I get many questions from people asking how to become a security officer in California
This is a step-by step guide to help answer some of those questions. You should also note that most of the large security companies will provide this training and licensing requirements for you.
The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) is the regulating agency for private security work. Private security officers and companies must have licenses from BSIS to work. As a security officer working for a security company you are required to apply for a “Guard Card.” If you are working in-house for a non-security company you are required to get a “Proprietary Security Officer” license.
The following steps are for a Guard Card. If you are working in-house your employer should take care of the training and licensing requirements for you. Just so you know in-house security officers are required to get 32 hours of training.
1. Ask yourself if you qualify. You must me at least 18 years old and pass a criminal history background check through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
2. Find a training facility. You need to complete a total of 40 hours of BSIS approved training which you can get from a licensed training facility or a licensed Private Patrol Operator (PPO).
3. At the training facility get the 8 hours of “Power to Arrest” training and pass the examination. Even though this class is called Power to Arrest don’t confuse the fact that private security officers have no more powers to arrest than that of any other person.
4. You, the PPO or the training facility must submit your security guard application online at http://www.dca.ca.gov/bsis/online_services/online_licensing.shtml The online application is sent electronically to the Bureau. And costs $51, you can pay by credit card.
5. You must submit fingerprints electronically using Live Scan. You must only use the security guard Live Scan forms downloaded from the Bureau's Web site or obtained from the Bureau. The Live Scan form from the Bureau contains the correct coding to ensure that the Bureau receives the FBI and DOJ responses. You must pay another $51 for this; $19 is for the FBI and the other $32 is for the CA Department of Justice.
6. After everything gets submitted to BSIS you cab check to see if you were approved by going to the Bureau's website at http://www.bsis.ca.gov/online_services/verify_license.shtml Once your registration has been cleared and appears on the Bureau's Web site, a screen-print from the Web site may be made and used as an interim security guard registration. You can then be placed on assignment. The actual security guard registration will be mailed to you.
7. You must complete another 16 hours of training within 30 days and then another 16 hours within 6 months. This additional training is mandatory and will complete your 40 hours required training.
8. Additional licenses are required for the following: Pepper Spray, Baton, Firearm, and PepperBall. You do not need a license to carry handcuffs or a Taser.
I hope this helps and please email me if you have any comments or questions. Be safe!
