- All
- Applying to Work at PPS
- Armed Certification
- Background Checks & Eligibility
- Corporate & Group Training
- Is Security Right for Me?
- NC PPSB Certification
- Ongoing Training & Recertification
- Pay, Benefits & Career Advancement
- SC SLED Certification
- Training Programs & Courses
- What You Will Learn
PPS officers receive continuous professional development after hire — not just at onboarding or annual renewal. Ongoing development includes:
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Site-specific refresher training when officers transition to new posts or client accounts
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Legal compliance updates as NC and SC security statutes change
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Firearms safety and proficiency reinforcement for armed officers
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De-escalation and communication technique refreshers
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Supervisory development for officers on a leadership track
South Carolina SLED requires annual renewal with additional SLED-approved training for all registered security officers — both unarmed and armed. SC Security Weapons Permits (armed) require annual renewal with re-demonstration of firearm proficiency. PPS offers annual SLED renewal training through its Charlotte training location.
Unarmed NC officers: No additional classroom training is required at annual renewal — only a timely renewal application submitted within 90 days of expiration.
Armed NC officers: Must complete 4 hours of continuing education (CE) annually and requalify on the live-fire range (day and night, 50 rounds each, 80% accuracy) every year to maintain their PPSB Firearm Registration Permit.
PPS NC Armed Recertification — $135.00 | 4-hour classroom + range qualification | ppsprotects.com/security-training-at-piedmont
Security is a growing, diversified profession with multiple specialization paths. Long-term career development for PPS officers can include:
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Advancing from unarmed to armed certification
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Moving into supervisory, operations management, or training instructor roles
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Pursuing specialized assignments in healthcare security, retail loss prevention, or government contracts
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Building a record of professional certifications and state-required continuing education that compounds in career value over time
Compensation during training is discussed as part of the individual hiring agreement. PPS provides in-house training at competitive pricing and includes a direct employment pipeline for training graduates. Corporate clients who send teams through PPS training for group certification receive group discounts. Contact PPS for details specific to your situation.
PPS is part of the broader Piedmont Group security ecosystem — an organization that values internal growth. Advancement pathways available to PPS officers include:
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Lead/Senior Security Officer — Officers who demonstrate leadership, reliability, and situational mastery can advance to senior roles with higher compensation
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Supervisory and Field Management — Site supervisors and field supervisors coordinate patrol operations, post scheduling, and officer evaluations
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Armed Certification — Unarmed officers can pursue NC or SC armed certification through PPS training and move into higher-paying armed posts
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Corporate Security — Officers with experience and professional development can transition into corporate, institutional, or government-contract security assignments
PPS compensation is competitive within the Charlotte and Carolinas security market. Open positions start from $16/hour in select markets. Rates vary by post, shift, and certification level (unarmed vs. armed). Contact PPS at 704-548-2728 or apply at ppsprotects.com/careers for current role-specific compensation details.
Yes. Honorably discharged military veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Military experience — especially in security, law enforcement, or force protection roles — is highly valued by PPS. Veterans often enter with situational awareness, discipline, and professionalism that directly translate to high-performing security careers.
Not automatically. In North Carolina, arrests without convictions may not be considered under state law in many circumstances. However, the PPSB reviews full criminal history and exercises discretion. If you have concerns about your background, contact PPS at 704-548-2728 before enrolling in training to discuss your specific situation.
Disqualifying offenses typically include:
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Any felony conviction
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Misdemeanors involving violence, moral turpitude, or dishonesty (theft, fraud, assault, domestic violence)
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Drug-related convictions (case-by-case depending on recency and nature)
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Convictions involving weapons offenses
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Dishonorable discharge from military service
In North Carolina, the PPSB reviews the full criminal history and makes eligibility decisions on a case-by-case basis for borderline situations. Background check denials can sometimes be appealed.
All PPS applicants undergo a comprehensive pre-employment background screening consistent with PPSB and SLED requirements. This includes:
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Criminal history check — State, national, and local criminal records, covering felony and misdemeanor convictions
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Employment history verification — Previous jobs, gaps in employment, and reasons for termination
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Drug screening — Pre-employment drug test (required by SLED; standard PPS practice for all applicants)
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Identity verification — Government-issued ID and Social Security verification
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Driving record check — Required due to the mobile patrol and site-travel nature of many security roles
Per NC PPSB regulations, all security officer uniforms must include at least 1.5-inch lettering reading “SECURITY” or “SECURITY OFFICER” on both the chest and the back. Badges or patches resembling law enforcement are prohibited. The word “POLICE” may not appear on any PPS uniform.
PPS evaluates candidates for:
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Integrity and honesty — Candidates must be open about their background
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Situational judgment — How would you handle an unauthorized person attempting entry? How do you de-escalate an agitated individual?
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Communication skills — Written and verbal — can you write a clear incident report?
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Reliability and professionalism — On-time, in-uniform, prepared to represent the client
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Temperament under pressure — Calm, decisive, non-reactive in stressful situations
Tip: Before your PPS interview, review the company’s services at ppsprotects.com and come prepared to speak to specific scenarios you may face in a security role.
PPS uses a multi-step evaluation designed to identify candidates with the right temperament, integrity, and professionalism. PPS hires fewer than 10% of applicants. Typical steps:
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Submit your application at ppsprotects.com/careers
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Initial phone or in-person screening interview
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Background check and pre-employment drug test
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Training enrollment and state registration (PPSB or SLED)
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Site-specific orientation before first deployment
No. PPS will guide eligible candidates through the entire certification process from application to guard card. If you are not yet certified, PPS offers in-house PPSB and SLED training and will walk new hires through the state registration process. Your willingness to learn and commit to the PPS Standard matters more than prior certification at the application stage.
To be considered for a PPS security officer position, candidates must:
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Be at least 18 years old (unarmed) or 21 years old (armed)
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Possess a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
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Have a clean criminal record with no disqualifying convictions
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Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien
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Be able to pass a background check and pre-employment drug test
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Demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and reliability during the interview process
Yes. PPS is actively recruiting security officers across North Carolina and South Carolina. Open positions include part-time and full-time unarmed and armed security officer roles. Apply at ppsprotects.com/careers or call 704-548-2728.
Call 704-548-2728 or email PPS at ppsinfo@pgrpnc.com to schedule a free corporate training consultation. PPS will work with your team to schedule dates, confirm locations (Charlotte or Wilmington training centers, or your facility), discuss NC and SC curriculum requirements, and provide a written group pricing proposal.
Yes. Because PPS holds both NCPPSB and SLED certifications, officers who need dual-state authorization can complete all required training through a single provider in Charlotte. This is especially valuable for teams operating in the Charlotte/Rock Hill corridor or the Wilmington/Myrtle Beach area — and for companies expanding operations across both states.
No. PPS training is open to individuals and teams from other security companies, corporate security departments, and independent officers. Competitors, corporate security personnel, and independent applicants are all welcome to enroll. Contact PPS at 704-548-2728 for corporate training consultations and multi-course pricing.
Yes. PPS provides corporate group security training designed for property management companies, corporate security departments, hospitality businesses, and government contractors needing NCPPSB or SLED compliance for their security teams.
Corporate group training benefits:
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10–20% group discounts for corporate teams
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Flexible scheduling to minimize operational disruption — including on-site options
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Team cohesion — Officers trained together develop consistent performance standards
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Rapid certification — Get entire teams through PPSB and SLED certification efficiently
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Deployment-ready officers — All graduates meet or exceed state requirements from day one
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Expert instruction — State-certified, field-experienced PPS instructors
North Carolina: Armed security officers may carry their registered duty firearm while on duty and in uniform. Carrying a firearm in the performance of security duties without a PPSB Firearm Registration Permit is unlawful.
South Carolina: SC armed security officers may carry their permitted weapon only in an open and fully-exposed manner while in uniform and actively on duty, or traveling directly to or from a security post. SLED may issue a concealed weapons permit for officers whose specific assignment duties require concealed carry.
Your authorized firearm type is determined by your employer and specified on your PPSB Firearm Registration Permit (NC) or SLED Security Weapons Permit (SC). You may only carry the specific weapon type for which you are authorized and qualified.
In North Carolina, armed security officers must shoot a minimum of 50 rounds on both a daytime and nighttime qualification course and achieve a minimum 80% accuracy score on both. Failing either course requires a remedial qualification session before the armed application can be submitted.
You must bring the specific duty firearm you will carry on assignment — semi-automatic pistol or revolver. You may not qualify with a different weapon than the one you will carry on post. Required equipment includes:
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Duty firearm
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Duty holster (minimum Level II retention — no Level I or IWB holsters)
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Duty belt and magazine pouches
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Handheld flashlight
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Minimum 250 rounds duty ammunition (up to 600 rounds recommended)
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Semi-automatic: minimum 2 magazines | Revolver: minimum 1 speed loader
Yes — in both states. NC PPSB unarmed certification is a hard prerequisite for the NC armed course. SC SLED unarmed registration (or active application) is required before applying for a SC SLED Security Weapons Permit. There are no shortcuts to this sequence.
SC Security Officer registrations require annual renewal with additional SLED-approved training each year. SC SLED Security Weapons Permits (armed) are also valid for one year and require annual re-demonstration of firearm proficiency.
No. South Carolina does not accept out-of-state security certifications for SLED registration. Officers must complete SLED-approved training regardless of credentials held in other states.
After your employer submits your completed application to SLED, you may begin working provisionally for up to 30 days. During this provisional period, you have no arrest authority and may not carry a firearm.
Yes. A high school diploma or GED equivalent is required to obtain a South Carolina Security Officer Registration Certificate. North Carolina does not have an explicit diploma requirement for PPSB registration.
Security officer licensing in South Carolina is regulated by the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED). SLED processes registrations, approves training curricula, and issues Security Weapons Permits for armed officers. PPS holds SLED certified instructor credentials and offers both basic unarmed and armed SLED training in Charlotte, NC — servicing the entire Charlotte/Rock Hill corridor.
No. North Carolina does not recognize out-of-state security certifications. Anyone wishing to work as a security guard in NC must complete the full unarmed (and armed, if applicable) PPSB-approved training and registration process, regardless of any license held in another state.
Your North Carolina unarmed security officer registration is valid for one year. You must submit your renewal application within 90 days of the expiration date. No additional classroom training is required for unarmed renewal.
In North Carolina, you can take PPS training as a non-employed individual — PPS is an open enrollment training provider. However, to complete your state registration and receive your guard card, you must be sponsored by a licensed NC security company. PPS can serve as both your training provider and your sponsoring employer.
Security officer licensing in North Carolina is regulated by the NC Private Protective Services Board (PPSB), operating under the NC Department of Public Safety. The PPSB approves training schools, certifies instructors, registers security officers, and issues firearm registration permits for armed officers. PPS is a PPSB-approved training school and licensed security employer.
“I work for a competing Security Company. Our Corporate office is in Nashville so we are limited in office and training space. I was able to get all of my North Carolina and South Carolina Officers through the Piedmont training course — about 25–30 people total. Vincent Cardieri was the instructor. He delivered a strong class supported by years of job experience. I saw a visible improvement in my officers’ awareness and attention to detail. I now use this Piedmont team for all of our Charlotte area needs.”
— J.P., Archangel Security
“I had zero security experience when I signed up for the unarmed course at PPS. Two weeks after finishing, I was working my first post as a certified security officer. The instructors made the legal material easy to understand and the classroom environment was professional. I’m now working toward my armed certification.”
— Will Shepard, Security Officer, Charlotte, NC
“We send all our new hires to PPS for their NCPPSB training. The instructors are thorough, the scheduling is flexible, and our officers come back ready to perform on day one. The fact that PPS understands the security industry from the inside makes a real difference in training quality.”
— Jon B., Operations Manager, Total Security Co.
“After completing my unarmed training with PPS, I came back for the armed course. The firearms instruction was hands-on and safety-focused. I passed my day and night qualifications on the first attempt. The pricing was the best I found in the Charlotte area.”
— Katie Simpson, Armed Security Officer, Wilmington, NC
State-minimum training produces a certificate. PPS training produces a confident, deployable officer. The difference matters from the first day on a post.
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Field-experienced instructors — PPS instructors are active security professionals, not classroom-only academics
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Scenario-based learning — Real situations, not just lecture and multiple-choice testing
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Industry-specific content — Training tailored to retail, healthcare, commercial office, manufacturing, and hospitality environments PPS guards actually protect
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Dual-state certification — One provider covers both PPSB (NC) and SLED (SC)
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Employment pathway — Training graduates are immediately eligible for open PPS positions in Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, Rock Hill, and Myrtle Beach
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Ongoing development — Professional training continues after hire, not just at onboarding or renewal
The NC Armed course (24 hours) and SC SLED Armed course (4 hours + range) build on the unarmed foundation with firearms-specific instruction:
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Legal authority and limitations of firearm use by security officers
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Handgun safety
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Handgun operation and maintenance
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Handgun fundamentals and marksmanship
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Night firing techniques and safety
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Use-of-force decision making — when drawing is appropriate vs. when it creates liability
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Threat assessment under stress — managing distance, cover, and space before force is necessary
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Live-fire day and night range qualification (minimum 50 rounds each, 80% accuracy required)
All PPS training meets or exceeds state minimums for NCPPSB and SLED certification. Core subjects covered include:
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Armed and unarmed security officer roles and responsibilities
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North Carolina and South Carolina security law and legal authority (NC General Statute 74C; SC Title 40, Chapter 18)
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Powers and limitations of security officers vs. law enforcement
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Patrol and observation techniques
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Access control — entry points, checkpoints, and visitor screening
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Incident response and emergency procedures
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Report writing and professional documentation
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Note-taking, deportment, and professional conduct standards
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North Carolina Drug Schedule
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Traffic control and crowd management
Beyond state minimums, PPS training also covers:
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Verbal Judo and de-escalation — Neutralizing volatile situations through controlled communication, without physical confrontation
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Mental agility and judgment under pressure — Making smart, legally defensible decisions in rapidly evolving situations
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Threat assessment and pre-attack indicator recognition — Reading behavioral and environmental warning signs before a situation escalates
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Site-specific mastery — Pre-assignment orientation to each client’s layout, risk zones, and emergency protocols
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Professional customer interaction — Managing access, inquiries, and public-facing tension in commercial environments
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Use-of-force law and legal compliance — Current updates on NC and SC statutes governing security officer authority
Yes. Individuals enrolling in both an unarmed and armed course — or both NC and SC certification — qualify for multiple course pricing. Corporate groups of 5 or more officers receive group discounts determined by size. Contact PPS at 704-548-2728 for a custom training consultation and pricing.
Yes. All NC PPSB and SC SLED training courses include a written examination covering the legal, procedural, and ethical material taught in class. Armed courses also include a live-fire range qualification (day and night) requiring a minimum 80% accuracy score with at least 50 rounds per session. Students who do not pass on the first attempt may schedule a remedial session.
For all classroom courses, bring:
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Valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
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Pen and notepad
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Comfortable, professional clothing
For armed range qualification days, you will also need:
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Your duty firearm (semi-automatic or revolver)
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Duty holster (minimum Level II retention — no Level I or IWB holsters)
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Duty belt and magazine pouches
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Handheld flashlight
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Minimum 250 rounds of duty ammunition (up to 600 rounds recommended)
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Semi-automatic: minimum 2 magazines | Revolver: minimum 1 speed loader
⚠️ Range equipment, ammunition, and targets are not provided. Range fees are separate from course tuition.
PPS security guard training is conducted in person at our Charlotte and Wilmington training locations. Hands-on, scenario-based classroom instruction is a core part of the PPS training model — and a key reason PPS graduates are deployment-ready rather than simply certificate-ready. Some competitor providers offer virtual-only options; however, PPS believes in-person instruction produces significantly better officer performance in real-world security environments.
Training timelines vary by course:
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NC Unarmed (16 hours): Typically completed over 1–2 days
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NC Armed (24 hours classroom + range): Typically 2–3 days classroom plus a separate range qualification day
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NC Armed Recertification (4 hours): Completed in a single half-day session, plus range qualification
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SC SLED Basic and Plus (6 hours): Completed in a single day
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SC SLED Armed (4 hours + range): Half-day classroom plus separate range qualification
From starting training to receiving your guard card, the full process including state processing takes approximately 2–3 months in NC and 30 days provisionally in SC.
PPS training is offered at classroom locations in Charlotte, NC and Wilmington, NC, with scheduling also available for Greensboro, NC. Corporate and group training can be arranged on-site at your facility. Contact PPS at 704-548-2728 to discuss scheduling and location options.
PPS offers NCPPSB and SC SLED certified training at locations in Charlotte and Wilmington, NC — serving individuals, individual career-starters, and corporate teams across North and South Carolina.
| Course | State | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC PPSB Unarmed Classroom Training | North Carolina | 16 hours | $125.00 |
| NC PPSB Armed Classroom Training | North Carolina | 24 hours | $225.00 + range fees |
| NC PPSB Armed Recertification | North Carolina | 4 hours | $135.00 |
| SLED Primary Basic and Plus Classroom Training | South Carolina | 6 hours | $125.00 |
| SLED Armed Training | South Carolina | 4 hours | $225.00 + range fees |
Armed courses do not include range fees, ammunition, targets, or additional costs that may be required. Multiple course and corporate group rates available.
📞 Call 704-548-2728 or register at ppsprotects.com/security-training-at-piedmont
The terms are used interchangeably in most professional contexts, though “security officer” is increasingly preferred as the industry standard title reflecting the professional and legal responsibilities of the role. In North Carolina, the official state designation is “security officer” under PPSB regulations.
Yes. The security industry is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in North Carolina and across the Carolinas. Demand for professional security officers is increasing across commercial real estate, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and government-contracted properties in Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, Rock Hill, and Myrtle Beach. PPS offers a direct employment pipeline for training graduates.
No. Prior experience is not required to start a career in security in North Carolina or South Carolina. Both states provide a clear licensing pathway for individuals with no prior background. PPS training is specifically designed to take candidates from zero experience to deployment-ready in the shortest time allowed by state law.
The most effective security officers combine professionalism, alertness, and interpersonal skill. Key qualities include:
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Integrity — Security officers are trusted with the safety of people and property; honesty is non-negotiable
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Situational awareness — The ability to observe, assess, and respond to changing environments
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Calm under pressure — Managing emergencies, conflicts, and confrontations without losing composure
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Communication — Clear verbal and written communication, including report writing and interacting with the public
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Reliability — Consistent attendance and punctuality; clients depend on officers being exactly where they are assigned
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Physical fitness — Security roles often involve standing, walking, and responding quickly on foot
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Ethical judgment — Knowing when and how to act, and when to call for backup rather than escalate independently
Security officers protect people, property, and assets by maintaining a visible, professional presence that deters threats before they occur. Day-to-day duties typically include:
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Patrolling assigned areas on foot or by vehicle
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Controlling access to buildings, parking areas, and restricted zones
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Monitoring surveillance equipment and observing for suspicious activity
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Writing incident reports and documenting daily activity logs
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Responding to alarms, emergencies, medical situations, and disturbances
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Communicating with law enforcement, emergency responders, and site management
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Providing customer service and directing visitors, staff, and the public
Armed security officers carry the same responsibilities — with additional duties involving firearm readiness, threat assessment, and use-of-force decision-making.
Serving: North Carolina and South Carolina
