The Licensing Unit will be transitioning to a new system this fall; There will be some service disruptions and delays.
We recommend you renew early if you are due in October - November.
Reminder: We accept renewals up to 6 months before expiration.
Fingerprint Affidavit form and fingerprint card, sealed in a single envelope. IF received in any other form, the packet will be rejected.
Security Guard & Private Investigator Licensing
The Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing Unit (Licensing Unit) oversees the licensing, regulation, and compliance of security guards, security agencies, private investigators, investigative agencies, and certified trainers. The Unit also receives and reviews public complaints, ensuring all regulated entities operate in accordance with applicable statutes and administrative rules.
For assistance with the Public Services Portal (PSP) for Fingerprints, Licensing, or Records, please contact (602) 223-2999 and select option 8, or email [email protected].
UPDATES
Only the most current version of forms and applications will be accepted. The forms and applications are updated multiple times per year in accordance with legislative and regulatory changes. If any form or application is signed and received AFTER September 1, 2026, and it is NOT the newest form version, it will be rejected.
For Private Investigator and Security Guard Hearing Board information, please click here.
Qualifications of Licensee
A Private Investigation agency license must have a Qualifying Party (QP). For a sole proprietorship, the Qualifying Party is the agency licensee. For a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company, the Qualifying Party is the individual responsible for managing the agency, pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2421.
Agency Name
Before contacting the Arizona Secretary of State, you must obtain approval for your agency name from the Licensing Unit. Please note that the Licensing Unit applies more rigorous standards than other state agencies and must evaluate additional criteria before approving, in accordance with A.A.C. R13-2-202.A.7.
Selecting your agency name and associates: Instructions for choosing your agency name are listed here.
Agency Associates
Per A.A.C. R13-2-202, the following must apply to be an agency associate:
- Each partner, officer, director, member, and manager
- Corporation: Each corporate officer
- Partnership: Partners other than the Qualifying Party
Surety Bonds and Workers' Compensation Insurance
Surety Bonds
As required by A.R.S. § 32-2423.B.1, every agency must obtain a valid surety bond. Before an agency license can be issued, the applicant shall provide the department with a continuous, four-year surety bond in the amount of $2,500.
Workers' Compensation
As required by A.R.S. § 32-2423.B.2, each agency must maintain valid Workers' Compensation insurance issued by a company authorized to conduct business in Arizona.
Forms & Applications
- Private Investigator Agency Application
- Private Investigator Agency Application Checklist
- Private Investigator Agency Application Instructions
- Private Investigator Agency Name Selection
- Private Investigator Agency Qualifying Party Responsibilities
- Private Investigator Agency Surety Bond Form
- Private Investigator Agency Associate Application
Who is required to be registered?
A person shall not act or attempt to act as a private investigator, nor represent themselves as a private investigator, unless they are registered as a private investigator under this chapter and are operating within the scope of their employment for an agency licensed under Article 2 of this chapter.
Any person who knowingly violates this requirement is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2411.
Precluding Offenses
Precluding offenses for private investigator employee registrations are established under A.R.S. § 32-2441.
Forms & Applications
Qualifications of Licensee
A Security Guard agency license must have a Qualifying Party (QP). For a sole proprietorship, the Qualifying Party is the agency licensee. For a partnership, corporation, or limited liability company, the Qualifying Party is the individual responsible for managing the agency, pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2611.
Agency Name
You must obtain approval of your agency name through the Licensing Unit before contacting the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Arizona Secretary of State. The Licensing Unit applies more rigorous standards than other state agencies and must evaluate additional factors before approving an agency name, in accordance with A.A.C. R13-6-207.
Selecting your agency name and associates: Instructions for choosing your agency name are listed here.
Agency Associates
In accordance with A.A.C. R13-6-102, the following must submit an associate application:
- Each partner, officer, director, member, and manager
- Corporation: Each corporate officer
- Partnership: Partners other than the Qualifying Party
Liability and Workers' Compensation Insurance
General Liability Insurance
As required by A.R.S. § 32-2613.C.2 and A.A.C. R13-6-202.A.2, once you receive notification that your agency license is ready for issuance, you must provide a certificate of liability insurance showing at least $100,000 coverage for any one person and $300,000 coverage for any one event, naming the Department as the certificate holder.
Workers' Compensation
As required by A.R.S. § 32-2613.C.3 and A.A.C. R13-6-202.A.3, if the agency will have employees, you must provide a certificate of workers' compensation insurance naming the Department as the certificate holder.
Uniforms and Vehicles
A.R.S. § 32-2635 Uniforms and Insignia
A.A.C. R13-6-501 Uniforms and Vehicles
Forms & Applications
- Security Guard Agency Application
- Security Guard Agency Application Checklist
- Security Guard Agency Application Instructions
- Security Guard Agency Name Selection
- Security Guard Agency Qualifying Party Responsibilities
- Security Guard Agency Training Program
- Security Guard Agency Resident Manager Application
- Security Guard Agency Resident Manager Application Instructions
- Security Guard Agency Associate Application
- Security Guard Agency Armed Roster
- Security Guard Agency Armed Roster Instructions
- Security Guard Agency Termination Report
Who is required to be registered?
A person shall not act or attempt to act as a security guard, nor represent themselves as a security guard, unless they are registered as a security guard under this chapter and are acting within the scope of their employment for an agency licensed under Article 2 of this chapter.
Any person who knowingly violates this requirement is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2608.
Precluding Offenses
Precluding offenses for security guard registrations are established under A.R.S. § 32-2622.
Forms & Applications
Who is required to be registered?
A person shall not act or attempt to act as, or represent themselves as, a security guard training instructor or firearms-safety training instructor unless they are registered as an instructor and are acting within the scope of their employment for a licensed security guard agency, pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2608.
- Training may not be provided until you are officially registered with the Licensing Unit.
- Instructors certified in other states are not recognized in Arizona.
Instructor Registration
Qualifications for security guard training instructor and firearms-safety training instructor registration are established under A.R.S. § 32-2625.
Instructor registration certificates are issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety in accordance with A.R.S. § 32-2624.
Authorized Instructors
Security Guard Training Instructor
The Qualifying Party must designate, in writing, which registered security guard training instructor(s) the agency will utilize. These registered security guard training instructor(s) shall conduct the required eight-hour unarmed pre-assignment training class. The registered security guard training instructor(s) are the only individuals who are authorized to sign the Security Guard Training Verification Forms (TVF) for the required training. The Licensing Unit must register these security guard training instructor(s) before they conduct any training.
Security guard training requirements and the requirement that an agency use registered instructors are established under A.R.S. § 32-2632.
Firearms-Safety Training Instructor
The Qualifying Party must designate, in writing, which registered firearms-safety training instructor(s) the agency will utilize. These registered firearms-safety training instructor(s) shall conduct the required sixteen-hour initial armed training class and the annual eight-hour armed refresher classes. The registered firearms-safety training instructor(s) are the only individuals who are authorized to sign the Armed Security Guard Training Verification Forms (TVF) for the required training. The Licensing Unit must register these firearms-safety training instructor(s) before conducting any training.
Firearms-safety instructor qualifications and certification requirements are established under A.A.C. R13-6-701 through R13-6-703.
Armed security guard training and Training Verification Form requirements are established under A.R.S. § 32-2632 and A.A.C. R13-6-603.
The written authorization to DPS must include a signature sample with the printed name, as signatures are often illegible. These authorizations and sample signatures are retained in the agency file.
Forms & Applications
- Basic Training Instructor Application
- Firearms-Safety Training Instructor Application
- General Training Record
- Firearms-Safety Training Record
- 8-Hour Unarmed Security Guard Training Syllabus
- 16-Hour Firearms Training Lesson Plan
- 8-Hour Firearms Continuing Training Lesson Plan
- Training Verification Form
Who May Qualify for a Fee Waiver
Under A.R.S. § 41-1080.01, an initial licensing fee waiver may be available to:
- Active-duty military service members' spouses.
- Honorably discharged veterans who were discharged within the past two years.
- Individual applicants whose family income does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Except for individuals applying for a license pursuant to Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 10, or Chapter 28.1, A.R.S. § 41-1080.01 requires an agency to waive the fee charged for an initial license for qualifying applicants.
Note: The fingerprint processing fee still applies and must accompany your application.
Licensing Fee Waiver Form
To apply for a licensing fee waiver, use the form below.
Forms & Applications
Under the authority of A.R.S. § 32-2407 and A.R.S. § 32-2607, the Department establishes and collects the following fees.
- All fees are non-refundable pursuant to A.A.C. R13-2-102.C and A.A.C. R13-6-103.D.
- Fees must be paid by cashier's check, certified check, credit card, or money order made payable to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
- Security Guard applications: Fingerprints, a fingerprint affidavit, and the fingerprint fee are required for every application.
- Private Investigator applications: Fingerprints, a fingerprint affidavit, and the fingerprint processing fee are required for all new and renewal applications. Additional PI agency employee applications also require these if more than 365 days have passed since the last submission of a fingerprint card and fingerprint processing fee (PI ONLY).
- PI Employee applications and fingerprint materials may be submitted separately from the agency renewal application; however, they will not be fully processed until the agency's renewal is complete.
- PI Employee registration certificate expiration dates will align with the agency's expiration date.
- Please allow at least 15 business days after submitting your application before contacting the unit about your status. Repeated phone calls may delay processing.
Private Investigator Agency License Fees
| Agency Application | $250.00 |
| Agency License | $400.00 |
| Agency License Renewal | $250.00 |
| Agency Reinstatement | $250.00 |
| Agency Restructure | $100.00 |
| Late Fee for Renewal | $100.00 |
| Associate (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
| Associate Renewal Late Fee | $10.00 |
| Associate Reinstatement Fee | $25.00 |
Private Investigator Registration Fees
| Private Investigator (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
| Additional Employer Registration | $10.00 |
Security Guard Agency License Fees
| Agency Application | $500.00 |
| Agency License | $500.00 |
| Agency License Renewal | $500.00 |
| Agency Restructure | $100.00 |
| Late Fee for Renewal | $100.00 |
| Resident Manager (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
| Resident Manager Renewal Late Fee | $10.00 |
| Associate (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
Security Guard Registration Fees
| Unarmed Security Guard (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
| Upgrade to Armed (Initial one-time use) | $50.00 |
| Armed Security Guard (New / Renew) | $100.00 |
| Additional Armed Employer Registration | $10.00 |
Security Guard Training Instructor Registration Fees
| Security Guard Training Instructor (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
| Firearms-Safety Training Instructor (New / Renew) | $50.00 |
Replacement Card
| Replacement Card (if lost, stolen, or profile change) | $10.00 |
Fingerprint Processing Fee
| Fingerprint Processing Fee | $22.00 |
How can I check if a license or registration is valid?
You can check the status of a Security Guard or Private Investigator license or registration online through the Public Services Portal (PSP).
How long is a license or registration valid?
Security Guard and instructor registration certificates are valid for four years pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2624.
Private Investigator employee registrations run concurrently with the employing agency's license and expire when the agency license expires, pursuant to A.R.S. § 32-2442.
I'm a registered security guard in another state. Is my registration transferable to Arizona?
No. Security Guard registrations are not transferable between states or persons. You must meet Arizona's registration requirements before working as a registered security guard in Arizona.
Can I use my employer's address as my residential or mailing address?
No. Due to the confidential information sent by the Department, correspondence and identification cards are sent directly between the applicant and the Department.
When can I renew my license or registration?
The Licensing Unit accepts renewal applications up to 180 days before the current expiration date. Applying early allows additional time for processing and for resolving any issues that may arise during the renewal process.
Renewal applications submitted more than 180 days before the expiration date will be returned.
If approved, when will I receive my identification card?
Once approved, your identification card will be transmitted to a third-party vendor for printing. The card is generally printed and mailed to the address on file within two business days.
Please allow up to 14 business days for delivery by U.S. First-Class Mail.
How do I obtain a replacement card if mine is lost, stolen, or my name changes?
A replacement card may be requested in one of two ways:
- Online: Submit a replacement card request through the Public Services Portal (PSP).
- In Person: Submit a Registration ID Card Replacement at the DPS Public Services Center and pay the applicable replacement fee.
Is a photocopy of an identification card proof that the registration is valid?
No. A photocopy of a Security Guard or Private Investigator registration, or the identification card itself, is not proof that the registration is currently valid.
Employers should verify the current status through the Public Services Portal (PSP).
Can DPS provide a notification that my application is in process or that my license or registration is valid?
DPS does not provide an email to applicants or employers to verify that an application is in process or that a license or registration is valid.
Employers can check the current status through the Public Services Portal (PSP). Applicants may also verify their status by logging in to their personal PSP account.
Are fees refundable?
No. Licensing fees are non-refundable pursuant to A.A.C. R13-2-102.C and A.A.C. R13-6-103.D. Fingerprint processing fees submitted to DPS are also non-refundable pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1750.
What will my fingerprints be used for?
Your fingerprints will be used to check criminal history records maintained by the State of Arizona and the FBI. DPS and the FBI may retain your fingerprints and associated information after completion of your application. Your fingerprints may continue to be compared against other fingerprints, including latent fingerprints submitted to or retained by DPS and the FBI.
If you have a criminal history record, officials making a determination regarding your suitability for a license, registration, employment, or other benefit must provide you with an opportunity to complete or challenge the accuracy of information in the record. You must be afforded a reasonable amount of time to correct or complete the record, or decline to do so, before a determination is made based on the criminal history information.
Procedures for obtaining a change, correction, or update of an FBI criminal history record are established in Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 16.30 through 16.34. Information about reviewing or challenging an FBI Identity History Summary is available through the FBI Identity History Summary Checks website or by calling (304) 625-5590.
To obtain a copy of your Arizona criminal history record for review, update, or correction, contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety Central State Repository at (602) 223-2222 or submit a Review and Challenge request.
If I lost or never received my denial or suspension letter, can I get a copy?
Yes. Email the Licensing Unit at [email protected] and provide your full name, license or registration number, and date of birth.
A copy of the letter will be mailed to you by U.S. Mail. Because the letter may contain confidential criminal history information, it cannot be sent by email.
If I receive a notice of denial from DPS, is there a way to become eligible for a Security Guard or Private Investigator registration?
Depending on the offense or offenses that resulted in the denial, you may be eligible to pursue a good cause exception through the Arizona Private Investigator and Security Guard Hearing Board.
For questions regarding the good cause exception process, email [email protected].
We are closed on all state and federal holidays.
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Licensing Unit
P.O. Box 6328, Mail Drop 3140
Phoenix, AZ 85005
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Public Services Center, Window 2
2222 W. Encanto Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
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