When researching the nation’s top bodyguard schools, it’s important to investigate the certifications the school has, not the paper they hand to you at the end of the course.
Top Bodyguard Schools – What to Look For
In most states, including here in Florida, bodyguards are lumped in with security guards. Simply put, from a governing perspective, bodyguards get the same “certifications” as armed and unarmed security. For instance here in Florida that would be a state-issued G and D license respectively.
What this means to you.
What you need to understand is the bodyguard “certifications” you receive at the end of the training are just pieces of paper from the “School”. It’s the “School’s Certification” and nothing else. It’s even true here at ESS. It’s paper, and it’s genuinely not worth much more that the paper it’s printed on (though is does look nice in a frame).
That being said, there are “Security Detail” Certifications that you can get here at ESS such as the aforementioned D and G, as well as ASP, Phazzer and Red Cross certifications for instance. Those are real certifications.
But again, there are no “Executive Protection Certification” or Bodyguard Specialist”, or any other fancy sounding certifications. It’s a “School Certification” showing you took a course.
Top Bodyguard Schools – What You Need to Look For
When you are researching the top bodyguard schools, it’s more important for you to investigate the certifications the school has, as this provides you a far better insight as to the quality of the training.
ESS Global Corp Certifications
D.O.E. Certification
When you think of the word “school” you’d think of your schooling. From kindergarten on up, the schools you have attended were all certified by the Department of Education. Well, it’s no different here at ESS Global Corp. It’s another set of eyes, proving we are indeed a school. Additionally, ESS is the only D.O.E. Approved Bodyguard School in the State of Florida, and one of just a few D.O.E. approved protection schools in the nation.
VA Certification
If you are a Veteran, you’ll want to attend a school that is approved by the VA to accept GI Bill Benefits. It’s a lengthy certification process. Ask anyone who has gone through it. Again, ESS Global is the only bodyguard school in Florida that is approved by the Veterans Administration, and again, one of only a handful in the nation.
Vocational Rehabilitation Certification
Here is where both the D.O.E and the VA work together to certify a school for Voc Rehab. And, ESS Global Corp has gone through this certification process as well. And yes, you guessed it. ESS is the only bodyguard school in Florida approved for Vocational Rehabilitation.
Additionally, you’ll also want to choose a training facility that is also active in the industry. ESS has overseen security details in over 60 different countries.
For a deeper dive into bodyguard training, and the bodyguard industry, read the ESS Guide to Executive Protection.
Top Bodyguard Schools – ESS Bodyguard Courses
ESS Global offers two Bodyguard (Executive Protection) Courses, depending on your needs and aspirations.
There is a 3-Day “Fast-Start” Executive Protection Training Course and a 28-Day Mega Executive Protection Course at our campus in Tampa.
While these two executive protection courses have quite a bit in common,
they are both;
- Approved by the D.O.E.
- Approved by the VA for GI Bill Benefits
- Approved for the VA for Vocational Rehabilitation
Bodyguard Training – The 3-Day Fast Start Executive Protection Course
Covering all the basic pillars of executive protection, this 3-day training will provide you with the basic knowledge and protection techniques commonly used by the Secret Service, State Police, Highway Patrols, VIP and Dignitary Protection Units responsible for protecting politicians and other domestic and foreign dignitaries around the world.
Our ESS Global Executive Protection Training is designed as a “must-have” for beginners in the world of executive/close protection, as well as a “refresher” for career veterans in the protection industry .
This D.O.E. Certified Executive Protection Training gives you a strong start in the security industry covering city, county and state government organizations, corporate security services, security agencies and private individuals.
See our event calendar for the next 3-day training.
Bodyguard Training – The ESS Global 28-Day Executive Protection Course
The ESS Global 28-Day Executive Protection “Mega” Course is a series of comprehensive protection training modules developed by ESS Global and approved by the D.O.E. This month-long executive protection training is for civilians, law enforcement and military personnel who wish to pursue a career in corporate security or protective services domestically or abroad.
The ESS Global “Mega” Executive Protection Training includes;
- Executive Protection Certification
- Advanced Executive Protection Certification
- Threat Assessment & Security Advance Tactics Certification
Motorcade Tactics Certification- Defensive Tactics Certification
- CPR/AED Certification
- Florida Concealed Weapons Certification (May be used to obtain CWP license)
- NRA Basic Pistols Course Certification
- Collapsible Baton ASP Certification
- OC Spray Certification
- ASP Handcuffing Certification
- ASP Flashlight Training Certification
- Conductive Energy Weapon Certification (Phazzer)
- D License Certification (Unarmed Security Officer)
- G License Certification (Armed Security Officer)
In this month long bodyguard course, you will receive over 300+ hours of elite executive protection instruction and training from top industry professionals that we use as our instructors. You will learn from the best!
This course will not only have a classroom aspect to it, but there will be a practical side where the students will actually learn in a hands-on environment how to successfully perform all the skills being taught in the classroom. We feel that best way to learn how to do something is to actually do it!
This is the mega course where you will receive 300+ hours of elite instruction and training from top industry professionals that we use as our instructors. You will learn from the best! Our instructors do not just teach, but they are all extremely active in the industry. Each instructor has years of experience in the industry while most have worked both domestically and internationally.
This course involves classroom and practical exercises. Everything we cover in the classroom will also be covered in a hands-on environment. You will spend as much time on practical exercises as you will in the classroom. Each section of this course will be taught by an instructor who specializes in that area of the industry and you will be tested on your retention in the classroom as well as practical exams. Once the course work is completed, you will be required to put everything you have learned into action.
Course Materials (Text Book, Hand Outs, etc)
See You Soon. Until Then, Be Safe.
This 28-day protection training is the fastest way to prepare for a career in the personal security world. While it is approved by the VA, and we can accept both 
GI Bill Approved Executive Protection Training
See You Soon. Until Then, Be Safe.