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How Do I Become a Custom Protection Officer®?

Jeremy Laukkonen
Jeremy Laukkonen

There are certain qualifications that you will need to meet before you can become a Custom Protection Officer®, although there is no set career path that needs to be followed. The minimum age requirement is 18, and it is necessary for you to be able to achieve any certifications or meet any requirements that are imposed by the government in your area. There are a variety of other basic requirements, such as a high school diploma or the equivalent and the ability to clear a background check and drug screening. You also will need experience in one of several fields, such as the military or law enforcement, or have a relevant college degree before you can become a Custom Protection Officer®. Additional psychological screening typically is required for armed positions, and additional certifications might be imposed if your position requires you to drive a vehicle on the job.

A Custom Protection Officer® is a type of contract security worker who is subjected to a more stringent hiring and training process than many other types of security guards. He or she needs to have extensive work or educational experience in a security-related field and must undergo an intense screening and training process. If you want to become a Custom Protection Officer®, you might end up working in a variety of different capacities. A Custom Protection Officer® might work over the long term for a facility such as a university, in the short term for a specific event or anything in between.

Woman with hand on her hip
Woman with hand on her hip

If you want to become a Custom Protection Officer®, you must first graduate from high school. The two most basic requirements to hold this position are to be 18 years of age or older and have graduated from high school. You must then gain some relevant experience, because each Custom Protection Officer® needs to have some type of security-related background. A criminal justice degree will prepare you to become a Custom Protection Officer®, but so will work experience in the military police, as a corrections officer or in a military career.

In addition to age, educational and experience requirements, you also need to pass a background check before you can become a Custom Protection Officer®. A criminal background check typically will be performed, and your references, experience and education will need to be verified. You also will need to pass a drug screening as a part of this process. Other requirements include an ability to work with members of the public in a pleasant manner and the ability to pass a psychological screening.

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