New Hampshire Security Guard License Requirements

In New Hampshire, security guards who work for security agencies must be licensed by the Department of Safety, Division of State Police, Permits and Licensing Unit, under RSA 106-F and the Saf-C 2200 rules. You cannot become an employee of a security guard agency without first obtaining a license. Applications are delivered in person in Concord, licenses last two years, and armed guards must pass a firearms proficiency course every year. Unarmed guards who work directly for a business to protect its own premises are excluded. This guide covers who needs a license, eligibility, fees, armed requirements and renewal.

Who must be licensed

RSA 106-F defines a security guard broadly: anyone contracted to protect people or property, including crowd control, fire watch, access control, transporting money or documents, and personal protection or bodyguard work. Under RSA 106-F:3, you may not become an employee of a security guard agency without first getting a license. RSA 106-F:4 excludes unarmed direct employees of a business that is not a security agency who secure that business’s own premises, such as store detectives or watchmen.

	Contract security guard	In-house unarmed guard	Armed guard
License required	Yes (employee license)	No (excluded)	Yes, with firearms proficiency
Who pays the license fee	Employer	—	Employer
Fingerprints	State check (per Unit instructions)	—	State and FBI fingerprints at State Police headquarters
Annual requirement	—	—	Firearms requalification

Who can be licensed

The commissioner investigates each applicant’s character, competency and integrity and may disapprove employment “for just cause.” In practice, applicants must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident. Under RSA 106-F, felony convictions and misdemeanors involving theft, dishonesty, fraud, controlled substances, domestic violence or abuse are disqualifying for the license types they apply to, and an active domestic violence protective order is also a bar. If you are denied, you can request a hearing within the deadline in the denial notice. Once licensed, you must notify the commissioner within one business day of any arrest, felony or misdemeanor charge, or protective order.

Training

RSA 106-F:9 lets the commissioner adopt initial and continuing education requirements of up to 10 hours per license period, covering subjects such as use of force, ethics, privacy and trespass. Much of the unarmed training content is delivered by employers. Ask your employer what pre-assignment and refresher training it provides and documents for your license.

Armed guards

Under RSA 106-F:8, armed guards must meet firearms proficiency requirements when first licensed and at least once a year:

• Pistol or revolver: pass the commissioner’s course with a minimum score of 75 percent.
• Shotgun: a familiarization course if your employer issues shotguns.
• Rifle: a qualification course if a rifle is part of your equipment.
• Four hours of instruction on firearms technique and safety, deadly force law and the ethical use of force, certified by a qualified instructor (form DSSP 158, Firearms Proficiency Certification).
• Fingerprints: two sets taken at State Police headquarters, with an FBI check before approval. Call ahead to schedule.

How to get licensed, step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed security guard agency or service.
2. Complete the employee application and gather required documents.
3. Deliver the application in person to Permits and Licensing, Department of Safety, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord. Mailed applications are not accepted for individuals and employees.
4. Have your photos taken at State Police headquarters for your photo ID license.
5. For armed work, complete the firearms proficiency course and DSSP 158, and schedule fingerprints.
6. Receive your photo license and carry it on duty.

What it costs

Fee	Amount
Employee license (statutory cap; covers background checks)	Up to $100, paid by the employer
Employee fee listed in Saf-C 2205.04	$5
Individual license (independent guard)	$150
Agency license	$350
State fingerprint check / state + FBI check (armed)	About $25 / $47 (per published guidance)
Firearms proficiency course	Set by the instructor

The statute requires the employing agency to pay the employee license fee. Confirm current amounts with the Permits and Licensing Unit, since fee rules and background check charges change.

Changing employers and reporting duties

• Changing jobs: notify the commissioner in person within 10 business days. A new photo license is issued at no cost.
• Arrests and charges: notify the commissioner within one business day.
• Termination: your employer must notify the commissioner within 10 business days after you leave.

Renewal

Employee licenses last two years. File the Individual and Employee Renewal Application (DSSP 157) at least 15 days before expiration. Armed guards must keep their annual firearms qualification current; a lapse can delay renewal.

Your authority in New Hampshire

A New Hampshire security license gives you no police powers. New Hampshire law allows a private person to arrest for a felony that has been committed, or for a crime committed in their presence, and to use reasonable force to do so, but mistakes carry criminal and civil liability. New Hampshire also protects merchants and their employees who detain suspected shoplifters with reasonable grounds, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time. Follow your post orders and write a report every time you act.

Choosing an employer

Ask whether the agency is licensed and bonded, whether it pays the license fee (the law says it must), what training it provides, and whether it sponsors armed qualification. Security jobs are concentrated in Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth and the Seacoast, with demand from hospitals, colleges, retail, manufacturing and events. Many guards commute across the border to Massachusetts; remember that Massachusetts has its own rules.

Getting ready for your first post

Learn your post orders and emergency procedures, and practice clear reports with our incident report template. New Hampshire winters are long; outdoor posts need proper gear (see our cold-weather gear guide). First aid, CPR and AED certification and de-escalation training are valued by employers.

What counts as security work in New Hampshire

Because RSA 106-F defines security guard work broadly, some jobs people do not think of as “security” still require a license when performed for a security agency:

• Crowd control at concerts, fairs, motor speedway events and festivals.
• Fire watch at construction sites or buildings with impaired fire systems.
• Access control at gates, lobbies and loading docks.
• Escorting money or documents.
• Personal protection or bodyguard work.

If an agency hires you for any of these, you need an employee license before you start. If a business hires you directly to protect its own premises and you are unarmed, you are excluded from licensing, but you should still expect that employer’s own screening and training.

Training beyond the minimum

New Hampshire’s training requirements are modest, so officers who invest in themselves stand out: first aid, CPR and AED; de-escalation (see our de-escalation guide); report writing; and, for armed guards, regular range practice between annual qualifications. Keep your certificates with your license, since employers and clients often ask for them.

Questions to ask an employer

• Is the agency licensed and bonded in New Hampshire?
• Will you pay my license fee, as the law requires?
• What pre-assignment and refresher training do you provide?
• Are posts observe-and-report, and what is your use-of-force policy?
• For armed posts: who runs the annual firearms qualification, and who pays for it?

Because applications must be delivered in person in Concord, plan your trip: bring every completed form, your identification and any court documents, and call ahead for fingerprint appointments if you are applying for armed work. A complete packet on the first visit is the fastest way to a license.

Moving to New Hampshire from another state

New Hampshire does not accept other states’ guard licenses. Your New Hampshire employer will help you apply for an employee license. If you will be armed, you need New Hampshire firearms proficiency certification regardless of out-of-state credentials.

Common reasons applications stall

• Mailing an application that must be delivered in person.
• Missing photos taken at State Police headquarters.
• An armed application without DSSP 158 or fingerprints.
• Failing to report an arrest within one business day.
• Renewing fewer than 15 days before expiration.