And the applicant must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen (Collins, Ricks and Van Meter, 2000). All private security officers must meet the applicable statutory requirements and any criteria that have been established by the employer. In looking at the requirements that have been set forth by the state of Louisiana, the following minimum requirements must be met in order for a person to become a private security officer:

1. The applicant must be 18 years of age.

2. They must be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien holding a proper documentation to work in the United States.

3. They can not have been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony or of crime involving moral turpitude.

4. They can not have been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease which has not been restored.

5. They can not be a practicing alcoholic or drug addict.

6. In order to obtain a private investigation agency license an individual must have at least three years experience within the last ten years either working as a private investigator or in an investigative capacity and satisfy all other requirements for licensing (License Information, 2005).

A private investigator or apprentice investigator license will have the following fees: an application fee of $25.00, an examination fee of $50.00, a reexamination fee of $25.00, an initial license fee per investigator or apprentice of $50.00, and an annual renewal license fee of $50.00 (Private Investigators...

One difference that can bee seen between the two is surrounding the use of drugs and alcohol. Louisiana's requirements not only prohibit the conviction of any drug offenses, but go one step farther and say that a person can not be a practicing drug or alcohol addict. There is no mention of being able to pass a drug screen, but is implied in the previous requirement.
Private security officers must possess upstanding moral character and turpitude. These people are ultimately responsible for others peoples property and lives in the commission of doing their jobs. Having minimum requirements set forth helps to make sure that the best possible person is employed to do this all important job.

References

Collins, Pamela a., Ricks, Truett a. And Van Meter, Clifford W. (2000) Principles of Security

and Crime Prevention (4th Edition) (ISBN 0-87084-305-2).

License Information. (2005). Retrieved May 12, 2009, from LSBPIE Web site:

http://www.lsbpie.com/license.html

Private Investigators Law. (2005). Retrieved May 12, 2009, from Pilaw Web site:

http://www.lsbpie.com/pilaw.html#training

Private Security Officer Selection and Training Guideline. (2004). Retrieved May 12, 2009, from ASIS International Web site:

http://www.asisonline.org/guidelines/guidelinesprivatefinal.pdf