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Get Your Security Guard License

Online training for your first guard license in 20 states. Pick your state, finish on your own schedule, and get your certificate when you're done.

Find my stateBrowse all license courses
20
States Covered
4–32 hrs
Per Course
$53.99
Starting Price

Pick your state. We'll take you to your course.

Each license course is built for one state's rules. Choose where you want to work and we'll send you straight to the right one.

What your state requires

Every state sets its own training hours, fees and steps. A course built for one state won't count in another. Pick yours and we'll show you what it takes.

How It Works

Three Steps to Your License Training

Pick your state

Choose where you want to work. We'll point you to the course built for your state's license rules.

Finish on your schedule

Self-paced and mobile-friendly. Stop and pick up where you left off, before or after a shift.

Get your certificate

Delivered when you finish. Use it for your license application or send it to your employer.

Questions

New Guard License FAQs

How do I get my first security guard license?

It depends on your state, but most follow the same basic steps. You complete state-required training, get fingerprinted for a background check, and send an application and fee to the state licensing agency. Use the state picker at the top of this page to see what your state requires and go straight to the right course.

How many training hours do I need?

Here's what our license courses cover:

  • Alabama: 8 hours
  • Arizona: 8 hours
  • California: 40 hours in total, 8 before your guard card is issued
  • Denver, Colorado: 16 hours
  • Georgia: 24 hours
  • Hawaii: 8 hours
  • Illinois: 20 hours
  • Minnesota: 12 hours
  • Tennessee: 4 hours
  • Utah: 8 hours
Does this training cover an armed license?

No. These courses are for unarmed guards. Armed licenses need separate firearms training and a qualification, which is usually done in person with a state-approved instructor.

My state doesn't license guards. Do I still need training?

Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming don't license unarmed guards at the state level. Employers still expect trained guards, and our state training bundles cover the core skills they look for. Some cities have their own rules, like Kansas City and St. Louis in Missouri.

I already have a license. Where do I renew?

Go to our license renewal courses. Pick your state there and we'll take you to the right refresher course.

★★★★★ 4.6 out of 5 from 650 verified reviews across Defencify courses

Start Your Security Career.

State license training from $53.99. Pick your state and start today.

Find My State

Hiring new guards?

Getting new hires licensed is hard when you hire in more than one state. Defencify can set up the right state course for each new guard and keep their certificates in one place.

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