How to get a Protective Agent License in Minnesota

Who needs a Protective Agent License

Anyone who for a fee provides guards, private patrol or other security personnel to protect people or property; physically responds to alarm or camera signals; provides armored car services; escorts funerals or oversized loads; manages crowds for safety; or transports prisoners/arrestees.⁷

Work that does not need this license:

• Proprietary (in-house) employers that use security guards only on their own property need no license but must run the 326.336 background check on guards they hire.¹
• Also exempt: employees providing security for their own employer's claims, on-duty government peace officers/employees, alarm technicians responding to reset or open premises, and others listed in 326.3341.⁸
• Special protective agent classification: funeral-procession and oversized-load escorts need not meet the 6,000-hour experience requirement.²

Requirements for a Protective Agent License

Minimum age

18 years old²

Experience

At least 6,000 hours²
Sworn employer statement that the individual applicant, or the corporation's qualified representative / Minnesota manager, worked at least 6,000 hours as an investigator or protective agent for a licensed protective agent or private detective (security systems, audits, supervision), a U.S. government investigative service, a city police department or sheriff's office, or a board-approved equivalent. Unlicensed activity does not count.²
Substitute: U.S. government investigative service, city police department or sheriff's office, or an occupation the board finds equivalent²

Exam

Not required⁶

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required²
Disqualified for any felony conviction, or listed offenses (criminal sexual conduct, assault, theft, burglary, robbery, unlawful weapons, narcotics, etc.) unless fully pardoned; for false statements on the application; or for failing to show good character, honesty and integrity. BCA/FBI results go to the board.¹

Surety bond

$10,000² (Initial and reissuance (326.3383 subd. 3))

Insurance

Proof of financial responsibility by one of: a certificate of insurance (general liability, completed operations and personal injury incl. false arrest, defamation/privacy, wrongful entry) with a copy of the policy; a CPA-signed annual net worth statement ($10,000 with no employees; $15,000 for 1-10; $25,000 for 11-25; $50,000 for 26-50; $100,000 for 51+); or an irrevocable letter of credit for the same amount.²

Business requirements

Licenses are issued to individuals or corporations (partnership licenses were removed by Laws 2026, ch. 83). For a corporation the CEO, CFO, qualified representative and any Minnesota manager must each meet the licensing requirements including fingerprints; an out-of-state applicant opening a Minnesota office must name a qualified Minnesota manager.¹

Business requirements

Five character references from people who have known each signer at least five years (not relatives), plus a recent photograph.²

Also required

License holders and their qualified representatives, Minnesota managers and employees must complete 6 hours of board-certified continuing training every year (armed: 6 more hours in their weapons plus annual range certification, first aid and CPR).⁶

Also required

No badges, uniforms, vehicles or ads using "police", "sheriff", "public safety", "law enforcement" etc. or a government name; no armed personnel at labour disputes.⁹

Also required

Unlicensed operation bars an application for one year from the finding and is a gross misdemeanor.¹⁰

How much a Protective Agent License costs

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 board's application form (names, birth dates, 5-year residence and full employment history of each signer, place of business, corporate details).²
2. Attach five references per signer, a photograph and fingerprints with written consent to BCA/FBI checks, and the sworn 6,000-hour employer statement.²
3. File the $10,000 surety bond and proof of financial responsibility (insurance certificate, net-worth statement or letter of credit).²
4. Pay the nonrefundable application fee and the license fee (amounts set by the board).⁴
5. Attend the board review: the board posts notice for 20 days, investigates, and interviews the applicant (or qualified representative and Minnesota manager) in person.⁶

Temporary or provisional license

Contingent license: on reissuance, if information is incomplete but fixable within 60 days, the board issues a 60-day contingent license and the holder may keep operating.⁶

Processing time

The board posts each application for 20 days, investigates, and reviews it at a board meeting with an in-person interview; an initial application not completed within four months is re-reviewed and may have to be repeated.⁶

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years¹

When it expires

Reissued every two years on a board form with a list of all current employees and the expired license; must keep the $10,000 bond and financial responsibility. A late or incomplete reissuance with no response is treated as lapsed for 60 days (no business allowed); if it then expires a new application is needed.¹¹

Renewal fee

$480 to $1,160⁴ (By number of employees: 1 employee $480; 2 to 10 $650; 11 to 25 $820; 26 to 50 $990; 51 or more $1,160)

Continuing education

At least 6 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

Armed: additional 6 hours a year in the weapons used, annual range certification for firearm carriers, approved first aid course and CPR/first aid certification.⁶

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100⁶

If it expires

At reissuance the license holder files an affidavit that all employees met training requirements; the license is not renewed without that proof.⁶

Moving to Minnesota with a license from another state

These are the routes DPS publishes for the Protective Agent License.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Temporary military license under Minn. Stat. § 197.4552; fee for a protective agent temporary license $800.²

No state license for employed security guards

Minnesota does not issue a state license for employed security guards.³

• Not security guards: auditors, administrative/clerical staff of a licensed firm, proprietary plainclothes investigators, temporary municipal event staff, air or rail carrier employees, retail customer-service/sales clerks, maintenance/custodial staff.¹²

The official wording

“A license holder may employ, in connection with the business of private detective or protective agent, as many unlicensed persons as may be necessary; provided that every license holder is at all times accountable for the good conduct of every person employed.”³

Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota Legislature

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Minn. Stat. §§ 326.32-326.339 (private detectives and protective agents)
• Minn. Stat. § 326.3381 (licenses)
• Minn. Stat. § 326.3382 (application for license)
• Minn. Stat. § 326.3386
• Minn. Stat. § 326.3361 (training)
• Minn. R. ch. 7506
• Laws of Minnesota 2026, ch. 83 (H.F. 4151; removes partnership licenses)

Rule changes since January 2024

• May 12, 2026: Laws 2026, ch. 83 (H.F. 4151) removed partnership licenses and requires the CEO, CFO, qualified representative and any Minnesota manager of a corporate applicant to meet licensing requirements including fingerprints.¹³

Common questions

Security guard licenses in other states

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