How to Become an Armed Security Guard in the State of Ohio

Get a job protecting Ohio's businesses and residents.

Once you become an armed security guard in Ohio, you can start working for various types of businesses, such as shopping malls, banks, government agencies and armored truck companies, protecting the public and/or your employer’s belongings. You’ll work with employees at the Ohio Department of Public Safety to complete the process of becoming an armed security guard.

Instructions

1. Provide the Ohio Department of Public Safety with proof of identification (birth certificate or Social Security card) that confirms you are a U.S. citizen. The youngest you can be to become an armed security guard in Ohio is 21 years old. Submit a valid Ohio driver’s license to prove you’re a legal resident of the state.

2. Work a minimum of 4,000 hours in security services before you apply for an armed security guard license. If you complete two or more years of college education, majoring in criminal justice or law enforcement, you can get licensed with just 2,000 hours of security services work experience.

3. Print your full name, street address and the name and address of the security company you work for on the Ohio Employee Firearm-Bearer Notation Application. You also must provide information like your height, weight and hair and eye color on the application. Attach a 2-by-2-inch color photograph to your application. There is a $15 nonrefundable fee to submit the application to the Department of Public Safety. Furthermore, when you fill out your application, you’re required to provide five character references. Apply early, as it can take up to 120 days to process your application. Licenses expire annually on the first day of March. To keep your license current you must submit a Qualifying Agent Firearm Bearer Application to the Department of Public Safety.

4. Visit a WebCheck location that is authorized by the Department of Public Safety to get a complete set of your fingerprints taken. Submit the fingerprints to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. The fingerprinting fee is $24. The state will use the fingerprints to conduct federal, nationwide, background checks on you. You cannot have had a felony or misdemeanor conviction in the past 20 years. Additionally, your personal and professional reputations must demonstrate that you are a person of integrity.

5. Complete a security guard training program that’s authorized by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission; this training is required in addition to any college education you have. Courses generally run for two days. After your application is approved, the director of the Department of Public Safety will send you a list of dates and locations where you can take your written licensing examination. There is a $25 nonrefundable examination fee.

References

• Ohio Department of Public Safety: Employee Firearm-Bearer Notation Application
• Ohio Department of Public Safety: Qualifying Agent Firearm-Bearer Notation Application
• Ohio Department of Public Safety: Private Investigators and Security Services Law Rules
• Ohio Department of Public Safety: Private Investigation and Security Services Commission
• Ohio Attorney General: Criminal Identification and Investigation