How to become a security guard in Indiana

Here's exactly what Indiana requires, and the official portal to apply. Finish it and you can start getting booked on XGuard.

Guard license

Indiana Has No Individual Security Guard License — Get Hired by a Licensed Agency

Indiana's PISG Board licenses only the agency/company (IC 25-30-1.3-7); guards are vetted, unlicensed employees of a licensed agency. There is no individual guard card or registration to apply for.

Training— (no state-mandated individual training; employer sets any in-house training)

Cost$0 — no individual state license or fee

ExamNone — there is no individual license to test for

RenewsN/A — no individual license to renew

1Find a licensed agencyIndiana licenses security guard AGENCIES, not individual guards (IC 25-30-1.3-7). Search for a PLA-licensed security guard agency (verifiable via the PLA's MyLicense Indiana lookup) and apply for a guard position there.
2Pass the employer's screeningThe hiring agency vets and background-checks you as part of onboarding — no separate state license, card, or fee is required of you as an individual.
3Or license your own agencyTo run your own one-person guarding business instead of working for one, you must hold the AGENCY/firm license yourself — see the Agency track (21+, 2 yrs experience or a criminal-justice degree, $100k general liability insurance).
4Know the firearm limitsIndiana is permitless-carry for personal firearms, but neither a guard job nor the agency license authorizes carrying a weapon on duty (IC 25-30-1.3-20) — armed work needs separate employer/venue authorization under general law.

Learn more

Agency / master

Indiana Security Guard Agency (Firm) License — PISG Board

This is Indiana's self-employed/sole-trader route — an individual may hold the agency license directly (IC 25-30-1.3-9). The license never authorizes carrying a weapon (IC 25-30-1.3-20); IN is permitless-carry so firearm carry follows general law + employer/venue policy.

TrainingNo fixed classroom hours — 2 yrs (4,000 hrs) security/investigation experience OR a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field

Cost$300 application ($150 if filed within 1 yr of your renewal date); plus $100,000 general liability insurance

Min age21

ExamNone — background/experience review in place of an exam

RenewsEvery 4 years, $300 renewal fee ($600 reinstatement if lapsed 3+ years)

1Confirm eligibility21+, and either 2 years (4,000 hrs) of verifiable security/investigation experience or a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field.
2Get insuredSecure $100,000 general liability insurance naming the State of Indiana as additional insured, covering false arrest, malicious prosecution, and wrongful entry.
3Background checkGet fingerprinted for an Indiana State Police check and gather background-check records from every state, county, and city you've lived in over the past 7 years.
4Submit the applicationFile the agency (firm) license application with the $300 fee through the MyLicense Indiana portal (mylicense.in.gov). This is Indiana's sole-trader route — an individual operating alone still needs this firm license (IC 25-30-1.3-9).

Open the official portal

Once you're licensed

Create your free XGuard profile now — upload your license the moment you have it, and we'll verify it and start matching you to paid security work near you.

Start your XGuard profile

XGuard guides you to the official process; the state issues your license. Figures are sourced from official regulators and verified before publishing, but requirements can change — always confirm on the official portal linked above.