How To Become A Cash-In-Transit Security Guard

Have you ever seen the guys refilling the ATM or collecting excess cash from the bank? They are Cash-In-Transit guards. This high-paying, higher-risk role is quite coveted in the security industry. Many guards aspire to become cash-in-transit guards. It’s a coveted role because it’s more prestigious, you earn more money and there are more opportunities for career progression.

If you’ve ever wondered what this role is like, what they study or how much they make, this article explains everything you need to know.

What do Cash-In-Transit guards do?

A cash-in-transit guard is responsible for the safe transport of large sums of cash or valuables such as artwork or jewellery from one location to another. If they are an armed guard, they will also have a firearm on them for protection.

A cash-in-transit guard can be uniformed or plain clothes, in an armored truck or a regular civilian car, it just depends on the nature of the job and the requirements of that particular run.

Often times the more money or value the items or package has, the more discreet they will need to be.

Where Do Cash-In-Transit Guards Work?

There are various companies that offer these services here in Australia but Armaguard is one that most people are familiar with. But there are others as well. An armed cash-in-transit guard will work for one company and will do many different kinds of jobs out on the road for that company. They could be escorting cash from one premise to another or overseeing the loan of an expensive piece of jewellery or artwork for an event.

This is a job that moves around, after all it’s not cash stationery, it’s cash-in-transit.

What Is Being A Cash-In-Transit Guard like?

This job can be vastly different depending on the role you are doing. It could be a plain clothes role swinging through a McDonalds drive through in your civilian car with the other guard grabbing some fries and a shake and $30,000 to go.

Or it could a fully armoured vehicle, with multiple guards, all armed, and suited up going from bank to bank in broad daylight handling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

There are many different types of jobs you might do as a part of your role. You could be assigned to travel with a precious piece of jewellery, on loan from a collection for a celebrity to wear at an event. Or you could be assigned to travel and oversee the installation of an artwork from one gallery to another.

The job has a lot of variety, some scenarios are higher risk than others but overall this is a high stakes job and that’s why it pays more.

How Much Do Cash-In-Transit Guards Make?

You may have heard that working as a cash-in-transit guard pays more and that is correct. The actual amount you make changes depending on the role you take on and what level you are at.

The average salary for a full-time position is $65,000, however, there are also job ads with the hourly rate for cash-in-transit guards listed at $50. Depending on the role and how high you rise in this industry the rate can go up from there.

What Skills Do You Need To Work As A Cash In Transit Guard?

Depending on the type of cash-in-transit role you perform there are lots of different skills that will help you to excel in these roles but here are a few that are universal in this industry.

Vigilance

It should come as no surprise that you will need to be hyper-vigilant and hyper-aware to excel as a cash-in-transit guard. These are big clients that you’ll be working for and your cargo that you are transporting is sometimes worth more than you’ll make in a year or even ten years!

So, it’s very important that you remain vigilant in your role and have excellent attention to detail. It could save the day.

Communication

Communication is so important to this role and all security roles. You will need to have good, clear verbal and written communication to ensure nothing is missed in translation. In this role you will need to communicate clearly and discreetly in order to do your job well. You will also need excellent written communication. In this role and all security roles, there is a lot of paperwork. You will need to fill in reports, file paperwork. Basically, you have to dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s.

Discretion

Discretion is paramount to cash-in-transit positions. You can’t be attracting attention if you’re responsible for the subtle removal of thousands of dollars from a premises. This role in particular is all about moving through the world relatively unseen.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Be A Cash-In-Transit Guard?

In order to become a cash-in-transit guard you will need to complete two courses.

The first course you’ll need to complete is the Certificate II in Security Operations. This is the course required to gain your security guard licence.

This course is taught over an eight day face-to-face workshop with some online work required before and after the workshop. In the course you’ll learn how to:

Apply effective communication skills to maintain security
Apply legal and procedural requirements to work effectively within a security team
Apply WHS, emergency response and evacuation procedures to maintain security
Apply risk assessment to select and carry out response to security risk situations
Provide quality services to a range of security clients
Protect self and others using basic defensive techniques
Patrol premises to monitor property and maintain security
Screen people, personal effects and items to maintain security
Monitor and control access and exit of persons and vehicles from premises
Monitor and control individual and crowd behaviour to maintain security
Apply security procedures to manage intoxicated persons
Apply security procedures to remove persons from premises
Escort and protect persons and valuables
Provide first aid

The next course you’ll need to complete is the cash-in-transit course. This course is the one you’ll need in order to add the cash-in-transit function on your security guard licence and work as a cash-in-transit guard.

The cash-in-transit course is taught in a one day face-to-face intensive workshop with an industry skilled trainer. They will take you through scenarios, role plays, groups discussions and then an assessment.

In the cash-in-transit course you’ll learn how to:

Inspect and test cash-in-transit security equipment & rectify faults
Implement cash-in-transit security procedures
Load and unload cash-in-transit in secured and unsecured environments

If you are wanting to work as an armed cash-in-transit guard, then you will also need to complete the Firearms and Defensive tactics course. This is the required course to work as an armed security guard.

This course is taught in a face-to-face workshop over six days. It includes safety training and practical training at a live firing range.

In this course you’ll learn how to:

Carry, operate and maintain revolvers for security purposes
Carry, operate and maintain semi-automatic pistols for security purposes
Carry, operate and maintain shotguns for security purposes
Manage conflict and security risks using negotiation
Determine and implement response to security risk situation
Maintain operational safety and security of the work environment
Control security risk situations using firearms
Control persons using baton
Restrain persons using handcuffs
Demonstrate the safe use of category H firearms

How Long Does It Take To Become A Cash-In-Transit Guard?

To begin with you’ll need to first complete the Certificate II in Security Operations which takes about two weeks. You will then need to complete the additional course or courses. Depending on if you are wanting to work as an armed cash-in-transit guard, this could take just one day or a full additional week.

The cash-in-transit course and firearms and defensive tactics course can be packaged together and completed in just 6 days.

Once you have completed all the necessary courses you’ll need, then it’s time to apply for your security guard licence. This might be an unarmed security guard licence with the cash-in-transit function or if you are wanting to do armed CIT as well, you will also need a security guard firearms licence.

The application for an unarmed security guard licence is made to the Office of Fair Trading. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months for the whole process to be complete.

How Much Does It Cost To Become A Cash-In-Transit Guard?

The Certificate II in Security Operations costs $1500 but most people are able to access some government funding to assist you with paying for this training.

The cash-in-transit course and firearms and defensive tactics course can be offered packaged together for $1350. Or you can attend just the cash-in-transit course for $250 or just the firearms and defensive tactics course for $1250.

Keep in mind, once you have completed your training you will also need to pay for your licence.

How Do You Get Started In Cash-In-Transit?

If you’re interested in knowing more about an exciting career in security, you can check out the Certificate II in Security Operations course here, the Cash-In-Transit course here and the Firearms and Defensive Tactics course here.

We also offer free security career information sessions online every week. In these sessions our team will take you through everything you need to know about the security industry, different jobs you can do and the additional training to get into your niche. You sign up for one of these info sessions here. Or you get in touch with us and we’ll help you figure out what courses are right for you!