Iowa Security Guard License Requirements

In Iowa, private security is regulated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) under Iowa Code Chapter 80A. Iowa licenses the security business, and every employee of a licensed business must carry a DPS identification card. Iowa has no state training requirement for unarmed guards, the ID card costs $10, and a temporary card lets you start work quickly. But Iowa’s criminal history rules are strict: a felony or an aggravated misdemeanor, at any point in your life, disqualifies you. This guide covers the ID card, eligibility, armed work, campus security rules and your legal authority.

How Iowa regulates security work

Under Iowa Code §80A.7, DPS issues an identification card to each licensee and each employee of a licensed private security, private investigation or bail enforcement business. It is unlawful for a licensed agency to employ you in the security business unless you have your card in your immediate possession. The card remains DPS property, and your employer must return it when you leave. In-house security officers employed directly by a business to protect its own property are generally outside Chapter 80A, though their employers set their own standards.

	Contract security employee	Licensed agency
State credential	DPS identification card	Private security business license
Fee	$10 per card application	Set by DPS
Fingerprints	Required; processing paid by employer	Required for owners and officers
Training	No general state requirement	Responsible for training its staff

Who can get an ID card

Each employee must meet the same qualifications as a licensee under Iowa Code §80A.4. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Not be a peace officer.
• Never have been convicted of a felony or an aggravated misdemeanor.
• Not be addicted to alcohol or a controlled substance.
• Have no history of repeated acts of violence.
• Be of good moral character and not have been judged guilty of a crime involving moral turpitude.
• Not have been convicted of certain assault-related offenses listed in the statute (sections 708.3 to 708.9), of illegally using, carrying or possessing a dangerous weapon, or of fraud.
• Provide fingerprints to DPS.

Criminal history

Iowa’s bar on felonies and aggravated misdemeanors has no time limit, which makes Iowa one of the strictest states for applicants with older records. An aggravated misdemeanor in Iowa is a serious misdemeanor category (punishable by up to two years), so some offenses that are minor elsewhere can disqualify you here. If your conviction has been expunged under Iowa law, or you received a deferred judgment that was later discharged, the effect can differ; ask an Iowa attorney before applying.

Training

Chapter 80A does not set general training hours for security guards; the Commissioner can add qualifications by rule. In practice, Iowa employers train new hires on post orders, patrol, report writing, emergency response and the limits of their authority, and many clients require first aid, CPR and AED. Because there is no state course, your employer’s training is your foundation. Ask what it covers before accepting a job.

How to get your ID card, step by step

1. Get hired by a DPS-licensed private security business.
2. Complete the ID card application with your fingerprints. Your employer pays the fingerprint processing fees.
3. Your employer submits it to DPS with the $10 fee.
4. Work on a temporary card, valid for 14 days from the date DPS receives the application.
5. Receive your permanent card and keep it in your immediate possession whenever you work.

What it costs

Item	Amount	Paid by
Identification card application	$10	Usually the employer
Fingerprint processing	Set by DPS/FBI	Employer (by statute)
Training	Set by employer or provider	Usually the employer
Armed: weapons permit and firearm training	Set by the sheriff and trainer	Varies

Armed security work

Chapter 80A does not create a separate armed-guard license for most posts, so armed security in Iowa depends on Iowa’s weapons laws and your employer. Iowa has allowed permitless carry since 2021 for adults 21 and older who may legally possess firearms, and it still issues permits to carry weapons, including a professional permit for people who carry as part of their employment. Many employers require a permit because it documents training and a background check.

Campus security has specific rules. Under §80A.13, a person employed by a college or university, or by a security company under contract with one, who carries a weapon while performing security duties on campus must file proof of approved firearm safety training with the county sheriff, hold a weapons permit issued by the sheriff, and file a sworn affidavit from the employer describing the duties and the need to be armed.

Your authority in Iowa

An ID card gives you no police powers. Under Iowa Code §804.9, a private person may arrest someone for a public offense committed or attempted in their presence, or when a felony has been committed and they have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it. The person must be taken to a magistrate or peace officer without unnecessary delay. Iowa law (§808.12) allows a merchant or the merchant’s employee with reasonable cause to detain a suspected shoplifter in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Your post orders may be stricter, so follow them and write a report every time you act.

Changing jobs and leaving

Your card is tied to your employment with a licensed business. When you leave, your employer must return the card to DPS. A new employer will submit a new application for you. Keep copies of your training certificates and evaluations; with no state training record, they are your proof of experience.

Choosing an employer in Iowa

Ask whether the company is licensed by DPS, whether it pays the card fee and fingerprints (the law requires the employer to pay fingerprint processing), what training you get before your first post, and whether it has armed or campus contracts. Security work is concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Iowa City and Sioux City, with demand from insurance and financial companies, hospitals, universities, manufacturing, agribusiness and events. Iowa winters are harsh on outdoor posts; our cold-weather gear guide can help.

Getting ready for your first post

Since Iowa has no state course, prepare on your own: read your post orders carefully, learn the site’s emergency procedures, and practice clear, factual report writing with our incident report template. A first aid, CPR and AED card and a de-escalation course make you more useful and more competitive. Learn the limits of your authority before your first shift; our guide to detaining people covers the basics.

Events, campuses and seasonal work in Iowa

Iowa has steady seasonal demand for security staff: the Iowa State Fair, college football and basketball in Ames and Iowa City, concerts, and harvest-season agribusiness sites. Event work is a good entry point, but contract event staff working for a licensed security business still need the DPS identification card. Before you accept event work, confirm:

• That the company is licensed and will submit your ID card application before your first shift, so your temporary card is valid.
• What you are allowed to do. Most event roles are bag checks, ticket and wristband checks, crowd guidance and reporting, not detentions.
• Emergency plans. Severe weather is a real risk at outdoor Iowa events; know the shelter and evacuation plan.

Campus security on college and university grounds has its own rules if you will be armed, so ask whether a campus post is armed and who handles the sheriff permit and employer affidavit.

Moving to Iowa from another state

Iowa does not accept other states’ guard cards. A licensed Iowa employer applies for your DPS ID card, and the temporary card lets you start within days. Your training from another state still helps you get hired.

Common reasons applicants are turned down

• Any felony or aggravated misdemeanor conviction, at any time.
• A weapons, fraud or listed assault conviction.
• Working past the 14-day temporary card without a permanent card.
• Working without the card in your possession, which makes the employment unlawful.
• An undisclosed record found in the fingerprint check.