How we check

We'd rather leave a state out than publish something we can't trace back to the state itself.

Official sources only

We use the state licensing agency's website, the documents it publishes, and the state's own published laws and regulations. We don't use training schools, security companies or other guides as sources.

Exact wording, with a date

Each requirement has a short plain-English line from us, plus the agency's exact wording underneath ("Official wording"). We keep a copy of every source document. Before any page is published, a script confirms that each quote appears word for word in that copy, and that every number in our summary also appears in the quote.

Re-checking

• Monthly: a script re-opens every source and flags any quote that's no longer there.
• Quarterly: we review each state by hand and look for new rules or fee schedules.
• Hard limit: if a source hasn't been re-checked in 120 days, the site won't build until someone checks it again.

When a rule changes, we update the page and add a dated line to its "Changes to this page" list.

What we don't do

We aren't a government agency, a training school or a security company. We don't take applications or payments, and we can't tell you whether you personally qualify. That decision belongs to the state agency.

Found a mistake?

Email [email protected] with the state and, if you have it, a link to the official page. We'll check it against the source.