Good paying career with short, online training.

[sanantone]

Being bored and looking at job openings on Craigslist, I became curious about the requirements to become an alarm technician. So, I went to the TX PSB website to look up authorized training schools. One of the approved schools is Elite CEU. They offer a self-paced, online, alarm level I course for $279. They are an approved training provider in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Iowa, North Carolina, Missouri, Tennessee, Utah, Alabama, and Kansas. The median wage for alarm technicians is about $20/hr. Some employers prefer applicants with an associates degree in electronics, engineering technology, instrumentation, or a related field. It also helps to earn NICET certifications.

Online Security Training - Texas Alarm Level 1 Certification - Elite CEU Training
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

[Jonathan Whatley]

Interesting!

You'd think – well, I'm thinking – that it could make sense for alarm technicians to be cross-trained and qualified as locksmiths, and of course locksmithing is a classic subject from non-degree correspondence vocational schools. But maybe there isn't much crossover in the field. Seen any sign either way?

ETA: Of course providing fire alarms naturally fits with providing fire equipment and here you'd have another area to cross-train in. There seem to be small local fire equipment companies everywhere; my cousin works for one. I've also done business with a company was the one who performed hydrostatic expansion tests on tanks, with large volumes of fire extinguishers and SCBA breathing systems, and also scuba tanks, welder's tanks, etc. They also sold other fire equipment (smoke detectors, exit signs), and other things involving pressurized cylinders (beer dispensers!).

[sanantone]

The main reason why I looked up the requirements is because I hold a security officer license with the Texas Private Security Bureau. The same agency licenses private investigators, locksmiths, security consultants, and security alarm technicians. The Texas Fire Marshal's office licenses fire alarm technicians. Elite CEU offers online training for this too in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi. They offer online Locksmith training for Louisiana and Tennessee.

[UptonSinclair]

Twenty dollars an hour seems a bit optimistic. I imagine it is affected by outliers such as union labor. I have seen many Journeymen Electricians making less than $20 an hour. If I were to make a guess, I would say an entry level alarm tech could expect $12 - $14 an hour.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Oh, yeah, and a good point you raise Upton: This also crosses over closely into the work of electricians. And cable and telecom line installers. One option for an ambitious alarm technician might be to parlay it into an electrical apprenticeship.

[sanantone]

Texas doesn't have strong unions, and it's a low wage state. The job ad that sparked my curiosity came from a company that pays its armed security officers $9.75/hr. Their average pay for alarm technicians is $30 an hour, and they don't even require much experience. Some companies pay commission because their technicians are expected to do light sales. Unlike electricians, a long apprenticeship or several years of working under someone isn't required to get to higher levels.

To answer Jonathan's question. I don't think alarm technicians would have the opportunity to do locksmithing. Companies usually offer either/or. Now, guard companies are often licensed as alarm companies, but their employees are rarely cross-trained. There is just not that much overlap in skills.

[Jonathan Whatley]

To answer Jonathan's question. I don't think alarm technicians would have the opportunity to do locksmithing. Companies usually offer either/or. Now, guard companies are often licensed as alarm companies, but their employees are rarely cross-trained. There is just not that much overlap in skills.

*nods.* What about fire alarm work crossing over to other fire equipment work? I added some thinking-aloud about that above.

[sanantone]

I forgot that I posted the link to BLS. The average salary in Texas is $38,090-$41,970. Remember, this is a right to work state. West Virginia, Ohio, and states in the Southeast pay the least. Medians aren't distorted by outliers like means (averages). The median wage is $19.73/hr.

[sanantone]

*nods.* What about fire alarm work crossing over to other fire equipment work? I added some thinking-aloud about that above.

I don't know much about the fire side of things. I was just looking for a place to recharge my extinguisher and found this company.
http://www.a1fireandsafety.com/content.php?x=about

[Jonathan Whatley]

I see that there's a pretty serious program for fire alarm technician certification in Canada:

The Canadian Fire Alarm Association (CFAA) requires that fire alarm technicians complete a five-subject, theory-based program of study plus one year's work with another experienced technician in order to become certified to work in this field (to ensure that fire alarm technicians are competent in their ability to test, inspect and maintain fire alarms). The first four subjects are the prerequisite for the fifth. Students must achieve a minimum grade of 60% for the subject to be credited by the CFAA toward certification.

Fire Alarm Technician (Seneca College program)
Training Program (CFAA)
Links to Approved Colleges (CFAA)