How to get an Individual Security Guard License in West Virginia

West Virginia security guard licenses

West Virginia issues 2 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 every West Virginia security guard license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹⁰

Exam

Not required²

Background check

Background check required³¹⁰
Fingerprints required⁷
Disqualified by any felony conviction, or a conviction for illegal weapon use/possession, burglar's tools, receiving stolen property, unlawful entry, aiding escape or drug possession/distribution, unless pardoned; also by a prior PI/SG license revocation or denial anywhere, an incompetency adjudication, or habitual drunkenness/narcotics addiction. A hearing on a conviction-based denial is an identity hearing only.²

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or alien legally residing in the United States.²

Surety bond

$5,000⁸ (Surety bond or, instead, proof of liability insurance; bond premium is set by the surety (amount not published))

Insurance

Instead of the $5,000 bond, the applicant may file sufficient proof of liability insurance as required by the Secretary of State (no minimum amount is published).⁵

Business requirements

If approved, register the business with the WV State Tax Department (business registration certificate); a copy is required at renewal.⁷

Also required

Five character references from reputable citizens who have known the applicant at least five years and are not related by blood or marriage, written for the application.⁵

How to apply

Application form

sos.wv.gov⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁶

When it expires

Valid two years from issue; renewed for two-year terms by filing the renewal application with the renewed bond (or insurance proof). The SOS application wording on later renewal terms is inconsistent.¹¹¹²

Renewal fee

$50⁶ (Resident and non-resident; every 2 years)

Renew online

sos.wv.gov¹³

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Training received during military service relating to the private investigator/security guard business may be offered as qualifying training/experience.⁸

Who needs an Individual Security Guard License

License for a person who provides security guard services alone, under their own name, with no employees or helpers (anyone who uses helpers needs a firm license).⁸

Work that does not need this license:

• No license needed by a person employed exclusively and regularly by only one employer in connection with that employer's affairs (proprietary/in-house guards).¹⁴
• Guards employed by licensed security guard firms do not need an individual license; they work under the firm license.⁴

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Duties that require law-enforcement certification under ch. 30 art. 29 are not "security guard business".¹⁴

Requirements for an Individual Security Guard License

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

College credit may substitute for experience: 30 semester hours in investigative or law-enforcement studies (or a comparable training program) meets the requirement in full; fewer credits count pro rata.⁸
Alternative: Training received during military service relating to the private investigator/security guard business may be offered as qualifying training/experience.⁸

Experience

At least 1 year²
At least one year of verified full-time employment doing security guard or private investigation work for a licensed firm, or one year of substantially equivalent training or experience. If met by experience alone, SOS requires at least 32 hours a week for 50 weeks, shown by a sworn statement from a principal of a licensed firm or evidence of equivalent law-enforcement employment.²
Supervision: Experience is verified by a sworn statement signed by a principal of a licensed private investigative or security guard firm.⁸
Substitute: Combination of college credit and experience (credits ÷ 30 = share met by education; remainder × 50 weeks at 32 hours/week).⁸
Substitute: Training received during military service relating to the private investigator/security guard business may be offered as qualifying training/experience.⁸

Social Security number

Social Security Number is requested on the application.⁷

Business requirements

Choose a business structure; sole proprietors may wait until the license is approved to obtain the State Tax Department business registration certificate; an LLC/corporation should reserve its name first (Form NR-1).⁸

Also required

One recent full-face, passport-size color photograph taken within the last year.⁵

Also required

Child support certification form is part of the application.⁷

How much an Individual Security Guard License costs

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

How to apply

1. Decide your business structure (sole proprietor, or reserve an LLC/corporation name with the Secretary of State first).⁸
2. Download and complete the PI/SG initial application (or request a packet with fingerprint instructions by email or phone).⁸ sos.wv.gov⁷
3. Attach one passport-size color photo taken within the last year.⁸
4. Get a $5,000 surety bond on the SOS bond form (signatures notarized, power of attorney attached) or provide proof of liability insurance.⁸ sos.wv.gov¹⁵
5. Collect five completed character reference forms.⁸
6. Attach proof of training/experience (transcript, sworn employer statement, or military training).⁸
7. Pay the fee by check or money order to the West Virginia Secretary of State and mail everything to the Licensing Division; fingerprint instructions (IdentoGO) follow after the application is received.⁷
8. After approval, complete your State Tax Department business registration.⁸

Renewal and continuing education

If it expires

An individual license not renewed after the initial two-year term requires a new application as a new applicant.⁸

Security Guard Firm License

Required for any person or company that employs or allows anyone else to perform security guard services; the firm must have a qualifying agent who is eligible for a security guard license and supervises the operation.⁹

Requirements

Education or training

Qualifying agent may meet the qualification by a 2- or 4-year degree in criminal justice, criminal investigation, law enforcement or a related field, or 60 credit hours in investigative studies (SOS firm page).⁹
Alternative: Training received during military service relating to the private investigator/security guard business may be offered as qualifying training/experience.⁸

Experience

The qualifying agent must meet the security guard eligibility requirements, including one year of verified full-time security/PI employment for a licensed firm or equivalent training or experience. The SOS firm page asks for 32 hours a week for 100 weeks when met by experience alone.¹⁴
Supervision: Qualifying agent must be directly involved in and responsible for supervising the firm's security guard operations.⁹
Substitute: Combination of credits and experience (credits ÷ 60; remainder × 100 weeks at 32 hours/week).⁹

Business requirements

Register the business first: sole proprietorships/general partnerships with the State Tax Department, other entities with the Secretary of State; out-of-state entities need a home-state certificate of good standing.⁹

Business requirements

Every officer, member or partner submits an application with photo and five references and must meet the basic eligibility requirements; only the qualifying agent documents qualifications.⁹

Business requirements

The firm application lists all employees who will do security work in West Virginia (name, address, birth date, SSN); report new and departing employees; changes within 60 days.⁷

Business requirements

The firm supervises and trains its employees and keeps a recent photo and a full set of fingerprints of each on file at its central West Virginia business location.¹⁶

Also required

Licenses cannot be transferred, and licensees may not subcontract security work to unlicensed persons or firms.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the lines “Security Guard Firm (total)”; “Combined Individual and Firm Security Guard License — Total Fee”, which are the board’s own combined figures for other charges; do not add them to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Register or qualify the business in West Virginia (State Tax Department or Secretary of State; One Stop Business Portal).⁹
2. Download the initial application; the qualifying agent completes the individual portion and each officer/member/partner completes an application.⁹ sos.wv.gov⁷
3. Complete the firm application with the list of employees who will do security work in WV; every officer/member/partner signs.⁹
4. Attach photos, five references per person, the $5,000 bond (or insurance proof) and the qualifying agent's qualification documents.⁹
5. Pay $250 by check or money order and mail to the SOS Licensing Division; complete IdentoGO fingerprinting when instructed.⁷

Renewal

If it expires

Renewal requires the renewed bond (continuation certificate) or insurance, the State Tax Department registration certificate and the current WV employee list.¹³

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

No state license for firm-employed security guards

West Virginia does not issue a state license for firm-employed security guards.⁴

The official wording

“An individual is exempt from the requirements to be licensed if he or she is…”⁴

WV Secretary of State

Check a license or report a problem

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

File a complaint

sos.wv.gov¹⁸

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• W. Va. Code ch. 30, art. 18 (§§30-18-1 to 30-18-13), Private Investigators and Security Guards
• W. Va. Code §30-18-5 (eligibility, security guard business)
• W. Va. Code §30-18-6
• W. Va. Code §30-18-9 (renewal)
• W. Va. Code §30-18-10 (issuance, fingerprint record check)
• W. Va. Code §30-18-7 (employees under a firm license)

Common questions

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