How to get an Unarmed Security Guard Employee Registration in Arizona

Arizona security guard licenses

Arizona issues 3 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 Arizona 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 3)

Fees

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, azdps.gov)⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 4 years⁵¹³

2. Every license level except Security Guard Agency License

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹⁴

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours²
8 hours of pre-assignment training from a DPS-registered security guard training instructor, using the DPS curriculum (legal authority, laws of arrest, use of force and other topics). Videos alone are not allowed; breaks and lunch do not count.²
Who may teach it: Given by the employing agency through a DPS-registered security guard training instructor; instructors certified in other states are not recognized.²

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required⁶
No felony conviction or pending felony indictment; no misdemeanor in the past five years involving violence or threats, weapons misconduct, dishonesty or fraud, arson, theft, domestic violence, drug offenses (Title 13 ch. 34/34.1) or sexual misconduct; not on parole, probation for violence or with an outstanding warrant; not a registered sex offender. A good-cause exception hearing before the Private Investigator and Security Guard Hearing Board is available for misdemeanors (sentence completed) and for felonies ten or more years after the sentence ended, unless the offense is listed in A.R.S. 41-1758.03(B).¹⁴

Residency or citizenship

Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident authorized to work in the United States; include a copy of the proof with the application.¹⁴

Social Security number

Social Security number is requested on the application and fingerprint affidavit.¹⁵

Also required

You can only work as a guard for a DPS-licensed security guard agency; the agency signs Part A of your application (statement of intent to employ). An armed registration card is needed for each sponsoring employer.¹⁵

Also required

Guards may not work a post until they physically hold a valid DPS guard card and wear the DPS-approved uniform; working on a "pending" application violates state law. DPS issues no provisional security guard certificate.¹⁶

Fees

Fee waivers and reductions:

• Initial-license fees are waived (first-time applicants only) for applicants with family income up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, active-duty military spouses, and veterans honorably discharged within the past two years; the $22 fingerprint fee still applies. Submit the DPS Application Fee Waiver Request with the application.⁴

How to apply

1. Get a job offer from a DPS-licensed security guard agency; the agency completes and signs Part A of the application.¹⁵
2. Complete the 8-hour unarmed pre-assignment training with a DPS-registered security guard training instructor, who signs the Training Verification Form (DPS 802-03917).¹⁶ Form (PDF, azdps.gov)⁴
3. Get fingerprinted on an FD-258 card; the technician seals the card with the DPS Fingerprint Affidavit in one envelope.⁶
4. Mail or deliver the signed application with the application fee ($100 armed, $50 unarmed), $22 fingerprint fee, Training Verification Form, ID copy, a 2x2 color photo and proof of citizenship or legal residence. The form lists money order, cashier's check, agency business check or exact cash; the DPS web page lists cashier's check, certified check, credit card or money order, so confirm the accepted method with DPS.⁶ Form (PDF, azdps.gov)⁴
5. Wait for your DPS guard card before working any post. Use only the newest form versions: DPS rejects any application on an outdated form. Electronic applications and fingerprints were suspended from October 30, 2026 during a system change; paper applications are still accepted.¹⁶

Temporary or provisional license

Honorably discharged veterans (discharged within three years) may receive a 45-day security guard or armed guard registration certificate before background screening is complete, working only for an agency that gives the preassignment training.⁵

Renewal

When it expires

Registration certificates are valid for four years. DPS accepts renewal applications up to 180 days before expiration (earlier ones are returned). You may not work between expiration and renewal.⁴

Continuing education

At least 8 clock hours each renewal period²

Approved courses

A DPS-certified (registered) instructor must give the training.²

If it expires

Revoked registrations cannot be renewed; a new application is not accepted until at least one year after revocation.¹⁷

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Fee waiver for military spouses and recently discharged veterans (A.R.S. 41-1080.01); 45-day registration for veterans discharged within three years (A.R.S. 32-2624).¹⁸

Who needs an Unarmed Security Guard Employee Registration

Security guards (watchmen, patrol, bodyguards, personal protection and private security guards) employed by a licensed agency; they act as private citizens and have no police authority.⁹

Work that does not need this license:

• Not covered: government officers and employees on duty; security work at commercial nuclear plants and Department of Defense-regulated companies; and in-house (proprietary) guard forces that meet the statutory conditions (16 + 8 hours firearms training if armed, DPS uniform standards, annual background-check affidavit).¹⁹

How much an Unarmed Security Guard Employee Registration costs

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

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$50⁴

Required topics

8-hour refresher training within 90 days before the renewal application, from a DPS-certified instructor, using the DPS curriculum.²

Armed Security Guard Employee Registration

Armed security guard: a registered guard authorized by the employing agency to carry a firearm on duty after initial firearms training. Security guards (watchmen, patrol, bodyguards, personal protection and private security guards) employed by a licensed agency; they act as private citizens and have no police authority.⁹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 16 clock hours²
16 hours of initial firearms training with a DPS-registered firearms-safety training instructor before any armed post: safe handling, legal issues of deadly force, a written test (70% first attempt, then retest to 100%) and a 50-round handgun qualification (175 of 250 points, 70%).²
Who may teach it: DPS-registered firearms-safety training instructor designated in writing by the agency qualifying party.⁴

Exam

Armed guard firearms written test and handgun qualification (given within the 16-hour course)¹⁰
Given by: Administered by the agency's DPS-registered firearms-safety instructor (no outside vendor)¹⁰
Passing score: Written: at least 70% on the first attempt, then missed questions retested until 100%; shooting: 70% hits (175 of 250 points).¹⁰
30-question written test¹⁰
50-round handgun qualification course¹⁰
Retakes: Below 70% on the written test must be retrained; below 70% on the range must re-qualify.¹⁰

Also required

Armed guards must not be prohibited possessors under state or federal law, must not have an other-than-honorable military discharge and must have no domestic-violence conviction.¹⁴

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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Complete the 16-hour firearms training with a DPS-registered firearms-safety instructor (written test and 50-round qualification, 70% minimum); the instructor completes Section C of the Training Verification Form.¹⁰

Renewal

Renewal fee

$100⁶

Required topics

8-hour refresher training within 90 days before the renewal application, from a DPS-certified instructor, using the DPS curriculum.²
Armed guards: 8 hours of annual continuing firearms training (written test and qualification) with a DPS-registered firearms-safety instructor.²

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

Security Guard Agency License

Business license for a private security guard service; guards must be employed by a licensed agency. Each agency needs a qualifying party (the owner for a sole proprietorship; the managing individual for a partnership, corporation or LLC).⁴

Requirements

Minimum age

21 years old¹¹

Experience

At least 3 years¹¹
Qualifying party (and resident manager, if required) must have three years of full-time experience as a manager, supervisor or administrator of a security guard agency, or three years of full-time supervisory experience with a federal, military, state, county or municipal law enforcement agency, certified by the employer.¹¹

Background check

Background check required²⁰
Fingerprints required¹²
No felony conviction or pending felony indictment and no listed misdemeanors in the past five years; DPS may deny an applicant found unfit based on a conviction, citation or law-enforcement encounter.¹¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or legal resident authorized to work; an out-of-state qualifying party must designate an Arizona-resident resident manager.¹¹

Insurance

General liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per event, naming DPS as certificate holder; workers' compensation if the agency has employees. Buy coverage only after DPS says the license is ready to issue.⁴

Business requirements

Get DPS approval of the agency name before filing with the Arizona Corporation Commission or Secretary of State; each partner, officer, director, member and manager files an associate application ($50).⁴

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. Choose an agency name and get it approved by the DPS Licensing Unit (Name Selection form) before registering the business entity.⁴
2. File the Security Guard Agency Application with the $500 application fee, fingerprints for the qualifying party and associates, and associate applications.¹² Form (PDF, azdps.gov)⁴
3. When DPS says the license is ready, buy liability and workers' compensation coverage, send the certificates and pay the $500 issuance fee within 90 days, or the application is canceled and fees are forfeited.¹³
4. Register training instructors and file the agency training program; designate in writing which registered instructors you use.⁴

Renewal

When it expires

Four-year license; the qualifying party must renew before expiry, as early as 180 days before.¹²

Renewal fee

$500¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100⁴
Late renewal fee: $10¹² (resident manager)

If it expires

An agency may not operate between expiration and renewal.¹⁷

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Initial-license fees are waived (first-time applicants only) for applicants with family income up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, active-duty military spouses, and veterans honorably discharged within the past two years; the $22 fingerprint fee still applies. Submit the DPS Application Fee Waiver Request with the application.⁴

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

City and county rules

Security Guard Agency LicenseSecurity guards register with the Arizona Department of Public Safety statewide.¹

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

psp.azdps.gov⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• A.R.S. § 32-2601 (definitions)
• A.R.S. § 32-2607
• A.R.S. § 32-2608 (registration required)
• A.R.S. § 32-2610 (reciprocal agreements)
• A.R.S. § 32-2621 (necessity of security guard registration)
• A.R.S. § 32-2622 (qualifications)
• A.R.S. § 32-2623 (application)
• A.R.S. § 32-2624 (issuance; four-year term)
• A.R.S. § 32-2632 (training)
• A.R.S. § 32-2611 (agency license required)
• A.R.S. § 32-2612 (agency applicant qualifications)
• A.R.S. § 32-2613 (application; insurance)
• A.R.S. § 32-2614 (issuance; four-year term)
• A.R.S. § 32-2616 (qualifying party)

Rule changes since January 2024

• July 8, 2026: Fingerprint cards must be sealed with the new DPS Fingerprint Affidavit form.⁴

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
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• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
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• Texas
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