Free Guard Card Training or Financial Aid for Guard Card Training
Private security training is considered vocational or trade training. Many Federal, State, scholarships, grants, and private charity organizations will cover the costs of vocational training and state licensure for those who qualify. The first step is to identify your "category" of qualification and then identify the agency that best fits your needs.
There are a huge number of agencies with money waiting to be spent. The trick is identifying the agency that is right for you. Grants and scholarships are preferable because those types of aid do not require payback. Avoid loans of any type. These must be paid back and include interest. There is enough money out there that loans are not necessary.
It is going to take work. The money is available, but it does not just fall from the sky. You must call around, speak with representatives of the organization, and complete volumes of forms and applications. Vocational school training is normally easier to get than full college scholarships because it costs less, and the recipients can start to work almost immediately after completing the training.
Private security requires a clean criminal record. Some misdemeanors can be forgiven, especially with time, but felony convictions nearly always disqualify an applicant from state licensure.
Security Training Center® encourages anyone interested in a security career to apply to each agency in which one is eligible.
Step 1: Identify Category
Status categories include, but are not limited to:
- Age
- Disabled
- Economic hardship
- Homeless
- Jobless (laid off, etc.)
- Recovering addict
- Veteran
Step 2: Identify Agency
You will undoubtedly need to contact multiple agencies and charities. Below are some places to start:
- California Employment Development Department
https://edd.ca.gov/en/Jobs_and_Training/ - California Student Aid Commission
https://www.csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs - FASFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa - Federal Pell Grant
https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell - Golden State Education & Training Grant Program
https://gsetg.csac.ca.gov/ - Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans
https://horatioalger.org/ - Job Corps
https://www.jobcorps.gov/ - Local City or County Job Training Departments
Many cities and counties have job training or job re-training programs - Local religious institutions
- Scholarships.com
https://www.scholarships.com/ - The GI Bill covers non-college degree programs at approved schools
https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-benefits/how-to-use-benefits/non-college-degree-programs/
Step 3: Agency Will Contact Trainer
Once an agency or private entity has agreed to cover your costs, the organization will contact the approved training provider and arrange for training and payment. It is then up to you to complete the training.
Disclaimer
Security Training Center® is not a charity and does not provide financial aid. However, STC does work with charities and government agencies that do provide financial aid and scholarships for security guard training.