Alaska Security Guard License Requirements

In Alaska, security guards are licensed by the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) under Alaska Statutes 18.65.400–18.65.490 and the regulations in 13 AAC 60. Alaska’s training requirements are more substantial than many people expect: 8 hours before you can get a temporary permit, 40 hours of in-service training within your first 180 days, and an 8-hour refresher every year. Armed guards need an armed security guard license, additional firearms training and an annual practice firing review. This guide covers each requirement, the felony rule, renewal and your legal authority.

Security guard vs. armed security guard license

	Security guard license	Armed security guard license
Preassignment training	8 hours general	8 hours general + at least 8 hours of firearms training
In-service training	40 hours within 180 days of employment	Same
Annual requirement	8-hour refresher	8-hour refresher + annual practice firing review
Extra eligibility	—	Not disqualified from possessing a firearm, including under probation or parole conditions
Renewal fee	$50	$50, plus firearm competency proof

Who can be licensed

Under 13 AAC 60.050, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or a resident alien with a work permit.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Not be addicted to or dependent on alcohol, narcotics or other drugs.
• Have no felony conviction within the 10 years before your application, unless you received a full pardon.
• Not have a psychopathic condition or mental illness that impairs memory, reason, judgment or perception.
• Provide proof of preassignment training and meet the bond or insurance requirements (13 AAC 60.120), usually through your employer.

The 10-year felony window means an older felony does not automatically bar you, though employers may set stricter standards. Armed guards must also not be prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law.

The training

8 hours of preassignment training

Before you can receive a temporary permit or submit your application, you must complete at least 8 hours of general preassignment training on guard duties.

40 hours of in-service training

Within 180 days of starting employment, you complete 40 hours of in-service training covering the law of arrest, the law of search and seizure, duties and responsibilities to the employer and client, fire prevention, first aid and patrol techniques.

8-hour annual refresher

Every year after that, you must pass a refresher course of at least 8 hours on the same topics. Failing it can be grounds for revocation, and your renewal application must certify that you completed the required training.

Armed training

Armed guards complete at least 8 hours of firearms preassignment training covering lawful use of firearms under state and federal law, firearm handling, and safety and maintenance, and demonstrate competence with any firearm that may be issued. Training must come from a qualified firearms trainer certified by a law enforcement agency or a security agency employee with a nationally recognized instructor certification. After licensing, you must pass an annual practice firing review; failing it makes your armed license subject to revocation.

How to get licensed, step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed Alaska security guard agency.
2. Complete 8 hours of preassignment training.
3. Receive a temporary permit and submit your application to DPS with fingerprints and the required fee.
4. Complete 40 hours of in-service training within 180 days of starting work.
5. For armed work, complete firearms training, demonstrate competence and apply for the armed license.
6. Take the 8-hour refresher every year.

Renewal

• Deadline: DPS must receive your renewal application at least 30 days before your license expires.
• Contents: any changes to your information, a list of every security agency you worked for during the license period, an affirmation that you still meet the qualifications, a copy of your bond or proof of insurance, and a non-refundable $50 renewal fee.
• Training: certification that you completed the required training, including annual refreshers.
• Armed: proof of firearm competency from your annual practice firing review, and an affirmation that you are not disqualified from possessing a firearm.

Your authority in Alaska

A security guard license gives you no police powers. Under AS 12.25.030, a private person may arrest someone for a crime committed or attempted in their presence, when the person has committed a felony although not in their presence, or when a felony has been committed and they have reasonable cause to believe the person committed it. The person must be taken before a judge or delivered to a peace officer without unnecessary delay. Alaska law also allows a merchant or the merchant’s employee with reasonable belief to detain a suspected shoplifter in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Follow your post orders and write a report every time you act.

Working security in Alaska

Alaska’s security work is shaped by geography and industry: oil fields on the North Slope, pipeline facilities, mines, ports, airports, fisheries and remote camps, along with hospitals, retail and government buildings in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Remote posts often involve rotation schedules (for example, two weeks on, two weeks off), extreme cold, darkness in winter and long distances from help. Employers at these sites add safety training, drug testing and medical requirements. First aid, CPR and AED skills, which are part of your in-service training, matter a great deal when help is hours away.

Choosing an employer

Ask whether the agency is licensed by DPS and carries the required bond or insurance, who provides and pays for the 8-hour, 40-hour and annual refresher training, how it tracks your 180-day deadline, and whether armed posts are available. For remote work, ask about rotations, travel, lodging, communications and emergency plans.

Getting ready for your first post

Learn your post orders and emergency procedures, and practice clear reports with our incident report template. Alaska winters demand serious cold-weather gear and reliable lights; see our cold-weather gear guide and flashlight guide. Wildlife awareness is part of many outdoor posts.

Getting the most from the 40-hour in-service training

Alaska’s 40 hours cover topics that matter every day on the job. Use them well:

• Law of arrest: know exactly when a private person may arrest under AS 12.25.030, and when your employer forbids it. Most incidents should end with a call to police, not an arrest.
• Search and seizure: learn what you may and may not search, and why consent matters.
• Duties to employer and client: post orders, confidentiality, and how to escalate problems.
• Fire prevention: fire hazards, alarm panels and evacuation, especially important in camps and remote facilities.
• First aid: with long response times, these skills can save lives. Keep your certification current.
• Patrol techniques: varying routes, observing and documenting, and staying safe on foot and in vehicles.

Keep your training records together. Your renewal requires certifying completion, and employers often ask for proof when you change jobs.

Remote and rotation work

If you take a North Slope, mine or camp post, confirm before you go: the rotation schedule and pay for travel days, lodging and meals, communication options on site, emergency medical plans, and what personal gear the employer provides. Cold-weather clothing rated for extreme temperatures, good boots and a reliable headlamp are essentials. Rotation work can pay well, but it is demanding, so plan for rest and family time on your off weeks.

Questions to ask an employer

• Is the agency licensed by DPS, and does it carry the required bond or insurance?
• Who provides the 8-hour, 40-hour and annual refresher training, and is it paid?
• How do you track my 180-day in-service deadline?
• Are any posts armed, and who runs the annual practice firing review?

In Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, urban posts at hospitals, shopping centers, airports and government buildings involve more contact with the public, including people in crisis. De-escalation skills are as important as anything in the 40-hour course; see our de-escalation guide.

Moving to Alaska from another state

Alaska does not accept other states’ guard licenses. You need the Alaska preassignment training, a DPS license and the 40 hours of in-service training. Prior training may help you through the in-service topics, but confirm with DPS and your employer what counts.