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In 2001, the General Assembly authorized the Virginia Crime Commission to study School Security Officer (SSO) programs throughout Virginia. This resulted in legislation that requires all SSOs to be certified through the DCJS SSO Certification Program(§ 9.1-102.44). SSO training requirements and other regulations can be found in Regulation 6 VAC 20-240.

NOTE:Applications, documents and forms related to SSOs may be downloaded from the links under “Downloadable SSO Documents” below.

New SSOs are required to successfully complete a 32-hour certification course within 60-days of their hiring date. To date, over 1000 Virginia SSOs have completed this course. The SSO certification program is designed to support and enhance the valuable work being done by the more than 1000 SSOs throughout Virginia. Whereas the initial 32-hour certification course provides a minimum training standard, SSOs are encouraged to supplement this core curriculum by taking other trainings offered by VCSS. Please visit our Training and Events page to view the current listing of these training opportunities.

DCJS also offers a “School Security Officer Instructors Course” for SSOs who wish to become DCJS-approved instructors. DCJS-trained instructors can offer training to their fellow SSOs by submitting a training class request form and receiving approval from DCJS. VCSS staff work with school division SSO Contact Persons (SSOCP) to coordinate and track all SSO trainings and certified SSOs. To that end, an online School Security Officer Database (VASSOD) has been developed. Virginia SSOs and SSOCPs are assigned passwords so they may access certain records in this database (ssod.dcjs.virginia.gov).

To remain certified, SSOs must complete 16 hours of in-service training during each 2-year period following their initial certification. Partial In-service Credit (PIC) may be obtained through the completion of DCJS-sponsored training courses or through local school division or private sector safety/security training classes. To receive in-service credit for non-DCJS-sponsored training, SSOs must submit a “SSO Partial In-Service Credit” or “PIC” form to DCJS and have it approved prior to the training. Additionally, 16 hours of in-service credit is offered to any SSO who attends a requisite number of sessions at the annual Virginia School Safety Conference.

Downloadable SSO Documents

• September 2007 Memorandum: School Security Program Administrative Requirements
  
  
• Application for Certification as an SSO – SSOCP submits this form to DCJS when new SSOs have met their initial training requirements and are seeking certification (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
  
  
• Policy Guidelines for Issuance Of Partial In-Service Credit - describes the different ways certified SSOs may earn in-service training credit (.pdf or .doc, 3 pages)
  
  
• SSO Partial In-Service Credit Course Approval (aka “PIC”) Form – used by school division contact persons, training instructors and SSOs to inform VCSS of an SSO’s successful completion of in-service training class (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
  
  
• Application for Re-Certification as a SSO – used by SSOCPs to notify DCJS when one of their school division’s SSOs wishes to be re-certified (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
  
  
• Permission for Extension: School Security Officer Training Certification – SSOCPs submit this form to notify VCSS when one of their school division’s SSOs is unable to meet a required certification or recertification training deadline (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
  
  
• School Security Officer Training Class Request Form – used by DCJS-trained SSO Instructors when applying to teach a SSO training class (.pdf or .doc, 1 page)
  
  

For additional information, please contact Melissa Leigh at the Virginia Center for School Safety. She may be reached by phone at 804-786-8467 or by e-mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I apply for a position as a School Security Officer?
   
   DCJS does not employ School Security Officers. Hiring of school security personnel is done at the school division level. Interested applicants should contact their local public school administration office. The SSO certification course is offered exclusively to those employed in a safety/security capacity within Virginia’s public schools.
   
   
2. How do I become a School Security Officer Trainer for DCJS?
   
   To serve as a SSO trainer, one must attend a SSO Instructor course. This course is only offered to Virginia Public School SSOs who have been recommended for such duty by their school division administrator.
   
   
3. How do I know when my certification expires?
   
   Certification dates are based on the SSOs completion date of the mandatory School Security Officer certification training. Certifications remain in effect for a period of two years from that date.
   
   
4. Who tracks my in-service credit and how do I apply for recertification?
   
   SSOs are responsible for obtaining documentation of attendance (form PIC0205) at partial in-service credit classes on the day of the class. The SSO then submits the documentation to his/her school division Contact Person or custodian of records. This school representative shall maintain a file of SSO in-service records and shall track accumulation of SSO Credit hours. As re-certification approaches, DCJS will supply school divisions with the SSO Application for Re-certification. School divisions should attach the PIC form(s) to the respective officer’s application and submit the documentation to DCJS for re-certification compliance.