About Us

Academy History

(C.S.T.A.) California Security Training Academy was founded in 1972 by Steve Caballero, Ed.D., while he was serving as a detective sergeant with El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Steve felt the Security Industry at that time needed a professional school where training and professionalism were the main priority.

The School was opened in Sacramento, California and there began a long, professional association with the State of California and the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Prior to consolidating its operations into one California Regional Training Headquarters, C.S.T.A. had training facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Leandro, Marin County, Fresno and Stockton, California.

California Security Training Academy (CSTA) was the first security training facility in California to become licensed under the Council for Private Post secondary and Vocational Education in 1989. Many of the high standards established by this academy have found their way into the administrative rules and regulations established by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, which now governs the conduct of California Security Professionals at every level. Dr. Caballero was invited to become a member of Bureau of Security and Investigative Services Advisory Committee in 1984 and assisted in the initial development of the baton and firearms manuals. He has recently retired from the BSIS Disciplinary Review Committee having been installed by Governor Davis and asked to remain by Governor Schwarzenegger.

In 1998, Dr. Caballero was the featured speaker at a gathering of state security contractors at the California Highway Patrol Academy regarding the state requirement that security contractors complete a course of instruction related to Penal Code Section 832. At that time, state security contractors were required to complete this course of instruction to be eligible to obtain security contracts from state government agencies.

Dr. Caballero was able to communicate that security contractors whose officers trained only in Penal Code Section 832 aspects were more likely to create a high risk of liability for their clients because Penal Code Section 832 spells out the requirements for police officers, not security officers.

At CSTA, insuring the future and the success of each student, regardless of the student’s background or ability, is of primary importance. CSTA invites the most rigorous scrutiny and examination of its almost 40-year history of providing services and continuing support for all students and graduates. It is the objective of California Security Training Academy (CSTA) as it has been in the past, now and in the future, to continue to provide the best training to be found anywhere in the security industry.

Security/Investigative professionals come from every walk of life. Whether their goal is part time or full time employment as a security guard, a body guard or investigator, the excitement and the challenge is still the same. Our graduates can expect to seek work in the various aspects of the security, investigative and executive protection and related fields with confidence that employers will recognize the training they have received here as being the best.

Mission Statement

California Security Training Academy has been providing professional training for the individual security officer and the security industry for almost 40 years.

CSTA is licensed by the State Department of Education commission on Post-Secondary Education, License Number 3402941, and the Bureau of Security & Investigative Services, License Number 348.

Being licensed by the State Department of Education’s bears great responsibility both professionally and morally. Consequently, CSTA will never affiliate itself with any national, state, or local special interest group or organization.

CSTA’s goal is to provide excellent professional, no nonsense training for those wishing to become a professional security officer, Private Investigator, or body guard. Outlandish survivalist type courses will not be found in CSTA’s course catalog.