Contents 1 Welcome to the Security Guard Licensing Wiki 2 About the Security Guard License 2.1 Follow a Security Guard Training Course 2.2 Submit Fingerprints for a Criminal Record Analysis 2.3 Request your License by Submitting a License Application Form 2.4 Other Facts

Welcome to the Security Guard Licensing WikiEdit

Welcoume to the security guard licensing wiki - In this wiki you will find detailed information about becoming a security guard in your state or region of the United States. Whether you want to become a private security guard, an airport security employee or a private detective, you will need to obtain your security guard license first. Because licensing is regulated on a state-by-state level, different states will be added regularly to this wiki.

About the Security Guard LicenseEdit

Prior to getting employed, anyone who wants to be working as a security guard in the United States needs to obtain his or her security guard license . Licensing in the United States is regulated and overseen on a state-by-state level rather than a nation-wide level. Therefore, security guards to-be need to consult their state's licensing bureau to find out about the specific security guard licensing conditions for the state they want to be working in. Nevertheless, we can outline a number oflicensing requirements that many states have in common...

Follow a Security Guard Training CourseEdit

Most states require their security guard licence applicants to follow a security guard training course. In this classroom course, the future security guards will learn the most crucial things they need to know in order to be able to properly do their job. Writing proper reports, recognizing gender and racial discrimination and verbal skill development are just a few of the items that can be teached in the course. The training course usually takes up 8 hours but in some states, additional training modules need to be completed. In New York for instance, applicants for a NYS security guard license need to complete a 16-hour training module within 90 days of inital employment in order to keep their license. Visit the NY Department of State website to learn more about the training course.

Submit Fingerprints for a Criminal Record AnalysisEdit

Another condition that most states have in common for license applicants is that they are free of any criminal convictions. The best way to prove this is by recording and submitting fingerprints for a criminal record investigation by the FBI. The FBI will then send the results to your state's licensing department. Currently there are 2 methods of recording and submitting fingerprints. The first method is the traditional one, in which applicants ink press their fingerprints on fingerprint cards and send them by postal mail. The second method is a more modern approach, applicants have to make an appointment at an electronic fingerprinting service provider and have their fingerprints recorded into a digital file. The file will be transmitted to the FBI online, which makes the background verification process go much faster. Please note that fees are being applied for the fingerprint recording as well as processing, these fees vary per state though.

Request your License by Submitting a License Application FormEdit

In the next step it basically comes down to informing our state's licensing bureau that we successfully completed the required training course and that we submitted our fingerprints. In most states this is done by filling out and submitting an application form, which can either be obtained from the security guard training school or be requested from the licensing bureau. If the licensing commissionner sees that you have completed the training course and have a clean criminal record, you will be issued your security guard license.

Other FactsEdit

You might want to be aware of the fact that in most states, your license will need to be renewed anually or biannually. The license renewal process involves following a refresher course and submitting a license renewal form. As long as your license didn't expire, you don't need to resubmit your fingerprints, as the licensing commissionner would have been informed in case you would have committed any felonies. In case you didn't renew your license but changed your mind after 6 months for instance, you will have to resubmit fingerprints.

We will be adding state-specific licensing guides in the future, so make sure to check for updates on a regular basis.