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How to get an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania licenses security guards statewide through the State Police (PSP).1 For the Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification (Lethal Weapons Training Act) you need a passing score on the Act 235 academic module exam (and firearms module qualification for firearms certification) at the certified school1 and a criminal background check2. Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for individual security guards3; see what applies instead. Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for watch patrol agency security guards3; see what applies instead. You renew every 5 years4 and complete 8 clock hours of continuing education1.

Last checked · 10 official sources

Who issues it

State Police (PSP)

Training and experience

An approved education program; see the requirements

Exam

Act 235 academic module exam (and firearms module qualification for firearms certification) at the certified school1

Fees the board lists

Fingerprint and state background check: $24.952

Renewal

Every 5 years4, 8 clock hours of continuing education1

From another state

No reciprocity route5

On this page
  1. Who needs an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification
  2. Requirements for an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification
  3. How much an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification costs
  4. How to apply
  5. Renewal and continuing education
  6. Moving to Pennsylvania with a license from another state
  7. No state license for individual security guards
  8. No state license for watch patrol agency security guards
  9. City and county rules
  10. Check a license or report a problem
  11. Laws and rules
  12. Common questions
  13. Security guard licenses in other states

Who needs an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification

Certification lets a privately employed agent carry a lethal weapon at work. Two classes: Firearms (academic + firearms modules) and Nonfirearms (academic module only; any lethal weapon except a firearm). It is not a license to carry a firearm under the Uniform Firearms Act.1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Local, state and federal government employees and Governor-commissioned railroad police are not "privately employed agents"; a municipal-authority police officer is.4
  • Chemical mace is not a lethal weapon under the Act; a concealed billy club is.4

Requirements for an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification

Minimum age
18 years old1
Education or training
Complete the Act 235 training program at a PSP-certified school after PSP approval: academic module (pass 70%) and, for firearms certification, firearms module (pass 75%). Training approval is valid 6 months.1
Who may teach it: Training must be taken at an Act 235 certified school from the PSP list, taught by PSP-certified instructors.2
Alternative: Applicants with previous law enforcement training may request waivers in the application: academic waiver for a comparable course within 5 years, firearms waiver for a comparable combat firearms course within 1 year.6
Alternative: Military training or experience does not qualify for a waiver.5
Alternative: Retired PA police officers (20+ years, retired in good standing, starting private work within 3 years) are certified without training or physical/psychological standards and pay no application fee.4
Exam
Act 235 academic module exam (and firearms module qualification for firearms certification) at the certified school1
Given by: PSP-certified Act 235 training school2
Passing score: 70% academic module; 75% firearms module1
Retakes: A failed module may be repeated in full before the 6-month training approval expires; after that a new application is needed.1
Exam
Physical, vision, hearing and psychological examinations (MMPI) by PA-licensed physician and psychologist2
Passing score: Vision: uncorrected 20/70 in one eye and 20/200 in the other; corrected 20/20 and 20/40; normal color and depth perception; hearing test (hearing aid allowed).2
Retakes: Someone found psychologically at risk may not reapply for 1 year; exam results can be used for up to 6 months.1
Background check
Background check required2
Fingerprints required2
Disqualified by: an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. 6105, any misdemeanor of the first degree or higher, a crime of violence, an active protection from abuse order, or a previous involuntary mental health commitment.2
Also required
Employers must make sure every armed privately employed agent holds a current certification card and must report a for-cause discharge to PSP within 5 days.1
Also required
Carry the certification card on duty and going to and from duty; carrying a lethal weapon at work without certification is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or $1,000).4
Also required
Act 235 is not a license to carry a firearm; PSP advises agents may need a separate license to carry for concealed or off-duty carry.7
Also required
Applicants without a valid PA driver's license or living out of state also mail two passport-size photos to PSP.2

How much an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification costs

You pay IDEMIA / MorphoTrust (IdentoGO) (fingerprint and state background check) and PSP (duplicate or replacement license).

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Fingerprint and state background check$24.952IDEMIA / MorphoTrust (IdentoGO)–
Duplicate or replacement license$155PSPLost, stolen or missing card (notarized letter required)

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, PSP-certified Act 235 training school2, when you schedule.

How to apply

  1. Check eligibility: age 18+, medical, vision, hearing and psychological fitness, and no disqualifying record.2
  2. Log in to TACS with Keystone Login, choose Home Act 235 > Basic Training Application and pay the $50 application fee by credit card; request any training waivers in the application.2 tacs.pa.gov2
  3. Get fingerprinted at an IdentoGO location using the emailed instructions.2
  4. Have a PA-licensed physician and psychologist complete the PSP physical, vision and psychological forms and submit them electronically.2
  5. After PSP emails approval, schedule and pass training at an Act 235 certified school (within 6 months).2
  6. Log in to TACS and pay the $30 certification fee by credit card; PSP issues the card.2
Apply online
tacs.pa.gov2

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 5 years4
When it expires
Apply in TACS no earlier than 6 months before expiry; approved renewal training must be completed within 6 months.8
Continuing education
8 clock hours each renewal period1
Required topics
Firearms agents: 8 hours classroom plus range (70% academic, 75% firearms); nonfirearms agents: 3-hour program (70% academic).1
Approved courses
Renewal training only at a certified school by a certified instructor.1
Exemptions
Act 120-certified municipal police officers are waived from renewal training; others with 3+ hours of formal law enforcement training in 5 years and/or firearms qualification within 1 year may get waivers.8
If it expires
Expired certifications cannot be renewed; apply for initial certification. Someone whose card expires during renewal training may not work until a new card is issued.8
Renew online
tacs.pa.gov2

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Pennsylvania Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification (Lethal Weapons Training Act). The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Pennsylvania with a license from another state

These are the routes PSP publishes for the Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification.

Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
No reciprocity: armed security credentials from other states do not waive Act 235 training; non-residents apply the same way and send photos.5

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Act 23 of 2015: people whose certification expired during qualifying military service may get special consideration (contact PSP); military training does not earn a training waiver.6

No state license for individual security guards

Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for individual security guards.3

The official wording

“The holder of any license certificate issued pursuant to this act may employ to assist him in his work of private detective or investigator as described in section 2 and in the conduct of such business as many persons as he may deem necessary…”3

Pennsylvania General Assembly

No state license for watch patrol agency security guards

Pennsylvania does not issue a state license for watch patrol agency security guards.3

  • Not covered: public police, someone regularly employed as special agent, detective or investigator exclusively by one employer for that employer's affairs, licensed fire-alarm companies, insurance adjusters and others listed in section 15.3
The official wording

“To regulate the business of private detectives, investigators and watch, guard, or patrol agencies, and the licensing thereof in each county…”3

Pennsylvania General Assembly

City and county rules

City or countyWhat it requiresLink
Philadelphia CountyAgency licenses and employee fingerprint filings go to the FJD Office of Judicial Records Private Detective Unit.9Official page9
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh)Department of Court Records Criminal Division handles private detective licenses.10Official page10

Apply to the court of common pleas in the county of the principal office. Philadelphia: Office of Judicial Records (FJD) petition, $12.50 filing + $17.50 state background check, court hearing, $10,000 bond, $200 individual / $300 corporate 2-year license. Allegheny (Pittsburgh): Department of Court Records, Criminal Division.9

City or countyWhat it requiresLink
Philadelphia County (First Judicial District, Office of Judicial Records)Petition filed at the Stout Center for Criminal Justice with $12.50 filing fee and $17.50 State background check; fingerprints/photo at Philadelphia Police; DA investigation and court hearing (~60 days); $10,000 bond; $200 (individual) or $300 (corporation) for 2 years; renewals 2 or 5 years.9Official page9
Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) Department of Court Records, Criminal DivisionCriminal Division issues private detective licenses.10Official page10

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
tacs.pa.gov7

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

Can I transfer my security guard license to Pennsylvania?

No reciprocity: armed security credentials from other states do not waive Act 235 training; non-residents apply the same way and send photos.5 Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew an Act 235 Lethal Weapons Agent certification in Pennsylvania?

Every 5 years4. Continuing education: 8 clock hours1.

Security guard licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. 37 Pa. Code ch. 21Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin (Legislative Reference Bureau)Dated April 1, 1985Checked November 7, 2026
  2. Apply for Act 235 Lethal Weapons Training CertificationPennsylvania State PoliceChecked November 7, 2026
  3. Private Detective Act of 1953, Act 361 (22 P.S. 11-30)Pennsylvania General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Lethal Weapons Training Act, Act of Oct. 10, 1974, P.L. 705, No. 235 (22 P.S. 41-50)Pennsylvania General AssemblyChecked November 7, 2026
  5. Act 235 FAQPennsylvania State PoliceChecked November 7, 2026
  6. About Act 235 ApplicationsPennsylvania State PoliceChecked November 7, 2026
  7. Lethal Weapons Training ProgramPennsylvania State PoliceChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Act 235 Certification RenewalPennsylvania State PoliceChecked November 7, 2026
  9. Private Detective InstructionsFirst Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Office of Judicial RecordsChecked November 7, 2026
  10. Criminal Division - AboutAllegheny County Department of Court RecordsChecked November 7, 2026