Arizona Security Guard License Requirements

In Arizona, security guards are registered by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), Licensing Unit. Every guard needs a security guard registration certificate, and guards who carry a firearm need an armed security guard registration certificate. The rules come from Arizona Revised Statutes Title 32, Chapter 26 and the DPS rules in Arizona Administrative Code Title 13, Chapter 6. Arizona is strict about one thing: you may not act as a guard at all until you are registered. This guide covers the 8-hour and 16-hour training, fees, the criminal history rules, renewal and the annual armed requirement.

Unarmed vs. armed certificates

	Security guard certificate	Armed security guard certificate
Training before work	8-hour pre-assignment course	8 hours + 16 hours of firearms instruction
Ongoing training	8-hour refresher before renewal	8-hour refresher before renewal + 8 hours of firearms training every year
Initial fee	$50	$100
Renewal fee	$50	$100
Upgrade from unarmed to armed	—	$50
Extra requirements	—	Not a prohibited possessor of firearms

Who can register

A.R.S. §32-2622 sets the qualifications. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident authorized to work in the United States.
• Not have been convicted of any felony, and not currently be under indictment for one.
• Not have a misdemeanor conviction within the past five years for an act involving violence or threats, deadly weapons misconduct, dishonesty or fraud, arson, theft, domestic violence, certain drug offenses, or sexual misconduct.
• Not be on parole, probation for a violent or domestic violence offense, or other supervision, and not have an outstanding arrest warrant.
• Not be a registered sex offender, and not have certain mental competency findings.
• Be employed by, or have an offer from, an Arizona-licensed security guard agency.

Criminal history

Arizona’s felony bar has no time limit in the statute. If you have a felony, find out whether it has been set aside or whether you qualify for record sealing under Arizona’s newer sealing law (A.R.S. §13-911). A set-aside does not erase the conviction for licensing, so talk to an Arizona attorney before applying. Misdemeanors on the list stop counting five years after conviction. Arizona also requires a fingerprint background check through DPS. Armed applicants must not be a “prohibited possessor” of firearms under Arizona or federal law.

The training

All training must be given by an instructor registered with DPS, using the curriculum DPS sets. After each course, a training verification form is signed by you, the instructor and your agency’s qualifying party.

8-hour pre-assignment training

Under A.R.S. §32-2632, every security guard must complete 8 hours of pre-assignment training before starting work. The curriculum covers criminal law and the laws of arrest, use of force, general security procedures, crime scene preservation and first response, ethics and emergency response.

16-hour firearms training (armed)

Armed guards complete at least 16 hours of firearms safety training from a certified firearms safety training instructor before any assignment that requires carrying a firearm. DPS publishes the lesson plan for this course. After that, armed guards complete 8 hours of firearms training every year. Your agency must report all armed guards to DPS monthly.

8-hour refresher

Every guard, armed or not, completes an 8-hour refresher within the 90 days before submitting a renewal application. The refresher reviews the same subjects as the pre-assignment course. Armed guards also complete an 8-hour firearms refresher.

How to register, step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed security guard agency. Your registration is tied to working for a licensed agency.
2. Complete the 8-hour pre-assignment course (and 16-hour firearms course if armed) with a DPS-registered instructor.
3. Get fingerprinted. DPS offers fingerprinting and a digital photo for a $15 fee, or you can use another approved method. A separate non-criminal justice fingerprint processing fee applies.
4. Submit your application to DPS with your training verification form and the fee ($50 unarmed, $100 armed). DPS accepts cash, cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders.
5. Wait for your certificate. You may not act as a security guard until you are registered.
6. Carry your ID card on duty.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Security guard registration certificate	$50
Armed security guard registration certificate	$100
Renewal (unarmed / armed)	$50 / $100
Upgrade from unarmed to armed	$50
Replacement ID card	$10
DPS fingerprint and digital photo (optional)	$15
Non-criminal justice fingerprint processing	Set by DPS
Training courses	Set by the instructor or school

All DPS fees are non-refundable except in limited cases. Many agencies pay the registration fee and provide the 8-hour course for new hires.

Can you work while your application is pending?

No. Under A.R.S. §32-2621, nobody other than a commissioned peace officer may act, attempt to act or present themselves as a security guard unless they are registered and working for a licensed agency. The statute has no exception for pending applications. Plan for the processing time before your start date.

Your authority to detain in Arizona

A registration certificate does not give you police powers. Arizona allows a private person to arrest for a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace, or a felony, committed in their presence, or when a felony has been committed and they have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it (A.R.S. §13-3884). Arizona’s shoplifting law (A.R.S. §13-1805) lets a merchant or the merchant’s agent with reasonable cause detain a suspected shoplifter on the premises in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time, to question the person or summon police. Your post orders may be stricter. Use force only as Arizona law and your training allow, and document every incident.

Renewal

• When: renew before the expiration date printed on your certificate. Arizona guard certificates are generally renewed every two years.
• Training: complete the 8-hour refresher within 90 days before you apply. Armed guards must also be current on their annual 8-hour firearms training.
• Fee: $50 unarmed, $100 armed.
• Paperwork: submit the signed training verification form with your renewal application.

Choosing an Arizona training provider

Look for a provider whose instructors are registered with DPS for the course you need: security guard training instructors for the 8-hour courses and firearms safety training instructors for armed courses. Ask whether the price includes range fees and ammunition, whether the provider completes the DPS training verification form on the spot, and whether it offers the annual 8-hour firearms course so you can stay current in one place. Many larger agencies in Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa train their own guards at no cost.

Working security in the Arizona heat

Arizona posts come with a hazard most states do not have: extreme heat. Outdoor patrols, parking lots, construction sites and events in Phoenix and Tucson can exceed 110°F in summer. Good employers plan for it, and you should too:

• Hydrate before your shift and carry water on patrol. Ask where water and shade are available on post.
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke in yourself and in the public. Confusion, stopping sweating and collapse are emergencies: call 911.
• Choose breathable uniforms and boots. Ask whether lighter summer uniforms are allowed. Our boots guide covers comfortable options for long shifts.
• Plan patrol routes to limit time in direct sun during the hottest hours, within what your post orders allow.

Heat also affects equipment. Radios, body cameras and phones can overheat in a car or on a dashboard. Keep them shaded, and check batteries before each shift.

Arizona’s security job market is strongest in the Phoenix metro area, where data centers, semiconductor plants, hospitals, resorts and large events hire both contract and in-house officers. Armed posts, healthcare security and data center roles usually pay more than standard retail or patrol posts, and some include site-specific training that adds to your résumé.

Moving to Arizona from another state

Arizona does not accept other states’ guard cards. You need an Arizona registration and Arizona training. Arizona’s permitless carry law also does not exempt you from the armed guard certificate: if you carry a firearm on duty as a guard, you need the armed certificate and the firearms training.

Common reasons Arizona applications stall

• A misdemeanor on the list within the past five years.
• An outstanding warrant, often from unpaid fines.
• A training verification form missing a signature from the instructor or the agency’s qualifying party.
• Paying by personal check or card when DPS requires cash, cashier’s check, certified check or money order.
• Starting work before the certificate is issued.