Security Concepts, Digital Forensics...

Average private security officer salary by education level

According to our data, private security officers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $36,073 annually. Private security officers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $33,343.

Private security officer education level	Private security officer salary
Master's Degree	$36,073
High School Diploma or Less	$30,286
Bachelor's Degree	$33,343
Some College/ Associate Degree	$31,400