If you’re serious about a career in this industry, professional training can be one of the best investments you can make. But bodyguard training – especially if you have to pay for it yourself – can be an expensive investment in both time and money spent.
Not only do you have to research all the different programs, but then you have to travel to the campus, pay for accommodations and food, and finally spend the time moving through the entire training program at someone else’s pace.
Thankfully, thanks to increasing student demand and the power of technology, online training options are becoming available.
These training programs can deliver about 70% of the same classroom material as any physical training program (the missing 30% being the actual “hands-on” training that can never be replicated online) and are available at a fraction of the cost of a complete program. Note that you will still usually need to attend on-site for at least two weeks to complete your training and receive a certification. Beware of any online programs that offer certifications without any sort of residency or on-campus training.
Let’s take a look at two of the most popular and highly-rated online bodyguard and EP training programs, ESI and Urban Combat Academy.
Executive Security International
ESI offers an extremely comprehensive online program at a fraction of the full 28-day residency program cost. Students can complete the online training modules at their own pace, then travel to the ESI campus to complete the certificate with a 15-day on-site residency. The entire program is designed to be completed within 9-12 months with the student completing 15-20 hours of study per week, depending on your pace. The following courses are included:
- Principles of Protection
- Stalkers and Other Dangerous Human Behavior
- Fundamentals of Defensive Shooting
- Human Intelligence Collection and Analysis
- Profiles of Terrorism and Violence
- Executive Protection Driving
- Etiquette for Security Professionals
- Electronic Security
- Counter-Insurgency Theory and Tactics
- Insurgent Theory
- PSD Protective Operations
- Field Intelligence
- Operational Intelligence
- Internal Security
- Principles of Investigation
- Interviews and Interrogation
Urban Combat Academy
UCA’s Bodyguard Training Program is 100% online and designed to be completed in about two weeks at your own pace. It is focused on the basics and has an optional on-site Executive Protection Certification course to round out your online coursework. The following course modules are included:
- Introduction to Personal Security
- Introduction to the Close Protection Industry
- Understanding What Makes a CPO
- Perceptions about Close Protection
- Terrorism, the International Environment & Close Protection
- Use of Force Options and Close Protection
- Recommended Standards for Close Protection Training
- Executive Protection Certification
- Threats
- Executive Protection Certification Officer
- The Executive Protection Certification
- The Principal
- The Advance
- The Protective Duty at Home and Office
- The Vehicle and Driving
- Terrorism
- Kidnapping and Bombs
- First Aid
- Legal Status
- Advanced Skills in Executive Protection Certification
- Close Combat Techniques
- Protective Detail
- Driving Techniques
- Defense Shooting Techniques
- Emergency and First Aid
- Useful Forms
- Riot Prevention and Control
- Riots & Crowds
- Command and Control Organization and Preparation
- Advanced Control Tactics
- Media Relations, After Action Assessments & Case Studies
UCA also provides students with job placement assistance, which makes this a very attractive overall package at a very reasonable price.