How To Become A TSA Screener
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Keep Airports and Flight Passengers Safe as a TSA Screener
Working in the transportation security administration as a TSA screener is an absolutely essential role, especially since the terrorist attacks of 2001. Many people are worried about airport and airline safety, and this job helps to ensure the safe passage of all travelers and the security of the planes by identifying suspicious people and baggage. Having extra sets of eyes on the crowds in an airport is essential, because surveillance and detection equipment can't identify everything. This job is in constant incline compared to other careers in criminal justice due to added security measures being taken at airports all the time, and the average entry level salary is about $23,000-$35,000 a year. Being able to adhere to a daily routine but then also quickly react in a crisis situation is essential for a TSA screener, and so the role can be tiring and demanding, but thousands of travelers everyday can be grateful that they exist.
Necessary Training and Requirements
There are no strict educational obligations to be a TSA screener, but if you have any ambitions to grow in the field, there are certain recommended degree choices. You must first finish your high school education, and then you should at least look into getting your associate's degree in criminal justice or homeland security. For additional career opportunities and potential managerial roles, you may also want to consider getting your bachelor's degree, and your criminal justice degree can be done online if you need the study flexibility. Look for preferred schools like Capella University or Strayer University for program options.
Daily Job Requirements
Working as a TSA screener does require a lot of standing and heavy lifting, so be prepared for some physical exertion. You will have to identify any suspicious or prohibited items packed in bags or on a traveler and confiscate them, perform searches of travelers using a wand and patting them down, pick up heavy luggage, manage the x-ray machine and check passenger's tickets. you will need to be friendly and outgoing since you will be faced with the public everyday, have good stamina and patience, react quickly in urgent situations and be able to handle a stressful environment with ease. It may sound like an easy job, but a TSA screener has to face potential risks and crisis all the time, as well as deal with rude or impatient travelers, so maintaining a cool composure at all times is essential. If you think you can thrive in this environment and feel that you could efficiently detect dangerous items, suspicious people and precarious situations, you might be an ideal candidate for a TSA screener.
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