Licensing Requirements to Be an Armed Security Guard in Arizona

Getting an armed security license in Arizona requires dedication and effort.

Being an armed security guard requires a lot of work and responsibility. Carrying a weapon places the guard in the role of possibly having to make a life-or-death decision within seconds and there are legal implications to those decisions as well. While most states require security guards to be licensed, an armed license requires additional time and training. Arizona is an example of a state that requires initial licensing of a guard first, followed by additional firearms training.

Background Check

Once you receive an employment offer from a security agency that is licensed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, you must submit a color photo of yourself along with a set of fingerprints. This information is sent to the FBI, where a background check is conducted to verify your identity, check for any outstanding warrants, and make sure that there are no felonies on your record. If you do have any arrests that have not been adjudicated or a criminal record, you cannot legally work as a guard or carry a firearm.

Classroom Work

Guards must complete an 8-hour classroom course prior to receiving their security license. The course is state-authorized and includes topics such as the responsibilities of a security guard, the specific state laws that affect a security guard's duties, and the appropriate way to respond to an emergency situation. Once the course is complete, there is a final exam that must be passed before the guard can be given a license and move on to firearms training.

Shooting Range

Guards must spend 16 hours with a certified firearms instructor both in a class setting and on a shooting range where they learn how guns operate along with the appropriate and safe way of handling, loading, unloading, and firing each type of gun. Applicants must then demonstrate the ability to safely handle and fire their weapons on a shooting range with a target various distances away. The guards must typically fire their gun in traditional stance, one-handed, kneeling, and other varied positions to demonstrate total knowledge, control, and ability to handle the weapon appropriately and safely.

References

• Arizona Department of Public Safety: Licensing Unit
• Local Security Guard: Security Guard License Arizona
• Desert West Training Center: Arizona Armed Guard Training