Becoming an armed security officer in Queensland involves several steps and two different licensing authorities. Firstly, you need a current Queensland Class 1 security provider licence issued by the Office of Fair Trading with the cash-in-transit function included. You must then complete the additional approved security guard firearms training required by Queensland Police Service Weapons Licensing. The current training pathway includes

• CPPSEC3101 Manage conflict and security risks using negotiation,
• CPPSEC3102 Maintain operational safety and security of the work environment,
• CPPSEC3103 Determine and implement response to security risk situation
• CPPSEC3114 Control security risk situations using firearms,

and depending on the weapon categories you are seeking, the firearms training also includes:

• CPPSEC3115 Carry, operate and maintain revolvers for security purposes
• CPPSEC3116 Carry, operate and maintain semi-automatic pistols for security purposes
• CPPSEC3117 Carry, operate and maintain shotguns for security purposes
• CPPSEC3131 Select, use and maintain body armour for security purposes

Queensland Police currently requires the relevant Statement of Attainment for a new Security Licence (Guard) application to have been issued within the previous 12 months, and your current OFT security provider licence must show cash-in-transit as a licence function. Once appropriately trained, you apply separately to Queensland Police Service Weapons Licensing for your Security Licence (Guard).

BARS Training Australia provides the security, cash-in-transit and specialist firearms training required along this pathway. One piece of advice from more than 45 years around security: never take shortcuts with firearms training and never undertake a security firearms course partially online.

Drawing and operating a firearm safely requires supervised practical training and repetition to develop muscle memory. If you ever genuinely need that firearm while performing security duties, your life or somebody else's may depend on the quality of your training.