What are the Licensing Requirements for Security Guards?

If you’re going to hire a security guard company, you better make sure that they use licensed guards.

If you don’t, you could get slapped with fines, lawsuits and possible court appearances.

In the United States, people typically have to be licensed to work as security guards. Most states set up the rules and procedures for licensing. Every state is different. However, there are some overlapping trends when it comes licensing.

• Age Requirement – Most states require the person to be 18 years of age. Some will require the person to be 21 years old if they want to be licensed as an armed security guard.

• Background Check – A lot of states run a thorough criminal background check to ensure the person is responsible to work as a security guard. Some include drug testing in the check.

• Education – Most states have a high school diploma or a GED certificate requirement. Some even mandate security guard classroom training in emergency protocols with a short test to determine proficiency.

• Weapon Permit and Training – If the guard is going to carry a gun, some states require a weapon permit and firearm training.

Licensing all depends on the state. Some states like Nevada and Kentucky do not require licensing.

The important thing is to work with a company that employs licensed security guards. It will protect you from all sorts of liabilities.

At National Security Service, we only hire licensed security guards to provide you with the best possible protection.

To find out how we can help you, visit GuardsToGo.com or call 888-386-4068.