Licensing with the ASRB
The Alabama Security Regulatory Board (ASRB) licenses security officers, armed security officers and contract security companies. The law is in Title 34, Chapter 27C of the Code of Alabama, and the Board's rules are in chapter 832-X-1 of the Alabama Administrative Code.
Under the law, a security officer is a person hired under contract mainly to protect people or property from crime, for example by preventing intrusion, theft, vandalism and trespass. An armed security officer is a security officer who carries or has access to a firearm while working. People whose work is limited to custodial duties or reporting in-house rule breaks, and who do not wear a security uniform, are not security officers under this law.
Who can be licensed
- You must be at least 18 years old, or at least 21 if you will carry a firearm.
- You must be a US citizen or lawfully present in the United States.
- You submit fingerprints for state and FBI criminal history checks.
- You swear that you have no disqualifying felony or crime of moral turpitude (unless pardoned), have not been declared incompetent, and are not a habitual drunkard or addicted to narcotics.
A license cannot be assigned or transferred to someone else. A contract security company must also hold its own license.
The Board-approved training
Section 34-27C-8 requires Board-approved training taught by a Certified Trainer, with a minimum of eight hours. The rules say this classroom training must be done before you apply. Armed applicants need at least 14 hours, plus firearms safety training and a firearm qualification course.
The rules group the training into subject categories. Some topics are required during initial training, as the table shows.
| Subject category | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Role of contract security | Crime awareness and prevention, ethics and professionalism |
| Legal information | An overview of the security law and Alabama criminal law; detention procedures and Alabama laws of arrest are required in initial training |
| Providing security services | General patrol techniques and report writing |
| Handling crisis situations | Fire prevention and control, and methods of crowd control, both required in initial training |
| Use of equipment | Firearms, less-lethal weapons and restraints |
| Customer service and specialized services | Dealing with the public and special types of security work |
The written test
All Board-required training includes a written test. It is graded pass or fail, and you need at least 70% to pass. The test covers the subjects you were taught, so pay close attention to the legal topics: the security law, detention procedures and the laws of arrest.
Both unarmed and armed officers must also complete Board-approved use of force training, at first and again as refresher training before each renewal.
Working, renewing and keeping your license
Temporary license
A complete, notarized Temporary Personal License form serves as a temporary license while your application is processed. You must carry it on your person at all times while doing security work. If you are told your license has been denied, you must stop providing security services.
Renewal
A security officer license expires two years after it is issued. Before you renew, you must complete Board-approved refresher training, and renewal includes a supplemental background check. A personal license that has been expired for more than two years cannot be renewed, so you would have to apply again.
Other rules to know
- Report any non-traffic criminal conviction to the Board within seven business days.
- Do not carry or use a less-lethal weapon (such as a baton or chemical spray) or restraints unless you have been trained and certified, and only as your employer's rules allow.
- Armed officers must pass a firearm qualification course with 80% and must qualify at least once a calendar year.
- Sworn peace officers are exempt from the basic training.
Alabama law for security officers
A security license does not give you police powers. Your main job is to observe, deter and report.
Watching, being visible and reporting are the core of security work.
- Observe: watch people, places and activity carefully
- Deter: a visible, alert officer discourages crime
- Report: pass on what you see by radio, phone or written report
Arrest by a private person
Under Code of Alabama section 15-10-7, a private person may arrest someone for a public offense committed in their presence, or when a felony has been committed and the person arrested committed it or there is reasonable cause to believe they did. You must tell the person why you are arresting them, unless they are caught in the act or arrested during a pursuit. Then you must take them before a judge or magistrate, or hand them to an officer, without unnecessary delay.
Shoplifting detentions
Under section 15-10-14, a merchant or merchant's employee who has probable cause to believe goods were taken unlawfully may detain the person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time to recover the goods. Follow your employer's policy, and call the police.
Use of force
Use force only when it is lawful and necessary, and only as much as is reasonable. Stop when the threat stops, get medical help for anyone hurt and write a full report.
Reasonable force depends on the threat, the people involved and your other options.
- The threat faced
- Whether force was needed at that moment
- Proportionality: force in balance with the threat
- Other options that could have been used
- The aftermath and the duty of care
Patrols, reports and crisis situations
Patrol techniques and report writing are part of the required training. Vary your patrol times and routes, check doors, windows, lights and fire exits, and follow your post orders.
Changing your route and timing makes it harder for anyone to predict where you will be.
- A predictable route that follows the same loop every time
- An irregular route that changes its order and timing
Write notes as soon as you can while details are fresh. Answer who, what, when, where, why and how. Record facts, not opinions.
Fire prevention and crowd control are required topics. Know where alarms, extinguishers and exits are. In a fire, raise the alarm, call 911 and help people leave by the planned routes. In a crowd, stay calm, keep exits clear and call for help early.
A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Remove one and the fire goes out.
- Heat
- Fuel
- Oxygen
Key terms
The 16 words and rules to know for this test. Read the list or study them as flashcards: flip each card, then mark it "Know it" or "Still learning".
- ASRB
- The Alabama Security Regulatory Board, which licenses security officers, armed security officers and contract security companies.
- Title 34, Chapter 27C
- The part of the Code of Alabama that holds the state's security officer law.
- Security officer
- A person hired under contract mainly to protect people or property from crime, such as intrusion, theft, vandalism and trespass.
- Armed security officer
- A security officer who carries or has access to a firearm while working, and must be at least 21.
- Minimum age
- Applicants must be at least 18 to be licensed, or at least 21 to carry a firearm.
- Certified Trainer
- The person who must teach Alabama's Board-approved training, which is at least eight hours for unarmed officers.
- Armed training
- At least 14 hours for armed applicants, plus firearms safety training and a firearm qualification course.
- Written test
- Part of all Board-required training, graded pass or fail, with at least 70% needed to pass.
- Use of force training
- Board-approved training all officers take at first and again as refresher training before each renewal.
- Temporary Personal License
- A complete, notarized form that serves as your license while your application is processed. Carry it at all times on duty.
- License renewal
- A license expires two years after issue. Renew with refresher training and a supplemental background check.
- Conviction reporting
- Report any non-traffic criminal conviction to the Board within seven business days.
- Firearm qualification
- Armed officers must pass with 80% and qualify at least once a calendar year.
- Private person arrest
- Under section 15-10-7, arresting for a public offense in your presence or a felony, then handing them to a magistrate or officer promptly.
- Shoplifting detention
- Under section 15-10-14, a merchant with probable cause may detain a person reasonably, for a reasonable time, to recover goods.
- Observe, deter, report
- The core of security work: watch carefully, discourage crime by being visible, and pass on what you see.