How to get a Security Officer license in Alabama

Alabama security guard licenses

Alabama issues 4 security guard credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Alabama security guard licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 4)

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, asrb.alabama.gov)⁷

2. Every license level except Contract Security Company License

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹²

3. Every license level except Certified Trainer 1 / Certified Trainer 2

From another state

4. Security Officer and Armed Security Officer

Requirements

Education or training

At least 8 classroom hours¹
Initial/basic training: at least 8 hours of Board-approved classroom training with an ASRB Certified Trainer before applying (must cover law, arrest/detention, use of force, fire, crowd control, equipment).¹
Who may teach it: ASRB Certified Trainer (or an uncertified trainer supervised by one); Board list of training providers on asrb.alabama.gov/training.¹
Alternative: Exempt from basic training: recent military/government/security-institute training (within 3 years), employer curriculum meeting Board standards, sworn or retired peace officer, 5+ years continuous guard experience.³

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
Felony: ineligible unless fully pardoned. Misdemeanor of moral turpitude: ineligible for 5 years after the most recent conviction; violent misdemeanor: 10 years; sexual misdemeanor: ineligible unless pardoned. Registered sex offenders are never licensed. A supplemental background check is required at each renewal.²

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen, or a non-citizen legally present in the U.S. with federal documentation.¹

Social Security number

Social Security number required on the application and criminal history form.¹

Also required

Sworn statement: no unpardoned felony or crime of moral turpitude, never declared mentally incompetent (unless restored), no habitual drunkenness or narcotics addiction.¹

Also required

Must be working for (or hired by) a Board-licensed contract security company; the application asks for the company and says it is mandatory.³

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total amount per application”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

Fee waivers and reductions:

• Special licensure for officers who work six months or less a year: one-time $100 fee, application within 10 days of starting work, renewal paperwork every two years with no renewal fee.¹

How to apply

1. Get hired by a contract security company licensed by the ASRB (in-house guards who protect only their own employer are exempt). The application names your licensed company and marks it mandatory.³
2. Attach 2 passport-style color photos, two copies of your driver's license/ID (proof of age and citizenship), DD-214 if a veteran, and 2 FD-258 fingerprint cards.³
3. Pay $112.00 (one payment per application) by cashier's check, money order or a business check from a Board-licensed security company, payable to ASRB, and mail or courier everything to the Board. Apply within 30 days after you start work.¹
4. Carry the notarised temporary license (tear-off at the end of the application) while you work until the Board issues or denies your license. Answer any email about missing items within 30 days or the application is denied.²

Temporary or provisional license

The notarised tear-off "Temporary Personal License" on the application lets you work until the Board grants or denies the license.³

Renewal

When it expires

Expires two years from the date of issuance; renew on or before the expiration date.¹

Renewal fee

$112⁸ (Security Officer / Armed Security Officer renewal)

Continuing education

At least 8 hours each renewal period³

Approved courses

Training must be given or supervised by an ASRB Certified Trainer; written test, 70% to pass.²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25²

If it expires

A personal license more than two years past expiry cannot be renewed; apply as new and meet current requirements.²

Renew online

asrb.alabama.gov⁷

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Training exemption: basic security training completed through a military, government or security training institute within the 3 years before applying, if it meets or exceeds Board training (proof required; refresher training still applies). Veterans attach DD-214.¹

5. Armed Security Officer and Certified Trainer 1 / Certified Trainer 2

Requirements

Minimum age

21 years old¹

Who needs a Security Officer license

A person employed under contract whose principal purpose is protecting people or property from criminal activity (intrusion, theft, vandalism, trespass detection/prevention; controlling movement of people).¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Exempt from the Act: in-house (proprietary) security staff who guard only their own employer, and sworn peace officers.¹
• A person doing regulated security work on fewer than 30 calendar days in a calendar year is exempt from the individual license.²
• Not a security officer: staff whose duties are only custodial or reporting in-house rule violations and who do not wear a security uniform.¹

Requirements for a Security Officer license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹

How much a Security Officer license costs

How to apply

1. Complete at least 8 hours of Board-approved initial/basic training with an ASRB Certified Trainer (exemptions: recent military/government training, sworn or retired peace officers, 5 years continuous guard experience).³ asrb.alabama.gov⁹
2. Fill in the ASRB Personal License Application (tick Security Officer), the Certification of Training, the Authorization for Release of Information and the ALEA criminal history release; have the notarised pages signed before a notary.⁷ Form (PDF, asrb.alabama.gov)⁷

Renewal and continuing education

Required topics

Refresher training must include use of force refresher training¹

Armed Security Officer

A security officer who at any time wears, carries, possesses or has access to a firearm on duty.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Armed Security Officer training (firearms safety, Alabama use-of-force law, safe handling/storage) and a passing score on a Board-approved qualification course with each firearm to be carried.²
Who may teach it: Firearms training only by a Certified Trainer 2 (certified law-enforcement firearm instructor: APOSTC, FBI, FLETC or NRA).²

Also required

Needs a county pistol permit from the sheriff of the county of residence (sworn peace officers exempt); not eligible if barred from possessing firearms.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Complete at least 8 hours of Board-approved initial/basic training with an ASRB Certified Trainer plus the armed (firearms) training and a Board-approved firearm qualification course; get a county pistol permit from your sheriff (exemptions: recent military/government training, sworn or retired peace officers, 5 years continuous guard experience).³ asrb.alabama.gov⁹
2. Fill in the ASRB Personal License Application (tick Armed Security Officer), the Certification of Training, the Authorization for Release of Information and the ALEA criminal history release; have the notarised pages signed before a notary.⁷ Form (PDF, asrb.alabama.gov)⁷

Renewal

Required topics

Refresher training must include use of force refresher training¹
Firearms refresher: passing score on a Board-mandated qualification course²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

Certified Trainer 1

CT1 may teach all Board-required training except firearms; CT2 may teach all training including firearms.²

Requirements

Education or training

At least 1 year¹
One year teaching security-related courses, or a Board-approved two-week instructor's course (alternative to the teaching experience).¹
Alternative: CT2 additionally needs certification as a Law Enforcement Firearm Instructor (APOSTC, FBI, FLETC or NRA).²

Experience

At least 2 years¹
Two years supervisory experience with a contract security company, proprietary company, or federal/state/county/municipal law enforcement.¹

Background check

No fingerprints required⁷

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete the Certified Trainer application (personal application with the CT1 or CT2 box, release, certification of experience/training) and send it with the $100 (CT1) or $200 (CT2) fee before you teach any Board-required course.² Form (PDF, asrb.alabama.gov)⁷

Renewal

Renewal fee

$100⁸ (CT1 $100; CT2 $200 (same form line))

If it expires

More than two years past expiry: apply as new.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

Contract Security Company License

A business that provides security officers to others on a contract basis; anyone providing security services for more than one employer in a week is also treated as a contract security company.¹

Requirements

Experience

At least 3 years¹
Qualifying agent: ASRB-licensed security officer with 3 years as a manager, supervisor or administrator with a contract security company, or 3 years supervisory experience with a federal, military, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency.¹
License you must hold first: Qualifying agent must hold an ASRB personal license.²

Background check

Background check required⁶
Fingerprints required⁶
Same disqualifying-conviction rules as individual licensees apply to the qualifying agent.²

Insurance

Certificates of insurance: at least $2,000,000 bodily/personal injury and $200,000 property damage, with general liability, personal injury and workers' compensation endorsements; 30 days' notice to the Board before cancellation.¹

Business requirements

Corporations must qualify with a Secretary of State certificate of authority and designate an agent for service of process; the company checklist asks for an Alabama Department of Revenue certificate of good standing (domestic) or SOS certificate of authority (foreign).¹

Business requirements

One qualifying agent per company unless the Board approves; notify the Board within 10 working days if the qualifying agent leaves and replace within 30 days.¹

Business requirements

License is not transferable; post the license in every Alabama business office.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Register the business (Secretary of State certificate of authority for foreign corporations; Department of Revenue good standing for domestic) and buy the required liability insurance.⁶
2. Designate a qualifying agent with 3 years' security management or law-enforcement supervisory experience who is (or becomes) ASRB-licensed; the agent completes the personal application, release and fingerprint cards.⁶
3. Complete the notarised Company License Application and mail it with the $250 company fee (and $112 qualifying-agent fee if needed) to the Board before providing services.² Form (PDF, asrb.alabama.gov)⁷

Renewal

How often

Every year²

When it expires

Expires September 30 each year; renew before October 1. Renewals are not accepted after October 31 (new application required).¹

Renewal fee

$250⁶

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $125²

If it expires

Renewal not received by October 31: submit a new company application and meet current requirements.²

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Armed Security OfficerNo local guard license: Code of Ala. 34-27C-18 bars cities and counties from licensing, training or regulating security officers or contract security companies, except for a bona fide business or occupational tax.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a security guard in Alabama, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Alabama is on the Alabama license lookup page.

Look up a license

asrb-search.kalmservices.net⁴

File a complaint

asrb.alabama.gov⁷

Look up a license

asrbbusiness-search.kalmservices.net⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Code of Ala. 1975, Title 34, ch. 27C (secs. 34-27C-1 to 34-27C-18), Alabama Security Regulatory Act (Act 2009-640)
• Ala. Admin. Code ch. 832-X-1 (Security Regulatory Board, Administration and Procedure; revised 4/14/25)
• Ala. Admin. Code r. 832-X-1-.10 Fees (amended, effective April 14, 2025)

Rule changes since January 2024

• July 1, 2025: Personal license fee rose to $75 plus $37 background fee ($112 per application); one payment per application; incomplete applications must be completed within 30 days.¹⁰

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

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