1. 1. Each candidate for registration as a private security officer must qualify by successfully completing a basic training course approved by SLED.

2. 2. The standard basic training course consists of four or more hours of training by a certified private security company training officer and must consist of the latest material provided to the trainer by the South Carolina Technical College Private Security Training School. Such basic training must be completed, a written examination administered and scored, accurate results of the testing documented in the employer’s files, and application for registration received by SLED before the security officer begins duties at a client site. The required written examination must be designed by the company certified training officer and must consist of questions taken from the lesson plan performance objectives used by the trainer.

   1. A. A candidate who successfully completes such basic training will, upon issuance of a registration card by SLED, be designated as a Registered Private Security Officer.

3. 3. An alternative basic training course approved by SLED may be substituted for standard basic training. For consideration of approval by SLED, an alternative training course must be developed and conducted by an agency or educational institution accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation authority recognized by SLED.

   1. A. A candidate who successfully completes such alternative basic training will, upon employment by a licensed private security entity, qualify for registration by SLED as a Certified Private Security Officer.

   2. B. The security officer must complete an additional minimum two hours of orientation and training by a certified company training officer. The training must be sufficient to ensure:

      1. 1. the safe, accurate and proper use of equipment to be used by the security officer,
      2. 2. knowledge adequate to properly and competently perform the duties and responsibilities specific to the assignment of the officer, and

      3. 3. additional topics specified by the employer.

         3.1 In addition to the training required herein, a private security officer who will be authorized to carry a firearm must, before being issued, authorized or permitted to carry a firearm on duty, successfully complete a course approved by SLED, consisting of a minimum of four hours of training by a private security company certified training officer or law enforcement firearms instructor currently certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, in the safe and proper use of the specific type(s) of firearm(s) to be issued or carried. Such training must:

   3. A. adhere to the lesson plan(s) and course(s) of fire provided by the South Carolina Technical College Private Security Training School, and
   4. B. include a demonstration of the safe and competent use of the firearm on a range supervised and documented by a private security company certified training officer or law enforcement firearms instructor currently certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
4. 4. Unless otherwise specifically approved in writing by SLED at a specific site, private security officers are prohibited from possessing or using rifles or shotguns in connection with private security activities.
5. 5. Accurate and complete documentation of all training of each private security officer must be retained by the employer and submitted to SLED as required. Complete and legible copies of each employee’s training records must be furnished by the employer to the employee and must be retained by the employee as his permanent training record. Upon request by SLED, training documentation must be made available by the employing entity and the employee for inspection.
6. 6. Upon change of employer, a registered private security officer must furnish to the new employer documentation of all training received. If such documentation is not available and cannot be secured from the immediate past employer, the new employer is required to conduct and document currently required minimum training.
7. 7. Mere possession of a registration card does not serve as documentation of required training.

8. 8. Failure of an employer and registered security officer to retain required training records is a violation punishable by suspension or revocation of the company license and the security officer’s registration.

   1So in original. State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 6, eff June 23, 2006 promulgated two subsections, both designated as subsection 3.

HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 6, eff June 23, 2006.