ACT 235 - Armed Security Officer Training

ACT 235 Classes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Act 235 provides for the training and licensing of watch guards, protective patrolmen, detectives, and criminal investigators in carrying and using lethal weapons in their employment. STG Training is partnered with Suburban Academy of Law Enforcement to help provide this training.

Review the information below before you begin your application  

ACT 235 ApplicationACT 235 Class Schedule

Am I Eligible for ACT 235?

All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Pass a physical examination by a medical doctor
    • Uncorrected vision of at least 20/70 in one eye and 20/200 in the other
    • Corrected vision of at least 20/20 in one eye and 20/40 in the other
    • Must have normal color and depth perception and be free of any other significant visual abnormalities
    • Pass hearing examination (permitted to use hearing aid)

     

     

     

    • Pass a psychological examination administered by a licensed psychologist
    • No conviction of a disqualifying criminal offense as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. Section 6105
      • No conviction of misdemeanor of the first degree or higher
      • No conviction of a crime of violence
      • No active protection from abuse orders
      • No previous involuntary mental health commitments

    Forms for ACT 235:

    Physical Examination Form 

    Vision Examination Form

    Psychological Examination Form

    *Please make sure that you watch the office staff fax your physical and vision forms to PSP after your appointment and ensure your psychologist submits the forms after your appointment. The scores are only good for 10 days.*

     

    Where to go for appointments:

    1. Physical/Vision Exam (~$125) – Concentra Aspinwall (412-784-1678)

    *Do this first, most people fail the vision requirement*

    2. Psychological Exam (~$225) – The Psychology Loft (412-213-8667)

    Steps to apply for ACT 235

    Applicants who meet the criteria above should use the TACS System to complete an online application.

    Use your Keystone Login username and password to login into TACS. If you do not have a Keystone Login username and password, you can create one by selecting either “New User” or “Existing User not mapped to Keystone Login account.” Once you are in the system, select the Home Act 235 button and select the Basic Training Application. Scroll down to select Start Application.

    Complete all required information on each screen and submit when you have finished. This will require a credit card payment of $50.00.

    Waivers

    Individuals with previous or current law enforcement certification or training may apply for waivers by answering questions and providing required documents within the application. Substantiating documents must be uploaded in the application. Documents that are mailed or faxed will not be attached to the application. No determinations regarding waivers will be made until the application has been submitted and reviewed by staff.

    When you submit your application you will receive an automated email from Identigo/Morphotrust with instructions for scheduling your fingerprint session. You must be fingerprinted at one of the approved IdentoGO locations. You will not receive the results of your fingerprints, these will be forwarded directly to the Lethal Weapons Certification Unit for review.

    When you submit your application you will also receive a confirmation email from the Lethal Weapons Certification Unit with instructions to download and print the physical examination form, vision examination form, and psychological examination form. You must undergo physical and psychological examinations at your own expense. The physicians must be PA licensed. They must submit completed and signed forms to the Lethal Weapons Certification Unit.

    Photographs

    If you do not possess a valid PA driver’s license or are an out-of-state resident you must, in addition to the steps above, submit two (2) passport size photos to the Lethal Weapons Certification Unit at the address below.

    PA State Police
    Lethal Weapons Certification Unit
    8002 Bretz Drive
    Harrisburg, PA 17112

    Once the Certification Unit has received your application, fingerprints, physical, and psychological examination, you will receive an approval or denial notification by email. If you receive official notification that you have been approved for training, you should schedule training at an Act 235 certified school. It is your responsibility to schedule the training after receiving the approval letter.

    Upon completion of training, login to TACS using your last name, full birthday, and full social security number to submit the $30.00 certification fee by credit card payment.

    These are estimated costs. You should expect to spend close to $1000 to complete all your appointments, fees, and training.

    Application Fee: $50

    Fingerprint Fee: $22.60

    Phsyical/Vision: ~$125

    Psych Exam: ~$225

    ACT 235 Class: $450

    Certification Fee: $30

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    Anthony DeRubeis

    Anthony DeRubeis

    Owner and Instructor

    Anthony is currently full-time with Special Tasks Group Training. Prior to his current position, Anthony worked for multiple security companies over the winter months in corporate, remote, armed school security, as a Lieutenant for a local federal facility and the Director of Security at Henne Jewelers. During summer months Anthony owned a landscaping business for fifteen years. He was also the former Chief Operations Officer at Spare Change for 4 and a half years, helping musicians to raise over $30,000 for charities at their shows.                                                                                         
    Outside of work, Anthony was a Reserve Deputy Sheriff where his interest in firearms instruction grew after graduating top of his academy class in 2021. He went on to become an NRA Basic Instructor with ratings in rifle, pistol, firearm safety, and further achieving Chief Range Safety Officer. Anthony expanded into Law Enforcement and Security training as a Handgun/Rifle/Shotgun/OC/Taser/Defensive Tactics/Use of Force/ and Handcuffing Instructor.                                                                                                                                                                                                  Anthony is also passionate about safety and emergency response so he pursued instructor ratings for AVERT, STOP THE BLEED, and First Aid/CPR/AED. In 2024, Anthony was eligible to become an NRA Training Counselor and after completing the development workshop as honor graduate, received an appointment as one of the approximately 2300 Training Counselors that the NRA has. He is now able to train NRA Basic Instructors.                                                                                                                                                                                      
    Fluent in French and having visited 48 countries, Anthony attended Point Park University where he majored in National Security Studies and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2018. During his time at university, he was also a Cadet Commander with the Civil Air Patrol, a Search and Rescue Ground Team Leader/Instructor, and an Army Reserve Officer Training Corp Cadet. Under the pen name Allan Durand, Anthony self-published a book titled Path of the Candidate: Engaging with the French Foreign Legion.

    Phone: (412) 254-6665

    Email: Anthony@stgtraining.com

    Hours:

    Public Classes

    Saturday and Sunday

    By Appointment

    Tuesday-Thursday

    Please contact us to schedule a time that works for you!

    Classroom Address:

    816 Copeland Way,

    Pittsburgh PA 15232

    Range Address:

    Trafford Sportsmen's Club

    14000 Winchester Road,

    Trafford, PA 15085

    or

    Tarentum District

    Sportsmen's Club

    837 Sarver Road

    Sarver, PA 16055

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