Buford sits at the top of Gwinnett on the southern shore of Lake Lanier, and a slice of the city reaches into Hall County. Students from either side train at the Academy classroom in Duluth. Pick a course in Bookeo and secure the date with a $100 deposit.
Reserve with a $100 non-refundable deposit; pay the rest at class.
Designed for people new to security. Earns a Certificate of Completion.
Saves $75 vs. booking separately. Armed portion: 21+.
Must be 21+. Check the Bookeo listing for date requirements.
Most of Buford is in northern Gwinnett County, but the northern sliver of the city lies in Hall County, so some Buford addresses are technically outside Gwinnett. It makes no difference for class. Everyone meets at 3250 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Ste 201, Duluth, which is southwest of Buford.
The City of Buford lists I-85, I-985, Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard among its routes. Which one suits you depends on whether you live near downtown Main Street, by the Mall of Georgia or up toward the lake, so let the live map pick the route. Run it from your own address at your real departure hour before you commit to a date.
Students coming from the Hall County side near the lake, or from the Gwinnett neighborhoods south of the mall, may find different routes recommended on different days. Save the directions link on your phone the night before class, and leave enough slack for a lake-traffic weekend if your date falls on one.
Buford City Hall on Buford Highway does not host classes, and neither does the Buford Community Center. Armed students should read the range details posted on their Bookeo date.
Buford started in 1872 as a depot on the rail line between Atlanta and Charlotte, and the city's own fact sheet now lists Lake Lanier, Buford Dam and Lake Lanier Islands alongside major domestic and international companies. A city with that mix of industry and recreation has loading docks, offices and retail floors that open early and close late.
Retail is the obvious draw. The city's shopping page describes the Mall of Georgia as more than 2 million square feet under one roof, and downtown adds galleries, antique shops and restaurants along Main Street. Then there is the Buford Community Center campus: a conference center for groups up to 300, the 282-seat Sylvia Beard Theatre and a Town Park amphitheater with terraced lawn seating for up to 1,800. A full amphitheater at concert time mean gates, bag checks and a lot of people leaving at once.
The city also opened a free four-level parking deck on Moreno Street with 256 spaces. Parking structures near busy districts are a classic place for rounds, lighting checks and incident notes, all part of the patrol and reporting units in the Unarmed course.
The posts below reflect property types found in Buford and are meant to show where the skills apply. They are not job offers, and finishing a course does not guarantee work. Private Eye Protection accepts applications separately.
Large enclosed malls and nearby retail strips may use officers for floor patrol, loss reports and parking lot visibility.
An outdoor amphitheater with a lawn for thousands may need gate staff, bag checks and clear exits when shows end. See event security services.
Industrial employers with docks and yards can rely on truck logs, badge checks and perimeter rounds. See warehouse security posts.
Multi-level decks near a busy downtown can call for walking rounds, lighting reports and vehicle incident notes.
Growing housing near downtown and the mall may use access control, overnight patrols and visitor logs. See apartment security.
Some properties want armed officers. Armed licensing in Georgia starts at 21 and is tied to a licensed employer. See armed security officers.
Unarmed builds the base. Armed adds firearms and live-fire qualification.
Georgia Board rules set a 24-hour minimum for basic training.
Unarmed, Armed or the Complete Package.
Open secure Bookeo checkout and choose an open session.
The non-refundable deposit reserves your seat. Bookeo emails your confirmation.
Pay the balance at class. Start now →
Designed for people new to security work.
21 or older. Georgia Board FAQ
The State of Georgia makes all licensing determinations.
Still have a question? Call the Academy at 678-878-3152.
Yes. Part of Buford extends into Hall County, and that has no effect on enrollment. Every student, from either county, attends class at 3250 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Ste 201, in Duluth. Choose your date in Bookeo, pay the $100 deposit, and use the directions link to plan the trip from your address.
No. The Buford Community Center is a city event campus with a theater, conference rooms and an amphitheater. It is not an Academy site. Classes are only held at the Duluth classroom, and Armed range information appears on the Bookeo listing for each date.
Buford combines a very large mall, a historic downtown, an amphitheater campus and industrial employers. Those settings call for retail patrol, crowd entry, parking checks and dock logging. Training builds those skills, but it does not create a job at any of those places.
Starting near Lake Lanier is a different trip from starting near downtown or the mall. Open the Google Maps link on this page from your address at your planned departure time, then call 678-878-3152 with any schedule questions. Buford residents can reach the classroom side of the county by I-85, Buford Highway or Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, and the map will choose among them.
The 24-hour Unarmed course costs $250, the 16-hour Armed course $375 and the 40-hour Complete Package $550. You hold your date with a $100 non-refundable deposit through Bookeo and Square, then pay the remaining $150, $275 or $450 when you attend the training.
Unarmed (24 hours) is the usual first step and includes American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED. Armed (16 hours) focuses on firearms safety, Georgia firearms law and live-fire qualification, with no CPR. Complete (40 hours, $550) combines both with First Aid/CPR/AED and costs $75 less than buying them separately.
You must be at least 21 for armed training. Georgia's Board requires armed security licensees to be 21 or older, and armed registration runs through a licensed security employer, so the course alone does not let you work armed. Check each course listing in Bookeo for its requirements before you reserve.
Not automatically. The Academy provides state-required training. Successful Unarmed completion earns a Certificate of Completion, and the Armed course provides firearms training and qualification documentation for the state process. Completion is not an automatic license. The State of Georgia makes all licensing determinations.
Pick a course and date, then pay the deposit.
