Do Security Guards Need a License?
In most United States states, yes: security guards must hold a state license or registration, which usually involves training and a background check. A minority of states do not license guards at the state level, and where guards are licensed, carrying a firearm requires additional licensing. Every state differs, so check your state regulator before you hire or apply.
Which states require a license?
Most states regulate private security through a license, registration or permit that a guard must hold before working. Requirements usually include a minimum age, a criminal background check, fingerprints and a set number of training hours. A minority of states, including several in the central and mountain regions, have no state guard license for this work, leaving the rules to employers or local government. Because the picture changes by state and can change over time, confirm against the current rules for your state rather than relying on a general summary.
What does the license look like in practice?
In California, for example, the license is called a Guard Card and is issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Other states use different names and different agencies, sometimes a state police unit, a licensing department or a private security board. Our state pages explain the process for California, Florida and Texas, among others.
What extra is needed to be armed?
In states that license guards, armed work requires more than an unarmed license. A state with no guard license at all has no state armed guard license either, and what a person may carry there is set by general firearm law. Typical extra requirements include firearms training and a qualification test, a separate armed license or endorsement, and sometimes a permit to carry. A guard who carries a firearm on duty without the right armed credential is breaking the law and puts the client at risk, so ask to see it.
How can a client check a guard?
Ask the guard for their license number and the issuing state. Look the number up on the regulator's public lookup, where one exists, and confirm the name, status and expiry date. Match the photograph on the license to the person standing in front of you. Check whether the license covers armed work if that is what you are paying for, and whether the company or individual is the license holder, since some states license the agency rather than each guard.
On XGuard, every professional passes identity verification, which matches government photo identification to a live selfie, and a license check before listing. XGuard itself is a marketplace and holds no security licenses. You are still welcome to ask any guard to show credentials on arrival.
What if you want to become a guard?
Start with your state regulator's current application steps: training, fingerprints, fees and any exam. Many people complete the training in a few days. See the licensing guide for your state to understand the steps and costs before you apply.
What happens if a guard is unlicensed?
In a state that requires a license, working without one is generally unlawful for the guard and can expose the employer or client to penalties and to claims if something goes wrong. A client who knowingly hires an unlicensed guard may also face trouble with a venue, a lender or a regulator that expects licensed staff.
License status can change. A license can expire, be suspended or be revoked, so the check should be repeated when a guard is booked again rather than assumed from last time. Many regulators publish a lookup that shows the current status, and that is the most reliable source.
Be careful about lookalike credentials. A training certificate, a company identification card or a badge is not the same as a state license. Ask which regulator issued the license and what the number is. If the guard works for an agency, ask whether the agency also holds a license where the state requires one.
Keep a copy of the license details with your booking records, along with the date you checked them, so you can show a venue or lender that the guard was licensed on the day of the job. If your state has no guard license, ask the guard for their training certificates and any local permit the city requires.
Related questions
Is a security guard license the same in every state?
No. Names, training hours, costs and renewal periods all differ by state, and some states recognize no out-of-state licenses.
Can an unlicensed person work as a guard?
In states that license guards, no, and hiring one can create legal problems for the client. In a few states that do not license unarmed guards, it may be allowed.
How long does a license last?
Renewal periods vary by state. Check the expiry date when you look the number up.
Does a license mean a guard can arrest people?
No. A license does not give police powers. Guards are private citizens with limited legal powers.
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