Indiana Security Guard License Requirements

Indiana is a company-license state. The Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, part of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), licenses security guard agencies, but it does not issue a license or registration card to the individual guards those agencies employ. Under Indiana Code 25-30-1.3, an agency can hire unlicensed guards and is legally responsible for their conduct. That makes Indiana one of the easiest states to start a security career in, but it also means the employer you choose shapes your training and your standards. This guide covers what the law requires of agencies and their guards, background checks, armed work, your legal authority and how to get hired.

How Indiana regulates security work

	Security guard (employee)	Security guard agency
State license	None	Required (Indiana PI and Security Guard Licensing Board)
Background check	Agency keeps your fingerprints and photo	Board reviews the agency’s qualifying owner or manager
Training	Set by the agency or client	—
Who is accountable	—	The agency, for all employees’ conduct while working

Under IC 25-30-1.3-13, a licensed agency may employ “as many” unlicensed persons as it needs. It must keep a photograph of each employee taken within 30 days of the start of employment, keep a complete set of each employee’s fingerprints, and provide the Board with a roster of all unlicensed employees on request. In-house security officers who work directly for a hospital, retailer, factory or university are not covered by agency licensing at all; their employer sets the rules.

What employers check

Because the agency is civilly liable for your conduct, Indiana agencies are careful about who they hire. Expect:

• A criminal background check, usually through the Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History or a national screening company, using your fingerprints or identifiers.
• A drug screen at many companies.
• Verification of identity and work eligibility.
• A driving record check for patrol positions.
• Reference checks with previous employers.

Criminal records in Indiana

Because there is no individual license, state law does not set a list of convictions that bar you from guard work. Each employer decides, and many contract clients set their own standards (often no felonies or violent offenses within 7 to 10 years). Indiana’s expungement law (IC 35-38-9) allows many arrests and convictions to be expunged after waiting periods that depend on the offense. An expunged conviction is generally treated as if it did not occur for most employment purposes, and it is unlawful for most employers to ask about it. If you have an old record, an expungement may open more doors than any training course.

Training

Indiana’s licensing law sets no minimum training hours for guards. Good agencies still train you before your first post. Expect a classroom orientation (the role of a guard, legal limits, report writing, emergency response), followed by on-the-job training at your site. Clients often require more:

• Hospitals: crisis intervention or de-escalation, restraint policies and patient privacy.
• Schools: active threat response. Indiana school security roles may also involve school safety specialist programs run by schools.
• Events and venues: crowd management and emergency evacuation.
• Industrial sites: safety training and access control systems.

First aid, CPR and AED certification are the most widely requested credentials and are worth getting on your own.

How to start working as a guard in Indiana, step by step

1. Check your record and look into expungement if you have older convictions.
2. Apply to licensed security guard agencies or in-house security departments. You can verify an agency’s license on the PLA license search.
3. Provide fingerprints and a photo to the agency, and consent to its background check and drug screen.
4. Complete the agency’s training and any client-specific requirements.
5. Start on post once the agency clears you.

Costs

There is no state license fee for individual guards in Indiana. Agencies generally pay for background checks and orientation. Your costs are usually limited to optional certifications, boots and some uniform items, and for armed posts, firearms training and ammunition if the employer does not provide them.

Armed security work in Indiana

IC 25-30-1.3-20 says plainly that the security licensing chapter does not authorize any licensee to carry a weapon. So armed guards in Indiana rely on the state’s general firearm laws. Since July 1, 2022, Indiana has allowed permitless carry of a handgun by people 18 and older who are not prohibited from possessing firearms, and Indiana still issues an optional License to Carry a Handgun, which many employers prefer because it is recognized in more states and documents a clean background check. Your employer decides whether a post is armed, which weapons are allowed and what firearms training and qualification you need. Get the employer’s firearm policy in writing before carrying on duty, and remember that some locations, such as schools and federal property, have their own restrictions.

Your legal authority in Indiana

Indiana guards have no police powers unless they are appointed as special police or reserve officers by a local agency. Under IC 35-33-1-4, any person may arrest someone who committed a felony in their presence, when a felony has been committed and they have probable cause to believe the person committed it, or for a misdemeanor involving a breach of the peace committed in their presence. The person must then be turned over to law enforcement as soon as practical. Indiana’s shoplifting law (IC 35-33-6-2) lets an owner or agent of a store who has probable cause detain a suspected shoplifter in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time to investigate and call police. Employer policies are often stricter, so follow your post orders.

Choosing a good employer in Indiana

In a state with no individual license, the employer is your training, your standards and your legal protection. Before accepting an offer, ask:

• Is the agency licensed? Look it up on the Indiana PLA license search. An unlicensed company is a red flag.
• What training will I get before my first post? A company that sends you to a site with no orientation is putting you at risk.
• What are the post orders? Ask whether the post is observe-and-report or whether you will be expected to detain anyone.
• Is there insurance? Licensed agencies carry liability coverage. Ask how the company supports you if an incident leads to a complaint or lawsuit.
• Who pays for certifications? Good employers cover first aid, CPR and site-required courses.

Career paths for Indiana guards

Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend and the logistics corridors around them offer steady security work. From an entry-level post, common next steps include site supervisor, hospital or campus security officer, loss prevention, and corporate security. Some guards move into law enforcement, using their security experience and certifications as a head start. Others become licensed private investigators, which in Indiana requires its own license and experience. Keep copies of every certificate and evaluation; they become your résumé.

Whatever path you choose, build good habits from your first shift: arrive early, read the pass-down log, check your radio and flashlight, and write every report as if a judge will read it. Our free shift forms and radio guide can help.

Moving to Indiana from another state

There is no Indiana guard card to transfer into, so you can start work as soon as an agency hires and clears you. Your previous state’s license and training still help you get hired and placed on better posts. If you plan to carry, check Indiana’s firearm laws and your employer’s policy.

Common reasons applicants are turned down

• Recent violent, theft or drug convictions that the employer or its client will not accept.
• A failed drug screen.
• Unexplained gaps or inconsistencies between the application and the background check.
• A poor driving record for patrol positions.
• Unavailability for nights and weekends, when most openings are.