Maryland Security Guard License Requirements

In Maryland, every security guard must be certified by the Maryland State Police (MSP) Licensing Division under the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 19. The certification is tied to employment: you cannot apply on your own, only as an employee of (or applicant to) a licensed security guard agency or security guard employer. Since a 2023 law (Senate Bill 760), Maryland also requires 12 hours of initial training approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (MPTSC) and 8 hours of continuing training to renew. Armed guards also need a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit. This guide covers the requirements, fees, background rules, renewal and armed work, checked against MSP and the Maryland Code.

Who needs certification

Under §19-401, a licensed security guard agency may not provide a guard for hire, and a security guard employer may not use someone to provide security services, unless that person is certified by the Secretary of State Police. Current police officers certified by the MPTSC are exempt. “Security guard employer” covers many in-house security departments, so Maryland’s certification applies more broadly than in some states.

Who can be certified

Under §19-402 and MSP’s requirements, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Be employed by, or applying to, a licensed security guard agency or security guard employer. Unemployed people cannot apply.
• Be of good moral character and reputation.
• Complete 12 hours of MPTSC-approved initial training, or show you worked as a police officer within the 3 years before applying.
• Submit Livescan fingerprints for state (CJIS) and FBI checks.
• Declare, under penalty of perjury, whether you have been convicted of a disqualifying crime or a crime of violence, and whether you plan to carry a handgun on duty.

Criminal history

You will be denied if you have been convicted of a “disqualifying crime” under Maryland Public Safety §5-101 or a crime of violence under Criminal Law §14-101. A disqualifying crime includes any crime of violence, any violation classified as a felony in Maryland, and any misdemeanor in Maryland that carries a statutory penalty of more than two years in prison. Former and current police officers are also disqualified if a court or hearing board made formal findings of unlawful or excessive force, or of making a false statement, during their police employment. MSP may interview you as part of the background investigation.

Maryland’s expungement and “shielding” laws can remove some records from public view. If you have an older or minor conviction, look into whether it can be expunged or shielded before applying.

The 12-hour training

The initial course must be approved by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission. It covers the role and legal authority of a security guard, use of force and its limits, observation and reporting, emergency response and professional conduct. The 2023 law also added use-of-force reporting rules for security guards, so expect the course to cover when and how to report a use of force. Complete the course and your fingerprints before you file. Note that Livescan fingerprints expire 30 days after submission, so do not get printed too early.

How to get certified, step by step

1. Get a job or job offer with a licensed security guard agency or security guard employer.
2. Complete the 12-hour MPTSC-approved course.
3. Get Livescan fingerprints for the CJIS and FBI checks. File within 30 days.
4. Apply in the MSP Licensing Portal and upload your documents.
5. Your employer verifies your identity, reviews your application and submits it with the $15 fee.
6. Wait for MSP’s decision, usually within 90 days. Your certificate is mailed if approved.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Initial application	$15
Renewal	$10
Late renewal fee	$5 per day, up to $150
Livescan fingerprints (CJIS + FBI)	Set by the Livescan provider
12-hour initial training	Set by the training provider
8-hour continuing training	Set by the training provider

Maryland’s state fees are very low. The training course and fingerprinting are the bigger costs, and many employers pay them. MSP takes Visa or MasterCard only, and fees are non-refundable.

Can you work while your application is pending?

Yes. Under §19-401, an agency or employer may use you as a guard once it has filed your application, fingerprint cards and fees with MSP, as long as MSP has not disapproved the application. If MSP disapproves it, you must stop working as a guard immediately.

Armed guards: the Wear and Carry Permit

Security guard certification does not authorize carrying a handgun. Armed guards need a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit issued by the State Police. Applicants must be at least 21, pass a background investigation and complete a firearms training course (16 hours for a first permit, including live-fire qualification, with shorter refresher training for renewal). You must also state on your guard application that you intend to carry. Employers set their own approved weapons and qualification schedules on top of the permit. Rules on permits and sensitive places changed after 2022 and 2023 legislation, so confirm the current requirements with MSP before applying.

Your authority in Maryland

Certification gives you no police powers. Maryland follows common law for private-person arrests: generally, a private person may arrest for a felony that was actually committed, or for a misdemeanor amounting to a breach of the peace committed in their presence. A mistake can expose you and your employer to liability. In retail, Maryland law (Courts and Judicial Proceedings §5-402) protects a merchant or an employee or agent who detains a suspected shoplifter with probable cause, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Since 2023, Maryland also requires certain use-of-force incidents by security guards to be reported, so learn your employer’s reporting procedure.

Renewal

• Term: 3 years.
• When: submit through the Licensing Portal at least 90 days before expiration. Late fees ($5 per day, up to $150) begin 30 days before the expiration date.
• Requirements: 8 hours of MPTSC-approved continuing training, a new Livescan fingerprint receipt, and the $10 fee. If you never took the 12-hour initial course, you must complete it first.
• Expired? An expired certification cannot be renewed. You must apply as a new applicant with the 12-hour course, fingerprints and the $15 fee.
• Hardship: late fees can be waived with documentation of incapacity, hospitalization or active military duty.

Choosing a training provider and employer

Only MPTSC-approved courses count. Ask the provider to confirm its approval, how quickly you will receive your certificate, and whether it also teaches the 8-hour continuing training you will need for renewal. Large employers around Baltimore, Annapolis, the Washington suburbs and the federal and defense corridor (Fort Meade, Aberdeen and others) often provide the 12-hour course to new hires. Federal contract posts usually have additional requirements, such as security clearances or federal training.

Federal and government posts in Maryland

Maryland has an unusually large number of federal facilities, from military installations to agency headquarters and research campuses. Contract security officers at these sites often work under federal contracts with their own requirements on top of state certification: suitability or security clearance investigations, contract-specific training, physical fitness or medical standards, and firearms qualification to the contract’s standard. These posts typically pay more and can lead to cleared careers, but hiring takes longer. If federal work interests you, keep your record clean, your finances in order and your training records complete, since all of them come up in a background investigation.

Moving to Maryland from another state

Maryland does not accept other states’ guard licenses. You need Maryland certification and the 12-hour course, unless you worked as a police officer within the past 3 years. For armed work, out-of-state carry permits are not valid; you need a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit.

Common reasons Maryland applications stall

• Fingerprints older than 30 days at the time of filing.
• Training from a provider that is not MPTSC-approved.
• Applying without an employer, which is not allowed.
• A misdemeanor with a maximum penalty over two years that the applicant did not realize was disqualifying.
• Renewing after expiration, which forces a new application.