How to get a Security Officer Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana security guard licenses

Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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

Apply online

lsbpselicense.com⁹⁷¹⁰

Renewal

Renew online

lsbpselicense.com⁹¹⁰

2. Security Officer Registration (unarmed) and Armed Security Officer (armed registration card)

Requirements

Education or training

At least 16 clock hours²

The board's words

“16 hours total: S.O.S.T. 1101 and S.O.S.T. 1102”

Who may teach it: Board-licensed instructor using current LSBPSE S.O.S.T. materials.¹¹
Alternative: Four-hour S.O.S.T. 1401 course + exam for out-of-state registrants and qualifying law-enforcement officers; retired LEOs (5+ years) must take S.O.S.T. 1401.⁹

Exam

S.O.S.T. 1101 and S.O.S.T. 1102 course examinations (given by the licensed instructor)³
Given by: Board-licensed instructor (no outside testing vendor)⁵
When you can take it: At the end of each S.O.S.T. course, before the first work assignment.¹²
Time limit: Training and exams must be completed before the first work assignment; failing to finish required training in time can bar a license for a year.⁵
Exam waived: Out-of-state registrants and qualifying law-enforcement officers take the four-hour S.O.S.T. 1401 course and exam instead.¹³

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required⁹
Same suitability test as company licensees: barred for any conviction of a crime of violence (R.S. 14:2(B)) and for any other felony within 10 years of applying or of finishing the sentence/probation/parole, unless pardoned; arrests and dismissed charges are also considered.⁵

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or resident alien.¹

Social Security number

Social Security number required (a copy of the card is no longer needed).⁹

Also required

Must be employed by (affiliated with) a licensed Louisiana contract security company; the company accepts the affiliation and uploads ID and Form I-9. You may not work until you hold the registration card showing the company name and dates.³

Also required

Carry the registration card on duty and show it on request.¹

Also required

Changing companies within 60 days of leaving one (rules effective October 20, 2026): no new background check, but the affiliation must be updated in the portal; after 60 days a new background check is required.³

Fees

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

How to apply

1. Get hired by a Louisiana-licensed contract security company (registration is tied to the employer).¹²
2. Create a profile in the LSBPSE Licensing & Registration Portal with a passport-quality digital photo.¹² lsbpselicense.com¹⁴
3. Complete the Initial Security Officer Application and request affiliation; the company accepts it and uploads your ID and Form I-9.¹²
4. Pay the $75 registration fee (you or the company may pay).³
5. Complete the fingerprint background check through IdentoGO using service code 27N43R.¹²
6. Wait for LSBPSE approval and your registration card (shows the company, issue date and expiry); do not work until you have it.¹²

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Valid two years; the card shows issue and expiry dates. Renew in the portal before expiry (Act 683 removed the "30 days prior to expiration" wording).³

Renewal fee

$65⁴

If it expires

Reinstatement through the portal; status change/transfer/reinstatement fee $30.⁹

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Current or former law-enforcement or military law-enforcement officers with P.O.S.T. certification and firearms training within one year before applying may submit it in place of the classroom training (annual armed retraining still applies); active LEOs employed by a company register without the background check or S.O.S.T. 1101/1102 if they upload POST documents.⁹

3. Instructor License (Classroom, Baton, Firearms; In-House/Outside) and Company License (private security business / contract security company)

Fees

Renewal

How often

Every year⁷⁵

Who needs a Security Officer Registration

Individual employed by a contract security company to protect people or property: preventing intrusion, theft, vandalism, arson and trespass, crowd/traffic control off public streets, and street or merchant patrol.⁶

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Active peace officers working off-duty within their jurisdiction as independent contractors (not employees of a security company), federal officers, and in-house (proprietary) security staff employed only for their employer's own affairs do not register.¹⁶
• Event staff such as ticket takers, ushers, wristband monitors, parking attendants, crowd counters, badge checkers and informational personnel are not security officers under the board rules.¹⁷

Requirements for a Security Officer Registration

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

Minimum age

18 years old¹⁷

How to apply

1. Complete S.O.S.T. 1101 and 1102 (16 hours) and pass the exams before your first work assignment.¹²

Renewal and continuing education

Armed Security Officer card

Requirements

Minimum age

21 years old¹⁷

Education or training

Board-prescribed firearms training and range qualification (legal limits on use of weapons, weapon handling, safety and maintenance, dim-light firing, shoot/don't-shoot, stress factors) before any armed assignment, in the same calibre carried on duty.⁵
Who may teach it: Board-licensed firearms instructor holding an NRA security/police, P.O.S.T., DOE or U.S. military firearms instructor certificate.⁵

Exam

Firearms written examination and range qualification (handgun proficiency course)¹⁷
Given by: Board-licensed firearms instructor¹⁷
Passing score: Written exam 70%; marksmanship at least 80% (200 of 250 points on the handgun course).¹⁷
When you can take it: Before any armed assignment.⁵

Fees

How to apply

1. Complete S.O.S.T. 1101 and 1102 (16 hours) and pass the exams, plus firearms training and range qualification, before your first work assignment.¹²
2. Already registered unarmed? Finish firearms training and qualification, then submit a status change ($30) in the portal before any armed duty.⁹

Renewal

Required topics

Armed officers: annual firearms retraining (refresher, written test of at least 50 questions, 80% marksmanship) due one year after the last recorded firearms training.¹⁷

Approved courses

Board-licensed instructor.⁵

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

Instructor License

Teaches and certifies board-required security officer training: classroom (S.O.S.T.), firearms and/or baton; In-House instructors teach only their company's employees, Outside instructors anyone statewide.⁷

Requirements

Education or training

One qualifying pathway: 3 years supervisory experience (security company, proprietary security or law enforcement), OR a degree in administration of justice or equivalent, OR P.O.S.T. instructor certification, OR a Louisiana teaching certificate plus 1 year supervisory security experience. Firearms instructors also need an NRA, P.O.S.T., DOE or U.S. military firearms instructor certificate; baton instructors a law-enforcement baton certification.¹⁷

Experience

At least 3 years⁵
Three years supervisory experience (one pathway), or one year with a teaching certificate.⁵

Exam

LSBPSE instructor examination (Louisiana private security laws and rules)⁷
Given by: LSBPSE⁷
Passing score: 70%⁷
When you can take it: After the application is complete and payment submitted.⁷
Retakes: May retake twice within six months; then referred to the board.¹⁷

Background check

Background check required⁷
Fingerprints required⁷
Must meet licensee qualifications in R.S. 37:3276(A)(1)-(6), including suitability.⁵

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 In-House or Outside, and Classroom, Firearms and/or Baton.⁷
2. Email the licensing team to confirm eligibility; the application then appears in the portal.⁷
3. Upload documents, complete fingerprints, pay fees and pass the instructor exam (70%).⁷
4. Board review and approval.⁷

Renewal

When it expires

One year from approval; renew with fee 30 days before expiry and keep insurance current.¹⁷

Renewal fee

$110¹⁵ (Classroom; baton $130, firearms $160 (same as initial))

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: U.S. military firearms instructor certification qualifies a firearms instructor.⁵

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

Company License

Business that provides security officers to others under contract, or armored car / armed courier services.⁵

Requirements

High school diploma or GED

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience (applicant).¹⁷

Experience

At least 3 years⁸
Applicant or qualifying agent: three consecutive years as an employee, manager or owner of a licensed contract security company, or three years as a federal, state, local or U.S. military law-enforcement officer (documented by resume; DD-214 for military). Proprietary security, bail bonding, corrections and general military service do not count.⁵

Exam

Company Owner Examination (written; Louisiana private security statutes and rules)¹⁰
Given by: LSBPSE (board schedules the exam)¹⁰
When you can take it: After the application and payment are complete.¹⁰

Background check

Background check required¹⁰
Fingerprints required⁸
Barred for any crime of violence (R.S. 14:2(B)) and any other felony within 10 years; owners of more than 5% and officers/directors must also meet suitability; no delinquent state or local taxes.¹⁹

Residency or citizenship

Individual applicant must be a U.S. citizen; corporations must be Louisiana corporations or qualified with the Secretary of State and have an agent for service.⁸

Social Security number

Social Security number.¹⁰

Business requirements

Register with the Louisiana Secretary of State (active, good standing); three letters of recommendation; photos of uniforms, badges and vehicles; company license number on vehicles and marketing (rules eff. October 20, 2026).¹⁰

Also required

May not solicit or operate before the license is issued.⁸

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. Confirm the owner or qualifying agent has the three years of qualifying experience.¹⁰
2. Register the business with the Louisiana Secretary of State.¹⁰
3. Email the Company & Instructor Licensing Team to confirm eligibility; the application then appears in your portal account (no paper packages).¹⁰
4. Upload business, experience, insurance ($500,000 COI) and ID documents; complete IdentoGO fingerprinting.¹⁰
5. Pay the $500 license and $60 exam fees and sit the Company Owner Examination.¹⁰
6. Board review; operate only after the license is issued.¹⁰

Processing time

Statute: board issues the license or a denial within 60 days of receiving the application.¹⁰

Renewal

When it expires

Expires annually on the issue date; renew with fee at least 30 days before expiry.⁵

Renewal fee

$410⁴

If it expires

A license not renewed by its expiry date lapses; the company must apply again as a new applicant.⁵

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Three years as a U.S. military law-enforcement officer counts as qualifying experience (DD-214 may be required).¹⁰

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 Officer (armed registration card)State law pre-empts local licensing: parishes and cities (New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette) may not license, train or regulate contract security companies or their registrants beyond a bona fide business tax; local occupational/business licenses may still be needed for the company itself.²⁰

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

lsbpselicense.com¹⁴

File a complaint

lsbpse.com²¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• La. R.S. 37:3270 et seq. (Louisiana Private Security Licensing and Regulatory Act), as amended by Act 683 of 2026 (HB 921), eff. Aug. 1, 2026
• Acts 2026, No. 683 (HB 921)
• La. R.S. 37:3286
• La. R.S. 37:3284 (training)
• LAC 46:LIX (Private Security Examiners), new rules effective Oct. 20, 2026
• La. R.S. 37:3276 (qualifications of licensee)

Rule changes since January 2024

• October 20, 2026: New LSBPSE rules: SSN plus digital photo instead of a Social Security card copy; change-of-employment window 30 -> 60 days; less-lethal tool training; expiry-date changes.⁹

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

• Alabama
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