Unarmed Security Guard Requirements For New Mexico

Security Guard & Officer Legal Requirements In New Mexico

Here on SecurityGuardTraining.io we want to provide you with all of the information you need to successfully become an Unarmed security guard in the state of New Mexico!

It's early morning and you've just arrived at work. As you settle into your office, you peer into the monitors where you see vast swaths of open space. For hours, all you see is the occasional tumbleweed, until that moment you notice the black van pull up to the back of the warehouse. It takes but just a moment for some neer-do-wells to jump out of the back eager to take advantage of the five finger discounts advertised by your facility. In an instant, you pick up the phone and call the police and give them all the details you can as you monitor the situation from the safety of your command center. 

That's life as a security guard in New Mexico. It's peaceful and calm one moment, and full of action and excitement the next. Crime rates in Gallup, Taos, Clovis, Albuquerque, and Farmington are rising. Of greatest concern is that property crimes are being coupled with violent crimes, and the two often go hand in hand. Each of these well-known cities have caught the attention of law enforcement and the FBI who are eager to see this trend stopped. For security professionals, it means that there are plenty of businesses, neighborhoods, and healthcare facilities in these cities eager for their help. Indeed, New Mexico's reputation as a "safe" state very much depends on the skill and professionalism of security guards in order to bring these crime rates down.  

Security guards in New Mexico are required to be licensed and registered. The state offers three levels of licensing, and the first two levels require that security professionals be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma, possess good moral character, and have no felony convictions or misdemeanors connected with violent crime, theft, or fraud on their record. Security guards must also have training in First Aid, asset protection, report writing, providing court testimony, and preserving evidence. For higher level certification, self-defense techniques, handcuffing, and taser usage skills are a must. In addition to these requirements, most employers will require security guards to have a driver's license, be able to communicate clearly, and be able to pass a physical examination prior to their employment.

The mean salary for a security guard in New Mexico is $29,000 a year. This varies considerably both by employer and location. So, you will want to do your research and carefully consider your options prior to accepting an offer because you just might find a higher salary just down the road. As a general rule of thumb the larger the facility that needs guarded, and the more valuable the contents you will be protecting, the higher the salary and benefits package will be.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 7,300 security guards working in New Mexico. By the end of this year, the security industry is expected to add 14% to this total to bring the number closer to 8,350. This is on par with the expected national growth rate. If you are looking to get into a career and find stable employment in a growing industry, there is no question that the need for skilled and capable security guards is going to stay strong well into the future. And, if you are willing to pick up new skills and hone the ones you have, then you will be able to move up the ladder into management and training positions down the road as you establish your reputation within the career. 

New Mexico is slightly more affordable than other states. The cost of groceries, healthcare, utilities, and transportation are just below the national median. However, the cost of housing is typically a little higher, especially in cities such as Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos which are popular tourist and snowbird destinations. As with anywhere you may choose to live, the ability to budget and plan will make a big difference in your quality of life and the ways you spend your earnings. 

The state's largest employers include the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia Corporation, ESPN, and numerous healthcare facilities and casinos. You will also find plenty of opportunities to work in technology and aerospace companies such as Honeywell Aerospace Technology. In fact, the state is rapidly becoming a technological powerhouse with plenty of start-ups and established companies opening facilities and expanding their operations in New Mexico's business friendly environment. 

The state is home to mild, arid and semi-arid climates. The state doesn't get much rain or snow. The higher you go into the mountains, the colder it gets, and the closer you get to the Mexican border, the hotter it gets. Any place below 5,000 feet can expect temperatures over 100 degrees in the summer, and 60's in the winter. Things really cool off at night when temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees from their daytime peaks. So, while it may be hot and blustery before you head to work, you will want to pack a sweater or a jacket because it can get downright chilly when the sun goes down.   

When you are not manning your post or walking your beat, you will want to take a weekend or two to explore the beautiful scenery located throughout the state. You can head below to see the world renowned spectacles within Carlsbad Caverns, or you can head up in a hot air balloon at one of the state's many balloon festivals. You can get lost in the White Sands National Monument, or take a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway. And, if you find that you are in the mood for an out of this world experience, you can always head down to Roswell just in case ET decides to drop in and borrow someone's cell phone... In fact, if you do see him, report him for illegal parking the last time he was in town.

Minimum Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old
High school diploma, G.E.D or equivalent certificate

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