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Home›Courses›Safety Training›Countering Terrorism

Countering Terrorism

30 minutesENSafety TrainingNo specific regulatory mandate - DHS guidelines, ASIS International standards, OSHA General Duty Clause
Quick Answer

Countering Terrorism is a 30-minute online course that trains security professionals on recognizing potential terrorist threats, taking effective command and control actions during incidents, and supporting emergency response operations. It is designed for security officers, facility security managers, and emergency preparedness coordinators and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Security personnel are typically the first on-scene responders during a terrorist incident or active threat event at a facility, campus, or public venue. The decisions made by security professionals in the initial minutes of an event - from notifying emergency services to establishing command and control, evacuating occupants, and providing aid to victims - directly influence the outcome. The Department of Homeland Security emphasizes that private sector security officers protect approximately 85% of the nation's critical infrastructure, making their preparedness a fundamental component of the national security framework.

This course prepares your security team to respond effectively to terrorist threats and incidents. Your personnel will learn to identify indicators of potential terrorist activity, establish command and control during a critical incident, coordinate with emergency services, manage evacuation and shelter-in-place operations, and provide initial aid to victims. The course builds the decision-making framework security officers need to act decisively during high-stress events where preparation and training make the difference between effective and ineffective response.

What You'll Learn

  • Recognizing indicators of potential terrorist activity and pre-attack surveillance
  • Command and control procedures during a terrorist incident or active threat
  • Coordination with law enforcement and emergency services during an event
  • Evacuation and shelter-in-place decision-making for different threat scenarios
  • Providing initial aid to victims during the emergency response phase
  • Post-incident actions including scene preservation and witness management

Who Needs This Training

  • Security officers at commercial, industrial, and government facilities
  • Facility security managers developing emergency preparedness programs
  • Campus security personnel at educational institutions
  • Event security coordinators for public venues and gatherings
  • Emergency preparedness coordinators at critical infrastructure facilities
  • Building managers responsible for tenant safety and emergency planning

Regulatory Background

While no single federal regulation mandates terrorism awareness training for all private-sector security personnel, several regulatory frameworks establish training expectations. The Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Protection Plan identifies private security's role in protecting critical infrastructure across 16 sectors. The ASIS International standards (ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 and SPC.1) establish voluntary consensus standards for security officer training that include terrorism awareness and emergency response. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS, 6 CFR Part 27) require covered chemical facilities to implement security vulnerability assessments and site security plans that include personnel training. The Maritime Transportation Security Act requires TWIC credentialed workers and facility security training at regulated ports. For most private-sector employers, the OSHA General Duty Clause creates an obligation to address recognized workplace violence and security hazards, and terrorism preparedness training supports compliance with that obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Requirements vary by state and facility type. While there is no universal federal mandate for terrorism training for all private security personnel, specific industries have requirements. Chemical facilities covered under CFATS must train personnel on security plans. Maritime facilities subject to MTSA require security awareness training. Many states require a minimum number of training hours for licensed security officers, and terrorism awareness is increasingly included in those curricula. The ASIS International standards recommend terrorism awareness as a core competency.
The immediate priorities are to notify emergency services (call 911), activate the facility's emergency action plan, and begin establishing command and control of the situation. Depending on the threat type and location, this may involve initiating evacuation, lockdown, or shelter-in-place procedures. Security officers should focus on protecting life, containing the situation, and providing clear information to arriving law enforcement about the threat, its location, and the actions already taken.
Active shooter events are one category of terrorist or violent incident. This course takes a broader approach, covering multiple threat types including bombings, vehicle attacks, chemical releases, and active assailants. The command and control, evacuation, and coordination principles overlap significantly with active shooter response training. Employers should consider this course as part of a comprehensive security training program that may also include specific active shooter response training.
This course provides foundational terrorism awareness training, but CFATS compliance requires site-specific security training aligned with the facility's approved Site Security Plan. Covered facilities must develop training programs tailored to their specific risk tier, security vulnerabilities, and protective measures. This course can serve as a component of the broader CFATS training program but should be supplemented with facility-specific content.
The Department of Homeland Security recognizes that private security protects approximately 85% of the nation's critical infrastructure. Security officers are expected to serve as the first line of observation for suspicious activity, the first to initiate emergency response protocols, and the primary point of coordination with law enforcement upon arrival. Effective training for security personnel is considered essential to the "see something, say something" national preparedness posture.

Related Courses

Organizations that train security personnel on terrorism response often pair this course with Workplace Safety Training: Crisis Management and Emergency Planning for a comprehensive emergency preparedness program. Employers looking to address broader workplace violence risks should also consider Workplace Violence Prevention as part of their security training curriculum.

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$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

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$29.95
per person