Train for a career in security — the right way, the first time.
State-required security officer training where Bluewater is authorized to provide it. Currently enrolling Florida Class D and Tennessee unarmed guard training, with a direct employment pathway to Hammerhead Security for qualified applicants.
Taught by Working Security Leadership
Courses are built and taught by certified trainers with real field and law enforcement experience — not a slideshow read aloud.
- Florida Class D (40-hour) & Tennessee unarmed guard registration, now enrolling
- New hire, transfer, and renewal tracks
- Digital registration through BluewaterOS
- Licensed Florida Class DS Security Officer School (#DS3600013)
Two state-required training programs, open now
Our two flagship, currently-enrolling programs are aligned to the current state training requirements described below. The state — not the Academy — issues the officer license or registration.
Florida Class D — Unarmed Security Officer License
The 40-hour professional training required for a Florida Class D license application under Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. Bluewater may organize the 40 hours into instructional modules, but Florida no longer requires the training to be delivered as separate 24-hour and 16-hour courses. Bluewater Security Academy is a licensed Florida Class DS Security Officer School (#DS3600013); FDACS issues the Class D license.
Tennessee Unarmed Guard Registration
Tennessee requires 4 hours of general training for an initial unarmed guard registration and 2 hours of refresher training before renewal. Bluewater provides the training track; the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance issues and renews the guard registration.
Wherever you're starting from
Licensing and registration steps vary by state. Bluewater is currently enrolling Florida Class D and Tennessee unarmed guard training. North Carolina material on this site is informational guidance only and is not presented as a currently enrolling Bluewater PPSB certification program.
New Hire Certification
For first-time applicants in an active Bluewater state program. We provide the required training and application guidance; the state licensing agency determines eligibility and issues the license or registration.
Transfer Registration
Transfer rules are state-specific and are not interchangeable. We help identify the correct process and provide training only where Bluewater is authorized; the employer and state agency control any required filing.
License Renewal
Renewal rules vary by state. Where Bluewater offers the required refresher training, we document completion and help you identify the state renewal steps and deadlines.
Training that keeps going after certification
Bluewater Security Academy's training runs through five career stages, so there's a next step after your first certification — not just a single course.
1. Foundations
The required entry point for all personnel — professionalism, conduct, and baseline operational readiness before anything specialized.
2. Operational Mastery
Assignment-specific training for specialized posts — fire watch, event and VIP coverage, retail loss prevention, healthcare, warehouse, and industrial/construction sites.
3. Supervisor & Leadership
For officers moving into shift oversight, team accountability, and conflict management — the core path for promotion into field leadership.
4. Advanced Operations
For higher-trust roles: client relations, legal authority, use of force and de-escalation, and multi-site risk management.
5. Executive Governance
Strategic-level training for command staff — financial literacy, cyber and modern threat awareness, and organizational leadership.
Academy On-Demand carries 50+ courses across these five paths — browse the full course catalog at bluewatersecurityacademy.com.
What training actually covers
Using Florida's New Hire Certification as the reference point — a real, currently-offered 40-hour program, not a generic outline.
Legal Authority
Security officer laws and the legal limits of an officer's authority on post.
Access & Patrol
Access control, patrol procedures, and following post orders.
Emergency Response
Emergency response protocol and incident reporting.
Conduct & Force
Professional conduct, ethics, and the proper use of force.
De-escalation
De-escalation and professional communication techniques.
Documentation
Documentation and court-ready report writing.
Exact hours and course structure vary by state — Florida's Class D program runs 40 hours of instructor-led training, while Tennessee's unarmed guard registration runs 4 hours initial plus a 2-hour renewal every two years. Ask us for the specific requirements in your state.
Graduates, on assignment.
Certification is the start, not the finish. Academy graduates move into real Hammerhead Security posts — checking in guests, staffing entrances, and covering assignments across our service states.
Training that leads somewhere
Most training courses end with a certificate and a "good luck." Bluewater Security Academy is built by the same leadership that runs Hammerhead Security's field operations — so graduates have a direct, known path into paid assignments, not just a piece of paper.
Every registration, renewal date, and training record is tracked in BluewaterOS, so nothing falls through the cracks between your certificate and your first shift.
See Where Graduates WorkChoose Your Program
Select Florida Class D, Tennessee initial training, Tennessee renewal training, or ask us about another state.
Complete Training
Complete the required training with appropriately licensed or certified instruction for the program.
Receive Training Documentation
Receive the training completion documentation required for your state application or renewal process.
Apply / Renew
Complete the state licensing or registration process. Qualified applicants may also pursue Hammerhead Security employment.