Montana Security Guard License Requirements

In Montana, private security guards are licensed by the Board of Private Security, part of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, under Title 37, Chapter 60 of the Montana Code and the Board’s rules (ARM Title 24, Chapter 182). To get a private security guard license, you need a 16-hour training program, a high school diploma or equivalent, a fingerprint background check, and proof that you are employed by a security firm or another employer. Armed guards add a firearms endorsement with annual shooting proficiency testing. This guide covers each requirement, fees, insurance rules for independent guards, and your legal authority.

License and firearms endorsement at a glance

	Private security guard license	Firearms endorsement
Prerequisite	Age 18, high school or equivalent	A current Montana security guard (or PI) license in good standing
Training	16-hour program	Department-approved firearms training program, qualifying with the firearms you will carry
Fee	$80 application	$50 application
Ongoing	Renew on the Board’s schedule	Annual shooting proficiency test with your on-duty firearms
Insurance	$500,000 general liability if not employed by a security firm	Firearms liability coverage required

Who can be licensed

• At least 18 years old.
• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of the 16-hour training program, with proof.
• A background investigation with fingerprint checks by the Montana Department of Justice and the FBI. Submit the Applicant Rights and Consent to Fingerprint notice with your application.
• Verification of employment by a private security firm or other employer.

The Board reviews criminal history as part of the background investigation and can deny a license for convictions that relate to security work or reflect on your fitness. Montana law generally requires licensing boards to consider rehabilitation and the relationship of an offense to the occupation. Disclose everything, and include court documents for any convictions.

The 16-hour training

The 16-hour program is delivered by Board-approved providers and covers the role and legal authority of a security guard, Montana law relevant to security work, observation and reporting, emergency response, communication and ethics. Keep your certificate of completion; you submit proof with your application.

Armed guards: the firearms endorsement

Under ARM 24.182.420, an armed endorsement requires a current Montana security guard (or private investigator) license in good standing and completion of the Department-approved firearms training program under ARM 24.182.801, with proof that you qualified on the firearms you will use on duty. With the endorsement, you may wear, carry or possess those firearms while performing licensed duties.

To keep the endorsement, you must keep your underlying license current and submit proof of an annual shooting proficiency test with your on-duty firearms, conducted by a POST-certified firearms instructor or a private security firearms instructor. The endorsement application fee is $50, and firearms liability insurance coverage is required.

How to get licensed, step by step

1. Complete the 16-hour training program and keep your certificate.
2. Submit fingerprints to the Montana Department of Justice with the consent notice.
3. Apply online through the Department of Labor and Industry’s licensing portal and pay the $80 fee.
4. Provide employment verification from your security firm or employer, the final condition for issuance.
5. If you are independent (not employed by a security firm), provide proof of a $500,000 occurrence-form commercial general liability policy including personal injury.
6. For armed work, complete approved firearms training and apply for the endorsement.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Security guard license application	$80
Firearms endorsement application	$50
Fingerprint processing	Set by the Montana DOJ and FBI
16-hour training and firearms course	Set by the provider
Liability insurance (independent guards)	Set by the insurer

Renewal

Montana licenses must be renewed on the schedule set by the Department of Labor and Industry for the Board of Private Security. Renew online before your expiration date, and if you are armed, keep your annual proficiency test current and your firearms liability coverage in force. Check your license record for your exact renewal date and any continuing education the Board requires.

Your authority in Montana

A security guard license gives you no police powers. Under Montana Code §46-6-502, a private person may arrest someone when there is probable cause to believe the person is committing or has committed an offense and the existing circumstances require immediate arrest, and must notify a peace officer and turn the person over without unnecessary delay. Montana law also protects merchants and their employees who detain suspected shoplifters with reasonable cause, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Most post orders are stricter than the law; follow them and document every incident.

Choosing a training provider and employer

Confirm that your 16-hour course and any firearms course are Board-approved. Ask employers whether they pay for training and licensing, how quickly they provide employment verification, and whether they carry the insurance required for armed posts. Security jobs are concentrated in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena and Kalispell, with demand from hospitals, universities, energy and mining operations, resorts and events. Seasonal resort and national park gateway communities hire event and venue security in summer and winter.

Getting ready for your first post

Learn your post orders and emergency procedures, and practice clear reports with our incident report template. Montana winters are severe; outdoor posts need proper gear (see our cold-weather gear guide) and good lighting (our flashlight guide). Rural posts can mean long response times for police and EMS, so first aid, CPR and AED skills matter.

Working rural and remote posts

Montana is big, and many security posts are far from town: energy sites, mines, ranch and agricultural operations, construction projects and remote facilities. These posts call for extra preparation:

• Communication: confirm your radio or phone coverage across the whole site, and carry a backup method.
• Response times: police and EMS may be 30 minutes or more away. First aid, CPR, AED and stop-the-bleed training can make the difference.
• Wildlife and weather: learn the site’s plan for wildlife encounters, blizzards and wildfire smoke.
• Vehicle patrols: keep winter gear, water and a charged light in your vehicle at all times.
• Lone-worker check-ins: ask your employer how often you must check in and what happens if you miss one.

Resorts, events and seasonal work

Ski areas, summer resorts, rodeos, fairs and concerts bring seasonal security demand, especially around Big Sky, Whitefish and the Yellowstone and Glacier gateway communities. Seasonal guards still need a Montana license before working, so start the application early. Event posts focus on crowd management, access control and guest service; de-escalation skills matter as much as security knowledge. See our de-escalation guide.

Questions to ask an employer

• Do you provide the 16-hour training, and is it Board-approved?
• How quickly will you provide my employment verification so my license can be issued?
• Are any posts armed, and who pays for firearms training, the endorsement and annual testing?
• What is the check-in procedure for remote posts?
• Is the post observe-and-report, and what is your use-of-force policy?

Training beyond the minimum

Sixteen hours is a solid start, but Montana officers who move up usually add more on their own: first aid, CPR and AED; defensive tactics from a qualified instructor; report writing practice with our incident report template; and, for armed guards, regular range practice between annual proficiency tests. Keep every certificate with your license so you can show employers and clients your training record at a glance.

If you plan to become armed, talk with your employer early about which firearms you will carry on duty, since the endorsement covers only the firearms you qualified with.

Moving to Montana from another state

Montana does not accept other states’ guard licenses. You need a Montana license, including the 16-hour training and Montana fingerprints. For armed work, you need the Montana firearms endorsement regardless of other states’ credentials; Montana’s permitless carry law does not replace the endorsement for armed security duty.

Common reasons applications stall

• Fingerprints not sent to the Montana DOJ, or the consent notice missing.
• No proof of the 16-hour training.
• Missing employment verification, which is the final condition for issuance.
• Independent guards without the required liability insurance.
• Armed guards who miss the annual proficiency test.