Blog
Insights, best practices, and updates from Bentley Forbes Security Training Academy.
Funded Career Change
8, 40, or 90 Hours: Which Security Program Fits You?
Compare 8-, 40-, and 90-hour security officer training programs in California: what the state requires, when to go longer, and how SJDB vouchers apply.
Funded Career Change
What Can You Spend an SJDB Voucher On? 6 Uses and Caps
What can you use an SJDB voucher for? The 6 allowable uses, caps on computers, counseling, and extras, how payment works, and how to budget for guard training.
Funded Career Change
What Is the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB)?
California's supplemental job displacement benefit is a retraining voucher worth up to $6,000. See who qualifies, what job offers count, and when it expires.
Funded Career Change
How to Find an SJDB-Approved Training Provider on CalJOBS
Find SJDB-approved schools on CalJOBS: who qualifies, how to search the ETPL, how to confirm a school's program, and what to send your claims administrator.
Funded Career Change
Security Jobs With a Permanent Disability in California
Security work with a permanent disability in California: how work restrictions guide role choice, what BSIS requires, and how SJDB can fund retraining.
Funded Career Change
SJDB Voucher Security Training: Workers' Comp to Guard Card
Use your California SJDB voucher for security guard training: who qualifies, what the $6,000 covers, approved providers, key deadlines, and the $5,000 RTWSP.
Guard Card Licensing
SB 652 Guard Card Rules: What Changed in 2026
Since Jan. 1, 2026, SB 652 requires a single course provider for the 8-hour guard card course, completed within 6 months before you apply. Here's what changed.
Guard Card Licensing
Can You Get a California Guard Card Online? (2026 Rules)
Can you get a California guard card online? The 8-hour course requires in-person training. See what's allowed, red flags to watch, and how to verify a school.
Guard Card Licensing
How to Get a Guard Card in California: 2026 Step-by-Step
Step-by-step 2026 guide to getting a California guard card: 8-hour training, Live Scan, the $60 BreEZe application, processing times, and renewal rules.
Guard Card Licensing
CA Guard Card Training Timeline: 8 Hours to 6 Months
California guard card training hours explained: the 8-hour course, 16 hours in 30 days, 32 by 6 months, and 8 hours every year, with a sample calendar.
Guard Card Licensing
Is WMD Training Still Required for a California Guard Card?
No. WMD and Terrorism Awareness is elective-only for a California guard card. See what replaced it, what SB 652 really changed, and how to check BSIS yourself.
Guard Card Licensing
SB 1203 Signed: California Guard Training Changes for 2029
SB 1203 is now law. From Jan. 1, 2029, California guards need 42 post-registration hours and 12 annual hours, paid by employers. Here's what to do now.