How to get a Security Guard Registration in California

California security guard licenses

California issues 5 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 California 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 5)

How to apply

Apply online

breeze.ca.gov^17111210

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years^5711128

2. Every license level except Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license

Fees

3. Every license level except Baton Permit and Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license

Renewal

Renew online

breeze.ca.gov¹¹¹¹²

4. Every license level except Baton Permit and Firearms Permit (Firearms Qualification Card / Exposed Firearms Permit)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹¹²¹⁴

5. Security Guard Registration and Firearms Permit (Firearms Qualification Card / Exposed Firearms Permit)

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹¹¹

6. Security Guard Registration and Proprietary Private Security Officer (PSO) registration

Renewal

Continuing education

At least 8 hours each renewal period⁶¹²

7. Security Guard Registration and Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license

Fees

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

8. Baton Permit and Proprietary Private Security Officer (PSO) registration

Renewal

Renewal fee

$44⁸

9. Proprietary Private Security Officer (PSO) registration and Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license

Requirements

Background check

Background check required¹²¹⁰
Fingerprints required¹⁵¹⁰

Who needs a Security Guard Registration

Security guards are employed by licensed Private Patrol Operators or private security employers to protect persons or property or prevent theft.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Peace officers who completed a POST-approved power-to-arrest/use-of-force course are exempt from the training section; the training section does not apply to armored vehicle guards.⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Employers may not let anyone perform security guard functions without a current registration.¹⁶

Requirements for a Security Guard Registration

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 5, group 6 and group 7 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

8 clock hours²
Power to Arrest (3 h) and Appropriate Use of Force (5 h) training, with the BSIS manual exam passed at 100%, completed before registration and within six months before applying (SB 652, eff. 1/1/2026).³
Who may teach it: A licensee (for its own applicants/employees only), a BSIS-certified training facility, or a BSIS-approved organization/school.⁶
Alternative: Comparable military training documented by V-MET records.¹⁷

Education or training

At least 32 clock hours⁶
32 hours of security officer skills training after registration: 16 hours within 30 days and all 32 within six months of issuance.⁶
Who may teach it: Same provider rules as the power-to-arrest course (licensee for its own employees, certified training facility, or approved school).¹

Exam

BSIS Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force Training Manual exam³
Given by: Course provider (no state exam vendor)⁶
Passing score: 100%³

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required¹
DOJ reports every conviction and pending-trial arrest to BSIS; the application asks about misdemeanor and felony convictions.¹⁸

Also required

Must carry a valid registration card on duty; may work on a printout of BSIS online approval plus photo ID until the card arrives.¹⁹

Also required

Must be employed by a licensed Private Patrol Operator or private security employer.¹

How much a Security Guard Registration costs

How to apply

1. Complete the 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course (one provider, one instructor) and get the certificate; apply within six months of finishing it.⁶
2. Apply online in BreEZe (fastest) or mail the paper Application for Security Guard Registration with the $60 fee to BSIS, P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002.¹ Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹
3. Get fingerprinted by Live Scan using the BSIS Security Guard Live Scan form (out-of-state applicants without Live Scan access can send hard cards).¹ Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹
4. Once BSIS approves you, you can start work carrying a printout of the online approval and photo ID; the card arrives by mail in about 3 weeks.¹
5. Finish 16 hours of security officer skills training within 30 days and the remaining 16 within six months of issuance.⁶

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary guard card; a printout of BSIS online approval plus photo ID lets you work until the card arrives.¹

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Expires at midnight on the last day of the month two years after issuance; renewal application and fee due at least 60 days before expiration.⁵

Renewal fee

$44⁸ (On or after 10/1/2025 (prior fee $40))

Required topics

Annual review or practice of security officer skills (power to arrest/use of force and skills topics).⁶

Approved courses

Employer (PPO) for its own guards, a BSIS-certified training facility, or a BSIS-approved course provider.¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $69⁸ (renewed after expiration but within 60 days; total of $44 renewal + $25 delinquency)

If it expires

Registrations not renewed within 60 days after expiration are canceled and you must apply as new; no work is allowed on an expired registration.¹
Renewal requires certifying completion of the 32 skills hours and the annual 8-hour training.⁵

Moving to California with a license from another state

These are the routes BSIS publishes for the Security Guard Registration.

Baton Permit

Required to carry a baton on duty; guard must be registered and trained at a Bureau-approved baton facility.¹

Requirements

Education or training

Course of Baton Training (BPC 7585.9) at a Bureau-approved baton training facility, plus written exam; renewal requires the course again within six months before expiration.⁷
Who may teach it: Bureau-approved baton training facility and instructor; instructor attests completion on the application.⁷

Experience

Must be a registered security guard (or PPO sole owner/partner or qualified manager).⁷
License you must hold first: Ca-security-guard-registration⁷

Exam

Baton course written examination⁷
Given by: Bureau-approved baton training facility⁷

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Bureau-approved baton training facility⁷, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Hold a BSIS security guard registration.⁷
2. Complete the baton course and written exam; the instructor signs the certification page of the application.⁷
3. Submit the Baton Permit Initial Application with the $66 fee via BreEZe (upload the application) or by mail.⁷ Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)⁷

Renewal

When it expires

Renewal and payment due at least 60 days before expiration; cannot be renewed after it expires.⁷

Required topics

Baton training course completed within the six months before the permit expires.⁷

If it expires

Expired permit: apply for a new one.⁷

Renew online

bsis.ca.gov⁷

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 8 under Applies to every license level.

Firearms Permit

Lets a registered guard (or other qualifying licensee) carry an exposed, loaded firearm of the listed caliber(s) only while performing the duties of the associated license; not a concealed-carry permit.⁹

Requirements

Minimum age

21 years old¹¹

Education or training

14 clock hours¹⁰
BSIS Course of Firearms Training at a Bureau-certified firearms training facility, from a certified instructor, plus written exam and range qualification, within six months before applying; also the power-to-arrest course.¹¹
Who may teach it: Bureau-certified firearms training facility and instructor.¹¹

Experience

Must already hold a BSIS security guard registration (or PPO/PI/alarm license or QM certificate).¹¹
License you must hold first: Ca-security-guard-registration²⁰

Exam

BSIS written firearms examination and range qualification¹¹
Given by: Bureau-certified firearms training facility¹¹
Passing score: 85% on the written firearms exam (stated for renewal and adding calibers)¹¹

Exam

Firearms assessment (judgment, restraint and self-control) for security guard registrants¹¹

Background check

Background check required¹¹
Fingerprints required¹¹
Must not be barred from possessing firearms under state or federal law.¹¹

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or permanent legal immigration status.¹¹

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; check it with the exam provider, Bureau-certified firearms training facility¹¹, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Hold (or apply for) a BSIS security guard registration.²⁰
2. Pass the firearms assessment within six months before applying.¹¹
3. Complete the firearms course, written exam and range qualification at a certified facility for each caliber you will carry.¹¹
4. Submit the Firearms Permit Initial Application and $110 fee to BSIS (BreEZe with the application uploaded, or by mail), then Live Scan with the "Security Guard w/Firearm" form after submitting.¹¹ Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹¹

Renewal

When it expires

Expires two years from issuance; renewal application and payment due at least 60 days before expiration; cannot be renewed after it expires.¹¹

Renewal fee

$126⁸ (Total of $88 BSIS renewal fee + $38 DOJ fee)

Required topics

Two-hour use of force and de-escalation review before each range qualification.¹¹
Written Firearms Examination at 85% or higher.¹¹

If it expires

An expired permit cannot be renewed; apply for a new permit.¹¹

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

Proprietary Private Security Officer (PSO) registration

Unarmed, in-house security officer employed by one employer, wearing a distinctive uniform and likely to interact with the public; not the same as a security guard registration.⁹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours¹²
Before registration: Power to Arrest (3 h) and Appropriate Use of Force (min. 5 h).¹²
Who may teach it: Employer, organization or school approved by BSIS.²¹

Education or training

At least 16 clock hours¹²
Within 6 months of approval: Mandatory Outline of Courses (min. 16 h).¹²
Alternative: Equivalent military training documented by VMET records.²¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Complete the 8-hour pre-registration training (Power to Arrest + Use of Force).¹²
2. Apply in BreEZe or mail the PSO application and fee; then Live Scan with the Proprietary Security Officer form.¹² Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹²
3. After approval, a screen-print of the online record works as an interim card until the card arrives (15-20 business days).¹²

Processing time

Target 60 days (online initial).²²

Renewal

Required topics

At least 2 hours reviewing appropriate use of force topics each year.¹²

Approved courses

Employer must provide the annual training.¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $69⁸

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4, group 6, group 8 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license

Company license for a business that protects persons or property or prevents theft; the business must be run by a qualified manager.¹³

Requirements

Experience

At least 6,000 hours of on-the-job training¹⁴
Qualified manager: three years (6,000 hours) of compensated experience: 4,000 hours as patrolperson/guard/watchman and 2,000 hours as manager or administrator with a licensed PPO.¹⁴
Supervision: Experience certified by someone other than the applicant on the Qualifying Experience Form.¹⁴
Substitute: Military experience counts if supported by DD-214 or performance evaluation.¹⁴

Exam

Private Patrol Operator Qualified Manager examination¹⁰
Given by: PSI (Psychological Services Industry)¹⁴
Two-hour multiple-choice exam: Private Security Services Act and rules, business knowledge, emergency procedures, security functions, use of deadly weapons.¹⁰
Exam waived: No retake needed if the applicant previously passed the PPO QM exam and/or holds a valid license.¹⁴

Insurance

Commercial general liability insurance, minimum $1,000,000 per loss or occurrence.¹⁴

Business requirements

Each company license must designate one qualified manager (owner, partner, officer or hired person).¹⁴

Business requirements

Out-of-state PPOs must keep a California office run by a qualified manager.¹³

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. Designate a qualified manager who meets the 6,000-hour experience rule.¹⁴
2. Submit the PPO application packet with the $605 application/exam fee and photos (BreEZe or mail); Live Scan after submitting.¹⁰ Form (PDF, bsis.ca.gov)¹⁰
3. After approval, PSI sends the qualified manager exam information; schedule and pass the exam.¹⁴
4. Send the certificate of liability insurance and pay the $847 initial license fee.¹⁴

Renewal

Renewal fee

$990⁸

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $1,485⁸

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 4, group 7 and group 9 under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

search.dca.ca.gov¹²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7582.1
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7582.8
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.6
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.7
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.9
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.10
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.17
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.20
• 16 CCR secs. 638-642.5 as described by BSIS
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7585.9
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.22
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.23
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7583.47
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7574.11
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7574.14
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7574.18
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7582.7
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 7582.22

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: SB 652 (Stats. 2025, ch. 94): power-to-arrest/use-of-force training must be taught and certified by one instructor and completed within six months before applying.²³
• October 1, 2025: BSIS fees rose 10%: guard initial $55 to $60, renewal $40 to $44.⁴ Initial fee $100 to $110; renewal $118 to $126 (incl. $38 DOJ fee).⁴

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

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• District of Columbia
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