Access control

Access Control Training

Here's a breakdown of the most important components of a proper access control training session.

8 min reading time

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Updated on December 01, 2022

Written by Ashley Davis

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Access control is a great resource for growing businesses. It can help boost security, modernize your workplace, and simplify everyday office processes. Today, more and more businesses are using access control systems to protect their office spaces. If you are considering whether or not to invest in an access control system, you can read all about them here.

Typically, access control systems are installed by professionals. While this can make the process of adjusting to new technology easier, it often means that people in the workplace don’t understand their system or how it works behind the scenes. Although it is by no means necessary to have a full understanding of your business’ access control system, if a malfunction occurs or troubleshooting is needed, it can be much faster to find a fix yourself instead of relying on technicians to do so for you.

But what is the best way to learn about the language and technology of access control? You could read a few product manuals, but that would be tiring, frustrating, and time consuming. You could read all about access control systems online, but you most likely wouldn’t find enough information to fix your own system, should something go wrong. Instead, you should register for and complete an access control training course.

What are access control training courses?

Access control training courses are designed to teach you everything you need to know about access control technology. They are much more rewarding than reading a product manual and much more informative than reading online articles. Generally, the courses take up to a few days to complete. Many courses are certified and will award individuals with certificates upon completion. Other courses require participants to take written exams before they can receive a certificate. The courses vary in subject matter and teaching methods, so be sure to research different options in your area to find the one that’s right for you and your business. But no matter what kind of course you take, you can expect to learn the basics of access control systems: How to set one up, how they operate, and how to maintain them.

What will I learn in an access control training course?

The material covered in access control security systems trainings can vary. The goal of most courses is to explain how access control systems work and provide a thorough explanation of their parts and features. Many training courses already have their curriculums or goals posted online, so you might consider reading those before you attend your session. Some lessons to expect in an access control training course include:

History and Context

Some courses begin with a short history of access control. You will learn all about what access control systems do, why they exist, and how they came to be. You may also learn how access control technology has changed and its impact on the industry. This part of the course ensures that you are confidently able to explain the theory behind access control.

Features

The features of an access control system are its most fundamental parts. In a training course, you will learn the names of the parts of the system and what each of them does. You will also learn how these parts work together and how to fix them if they malfunction. This part of the course will teach you the vocabulary you need to have meaningful conversations with access control technicians.

Design

Many training courses will explain how to design effective access control systems. Design refers to the physical layout of an access control system in a building or office space. Design is crucial to the system’s health; bad design can cause the system to be vulnerable and less functional. This part of the course will teach you the best way to design a system and ensure its efficiency.

Electrical Systems

Knowledge of access control systems also includes knowledge of electrical systems, since access control requires electricity to operate. Many courses will teach you about cables, wiring, power supply units, and other basic electrical vocabulary. You will need this knowledge in order to create the best design possible. This part of the course will help you keep your own access control system up and running.

Updates

Access control systems often need to be updated to keep pace with new technology and new demands from businesses. Some, like Kisi’s system, update automatically, without help from a human. But others need to be manually updated in order to remain effective. This part of the training course will teach you how to update your system regularly if your system requires manual updates.

What will I do in an access control training course?

Over the course of your training, you may encounter several different kinds of learning activities. These activities ensure that everyone in the course successfully learns all of the material. Usually, a portion of the course is dedicated to “classroom study.” This entails a lecture and potentially some reading material given to you by the instructor leading the course. The instructor may also perform various demonstrations so you can see access control systems in action. You can expect these activities to make up the bulk of the course.

In addition, there may be “hands on” activities, which will require you to practice the skills you have learned in the course. For example, you may be asked to practice setting up an access control system or to recognize a system malfunction and devise a solution that will fix it. Some courses even ask participants to practice setting up an entire system from scratch based on an imaginary customer’s specifications.

Whatever your course’s curriculum contains, rest assured that you will gain all of the skills necessary to build and maintain an effective access control system of your own by the time you have completed it.

How do I enroll in an access control training course?

First, you should search online for access control trainings in your area. Many companies offer courses across the country, so there is most likely a training somewhere near you or your business. Some popular access control training companies include Hi-Tech Training, Tavcom Training, and ESA National Training School.

Access control trainings may be completed either in person or online. You should decide which type of course you have the time and resources to complete before you do your research. Many of the companies listed above offer in person trainings, although ESA National Training School also offers electronic access control trainings. Their websites often have calendars so you can pick the course dates that work best with your schedule. To register, simply choose a date and submit your personal information (usually your name and contact information). Some courses will also request payment in advance in order to secure your spot.

If you are planning to take an exam to receive your certificate at the end of your course, you should also be prepared to pay an additional fee of up to $50. Not all courses have this fee, but many do.

You should also try to keep up with your training. Since access control systems are continually being updated, their technology is ever-changing. It’s a good idea to continue learning about them so you can maintain your new skills. Many companies offer additional training courses for those who have already completed a basic course. If you intend to further your access control system education, then taking another course (or taking the same course again sometime in the future) is a great way to do so.


Taking an access control training course is a great way to bolster your knowledge of access control systems. Completing any kind of course, whether in person or online, will allow you to fix your own access control system without depending on the schedule of an outside technician. You will be able to manually update your own system and quickly identify and solve any malfunctions or bugs. You will also understand what good access control system design looks like so you can properly set up a new or expanded system in the future. Just as access control systems are smart investments in your company’s security system, so too is an access control training course a smart investment in yourself and your business.

Ashley Davis

Ashley is obsessed with words, Chinese food and all things tech.

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