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Executive Protection Training Standards
July 2024
Executive Protection Training Standards: Since there is no national, quantifiable standard for the training of law enforcement and the private sector in close protection, many states and employers or agencies have developed their own arbitrary standards. This has led to training providers designing their curricula and establishing standards based on nothing quantifiable.
Our Solution
The ISA Executive Protection Training Program voluntarily adheres to the administrative guidelines outlined in the 2020 Edition of the FLETA Procedures and Standards manual. We also strictly comply with the regulatory requirements set forth by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice and the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board for conducting training courses that are approved for state credentials and licenses. Click on the image to learn more.
But why?
“If you’re going to enter an industry that provides services to keep someone safe and alive, I would point out that being someone who just does enough to meet the minimum standards isn’t going to impress many employers or clients.”
Matthew Parker, ISA CEO
Executive Protection Training Standards, January 31, 2024
High Executive Protection Training Standards; Our Reasons
With that simple statement above from our CEO, the ISA executive protection training standards were established. We are training students to protect a life, and our graduates will receive a certificate approved by state regulatory agencies for a license or credential that authorizes our graduates to be employed in that line of work.
And because we also follow the guidelines of state and federal law enforcement training our law enforcement students may be “certified” to provide close protection to public officials or receive in-service or professional development credits. Meeting and or exceeding the standards required by these regulatory agencies is not easy, or inexpensive. so why go through the expense? Simple…
A certificate from a training course may not be worth the paper it’s printed on unless your training is accredited and recognized by the security industry or an official regulatory authority. ISA Executive Protection Training programs are fully accredited and recognized by state law enforcement and security regulatory agencies as well as approved for educational credit from institutions of high learning.
Social Media and Executive Protection Training Standards
Often a discussion will begin on social media by someone asking “what is the best school” or “best course” to attend, and “will it help me get into the industry?” And its a great question. The person asking is doing their due diligence, maybe its some research before entering into the private sector EP field.
ISA Executive Protection Training Standards; What you need to know
In today’s executive protection job market companies are looking for candidates with both a formal education and specific accredited training. In some locations as we have mentioned a state issued credential or license is required. This means a new agent needs to focus their time and money on those programs available to attain or earn certifications, credentials, licenses, and permits. ISA training programs are approved for state credentials for personal and close protection agents in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as approved for In-service, continuing education and professional development credits for law enforcement, private investigators and detectives in NC, SC, GA, MD, VA, PA .
Q&A
Ques: “What is your states requirement to work in executive protection”. Hours of training, topics etc.
Answer: If your state doesn’t have a requirement then attend any course you want. Will that get you into the industry, no, but as there is no minimum state standard, you can take your chances the training will be accepted by an employer.
Ques: “If your state requires a license then they probably require a minimum level of training, do you know what it is?”
Answer: States like North Carolina and Virginia have a detailed training requirement and regulatory agency that monitors the EP industry within the state. Texas and Georgia not so much, its more security guard training with some EP thrown in.
So, you will need to contact the state agency involved and ask what is the requirements and who is authorized to teach it.
After that it’s a matter of cost, schedule and if your smart you will get a few reviews and maybe a reference before you select the course.
Executive Protection Training Standards; Building the Curriculum
Governing Boards and Agencies
The ISA EP training program is primarily governed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice and the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board’s mandatory executive protection training course requirements.
Much of the two curricula are similar, meaning these states dictate many topics to be covered in our training program, as they are required for state licenses and credentials.
Federal Government and Law Enforcement Guides
However, the primary building block used to determine the training objectives and standards for the program was the General Accounting Office report GAO/GGD/OSI-00-139, dated 07/11/2000, titled “Security Protection: Standardization Issues Regarding Protection of Executive Branch Officials’ and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ 11-day protective operations training course.
In the GAO report, agencies whose primary mission is protection stated that their training included instruction in firearms, threat assessments, emergency medical training, practical protection exercises, security advance, motorcade, airport, foreign travel procedures, defensive driving skills, defensive tactics, and legal authorities.
Therefore, we use the GAO report and federal law enforcement training as a template to meet or exceed state regulatory requirements and address the specific training shortfalls and recommendations highlighted in the GAO report and the FLETC program.
The Results
ISA has not only surpassed the state standards, but during the ISD process, private sector hiring managers and corporate security directors have also provided feedback on additional subjects we incorporated into the seven-day course.
The inclusion of threat assessments, risk mitigation, threat intelligence, and hostile surveillance was key to meeting the requirements of hiring managers and addressing a glaring gap in the training of protective service agents.
Final Thoughts
However, you cannot simply add topics to a course without the corresponding standards to validate them. The learning objectives for the course clearly outline the standards for success. Students will learn, understand, evaluate, discuss, or demonstrate, in a field, classroom, or through a written paper, the understanding, abilities, or skills necessary to provide close protection.
Without these standards to grade or evaluate a student’s ability to do an agent’s job, there is no purpose or reason to attend training.
To learn more about the ISA curriculum please visit https://www.eptraining.us/curriculum/
ISA Executive Protection Training Standards; Approvals & Accreditations
This course is fully accredited, approved, and periodically renewed for in-service training credit for law enforcement by the following agencies. This is made possible because the training standards of the ISA program meet or exceed those of the regulatory agencies.
Maryland Police & Corrections Training Commission
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice
South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy
Georgia POST
Accepted as part of an officer’s permanent record by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety
Approved for private or corporate security and private investigators by the following agencies:
Approved for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Personal Protective Specialist Program 32 E & 32 I
Approved by the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board for 12 CEUs
Approved by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for Private Security Credit
College Credit
ISA no longer maintains articulation agreements with institutions of higher learning, as in past years. This is due to the almost constant changes that occur with procedures dictated by the various accrediting entities. However, many colleges and universities continue to recognize ISA course work as transferable into a degree program. Students should contact the college or university of his / her choice in order to apply for transfer credits.
The ISA Dignitary & Executive Protection Program is endorsed by the International Foundation for Protection Officers
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