Security guard license · CA
How to get a security guard license in California
Updated
California registers unarmed security guards through BSIS. The registration is commonly called a guard card. BSIS says security guards are employed by licensed Private Patrol Operators or private security employers, and that a guard must carry a valid and current registration card while on duty (BPC 7583.3). After BSIS approves an application, a guard may work while waiting for the hard-copy card if they carry a printout of the approval and valid picture ID.
This page summarizes California's official security guard licensing rules for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) before you apply.
Credential: Security Guard Registration (the "guard card")
Oldest check on this page: 2026-09-24
Who can apply
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Minimum age
Verified 2026-10-16You must be at least 18.
Official wording
Be at least 18 years old (BPC Section 7582.8)
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025) -
Background check
Verified 2026-10-16You go through a criminal history check with the California DOJ and the FBI.
Official wording
Undergo a criminal history background check through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (BPC Sections 7581 and 7583.9)
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025)
Training
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Power to Arrest training
Verified 2026-10-16BSIS lists the Power to Arrest training among the requirements to be eligible to apply.
Official wording
Complete the Power to Arrest training (see “Training Requirements” below)
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025) -
When it must be finished
Verified 2026-10-16The Training Requirements section says it must be completed before the registration is issued (BPC 7583.6 and 7583.7). If a registrant can't give the employing licensee the certificate yet, the same section says to complete it within six months of the employment date.
Official wording
The power to arrest training must be completed prior to the issuance of a Security Guard Registration (BPC Sections 7583.6 and 7583.7). NOTE: A security guard registrant who is unable to provide their employing licensee the certificate of satisfactory completion of the power to arrest training shall complete the training within six months of the registrant’s employment date.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025) -
Skills training after registration
Verified 2026-10-1632 hours of security officer skills training within your first six months.
Official wording
The thirty -two (32) hours of training in security officer skills must be completed within the first six (6) months of registration.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025) -
Every year
Verified 2026-10-168 hours of continuing training annually.
Official wording
Eight (8) hours of continuing training must be completed annually (BPC 7583.6 and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 643).
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025)
Renewal
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When to send it
Verified 2026-10-16Submit your renewal at least 60 days before the registration expires.
Official wording
By law, a registrant must submit the completed renewal application or coupon at least 60 days prior to expiration to provide the Bureau sufficient time to process the renewal.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025) -
If you miss the deadline
Verified 2026-10-16A registration that isn't renewed within 60 days after it expires is canceled and can't be renewed.
Official wording
NOTE: Guard registrations not renewed within 60 days of expiration are canceled and cannot be renewed (BPC Section 7583.20).
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025)
Fees and processing
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Registration fee
Verified 2026-10-15$60 for a new registration and $44 to renew (the current column of the BSIS fee schedule).
Official wording
Security Guard (G) - Initial Application $55 $60 - Renewal Application $40 $44
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Fee schedule (fee change effective October 1, 2025) -
Which fee applies
Verified 2026-10-15BSIS fees changed on October 1, 2025. The date you submit the application decides whether the old or the new fee applies.
Official wording
NOTE: Due to a change in the law, fees will be changing on October 1, 2025. The date an application is submitted determines if the original or new fee applies.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Fee schedule (fee change effective October 1, 2025) -
Processing time
Verified 2026-10-16BSIS says to allow about 4-6 weeks. It can take longer while DOJ and FBI results come back.
Official wording
Please allow approximately 4- 6 weeks for applications to be processed.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025)
| License Type | Prior to 10/1/2025 | On or After 10/1/2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard (G) - Initial Application | $55 | $60 |
If you want to carry a firearm
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Firearms permit: age
Verified 2026-09-24You must be at least 21 for a BSIS Firearms Permit.
Official wording
be at least 21 years of age (BPC Sections 7542.2, 7583.23, and 7596.3)
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025) -
Citizenship
Verified 2026-09-24You must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent legal immigration status.
Official wording
be a citizen of the United States or have permanent legal immigration status (BPC Sections 7542.2, 7583.23, and 7596.3)
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025) -
Training and qualification
Verified 2026-09-24Complete the Course of Firearms Training at a Bureau-approved facility and pass the written exam and range qualifications.
Official wording
Applicants must complete the Course of Firearms Training (CCR Section 635) at a Bureau-approved Firearms Training Facility, from a Bureau-approved Firearms Training Instructor and pass the written examination and range qualifications.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025) -
Assessment
Verified 2026-09-24If you hold a BSIS security guard registration and are applying for your first BSIS Firearms Permit, you must pass an assessment of judgment and self-control within the six months before you apply.
Official wording
A BSIS Security Guard registrant seeking an initial BSIS Firearms Permit must pass an assessment for the purposes of determining whether he/she possesses, at the time of the assessment, appropriate judgment, restraint, and self- control to carry a firearm while on duty, within the six months preceding the date the application is submitted to the Bureau (BPC Sections 7583.23 and 7583.47).
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025) -
Permit length
Verified 2026-09-24The permit expires two years after it's issued.
Official wording
A BSIS Firearms Permit expires two years from the date of issuance.
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025) -
Firearms permit fee
Verified 2026-10-15$110 for a new firearms permit application.
Official wording
Firearms Permit (FQ) - Initial Application $100 $110
From California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Fee schedule (fee change effective October 1, 2025)
California guard card questions
How long does BSIS take to process a guard card application?
The BSIS Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet says:
Please allow approximately 4- 6 weeks for applications to be processed. Processing times may be longer depending on the time it takes for the Bureau to receive responses from the DOJ and FBI and make the necessary determinations required by law.
BSIS also publishes an Application Processing Times page, which it says is updated weekly. BSIS lists a target timeframe of 60 days for an initial Security Guard (G) application. This is a target timeframe, not a statement of how long any one application will take. The page's table row reads (license type, application type, submission method, target timeframe):
Security Guard (G) Initial Online 60 days
Can a guard work after BSIS has approved the application but before the registration card arrives?
Under the heading “Working with a Web Print-Out”, the BSIS Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet says:
a person may work as a security guard pending receipt of their hard- copy security guard registration card if he or she has been approved by the Bureau and carries on his or her person a hardcopy printout of the Bureau’s approval from the Bureau’s website and valid picture identification (BPC Section 7583.17).
What training hours does BSIS list for a security guard registration?
Skills training after registration. The BSIS Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet says:
The thirty -two (32) hours of training in security officer skills must be completed within the first six (6) months of registration.
Continuing training, a separate requirement. The same fact sheet says:
Eight (8) hours of continuing training must be completed annually (BPC 7583.6 and California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 643).
Power to Arrest training: the BSIS fact sheet does not state a length for it. The entry under “Training” above shows what the fact sheet does say.
These answers repeat BSIS wording as it stood on the retrieval dates shown. The BSIS website is the authority; check it for the current rules. California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Sources
- Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet (Rev. October 2025), California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
- Fee schedule (fee change effective October 1, 2025), California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
- Firearms Permit Fact Sheet (Rev. January 2025), California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
Changes to this page
- First published from the BSIS fact sheet (Rev. October 2025).
- Added fees (BSIS fee schedule, September 2025), processing time, the renewal cancellation rule and firearms permit requirements (Firearms Permit Fact Sheet, Rev. January 2025).
- Reworded the Power to Arrest training entry to match the fact sheet's two statements (eligibility list; completed before the registration is issued, with the six-month note) and the intro to the fact sheet's on-duty card wording.
- Added a questions section quoting the BSIS fact sheet on processing time, working after approval while the card is in the mail, and training hours, with the target timeframe from the BSIS Application Processing Times page next to the fact sheet's processing time, and a two-column fee table (before and on or after October 1, 2025) from the BSIS fee schedule.
- Added a link to our new page on looking up a California guard card on the official BSIS search.
- Narrowed the assessment item to what BSIS says: it applies to a BSIS security guard registrant seeking a first Firearms Permit.
This page summarizes California's official security guard licensing rules for general information. It is not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) before you apply.
Spotted a rule that changed? Tell us at the address below and we'll re-check the official source.