Ever wonder who regulates Executive Protection? What “license” is needed? Who governs it? “C” or “D”? Good or Bad?
Who Regulates Executive Protection?
In most every state, there is no oversight of the Executive Protection Industry. No licenses, no state certifications.
At ESS Global Corp, much like the rest of the Executive Protection and Security industry, we are eagerly awaiting the day when Executive Protection will have its own license. No more wondering if you need a C, D or any other letter in the alphabet license that there is.
For years, industry professionals have been trying to figure out why Executive Protection has been lumped under the same license as Private Investigation. Especially when the two industries are so extremely different. We all know that the State-mandated C License course covers about 2% of what you need to know to work in the Executive Protection industry. But the fact that Executive Protection is lumped under the C License has made it a bit more difficult for those with aspirations of entering the Executive Protection industry.
But, is that a bad thing? Let’s talk about Executive Protection being just under the D License.
What would happen if lumped in with the “D” License?
Now, the requirements to enter the Executive Protection industry would be much easier if it were classified under the class D License, but at the same time, what types of individuals would now, by law, qualify to do Executive Protection work?
You got it!
Those same lackluster individuals that sat next to you in your D License training course that you said in the back of your mind, “I can’t believe this guy is going to be protecting somebody or securing an area!” Just think, you and Paul Blart working the same Executive Protection detail! The mall cop next to you during your threat analysis…
And let’s talk about what this will do to the pay rates in the Executive Protection industry. Now that any security guard qualifies as an Executive Protection agent (by law only), prospective clients will use those same security rates when it comes to pay. Additionally, you’ll see security companies offering Executive Protection services (because they can by law) and asking for security guard rates. This will totally undercut true Executive Protection companies and lower the bar for the entire industry. There are companies already doing this is the “D” arena. You know of them. They bid jobs at ridiculously low rates and then put out a Craigslist ad to fill them.
Well, we hope you found this insightful – Until then, stay alert and stay safe!

“Which defensive tactics work best?” This is a question that defensive tactics experts and bodyguard instructors have debated and continue to debate. But, in reality, the answer is simple. I don’t care what defensive tactics or martial arts discipline you train in or feel that you have mastered, because the answer is always the same. ALL experienced executive protection agents will agree that the best defensive tactic we have as agents, that will give us the greatest chance of survival and least chance of injury to us or our clients, is AVOIDANCE.
Part of the difficulty in the bodyguard/ close protection/ executive protection industry is in most states, there are no licensing or oversights involved. In short, this means anyone can “teach” anything. Maybe even teach practices that are inherently dangerous given there is no state governance.
Over the past decade, many schools and universities have gone “online”. While we have no doubt that that is a viable option if you are taking accounting courses, it certainly doesn’t apply to Executive Protection.
In our research, Executive Protection Training 3-day courses tend to run from $350 to a high of $1500.
INTRODUCTION
As the only training facility in Florida to be licensed by the US Department of Education, ESS Global Corporation provides education, training and consulting for commercial endeavors, government entities and the general public solely designed to enhance the safety and security of our communities.

The Only D.O.E. Certified Executive Protection School in Florida