Post job

Protective services officer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, protective services officers don't need a college education. The most common degree for protective services officers is bachelor's degree with 35% graduates, with only 26% protective services officer graduates earning associate degree. Protective services officers who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Strayer University. Some good skills to have in this position include patrol, patients and cpr.

What education do you need to become a protective services officer?

What degree do you need to be a protective services officer?

The most common degree for protective services officers is bachelor's degree, with 35% of protective services officers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 23%.
  • Bachelor's, 35%
  • Associate, 26%
  • High School Diploma, 23%
  • Master's, 5%
  • Other Degrees, 11%

What should I major in to become a protective services officer?

You should major in criminal justice to become a protective services officer. 46% of protective services officers major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a protective services officer include business and law enforcement.

Best majors for protective services officers

20 best online courses for protective services officers

Advertising disclosure

1. Privacy Law and Data Protection

coursera

What does it take to comply with privacy laws? In this course, we’ll look at the practical aspects of navigating the complex landscape of privacy requirements. Better understanding privacy laws and data protection will enable you to protect your organization and the constituents that depend on your organization to safeguard their personal information. First, we will examine the historical context that drove the creation of laws, best practices, and other standards for protecting personal...

2. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

udemy
4.5
(656)

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

3. Build Security Incident Response for GDPR data protection

udemy
4.5
(1,330)

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

4. Security Guard Training Course

udemy
4.4
(383)

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

5. Security Management: Excellence in Private Protection

udemy
4.5
(905)

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

6. CCSO - Certified Cloud Security Officer

udemy
4.7
(1,162)

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

7. Microsoft 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requ.

udemy
4
(385)

Microsoft 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements...

8. Planning and Implementing a Security Incident Response

udemy
4.4
(1,105)

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

9. Automotive Cyber Security

udemy
4.2
(1,627)

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

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

udemy
4.5
(331)

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

11. Learn AWS Identity Management with AWS IAM, SSO & Federation

udemy
4.6
(2,200)

Deep dive into AWS Identity Access Management [AWS IAM], AWS Organizations, Directory Service, SSO & Federation [2023]...

12. Electrical Control & Protection Systems

udemy
4.6
(1,763)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

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

udemy
4.5
(3,902)

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

14. How to succeed in a Data Protection Officer Role (GDPR DPO)

udemy
4.5
(962)

Learn how to become a great GDPR Data Protection Officer (GDPR DPO) - Step by Step with examples (CIPT, CIPM, CIPP/E)...

15. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

udemy
4.5
(2,165)

Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

16. Electrical Control & Protection Systems part 2

udemy
4.7
(718)

This course introduces electrical control & protection systems which are a critical part of any electrical substation...

17. ISO/IEC 27001:2022. Information Security Management System

udemy
4.5
(10,956)

Learn how your company can protect its information with an ISMS that meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001...

18. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

udemy
4.2
(267)

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

19. Exam MS-100: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements

udemy
4.5
(294)

Everything you need to know in order to pass the Microsoft 365 Identity and Services (MS-100) exam successfully...

20. Microsoft Office 365 Administration

udemy
4.5
(2,676)

Microsoft Office 365 Administration...

Average protective services officer salary by education level

According to our data, protective services officers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $58,065 annually. Protective services officers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $52,909.
Protective services officer education levelProtective services officer salary
Master's Degree$58,065
High School Diploma or Less$47,222
Bachelor's Degree$52,909
Some College/ Associate Degree$49,282

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse protective service jobs