You must be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien of the United States, be 18 years or older and not have any record of past convictions of serious crimes. You must also take the state-mandated 8-Hour Pre-Assignment course. A certificate is issued after successful completion and is required as part of the application. You are also required to take the 16-hour On the Job Training (OTJT) course within 90 days of being employed as a security guard. Knight Training Institute can provide all required training for your certification.