Alabama Security Guard License Requirements

In Alabama, security officers are licensed by the Alabama Security Regulatory Board (ASRB) under the Alabama Security Regulatory Act (Code of Alabama Title 34, Chapter 27C). There are two individual credentials: the security officer license and the armed security officer license. The minimum training is short (8 hours), you work on a temporary card while your application is processed, and licenses renew every two years. Armed officers also need firearms training and a pistol permit from their county sheriff. This guide covers the requirements, training, fees (which have changed recently), criminal history standards and renewal.

Security officer vs. armed security officer

	Security officer	Armed security officer
Training	At least 8 hours (Board-approved) incl. use of force	8 hours + firearms safety training and qualification
Extra requirement	—	Pistol permit from the sheriff of your county of residence
Renewal training	Refresher course before renewal	Refresher + firearms safety refresher
Minimum age	18 (generally)	21 (generally)
Carry firearm on duty?	No. It is a violation of the Act	Yes, with a current armed license card

Section 34-27C-11 makes it a violation for any security officer to carry a firearm while working unless they hold a current armed security officer license or certification card from the ASRB. A personal pistol permit or Alabama’s permitless carry law does not change that for on-duty work.

Who can be licensed

The Act lets the Board set the standards by rule, and licensure “shall be denied or not renewed” for anyone who does not meet them. Under the Board’s standards, applicants generally must:

• Be at least 18 (21 for armed).
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted resident alien.
• Submit fingerprints for state and federal background checks, processed through the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).
• Not have a disqualifying criminal record (see below).
• Complete the required training with a Board-certified trainer.

Criminal history

The Board’s standards treat a felony conviction, a crime involving moral turpitude, and misdemeanors involving violence within the past 10 years as disqualifying, according to published summaries of the rules. Because the details are set by Board rule and can change, confirm your situation with the ASRB before you pay for training. Armed applicants must also qualify for a pistol permit, which requires that you are not prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law.

The training

Under §34-27C-8, initial Board-approved training is a minimum of 8 hours, taught by a Board-certified trainer. Every applicant, armed or unarmed, also completes Board-approved use of force training. Typical topics include legal limitations and liability, detention procedures, crisis handling, fire prevention and emergency response, and report writing. Training usually ends with a written exam.

Armed officers add Board-approved firearms safety training and a qualification course before licensing, and complete refresher firearms safety training before each renewal. Commercial courses for the armed add-on typically run more than a full day including range time.

Training exemptions

The basic training requirement does not apply to sworn peace officers, and some applicants who completed qualifying training through a military, government or security training institute within the past three years may be exempt. These exemptions do not excuse you from refresher training.

How to get licensed, step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed contract security company, or by an employer whose security staff must be licensed.
2. Apply to the ASRB within 30 days of starting employment.
3. Submit fingerprints for the ALEA and FBI background checks.
4. Carry your temporary card while you work during the application process.
5. Complete the 8-hour training (and use of force, plus firearms training if armed) with a certified trainer.
6. For armed work, get your pistol permit from the sheriff of your county of residence.
7. Receive your license card and carry it on duty.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Application fee in the statute (§34-27C-7)	$25 initial or renewal
Board fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 (reported)	$75 license + $37 background check
Seasonal officers (working 6 months or less per year)	One-time special fee set by Board rule (up to $100)
Pistol permit (armed)	Set by your county sheriff
Training	Set by the certified trainer

The Code still lists a $25 fee, but the Board has published a higher fee schedule effective July 1, 2025. Check the ASRB website for the amount in effect when you apply. Many employers pay licensing fees for new officers.

Working while your application is pending

Alabama is practical here. The Board issues a temporary card, which you must carry while working as a security officer (or armed security officer) during the application, training and issuance process. File your application within 30 days of starting work. Do not carry a firearm on duty until you hold a current armed credential.

Your authority in Alabama

An ASRB license does not make you a law enforcement officer. Under Code of Alabama §15-10-7, a private person may arrest another for a public offense committed or attempted in their presence, when a felony has been committed although not in their presence by the person arrested, or when a felony has been committed and there is reasonable cause to believe the person arrested committed it. The person must be delivered to an officer or magistrate promptly. Alabama law also protects merchants and their employees who detain a suspected shoplifter with probable cause, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time (Code of Alabama §15-10-14). Follow your post orders, which may be stricter.

Renewal

• Term: two years, renewing on the anniversary of the original license date.
• When: file within the 30 days before expiration.
• Training: include proof of a certified training program or refresher course; armed officers add a firearms safety refresher.
• Fee: per the current Board fee schedule.

Choosing a trainer and employer

Only Board-certified trainers count. Ask your employer whether it has in-house certified trainers (many larger companies in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile and Montgomery do), who pays the license fee, and whether it provides the armed course and range time. Huntsville’s defense and aerospace sector and federal facilities often need officers with clean records who can obtain clearances, so a strong background and complete training records can open better-paying doors.

Getting more out of a short course

Eight hours is not much time to learn a job that can involve emergencies, angry people and legal risk. The officers who do well in Alabama treat the course as a starting point:

• Learn your site. During your first shifts, walk the property with an experienced officer. Learn exits, alarm panels, fire equipment, cameras and who to call for each type of problem.
• Know the limits of force. Your use-of-force training is the most important part of the course. Force should be a last resort, and only what is reasonable to protect yourself or others.
• Write things down. Keep a pocket notebook with times and details, and turn them into clear reports. Our incident report template and free shift forms help.
• Add certifications. First aid, CPR and AED, and a de-escalation course make you more valuable to hospitals, schools and industrial clients.
• Plan for renewal. Put your expiration date on your calendar and schedule refresher training early, especially if you are armed.

Where Alabama security officers work

Contract and in-house security jobs are concentrated around Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa. Hospitals, universities, manufacturing plants (including automotive and aerospace), ports, retail and events all hire officers. Armed posts at banks, government facilities and industrial sites usually pay more, but they require the armed license, a pistol permit and firearms refresher training before every renewal. Federal contract posts may add their own training, physical standards and background investigations.

Moving to Alabama from another state

The Act lets the Board license an officer already licensed in another state if you are a current Alabama resident and the other state’s requirements are equivalent or substantially similar. Ask the ASRB before you retake training. For armed work, you still need an Alabama pistol permit from your county sheriff.

Common reasons Alabama applications stall

• Applying more than 30 days after starting work.
• Training with a trainer who is not Board-certified.
• Carrying a firearm on duty without an armed license card.
• A disqualifying conviction not disclosed on the application.
• Missing the renewal window or refresher training.