Minnesota Security Guard License Information (Guard Card)

Sections

• Requirements to Become a Security Guard
• Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Officer)
• Firearms Permits (Armed Security Officer)
• Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
• Fingerprinting/Background Check

Information	Details
State Agency	Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services
Website	https://dps.mn.gov/entity/pdb/Pages/default.aspx
Term of License	2-years.
Pre-Assignment Training Required?	Yes. 12-hours.
Total Training Required	12-hours
Online Training Approved?	Unknown
Referesher Training Required?	Yes. 6-hours per year.
Separate Firearms Training?	Yes.
Separate Baton Training?	At the employer's discretion.
Separate Pepper Spray Training?	At the employer's discretion.
Average Hourly Wage	$16.46
Average Annual Salary	$34,240

Requirements to Become a Security Guard

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The applicant must:

• be at least 18 years of age.
• have a record free of felony convictions and no record of convictions of offenses identified in statute (see Minn. Stat. §326.3381 subd. 3 (1)).
• be of good character, honesty, and integrity.

Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Officer)

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A person employed as a private detective or protective agent must spend a minimum of 12 hours in preassignment training within the first 21 days of employment. An individual who leaves the profession for three years or longer and returns to employment as a private detective or protective agent must repeat the preassignment training.

• NOTE: The actual license is issued by the State of Minnesota, not the trainer.

Firearms Permits (Armed Security Officer)

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No license holder, qualified representative, Minnesota manager, partner, or employee may carry or use a weapon or immobilizing or restraint technique without having successfully completed certified training as directed by the board.

An individual may not carry or use a weapon while undergoing on-the-job training.

Although the minimum topics of the firearms training is specified in the regulations, the minimum number of training hours is not.

• NOTE: A Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify a security guard to carry armed.

Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

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6-hours a year of certified continuing training for all license holders, qualified representatives, Minnesota managers, partners, and employees.

An additional 6-hours a year for individuals who are armed with firearms or armed with weapons, which must include annual certification of the individual.

Fingerprinting/Background Check

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Licensure requires a fingerprint/background check.