Washington Security Guard License Information (Guard Card)
Sections
- Requirements to Become a Security Guard
- Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Guard)
- Firearms Permits (Armed Security Guard)
- Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
- Fingerprinting/Background Check
- Disqualifications
Requirements to Become a Security Guard
The applicant must:
- be at least 18 years old.
- be a United States citizen or hold a Permanent Resident Alien Identification card.
- be employed by, or have an employment offer from, a licensed private security guard company.
- have no criminal convictions that directly relate to your capacity to perform the duties of a private security guard or that hinder public safety.
- complete the pre-assignment training requirements.
Security Guard License (Unarmed Security Guard)
All security guards must complete at least 8-hours of preassignment training, comprised of at least 4-hours of classroom instruction and an additional 4-hours of classroom instruction or individual instruction, or both.
Additionally, security guards receive 8-hours of initial postassignment training within the first 12-months of employment.
- NOTE: The actual license is issued by the State of Washington, not the trainer.
Firearms Permits (Armed Security Guard)
If you carry a firearm while on duty working for a licensed private security guard company, you must have an armed private security guard license.
There is an 8-hours firearms certification course requirement certified by the Criminal Justice Training Commission.
An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain an armed private security guard license:
- Be licensed as a private security guard;
- Be at least twenty-one years of age;
- Have a current firearms certificate issued by the Criminal Justice Training Commission; and
- Pay the fee established by the director.
An armed private security guard license grants authority to the holder, while in the performance of his or her duties, to carry a firearm with which the holder has met the proficiency requirements established by the commission.
All firearms carried by armed private security guards in the performance of their duties must be owned or leased by the employer and, if required by law, must be registered with the proper government agency.
No licensee, employee or agent of a licensee, or anyone accompanying a licensee, employee, or agent may display a firearm while soliciting a client.
- NOTE: A Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify a security guard to carry armed.
Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
At least 4 total hours of annual refresher training shall be administered to security guards each year.
Effective July 27, 2018, the renewal notice will include criminal history questions. To prevent delays in renewing your security guard license, the renewal notice must be completely filled out, all questions answered, signed, and dated.
Fingerprinting/Background Check
Licensing requires fingerprinting for state and national background checks. Go to www.identogo.com to schedule an appointment through MorphoTrust, the state's electronic fingerprinting vendor. Pay IdentoGO for taking fingerprints and for the background checks required for the license type.
Disqualifications
An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain a private security guard license:
- Not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if the director determines that the applicant's particular crime directly relates to his or her capacity to perform the duties of a private security guard, and the director determines that the license should be withheld to protect the citizens of Washington state. The director shall make her or his determination to withhold a license because of previous convictions notwithstanding the restoration of employment rights act, chapter 9.96A RCW;
