Delaware Security Guard License Requirements

In Delaware, security guards are licensed by the Delaware State Police, Professional Licensing Section, with rules set by the Board of Examiners of Constables, Security Guards and Private Investigators (Title 24, Chapter 13 of the Delaware Code and Regulation 1300). Unarmed guards hold a noncommissioned license, commonly called the “Yellow Card,” which lasts five years. Armed guards hold a commissioned license, must be 21, complete a 40-hour firearms course and qualify three times every year. This guide covers training and the state exam, fees, the criminal history rules, armed requirements and renewal.

Unarmed vs. armed license

	Noncommissioned (“Yellow Card”)	Commissioned (armed)
Minimum age	18	21
Training	Board-approved security guard training + state exam	Unarmed requirements + 40-hour firearms course and qualification
Qualification score	—	80%
Ongoing	Retrain and retest every 5 years	Three qualifying shoots per calendar year (two separate days, 90+ days apart, one low-light)
Term	5 years	Firearms license 1 year; shoot certifications due January 15
Extra	—	Concealed deadly weapons permit and Board security officer commission

Who can be licensed

Under 24 Del. C. §1314 and the State Police’s guidance, you must:

• Be at least 18 (21 for armed).
• Have no felony convictions.
• Have no theft, drug or moral turpitude misdemeanor conviction within the past 7 years, and no more than two such misdemeanors in your lifetime.
• Not have a juvenile adjudication for conduct that would be a felony for an adult (this applies until age 21).
• Not have a dishonorable discharge (any military discharge must be under honorable conditions).
• Not be a member or employee of a law enforcement organization.

Once licensed, you must report any arrest or disqualifying charge to Professional Licensing within five business days.

Training and the state exam

Unarmed training must be completed at a Board-approved facility or through a licensed Class B or C security agency with approved trainers. When you finish, your instructor issues a training certificate. You then take the state exam, administered through Delaware Technical & Community College; bring your training certificate and photo ID or you will not be admitted. If you fail, you can retest (paying the fee again); a retest within one year of your training certificate does not require repeating the class.

How to get your Yellow Card, step by step

1. Complete Board-approved training and get your certificate.
2. Pass the state exam.
3. Apply through IdentoGO, which handles fingerprinting, ID photos and the $105 fee. Complete the application within 30 days or you must redo fingerprints.
4. If you are not yet employed, mark “Not employed by an Agency.” You can still apply.
5. After approval, you receive a 15-day temporary email approval that serves as ID until your card arrives. Pickup in Dover takes about 3–5 business days; mail takes 10 or more.
6. Work only for a licensed agency, which must list you on its monthly roster.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Application or renewal (Yellow Card)	$105 (non-refundable, via IdentoGO)
State exam (each attempt)	About $49–$59
Replacement card	$10
Name or agency change	$5
Training	Set by the provider
40-hour firearms course (armed)	Set by the instructor

Armed guards (commissioned)

Delaware’s armed requirements are among the most detailed in the country:

• Be at least 21 and meet all unarmed qualifications.
• Complete a Board-approved firearms course of at least 40 hours and pass the initial qualification with at least 80 percent. Experienced law enforcement may qualify for a waiver after passing a day shoot and a low-light shoot.
• Hold a concealed deadly weapons permit and the Board’s security officer commission.
• Carry only approved calibers (9mm, .357, .38, .40, .45 and .357 SIG), in a revolver or semi-automatic that is double-action or double-action only, maintained to factory specifications, with factory-fresh ammunition.
• Qualify with the same make, model and caliber you carry. Changing weapons requires approval and new qualifications.
• Complete at least three qualifying shoots every calendar year on at least two separate days at least 90 days apart, including one low-light shoot. Missing this can lead to suspension.
• Renew the firearms license every year by submitting the prior year’s shoot certifications by January 15.

Renewal

• Yellow Card: valid for five years and expires on your birthday. Renew by retraining, retesting and paying the $105 fee. Start at least two months before expiration; you cannot work on an expired license.
• Armed: annual firearms license renewal with shoot certifications by January 15.

Your authority in Delaware

A security guard license gives you no police powers. Delaware law allows a private person to arrest for a felony, or for certain offenses committed in their presence, with significant legal risk if they are wrong. Delaware also protects merchants and their employees who detain suspected shoplifters with reasonable grounds, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Most post orders are stricter; follow them and write a report every time you act.

Choosing a trainer and employer

Pick a Board-approved training provider, ask whether the course prepares you for the state exam, and check how soon you can test. Ask employers whether they offer in-house training through approved trainers, pay your fees, and sponsor the 40-hour firearms course for armed posts. Security jobs are concentrated in Wilmington, Newark, Dover and the beach resorts, with demand from banks and financial companies, chemical and pharmaceutical firms, hospitals, the port and summer events.

Getting ready for your first post

Learn your post orders and emergency procedures, and practice clear reports with our incident report template. First aid, CPR and AED certification and a de-escalation course make you more competitive (see our de-escalation guide).

Preparing for the state exam

The exam is the step that trips up most first-time applicants, and every retest costs another fee. Prepare properly:

• Review your class notes within a day or two of finishing training, and schedule the exam soon after while it is fresh.
• Know your legal limits: what a security guard may and may not do, when to call police, and the basics of use of force.
• Learn report writing: who, what, when, where, why and how, in time order, with facts only.
• Understand Delaware’s licensing rules: reporting arrests within five business days, carrying your card, and working only for a licensed agency.
• Bring your training certificate and photo ID. Without them you will not be admitted.

If you do not pass, retest within a year of your training certificate so you do not have to repeat the class.

Working beach and seasonal posts

Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany and the resort areas hire seasonal security for events, bars, hotels and boardwalk businesses. Seasonal guards still need a Yellow Card before working, and the process includes training, the exam and IdentoGO fingerprinting, so start in the spring. Beach posts mean crowds, alcohol and heat; de-escalation and first aid skills matter, and a calm, friendly approach prevents most problems.

Questions to ask an employer

• Are you a licensed Delaware agency, and will you add me to your monthly roster?
• Do you have Board-approved in-house trainers?
• Who pays for training, the exam and the $105 license fee?
• Are any posts armed, and do you sponsor the 40-hour firearms course and yearly qualifications?

Delaware’s corporate, banking and chemical sectors around Wilmington employ many officers in lobby, access control and patrol roles. These employers value professional appearance, customer service, and comfort with badge systems and camera platforms. A clean record, a current Yellow Card and solid report writing go a long way toward the better-paying posts.

Because the Yellow Card lasts five years, it is easy to forget the renewal date. Put your birthday-based expiration date on your calendar the day your card arrives, and plan your retraining and retest about two months ahead so you never have a gap in work.

Moving to Delaware from another state

Delaware does not accept other states’ guard licenses. You need Delaware training, the state exam and a Yellow Card. For armed work, you need Delaware’s 40-hour course or an approved waiver, a Delaware concealed deadly weapons permit and the commission.