California Guard Card Requirements: Training, Fees & How to Apply

To work as an unarmed security guard in California you need a Guard Card — officially a Security Guard Registration issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). Getting one takes an 8-hour course, a fingerprint background check, a $60 application, and a few weeks of waiting. Here is the full process, what it costs, and what you still owe the state after you start working.

Who can get a California Guard Card

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You pass a criminal background check by the California DOJ and the FBI, done through Live Scan fingerprinting.
• You complete the required pre-registration training (below).

Certain convictions can lead BSIS to deny an application, but the decision is made case by case. If you have a record, read the denial and appeal information on the BSIS site before you pay for training.

How to get your Guard Card, step by step

1. Take the 8-hour pre-registration course at a BSIS-licensed training facility: Power to Arrest (3 hours) and Appropriate Use of Force (5 hours). You must score 100% on the exam. Many schools offer it online.
2. Apply through BreEZe (breeze.ca.gov), the state’s online licensing system, and pay the $60 fee by card. Online applications skip the mail-in cashiering step and are usually processed faster. Paper applications are still accepted by mail.
3. Get fingerprinted at a Live Scan location using the BSIS Security Guard Request for Live Scan Service form. Using the wrong form is one of the most common causes of delays.
4. Wait for approval. Once your registration shows as approved on the DCA License Search, you can work with a printout of that record and a photo ID while the plastic card is in the mail.
5. Finish your remaining training on schedule once you are hired (see the next section).

Training requirements and deadlines

When	Hours	What it covers
Before registration	8	Power to Arrest (3) + Appropriate Use of Force (5)
Within 30 days of being hired	16	Two of the four mandatory courses: Public Relations, Observation & Documentation, Communication, Liability & Legal Aspects
Within 6 months	16 more (32 total)	The other two mandatory courses, plus electives your employer chooses
Every year after	8	Continuing training, including at least 2 hours reviewing use of force

Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Awareness is now an elective, not a pre-registration requirement — older guides still list it as mandatory. Your employer is responsible for making sure the post-hire hours get done, and many cover the cost.

What it costs

Item	Cost
BSIS application fee	$60 (non-refundable)
Live Scan fingerprinting	DOJ + FBI fees plus the location’s rolling fee — varies by site
8-hour pre-registration course	Set by the training school
32 hours of post-hire training	Set by the school; often paid by the employer

Armed guards: the firearms permit

Carrying a gun on duty requires a separate BSIS Firearms Permit on top of your Guard Card. The main requirements:

• You are at least 21 and legally allowed to own a firearm.
• You complete the BSIS Course of Firearms Training at an approved facility, including a written exam and range qualification.
• First-time applicants with a guard registration must pass a firearms assessment (judgment, restraint and self-control) within six months before applying.
• The permit lasts two years. To renew, you need four range qualifications per term — two each year, at least four months apart — each with a two-hour use-of-force and de-escalation review.

Carrying a baton or other weapon on duty also requires its own certification. For a side-by-side look at armed and unarmed work, see armed vs. unarmed security guards.

Renewing your Guard Card

• BSIS mails a renewal notice about 90 days before your registration expires.
• Submit your renewal at least 60 days before the expiration date — online through BreEZe is fastest.
• If you renew after it expires but within 60 days, you pay a delinquency fee on top of the renewal fee.
• After 60 days expired, the registration is cancelled and you must apply from scratch.
• Keep your annual 8-hour training records. You may need to show them.

Choosing a training school

• Check that the school is licensed by BSIS before you pay. Courses from an unlicensed provider won’t count toward your registration.
• Ask exactly what the fee includes — the 8-hour course only, or also Live Scan, the application, and the 32 post-hire hours.
• Make sure you get your certificate for each course. You will need proof of training for your application and for your employer.
• Online is fine for the 8-hour course, but if you are new to security, a live class lets you ask real questions about your future job.
• Be wary of “instant guard card” promises. No school can speed up BSIS processing.

Common reasons applications get delayed

• Using the wrong Live Scan form.
• Typos or mismatched names between the application and your ID.
• Leaving out required documents or answers on the application.
• Not disclosing a past conviction. BSIS sees your record through Live Scan anyway, and missing information slows everything down.
• Paying by mail instead of applying online through BreEZe.

If your application takes longer than expected, check its status in BreEZe or the DCA License Search before contacting the Bureau.

Moving to California from another state

Your security license from another state does not transfer. You will need to complete California’s pre-registration training, Live Scan and BSIS application just like a new applicant. Prior experience still helps you get hired faster, and some employers may count earlier training toward their own requirements — but the state registration starts from scratch.

Who you can work for

A Guard Card lets you work for a licensed Private Patrol Operator (a security company) or as an employee of other employers allowed under California law. The company — not you — usually handles contracts with clients and post assignments. Before accepting a job, check that the security company itself is properly licensed with BSIS. Working for an unlicensed operator puts your own registration at risk.