Carrying a firearm on a security assignment demands safe handling, sound judgment, clear communication, and a working knowledge of the rules that govern private security. Personal Protection Solutions provides firearms training and guard card prep that builds those habits, not just the minimum needed to pass a course.
Our instructors come from the same team that staffs PPS armed security guard services and executive protection details across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. This program is part of our personal protection training offerings and is tailored to each trainee’s experience, intended role, and state.
What Our Firearms Training Covers
- Safe handling, storage, and transport, including range commands and malfunction clearing
- Marksmanship fundamentals: stance, grip, sight alignment, trigger control, and follow-through
- Holster work and drawing under supervision, progressing only as safety allows
- Decision-making and use-of-force principles for private security, including when not to draw
- Observation, incident reporting, and coordination with law enforcement during and after an incident
Training is clear about legal limits. Armed security officers do not have police powers, and their role centers on deterrence, observation, reporting, and protection. Our article on whether armed security guards can arrest people explains those limits in more detail.
Guard Card Preparation
Each state sets its own requirements for security officer certification and armed authorization, including classroom hours, range qualification, background checks, and renewals. In Maryland, for example, security guard certification is handled by the Maryland State Police Licensing Division, while Washington, D.C. and Virginia run their own processes.
Guard card prep helps trainees understand what their state’s application involves, prepare for the written and range components, and organize the documents they will need. Completing training does not by itself authorize anyone to carry a firearm or work an armed post, and we always direct trainees to the official licensing agency for current rules.
Who Our Firearms Training Is For
- Security companies and employers that want newly hired officers prepared before their first armed post
- Churches, schools, medical facilities, and other organizations evaluating armed coverage that want to understand training standards
- Experienced officers who need a refresher or are moving to a new state
- Responsible firearm owners who want structured instruction from security professionals
Why Train with Personal Protection Solutions
PPS was founded by Christopher Quirk, a U.S. Army veteran with 18 years of service and more than 500 executive protection details. Our instructors teach from active protective work, which keeps training grounded in the decisions officers face on real assignments. Instruction is paced to each trainee, with direct correction of issues such as grip, rushed movement, and muzzle awareness.
Organizations comparing staffing options can also learn what an armed security officer does day to day, and our team can discuss armed or unarmed coverage for your site.
Firearms Training and Guard Card Prep FAQs
No. Training starts at your current experience level. Beginners work on safety rules, handling, and fundamentals before any live fire, while experienced shooters move to qualification-focused work and decision-making drills. Tell us about your background and goals before your first session so the instructor can plan accordingly.
No. Guard cards and armed authorizations are issued by state licensing agencies, which run background checks and set their own eligibility rules. Our training prepares you for the requirements, but the agency makes the final decision. Review your state’s official requirements early so there are no surprises during the application.
No. A security officer credential and permission to carry a firearm often involve separate applications, standards, and fees. Some states also tie armed authorization to employment with a licensed security agency. We explain how the pieces fit together for your state, and the licensing agency confirms the final requirements.
Yes. We plan group sessions for security companies and organizations onboarding armed officers, with content matched to their posts, policies, and the state where officers will work. Contact us with the number of trainees and their experience levels, and we will recommend a format and schedule that fits your operations.
PPS serves Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina. Requirements differ in each jurisdiction, so we tailor guard card prep to where you plan to work and point you to that state’s licensing agency for current rules.