Maryland Special Police Course

Frequently Asked Questions

• When I complete the course, can I start working as a security officer or special police officer?

  These courses award students a certificate that is submittable to the Maryland State Police licensing division in order to be licensed. The certificate alone is not a license. You must still complete the process to be licensed. This certificate meets the licensing requirements set forth by the Maryland State Police. Our security and special police officer courses are certified through MPCTC (The Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission). Our firearm instructors are certified through the Maryland State Police licensing division.  

• What are the steps required to be licensed?

  You must first take a certified course, which this is. Then, you must get your LiveScan fingerprints taken and complete the online application through the Maryland State Police licensing portal. 

• Can I pay for this over time?

  Yes! You can use the online payment portal Klarna when checking out. Klarna allows you to make payments over time for our courses. 

• Where are you located?

  We are located in Salisbury, Maryland; however, we offer multiple courses online. You can also schedule an in-person class if you are a company with numerous people who require training, or you can come to our training center. 

• I have a felony or other serious misdemeanor, can I get a license?

   Probably not. The Maryland State Police restricts licensing for security officers, special police officers, and firearms permits to persons who are of good repute. 

  • Applicants must disclose any arrests, charges, convictions, or summonses for criminal violations.
  • Applicants must disclose any history of mental health treatment
  • Applicants must disclose any history of substance abuse
  • Applicants must disclose any history of handgun permit suspension, revocation, or termination
• What age and physical condition should I be in?

  You must be over 18 years of age and be in good overall physical condition, not suffer from PTSD, and not have any injuries that would prevent you from kneeling. You should not have a known heart condition. 

• Who is prohibited from taking this class?

  Anyone who does not have basic handgun skills, anyone with a previous conviction for a felony, or any person who has been charged and convicted of a misdemeanor in any state that carries a statutory penalty of 2 years or more. 

• Who are the instructors?

  Certified and former Maryland police officers who have attended SWAT school and have been deployed on tactical operations. 

• Does this mean I can transfer to an actual public police department?

  No, not with Special Police training. A public Maryland police department requires 6 months of training. Typically, departments put their newly hired officers through this training, although some community colleges offer police department training that is self-funded. 

• Is this training online or in person?

  This training is a hybrid class. The majority of this training is online however, 3 days of this training (approx 10 hours per day) is required to be in person at our Salisbury, MD. location). 

• Does this class provide me with training to carry a firearm, pepper spray, taser, etc?

  No. This class does not certify you to carry any defensive weapons. We do teach those courses; however, they are in addition to the basic Special Police course. The Maryland Police and Corrections Training Commission does not allow certification for SPOs through the SPO course for any weapons. As stated, we do offer these courses on their own, separate from the MPCTC certification course.