How to Obtain a Security License in the State of California
If you want to become a security officer in California you must get a license--commonly called a guard card--to legally work as a guard. To become licensed, applicants need professional training, which is offered by dozens of private security companies throughout the state. Apply with the state's security guard licensing agency once you've acquired the necessary training.
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Instructions
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Complete several hours of pre-licensing classroom instruction. All first-time applicants must complete a minimum of eight hours of security training, which can be administered by any private security company certified by the state. Training includes instruction on how and when security officers can place people under arrest. A list of training facilities is available within the California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards and Associates (CALSAGA) membership directory (see the link in the Resource section below).
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Submit your application paperwork to the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), along with the applicable fees. All applications must include detailed background information and a set of fingerprints. As of mid-2010, the fees for an unarmed security guard application were about $100. Many companies that offer initial eight-hour security guard training also can help applicants fill out their paperwork and/or get fingerprinted.
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Undergo a background investigation. When you submit your application paperwork, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and BSIS will perform a background check. They determine if you've ever been arrested and if you've been convicted of any misdemeanors and/or felonies. A criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify someone from being approved for a guard card, according to the California Code of Regulation, but arrests and convictions could hurt your chances.
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Complete another 32 hours of training if you pass the background check. Once an applicant passes the background check, he can work as a guard immediately, until he receives an interim license. But he must complete another 16 hours of security training from a state certified company within 30 days of receiving the interim license, plus another 16 hours within the first six months. If the training isn't completed, the security license can be revoked.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit security guard image by Joyce Wilkes from Fotolia.com
