Montana Security Guard Registration Information (Guard Card)
Sections
- Overview
- Requirements to Become an Armed or Unarmed Security Guard
- Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
- Armed Security Guard (Firearm Endorsement)
- Fingerprinting/Background Check
Overview
A 16-hours pre-assignment course is required to apply for the guard card. The instructor must sign off on the paperwork before it is submitted. The guard card is valid for 2 years.
An 8-hours refesher course is required to re-apply for the guard card. The instructor must sign off on the renewal paperwork before it is submitted.
- NOTE: The actual license is issued by the State of Montana, not the trainer.
Requirements to Become an Armed or Unarmed Security Guard
License Or Registration Qualifications
- Applicants for a security guard license shall submit evidence that the applicant:
- is at least 18 years of age;
- is a citizen of the United States or a legal, permanent resident of the United States;
- has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony or any crime involving moral turpitude or illegal use or possession of a dangerous weapon, for which a full pardon or similar relief has not been granted;
- has not been judicially declared incompetent by reason of any mental disease or disorder or, if so declared, has been fully restored;
- is not suffering from habitual drunkenness or from narcotics addiction or dependence;
- is of good moral character; and
- has complied with other experience qualifications as may be set by the rules of the board.
- Each applicant shall provide evidence that the applicant is currently employed, or a contractual promise of future employment of the applicant upon issuance of a license, with a contract security company, a proprietary security organization, or an electronic security company.
- In addition to meeting the qualifications in subsection (1), an applicant for licensure as a private security guard, security alarm installer, or alarm response runner shall:
- complete the requirements of a training program certified by the board and provide, on a form prescribed by the department, written notice of satisfactory completion of the training; and
- fulfill other requirements as the board may by rule prescribe.
- The board may require an applicant to demonstrate by written examination additional qualifications as the board may by rule require.
- An applicant for a license as a private security patrol officer or private investigator who will wear, carry, or possess a firearm in performance of the applicant's duties shall submit written notice of satisfactory completion of a firearms training program certified by or satisfactory to the board, as the board may by rule prescribe.
- The board shall require a background investigation of each applicant for licensure or registration under this chapter that includes a fingerprint check by the Montana department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation.
Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
In addition to preemployment training, licensed companies or organizations that employ security guards, security alarm installers, or alarm response runners shall provide such individuals a minimum of eight hours (8-hours) of annual continuing education as refresher training.
Compliance with the requirements of continuing education is a prerequisite for license renewal as evidenced by the employer's affirmations on the license renewal application form, and is subject to random audit by the board.
Armed Security Guard (Firearm Endorsement)
Firearms training courses must meet the objectives of firearm safety and shooting proficiency, with emphasis on shooting distances of less than 15 yards.
Security guards seeking authorization to wear, carry, or possess a firearm in the performance of licensed duties shall submit a complete armed endorsement application, on a form prescribed by the department, and submit evidence of:
- satisfactory completion of a firearms training program taught by a board-certified firearms instructor (CFI) and approved by the board or its designee under ARM 24.182.801; and
- the firearm(s) the licensee qualified with, by passing a shooting proficiency test following completion of the required firearms training program required.
- Licensees issued an armed endorsement are approved to wear, carry, or possess the firearms they qualified with, in the performance of licensed duties.
- NOTE: A Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify a security guard to carry armed.
Fingerprinting/Background Check
The board shall require a background investigation of each applicant for licensure or registration under this chapter that includes a fingerprint check by the Montana department of justice and the federal bureau of investigation.
