Unarmed Security Guard Requirements For Oregon

Security Guard & Officer Legal Requirements In Oregon

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 Oregon!

Stopping the Rising Tide of Crime in the Beaver State

It is cold and windy outside as you make your way into work. The rain has been beating down for days and you are certain that it will once again be a wet and chilly evening. Grabbing your poncho, flashlight, and thermos, you know you are ready to make your rounds and secure the facility for one more night. From dusk 'til dawn, you will check doors and investigate the occasional noise. You will watch the monitors and adjust the cameras at shadows moving across the screen. Like so many nights before, your shift this night will end as uneventfully as it began.

That's life as a security guard in the "Beaver State" as Oregon is so aptly named. Security guards and police departments have done a marvelous job of stemming the rising tide of crime in the state and they're getting better at it by the day. The state has a low violent crime rate, with roughly 2.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. This is far lower than the national  median of 3.8. However, the property crime rate is what really troubles employers the most. That rate is at 28.8 per 1,000 residents. It's high compared to the national median which is 26. This means job security for security guards as employers seek to crack down on petty theft, vandalism, and break ins. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for security guards will increase around 19% in the next five years.

While you won't have too much trouble with fights breaking out or armed robberies, you might have to contend with thieves wielding bolt cutters, Slim Jims, and pin/tumbler lock picks. Fortunately, the only tools you need to defeat these are a Walkie Talkie, cell phone, flashlight, and a keen eye for detail that your security guard training will enhance. Additionally, you will find plenty of support as police departments in Oregon have reputations for responding quickly and efficiently to reports of crimes in progress.

To work as a security professional in Oregon, you will need a license issued by the State of Oregon. To become licensed, you need to be 18-years old, show proof of citizenship, and be able to prove that you are of good moral character and have the reasoning skills to succeed as a security professional. The state also requires that you have no felony convictions or disabilities that would prohibit you from performing your duties. In addition to these requirements, many employers will require you to have a driver's license, strong communication skills, and be in good shape so that you won't collapse on the job.

The large cities in Oregon are not cheap place to live. In Portland, housing, transportation, and healthcare are considerably higher than the national average. Typically, security guards earn a median salary of $26,000. This is a pay rate that is just a little bit above the national average of $24,000. This means that if you live in Portland, Salem, or Eugene, you will need to polish your budgeting skills to make living in this high cost areas more affordable. In fact, if you do land a job in these cities, you may want to look at living outside the area and commuting as a way of stretching your dollars a little bit further. As you move up the ladder to the level of senior security guard or even manager, salaries climb as well. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top tier security professionals in the state earn upwards of $42,000 per year.

You will naturally want to land a job with a solid employer that offers plenty of opportunities for career advancement and growth. Fortunately, there are plenty in Oregon for you to consider. There's Nike in Beaverton, ICS Blount, Inc. in Portland, Hewlett Packard in Corvallis, and Intel Corporation in Hillsboro. You can also find opportunities with Falcon Construction Services in Roseburg, Portland State University in Portland, and Salem Health Laboratories in Salem. There are also numerous hospitals, logging companies, fisheries, and marinas that are eager to lock down their sites and keep the property of their guests and clients safe and sound.

The state has a reputation for being rainy and wet, and indeed, much of the state is a marine climate with lots of snow and cold winters. In some places, they get upwards of 200 inches of precipitation every year. This is especially true in areas between 2,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level. In areas along the coast, you can expect between 60 and 80 inches of rain and snow to fall from the heavens throughout the seasons. However, the eastern part of the state is a desert with hot summers and very little moisture. This wide variance in precipitation levels means that temperatures also vary significantly.

In Portland, it gets coldest in January through March, and while it rarely gets below freezing during the day, the nights often drop down below the teens. The same is true in Salem, Bend, and Astoria. In the summers, July and August can be downright balmy. Temperatures during the day often rise into the 80's, and coupled with the humidity, these temps can feel even hotter.  And, because of the state's proximity to the coast, weather conditions can change quickly which means that you will want to read the weather forecast each and every day so that you know what to expect.     

Oregon is one of the most beautiful states in America, and there is no doubt that you are going to want to spend plenty of time in the great outdoors. You can go hiking through Columbia River Gorge where the waterfalls and canyons are certain to take your breath away. You can head over to Crater Lake National Park and do some fishing, or hike to the top of Mount Hood to enjoy the view. When you are curious, you can take a trip to the Oregon Cost Aquarium and see the myriad of species that live just offshore, or you can head up to the Lewis and Clark National Park to see exactly what the famous explorers saw when they reached the Pacific after blazing a trail on their long journey across the fledgling country. 

Minimum Requirements

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

Fees Schedule

Contact

Go to top