Security Guard License Requirements by State

No National Security Guard License

The United States has no national security guard license. Each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico sets its own rules, and the differences are significant. Some states license only the security company and hold it responsible for the officers it employs. Others register or license every individual officer, often after fingerprinting, a criminal background check and required training. A few states leave security licensing to cities or counties, so the rules in Denver, Wichita, Boise or St. Louis can differ from the rest of the state.

Armed work adds another layer. Most states that license officers require a separate firearm permit, commission or endorsement, with additional firearms training and periodic qualification. In Texas, for example, a commissioned officer completes a Level III course of at least 45 hours, and in Wisconsin an armed officer completes at least 36 hours of firearms training and a 6 hour refresher each year.

How to Read This Table

Each row names the agency that regulates security officers in that jurisdiction, the credential an unarmed officer needs and the credential required for armed work. Where a state does not license individual officers, the table says so and notes any local or company-level rule. Where the state summary does not identify a separate armed credential, the table directs readers to confirm firearm requirements with the regulator, and each state name links to a fuller summary with official sources.

State	Regulator	Unarmed officers	Armed officers
Alabama	Alabama Security Regulatory Board	Security Officer license	Armed Security Officer license; minimum age 21 and added armed training
Alaska	Department of Public Safety, Permits and Licensing Unit	Security guard license, issued as unarmed	Armed security guard license
Arizona	Department of Public Safety, Licensing Unit	Security guard registration certificate; must work for a licensed agency	Armed security guard registration certificate
Arkansas	Arkansas State Police, Regulatory Services Division	Private Security Officer (PSO) credential	Commissioned Security Officer (CSO) commission
California	Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)	Security Guard Registration	Guard registration plus a BSIS Firearms Permit
Colorado	No state regulator; local licensing, such as Denver	No statewide individual license; Denver requires a city security guard license	Denver firearm endorsement on the city guard license; other cities set their own rules
Connecticut	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP)	Security Officer Training Certification Identification Card (guard card)	Firearms permit endorsement, in addition to a state pistol permit
Delaware	Delaware State Police, Professional Licensing Section	Unarmed Security Guard license (Yellow Card)	Firearms upgrade (Red Card)
District of Columbia	Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, with MPD sign-off	Security Officer license	Special Police Officer license with an armed endorsement
Florida	FDACS, Division of Licensing	Class D security officer license	Class D license plus a Class G statewide firearm license
Georgia	Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies	No individual registration; Board training required	Employer registration plus a Board weapon permit; minimum age 21
Hawaii	Board of Private Detectives and Guards (DCCA)	Guard Employee registration before the first day of service	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Idaho	No statewide regulator; local licensing, such as Boise	No statewide individual license; Boise requires a Security Personnel License	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Illinois	Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)	Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC)	PERC plus a Firearm Control Card (FCC)
Indiana	Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board	No individual license; licensed agencies are responsible for their guards	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Iowa	Department of Public Safety	State employee identification card obtained through a licensed business	On college campuses, a sheriff-issued weapons permit and proof of firearms training
Kansas	No statewide regulator; city licensing, such as Wichita	No statewide individual license; Wichita issues officer permits	Wichita firearm permit upgrade
Kentucky	No statewide regulator; Louisville Metro for armed guards	No statewide individual license	Louisville Metro armed security guard license
Louisiana	State Board of Private Security Examiners	Security officer registration card, unarmed classification	Registration card with an armed classification by weapon type
Maine	Department of Public Safety, Maine State Police	No individual license; the licensed company reports each guard	Company submits a background check statement before a guard carries a firearm
Maryland	Maryland State Police, Licensing Division	Security Guard Certification; must work for a licensed agency or employer	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Massachusetts	Massachusetts State Police (Colonel)	No individual license; guards work for a licensed agency	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Michigan	Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)	No individual license; guards must meet statutory requirements and work for a licensed agency	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Minnesota	Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services	No individual license; background check and board-certified training required	Board-certified firearms training before carrying, plus 6 hours of annual training
Mississippi	Department of Public Safety	No statewide individual license	Security Guard Permit from the Department of Public Safety
Missouri	No statewide regulator; Kansas City and St. Louis police licensing	No statewide individual license; Kansas City and St. Louis issue local licenses	Local armed licensing; Kansas City requires annual range qualification
Montana	Department of Labor and Industry, Private Security Program	Private Security Guard license	Firearm Endorsement on the guard license
Nebraska	Secretary of State (private detectives only)	No state license for uniformed guards	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Nevada	Private Investigators Licensing Board (PILB)	Board registration (work card)	Work card plus a firearm certification card
New Hampshire	Department of Safety, State Police Permits and Licensing Unit	Security guard employee license	Licensed guard with firearms training and annual proficiency qualification
New Jersey	New Jersey State Police, Private Detective Unit	SORA certificate of registration	SORA registration, required for armed and unarmed officers alike
New Mexico	Regulation and Licensing Department	Security Guard Level One registration	Security Guard Level Three with firearm endorsement
New York	Department of State, Division of Licensing Services	Security guard registration	Armed guard registration card
North Carolina	Private Protective Services Board	Unarmed guard registration through a licensed employer	Armed guard firearm registration permit
North Dakota	Private Investigation and Security Board	Officer registration by the employing agency, in three ranks	Armed private security certificate
Ohio	Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS)	Employee registration through a Class A or Class C company	Registration with a firearm-bearer endorsement
Oklahoma	Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET)	Unarmed Security Guard license	Armed Security Guard license
Oregon	Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)	Unarmed Professional certification	Armed Professional certification
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania State Police (armed); county courts (companies)	No statewide individual license	Act 235 lethal weapons certification
Puerto Rico	Puerto Rico Police (Superintendent)	Security guard license under Act No. 108	No separate armed license; firearms fall under the Puerto Rico Arms Law
Rhode Island	Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Identification	No individual license; registration through the licensed employer	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
South Carolina	South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)	Security officer registration	Registration plus a Security Weapons Permit
South Dakota	No state regulator; city licensing, such as Rapid City	No statewide individual license; Rapid City requires a city license	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Tennessee	Department of Commerce and Insurance, Private Protective Services	Unarmed Security Guard registration	Armed Security Guard registration
Texas	Department of Public Safety, Private Security Program	Noncommissioned security officer license	Security officer commission
Utah	Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)	Unarmed Private Security Officer license	Armed Private Security Officer license
Vermont	Office of Professional Regulation	Registered Security Employee or Licensed Security Guard	Firearms specialty designation
Virginia	Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)	Unarmed security officer registration	Armed security officer registration with a firearms endorsement
Washington	Department of Licensing	Private security guard license (unarmed)	Armed private security guard license
West Virginia	Secretary of State, Licensing Division	No individual license for firm employees; they work under the firm’s license	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.
Wisconsin	Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Private Security Person permit	Firearms permit; 36 hours of training and an annual refresher
Wyoming	No state licensing authority	No state license; some cities regulate security firms	Confirm firearm requirements with the regulator.

What Buyers Should Verify

Property managers, retailers and other security buyers carry real exposure when an officer works without the right credential. Before a contract starts, buyers should ask the security provider to document the following:

• Company license. The provider’s company or agency license in the state where the work takes place, and any city license that applies.
• Each officer’s credential. The individual registration, license, card or permit the state requires, current on the first day of the post.
• Armed permits. For armed posts, the firearm permit, commission or endorsement for each officer and proof of current firearms qualification.
• Training records. Completion of state-required training and any site-specific training, such as de-escalation and organized retail crime recognition for retail posts.
• Insurance. A certificate of insurance showing coverage that meets the contract, lease and any local requirements.

McCray verifies every officer’s license and qualifications before assignment. For a fuller checklist, see How to Choose a Retail Security Provider, and for armed posts, see Armed Security Guards.

For Security Officer Job Seekers

In states that license individual officers, the usual path is to complete the required training, submit fingerprints for a background check and apply through the state regulator. Several states, including Arizona, Maryland and Texas, also require the officer to work for a licensed company. Armed roles typically carry a higher minimum age, such as 21 in Alabama and Georgia, and additional firearms training.

Candidates can review open roles and benefits on the McCray Careers page. City guides cover local licensing steps and security officer jobs in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C..

Requirements change, and this table is a summary, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with the state regulator before applying for a license or starting a post. Official sources for each jurisdiction are listed on the Licensing Sources page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a national security guard license in the United States?

No. Security officer licensing is set by each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and in some states by cities or counties. Officers and companies need to meet the rules that apply where each post is located.

Which states do not license individual unarmed security guards?

Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Wyoming have no statewide individual license for unarmed guards, although some cities issue their own. Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota license security companies rather than individual guards.

What extra requirements apply to armed security officers?

Most licensing states require a separate firearm permit, commission or endorsement, added firearms training and periodic qualification. Examples include the Class G license in Florida, the Firearm Control Card in Illinois, the armed guard registration card in New York and Act 235 certification in Pennsylvania.

Do security companies need a license as well as their officers?

In most states, yes. Examples include the Private Patrol Operator license in California, the watch, guard or patrol agency license in New York, which requires a separate license for each office, and the security services contractor license in Texas. Buyers should confirm the company license as well as each officer’s credential.

How can a property manager confirm that an officer is properly licensed?

Ask the security provider for its company license and the credential for each assigned officer, including any armed permit, then confirm status with the regulator listed in the table above. Because rules can differ by city, property managers should also check for any local license where the site is located.