How to get a Security officer license in Connecticut

Connecticut security guard licenses

Connecticut issues 3 security guard credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Rules shared by several license levels

These rules are the same for several of the Connecticut 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.

Every license level except Security service license (security service agency license for corporations)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required³
No license for anyone convicted of a felony, any sexual offense or any crime involving moral turpitude (subject to Conn. Gen. Stat. 46a-80), anyone refused a security license for any reason other than minimum experience, anyone whose license is revoked or suspended, or anyone decertified as a police officer here or in another jurisdiction.¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply⁶

Renewal

How often

Every 5 years¹

Who needs a Security officer license

Licensed and registered person hired to protect people and property by detecting or preventing intrusion, theft, vandalism, abuse, arson or trespass, or unauthorised activity, employed by a security service or, as a uniformed in-house employee, by a business on premises open to the public or by paid admission.⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• In-house security staff of a business are covered only when they wear a uniform for security work on the employer's premises that are open and unrestricted to the public or accessible by paid admission.⁶

Requirements for a Security officer license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Minimum age

18 years old³

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours¹
At least 8 hours of approved training in basic first aid, search and seizure laws and regulations, use of force, basic criminal justice and public safety issues; applicants who will carry a baton or pepper (O.C.) spray need extra training on that weapon.¹
Who may teach it: Taught by private instructors in a course the DESPP Commissioner has approved; each instructor must show five years' experience as an instructor or training manager in the security services industry, or equivalent experience or training. The instructor signs the back of the DPS-135-C application. Apply within two years after finishing the course.³
Alternative: Training is waived for current members of the armed forces or National Guard, and for veterans within two years of discharge, who show equivalent military training; those who get the waiver also pay no licensing fee.¹
Alternative: Police officers: course waived with a letter of separation (contact SLFU for the application).³

Exam

Written examination for initial licensing (Regs. Conn. State Agencies 29-161x-4(b))²
Passing score: 70%²
Time limit: Apply for the license within two years after completing the training.¹
Exam waived: Training is waived for current members of the armed forces or National Guard, and for veterans within two years of discharge, who show equivalent military training; those who get the waiver also pay no licensing fee.¹

Residency or citizenship

Submit naturalization papers if applicable (SLFU checklist); the statute sets no residency rule.³

Also required

Good moral character.¹

Also required

While the license application is pending you may already work as a security officer if your employer runs (or has a consumer reporting agency run) a state and national criminal record check and finds you qualify, and you have finished (or been excused from) the training; not at schools or child care centers.¹

Also required

Carry the identification card at all times on duty and show it to police on request.¹

How much a Security officer license costs

You pay DESPP (2 fees), Connecticut State Police (fingerprint and state background check) and paid online via CCHRS pre-enrollment (FBI background check).

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. Take the 8-hour security officer course from a DESPP-approved instructor (see the SLFU "Public Security Instructor List (Guard Card)"). The DPS-135-C application comes from the instructor, who signs it when you finish; it cannot be downloaded.⁴
2. Pre-enroll and pay the fingerprint fees online (CCHRS/IDEMIA FlexCheck: $12 FBI + $75 state) and get fingerprinted; keep the applicant tracking number.³
3. Mail the packet to SLFU, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457 (Attention: Security Officer (Guard Card)): DPS-135-C with your email address, one 2x2 color passport-style photo, a $100 check or money order to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut", the tracking number (or fingerprint card with it), a copy of your Connecticut driver's license, naturalization papers if applicable and the signed FBI Privacy Act statement.³
4. Your employer (a licensed security service, or a business using uniformed in-house officers) registers you with SLFU on form DPS-688-C and pays $40; you are issued an ID card to carry on duty.¹

Temporary or provisional license

While the license application is pending you may already work as a security officer if your employer runs (or has a consumer reporting agency run) a state and national criminal record check and finds you qualify, and you have finished (or been excused from) the training; not at schools or child care centers.¹

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

DESPP mails or emails a renewal notice and form at least 90 days before expiration. Renew with form DPS-129-C-1, a $100 fee and a passport-style photo; a mailed-in form must be notarized. Fingerprints and state/national record checks are required, but renewals pay no fingerprint fee. The license stays valid for 90 days after expiration.¹

Renewal fee

$100¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $25¹ (renewal filed 1-90 days after expiration)

If it expires

Expired 1-90 days: renew with the $25 late fee ($125 total). Expired more than 90 days: cannot be renewed (apply as new).¹

Renew online

portal.ct.gov⁷

Special permit to carry firearms

Requirements

Minimum age

21 years old³

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours⁵
Commissioner-approved security officer handgun course: at least 8 hours of classroom instruction plus range qualification (optional rifle/shotgun module). You must range-qualify with every weapon you carry.⁵
Who may teach it: Taught by an instructor the DESPP Commissioner has approved to teach the Security Firearms Course. The instructor needs a Connecticut pistol permit and at least one of: Connecticut State Police or P.O.S.T. firearms instructor, FBI firearms instructor, NRA Security or NRA Police Firearms Instructor, or another recognized firearms instructor certification of at least 40 hours. The instructor signs form DPS-1030.³

Exam

Security officer handgun course written exam and range qualification⁵
Given by: The approved firearms instructor⁸
Passing score: 70% on the written exam⁵
Written exam on the course material⁵
Range qualification with each weapon carried⁸

Also required

Hold a security officer license (guard card) and be registered by your employer before applying.³

Also required

Hold a valid Connecticut State Pistol Permit.⁸

Also required

Fines: $75 per violation for the company and the officer when an officer carries without the endorsement.³

Fees

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, The approved firearms instructor⁸, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Get your security officer license (guard card), be registered by your employer, and hold a Connecticut State Pistol Permit.⁸
2. Complete the security officer firearms course with an SLFU-certified instructor (at least 8 classroom hours, written exam 70%, range qualification with each weapon). Form DPS-1030 comes from the instructor.³
3. Send SLFU the original DPS-1030-C signed by the instructor, a copy of your pistol permit and a $62 check or money order to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Employers may send it together with the $40 registration in separate checks.⁸

Temporary or provisional license

DESPP may issue a temporary permit while the permit is pending if you have applied and completed the course right after being hired.¹

Renewal

When it expires

The permit expires with your Connecticut pistol permit and renews for further five-year periods; you must also take an approved refresher course every year.⁸

Required topics

Firearms safety, handgun fundamentals and techniques, liability/use of force/deadly force and Connecticut firearms law, written exam (70%), plus range qualification.⁵

Approved courses

Approved firearms instructor; the refresher uses the same DPS-1030 process; documentation goes to SLFU.³

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Security service license

Company license for anyone who, for pay, provides guard, patrol, armored car, guard dog or valuables-transport services or protects patrons and property for others.⁶

Requirements

Minimum age

25 years old⁶

High school diploma or GED

High school diploma, GED, college transcript or degree (copy required).⁴

Experience

At least 5 years⁶
At least 5 years in a supervisory management capacity in industrial security (or as a supervisor in a federal or state security agency or a police department), or at least 10 years as a state or municipal police officer. DESPP may credit a relevant course for up to 1 year. Investigator work does not count.⁶

Background check

Background check required⁶
Fingerprints required⁶
No license after any felony, listed misdemeanors within 7 years, any offense involving moral turpitude, a discharge showing questionable moral character, or police decertification; no applicant vested with police powers.⁴
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply⁶

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or green card holder; a work permit is not accepted.⁴

Surety bond

$10,000⁶ (Bond amount (premium set by surety))

Insurance

$300,000 general liability insurance certificate before the license is issued.⁶

Also required

Four character-reference letters sent directly by their authors within 60 days; 3-year driving record; DD-214 if a veteran; oral interview.⁴

Also required

Corporate officers (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer) must also be licensed with SLFU.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. Meet the age (25), experience and character rules and line up a $10,000 surety bond (DPS-363-C) and $300,000 general liability insurance.⁴
2. File the notarized DPS-366-C application with two 2x2 photos, fingerprint payment via FlexCheck, driving record, diploma, proof of experience, citizenship proof, Secretary of the State certificate for corporations, and the license fee check to "Treasurer, State of Connecticut". Send everything within 60 days or the application is rejected.⁴
3. Attend the oral interview; once licensed, register every security officer you hire ($40 each on DPS-688-C) and report terminations within 5 business days.⁴

Application form

Form (PDF, portal.ct.gov)⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶

When it expires

SLFU mails a renewal package 90 days before expiration; file DPS-331-C, bond verification DPS-363-C, the insurance policy, two photos, an alphabetical employee list and the fee before the license expires.⁴

Renewal fee

$625⁴ (Individual, association or partnership; corporations pay $1,000)

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $1,450⁶ (individual, association or partnership ($1,750 for a corporation))

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

portal.ct.gov⁹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 534, §§ 29-152u, 29-161g to 29-161aa (Private Detectives and Security Services), General Statutes revised to January 1, 2025
• Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-161q and 29-161z as amended by P.A. 25-18 and P.A. 25-157 (2026 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2026)
• Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 29-161x-1 to 29-161x-7 (security services and security officers)
• Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 29-161z-1 to 29-161z-5 (armed security personnel firearms safety courses)

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 1, 2026: P.A. 25-157 (shown in the 2026 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2026) added extra training for applicants who will carry a baton or pepper spray (less lethal weapon) and made renewal applicants submit fingerprints for state and national record checks without a fingerprint fee. The date is the Supplement revision date.¹ P.A. 25-157 (shown in the 2026 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2026) added a separate special permit, course and yearly refresher for security officers carrying electronic defense weapons. The date is the Supplement revision date.¹

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

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