Arizona Security Guard Registration Information (Guard Card)

Sections

• Overview
• Requirements to Become an Unarmed or Armed Security Guard
• Fingerprinting/Background Check
• Convictions and Other License Disqualifiers

Information	Details
State Agency	Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Website	https://www.azdps.gov/services/public/licensing
Term of License	2-years
Pre-Assignment Training Required?	8-hours
Total Training Required	8-hours
Online Training Approved?	Yes
Referesher Training Required?	8-hours, every other year
Separate Firearms Training?	16-hours
Separate Baton Training?	At the employer's discretion.
Separate Pepper Spray Training?	At the employer's discretion.
Average Hourly Wage	$13.47
Average Annual Salary	$28,020

Overview

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The Arizona Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement agency with a primary focus of patrolling and enforcing laws on Arizona state highways. Additional responsibilities include enforcing laws in the areas of traffic, narcotics, organized crime/racketeering, liquor and specific regulatory functions. Operational and technical assistance is provided to local and state governmental agencies and other components of the criminal justice community; services include scientific analysis, aircraft support, emergency first care, criminal information systems and statewide communications.

The Department also promotes and enhances the quality of public safety through cooperative enforcement, intelligence gathering, training employees of law enforcement agencies, and increasing public awareness of criminal activities. With its main headquarters in Phoenix, the DPS employs over 2,100 employees working together to serve and support the interests of public safety throughout Arizona.

An 8-hours pre-assignment course is required to apply for the guard card. The instructor must sign off on the paperwork before it is submitted. The guard card is valid for 2 years.

An 8-hours refesher course is required to re-apply for the guard card. The instructor must sign off on the renewal paperwork before it is submitted.

• NOTE: The actual license is issued by the State of Arizona, not the trainer.

Requirements to Become an Unarmed or Armed Security Guard

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Arizona Revised Statute, Title 32, Chapter 26, Article 3, §32-2622. Qualifications of applicant for associate, security guard or armed security guard registration certificate.

A. An applicant for an associate or a security guard registration certificate issued pursuant to this article shall:

1. Be at least eighteen years of age.
2. Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States who is authorized to seek employment in the United States.
3. Not have been convicted of any felony or currently be under indictment for a felony.
4. Within the five years immediately preceding the application for an associate, security guard or armed security guard registration certificate, not have been convicted of any misdemeanor act involving:
   (a) Personal violence or force against another person or threatening to commit any act of personal violence or force against another person.
   (b) Misconduct involving a deadly weapon as provided in §13-3102.
   (c) Dishonesty or fraud.
   (d) Arson.
   (e) Theft.
   (f) Domestic violence.
   (g) A violation of title 13, chapter 34 or 34.1 or an offense that has the same elements as an offense listed in title 13, chapter 34 or 34.1.
   (h) Sexual misconduct.
5. Not be on parole, on community supervision, on work furlough, on home arrest, on release on any other basis or named in an outstanding arrest warrant.
6. Not be serving a term of probation pursuant to a conviction for any act of personal violence or domestic violence, as defined in §13-3601, or an offense that has the same elements as an offense listed in §13-3601.
7. Not be either of the following:
   (a) Adjudicated mentally incompetent.
   (b) Found to constitute a danger to self or others pursuant to §36-540.
8. Not have a disability as defined in §41-1461, unless that person is a qualified individual as defined in §41-1461.
9. Not have been convicted of acting or attempting to act as an associate security guard or armed security guard without a license if a license was required.
10. Not be a registered sex offender.

• NOTE: A Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify a security guard to carry armed.

Fingerprinting/Background Check

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All security guard applicants must provide fingerprints for a criminal history check by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) per Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §16.34.

Fingerprints may be taken at law enforcement agencies, commercial enterprises, or private parties that administer fingerprints. Classifiable fingerprint cards of all applicants must be submitted with the Unarmed Security Guard registration application. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) standard fingerprint cards (form FD-258) are recommended.

Per Arizona Revised Statute, Title 32, Chapter 26, Article 3, §32-2623(A)(2), the DPS may conduct periodic state criminal history checks to ensure continued qualification under Chapter 26.

Convictions and Other License Disqualifiers

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A security guard registration/license will be denied for any of the reasons listed below.

• If you are under 18 years of age and are applying to be a security guard, private investigator, or private investigator associate.
• If you are under 21 years of age and are applying to be a qualifying party, resident manager, or an associate for a security guard agency.
• If you are not a citizen or legal resident who is authorized to seek employment in the United States.
• If you have ever been convicted of a felony, whether or not your conviction was subsequently Set Aside or Vacated and your Civil Rights were restored.
• If you are currently under indictment for a felony.
• If within the last 5 years preceding your application, you have been convicted of any misdemeanors, whether or not your conviction was subsequently Set Aside or Vacated, that involves:
  • Personal violence
  • Misconduct involving a deadly weapon as provided in Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) §13-3102
  • Dishonesty or fraud
  • Arson
  • Theft
  • Domestic violence
  • Narcotics (ARS §13, Chapter 34, or similar)
  • Sexual misconduct
• If you are on parole, community supervision or work furlough, on home arrest, on release on any other basis.
• If you are named in an outstanding arrest warrant.
• If you are on probation pursuant to a conviction for any act of personal violence or domestic violence as in ARS §13-3601 or similar.
• If you have been adjudicated mentally incompetent or found to constitute a danger to self or others, ARS §36-540.
• If you have a disability, which renders you incapable of performing essential functions of the job even with reasonable accommodation from the employer, ARS §41-1461.
• If you have been convicted of acting or attempting to act as a security guard or private investigator without a license if a license was required.
• If you are a registered sex offender.

Information provided on this site is for educational purposes. It is not legal advice.