Qualifications/documentation of qualification:

Definitions from ARS §32-2601-16

"Private security guard service" means any agency, individual, or employer in the business of furnishing to the public for hire, fee or reward dogs, watchmen, patrol service, private security guards, or other persons to protect human life or to prevent the theft or the misappropriation or concealment of goods, wares, merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, chose in action or other property, valuable documents, papers and articles of value.

Note to Peace Officers: Peace officers operating a security agency (business) must be licensed per the requirements of this webpage. This means the submission of an application, fees, a workman's compensation policy, liability insurance, a list of employees, and a recent letter from the agency head (or designee) that the officers may wear department uniforms and drive department vehicles. If your agency does not permit the use of agency uniforms and vehicles, you must follow the instructions below pertaining to security uniforms and vehicles. Recent inquiries of various risk management and human resources entities have shown that they WILL NOT cover officers working in this capacity, the only exception is typically if the job was coordinated through an authorized agency off-duty work coordinator - check with your department for further information as the policy may vary between agencies. If your agency will cover you in this security capacity, submit a written statement from BOTH your HR and Risk Management directors, in addition to all the other required application paperwork. Consult with your agency head and HR department before creating a security business due to conflicts related to peace officer status and liability while working for a security company.

Per Arizona Revised Statute ARS §32-2624(A), a security guard or private investigation registration or license is valid for two (2) years.

Per Arizona Administrative Code R-13-6-302(A), security guard licenses can only be renewed within 60 days of the expiration date.

If you send in your renewal before the 60-day expiration date, it may be returned to you.

You can check the status of a Security Guard or Private Investigator Registration/License online at the PSP Portal.

Precluding offenses for a security guard agency license can be found in ARS §32-2612

Precluding offenses for security guard registrations can be found in ARS §32-2622

Precluding offenses for security guard firearms and general instructors can be found in ARS §32-2625

Precluding offenses for private investigation agency license can be found in ARS §32-2422

Precluding offenses for private investigator employee registrations can be found in ARS §32-2441

DPS cannot determine if an applicant is eligible for a Security Guard or Private Investigator Registration/License until the fingerprint-based state and federal background results are received and reviewed.

DPS cannot send an email or fax to an employer regarding the status of an application, or to verify a license or registration is valid. The employer can check the status on the PSP Portal. You can verify your status in your portal account.

Name changes, whether for legal reasons or simply to correct the name in the profile due to a typo, must be approved by DPS. For this reason, the applicant must submit a name change request to send DPS photocopies of the identification before getting a new copy of their card or license. For these instructions, see the 'Name Change Instructions' tab in any of the unit-specific sections. Legal and non-legal explanations are both provided there.

Conducting Investigations in Arizona

Anyone conducting private investigations in Arizona must be licensed in Arizona. Failure to do so can be a class 1 misdemeanor. You may hire other employees, such as office staff, but they cannot conduct private investigations in Arizona.
 

You do not need an Arizona address or a Resident Manager to be licensed as a private investigation agency in Arizona.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Background Check

The applicant's fingerprints will be used to check the criminal history records of the FBI. The procedures for obtaining a change, correction or updating of your criminal history record are set forth in 28 CFR §16.34

You need to get approval of your agency name through the DPS Licensing Unit before contacting the Arizona Corporation Commission or Arizona Secretary of State. The Licensing Unit’s standards for name approval are more stringent than other state agencies and the Licensing Unit must consider other factors before approving your agency name. ARS 13-06

Selecting your agency name and agency associates: Instructions for choosing your agency name are listed here.

If these individuals reside and/or work in Arizona, they are considered Agency Associates:

• Corporation: Each corporate officer
• Partnership: Partners other than the Qualifying Party

Use the (one-page) Registration Application for each Associate’s application. Each Associate must submit a classifiable fingerprint card, a 2” x 2” passport-style photograph, and a copy of your government-issued ID. Each Associate must pass the background check. 

A Private Investigation agency license is issued to an individual who is the Qualifying Party (QP) regardless of the agency structure (sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, or corporation). The Qualifying Party is sometimes called the Licensee.

The Qualifying Party must comply with the requirements as listed in the ARS §32-2422.A.10, which states:

Have had a minimum of three years of full-time investigative experience or the equivalent of three years of full-time investigative experience that consists of actual work performed as an investigator for a private concern, for the federal government, or for a state, county, or municipal government.

Applicants are deemed to not meet qualifications

• If you are under 18 years of age and are applying to be a security guard, security guard associate, security guard general or firearms trainer, private investigator, or private investigator associate.
• If you are under 21 years of age and are applying to be a qualifying party, private investigator qualifying party, or resident manager 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 §13-34, or similar)
  • Sexual misconduct

For Armed Security Guard and Firearms-Safety Instructor only:

• If you have ever been convicted of any misdemeanor or felony involving domestic violence.
• If you are a Prohibited Possessor as defined in ARS §13-3101 or as described in 18 USC §922.
• If you were discharged from the armed services of the United States under other than honorable conditions.

Do not purchase or submit evidence of your liability and worker's compensation policy until your company has received notification from the Licensing Unit that your agency is approved.

General Liability Insurance

As required by ARS §32-2613.C.2 and AAC R13-6-202.A.2. Once you receive such notification (and before the agency license is issued), you must submit a valid insurance certificate that indicates proof of general liability insurance, issued by an insurance company licensed to do business in Arizona, in the amount of $100,000 for each occurrence, and an aggregate total of at least $300,000.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Licensing Unit must be listed as the certificate holder.

If the security guard agency has an out-of-state address listed on the insurance certificate, the “description of operations” must include words similar to coverage extending to Security Guard Agency operations in Arizona.

This certificate must be sent to DPS upon renewal of the policy. The agency file is updated with the new expiration date.

Workers' Compensation for Employees

As required by ARS §32-2613.C.3 and AAC R13-6-202.A.3. Each agency is required to have valid Workers' Compensation insurance, issued by a company authorized to conduct business in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety Licensing Unit must be listed as the certificate holder.

If the security guard agency has an out-of-state address listed on the insurance certificate, the “description of operations” must include words similar to ‘for security guard agency operations in Arizona.’

This certificate must be sent to DPS upon renewal of the policy. The agency file is updated with the new expiration date.

Uniforms

ARS §32-2635 Uniform and Insignia

AAC R13-6-501 Uniforms and Vehicles

The particular type of uniform and insignia for a security guard shall be subject to approval by the director and shall be such that it will not deceive or confuse the public or be identical to that of any law enforcement officer of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision thereof.

 Patches and Badges

No shoulder patch, breast patch, or breast badge shall be worn or carried by a security guard, armed security guard, private policeman, special policeman, watchman, or employee or licensee of any patrol service agency or private security guard agency unless previously approved by the Director. Obtain approval from the DPS Licensing Unit before you order your shoulder patch, breast patch, or breast badge in quantity.

Patches or badges shaped like a star, containing a prominent star, law enforcement emblems, or state center seals that are used on shields worn by Arizona law enforcement, state government, or federal agencies shall not be approved. The department shall not approve any word or word combination that could cause a reasonable person to confuse a security guard with law enforcement personnel.

 Departmental policy prohibits the following word on any badge or shield:

• Officer
• Police
• Patrolman
• Agent
• Sheriff
• Deputy
• Marshall

Shoulder Patches

Shoulder identification patches shall be worn on the upper left and right sleeves of all shirts, coats, and jackets and shall include the name of the agency and the word "Security." Shoulder identification patches or emblems shall not be less than two inches by three inches in size. The patch should contain the word "Security" on it, however, a rocker or smaller patch reading "Security" in letters that are one-half inch or taller may be affixed below the shoulder patch in lieu of a patch with the word "Security" incorporated into it. A patch containing a star, emblem, design, center seal, or verbiage that resembles a law enforcement or government agency patch will not be approved. Uniforms may use embroidered cloth shoulder patches or patches that are silk-screened or embroidered directly on the upper shoulder sleeves.

 Breast Patches

A breast patch shall be worn on all uniform shirts, coats, and jackets and shall include the name of the agency and the word "Security." The breast patch shall not be less than one and one-half inches by two inches in size. The breast patch should contain the word "Security" on it, however, a rocker or smaller patch stating "Security" in letters that are a one-half inch or taller may be affixed below the breast patch in lieu of a patch with the word "Security" incorporated into it. A patch containing a prominent star, emblem, design, center seal, or verbiage that resembles a law enforcement or government agency will not be approved. Uniforms may use an embroidered cloth breast patch, metal breast badge, or a patch that is silk-screened or embroidered directly on the left breast side.

 Metal Badge or Shield

A metal badge or shield may be substituted for the breast patch.

No badge or shield shall be worn or carried by a security guard, armed security guard, private policeman, special policeman, watchman, or employee or licensee of any patrol service agency or private security guard agency unless previously approved by the director. Badges shaped like a star, containing a prominent star, law enforcement emblems, or state center seals that are used on shields worn by Arizona law enforcement or government agencies shall not be approved. A badge containing a prominent star, emblem, design, center seal, or verbiage that resembles a law enforcement or government agency will not be approved.

Approved breast badges shall be worn only on the left breast side of the approved uniform. Wearing the badge or shield on the belt or lanyard is prohibited.

 Uniform Shirt

The uniform shirt may be traditional or casual.

Traditional uniform shirts are Class A, dress uniforms, battle dress uniform (BDU) shirts, or any type of uniform shirt that has buttons down the front Traditional shirts require shoulder patches on the upper left and right sleeves and a breast patch or breast badge on the left breast side.

Casual uniform shirts are polo shirts or t-shirts. Casual shirts require shoulder patches on the upper left and right sleeves, a breast patch or breast badge on the left breast side, and the word SECURITY across the back with letters that are at least three inches tall.

The following shirt over pant/shorts combinations are prohibited:

• Blue over blue
• Tan over tan
• Tan over brown
• Black over black
• Green over green
• Green over tan
• Tan over green

 The department shall not approve any color combination that may cause a reasonable person to confuse a security guard with law enforcement personnel.

Jackets

Security guard coat or jacket may be any color. Jackets shall display a shoulder patch on the left and right upper shoulder sleeve, a breast patch or breast badge on the left breast side, and the word "SECURITY" displayed on the back with letters that are three inches tall or taller. 

 Vehicles

All security vehicles, markings, and equipment must be approved by the licensing unit. Security guard vehicles shall not have; Blue lights, Red lights visible from the front, Sirens and bells, and markings that may cause a reasonable person to confuse the security guard vehicle with vehicles used by law enforcement personnel. Per ARS §28-947.B, ARS §28-947.D, ARS §28-954.C., and AAC R13-6-501

You must be registered as a general instructor and/or firearms safety instructor to provide general unarmed or firearms safety training to applicants or current security guards.

• Until you are registered by DPS, you cannot provide any of the required training to any applicants or security guards. 
• Instructors from other states are not recognized in Arizona. 

As required by ARS §32-2613 and ARS §32-2632, training must be provided to Security Guards (currently certified AZ peace officers are exempt from training requirements). A copy of the 8-Hour Required SG Curriculum is available on the DPS website. The curriculum of your training program must cover:

• Orientation
• Criminal Law
• Uniform
• Communications
• Use of Force
• General Procedures
• Crime Scene
• Ethics
• First Response

**Armed guards must additionally complete the DPS-approved 16-Hour Firearms Training Course for Armed Guards. 

The Qualifying Party and any Resident Manager can authorize individuals to sign Part A of the employee applications for the agency. Authorized Signers must be designated in writing. The Qualifying Party may add or delete signers as often as deemed necessary, but each action must be in writing.

The Qualifying Party must also designate, in writing, which registered unarmed general training Instructor(s) the agency will utilize. These registered unarmed general training instructors (s) shall conduct the required eight-hour unarmed pre-assignment training class. The registered unarmed training instructors are the only individuals who are authorized to sign the Security Guard Training Verification Forms for the required training. These registered unarmed general training instructors must be registered by the Licensing Unit before conducting any training.

If the agency is going to hire and/or train armed security guards, then the Qualifying Party must designate, in writing, which registered firearm-safety Instructor(s) the agency will utilize. This registered firearm safety instructor (s) shall conduct the required sixteen-hour initial armed training class and the yearly eight-hour armed refresher classes. The registered firearm safety instructors are the only individuals who are authorized to sign the Armed Security Guard Training Verification Forms for the required training. These registered firearms safety training instructors must be registered by the Licensing Unit before conducting any training.

 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.

List of Disqualifiers

Applicants are deemed to not meet qualifications

• If you are under 18 years of age and are applying to be a security guard, security guard associate, security guard general or firearms trainer, private investigator, or private investigator associate.
• If you are under 21 years of age and are applying to be a qualifying party, private investigator qualifying party, or resident manager 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 in ARS §13-34 or similar
  • Sexual misconduct
• If you are on parole, community supervision, 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.

For Armed Security Guard and Firearms-Safety Instructor only:

• If you have ever been convicted of any misdemeanor or felony involving domestic violence.
• If you are a Prohibited Possessor as defined in ARS §13-3101 or as described in 18 USC §922.
• If you were discharged from the armed services of the United States under other than honorable conditions.

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You will need to contact an Arizona licensed security guard agency to take the eight hours of unarmed guard training. The security guard agency will help you with the paperwork. There may be a charge for the security guard training. Once you have completed the eight hours of required training, the application with the supporting documents and fee will need to be submitted to The DPS SGPI Licensing Unit. It is $72 to process your application and run an FBI background check on you. If your background passes, we will issue you an unarmed guard card.

You need to submit the following:

• Unarmed application - completed by the Security Guard Agency and you. Check the box for unarmed at the top.
• Training Verification Form - completed by you, the Licensed Security Guard Agency, and the DPS Licensed Instructor(s)
• Copy of your Government- issued ID
• Fingerprint card - Form FD-258
• 2" x 2" Facial photograph or passport-style photograph
• $72 processing fee ($50 application fee + $22 fingerprint fee)
• If you were born outside the United States, include documents to substantiate that you are an American Citizen/Permanent resident. Such as an American birth certificate, US passport, Certificate of naturalization, etc...

You will need to contact a security guard agency to take the eight hours of unarmed guard refresher training. The security guard agency will help you with the paperwork. There may be a charge for the security guard training. Once you have completed the eight hours of refresher training, the application with the supporting documents and fee needs to be submitted to The DPS SGPI Licensing Unit. It is $72 to process your renewal application and run an FBI background check on you. If your background passes, we will issue your renewed unarmed guard card.

You need to submit the following:

• Unarmed Application - completed by the Security Guard Agency and You. Check the box for unarmed renewal at the top.
• Training Verification Form - completed by you, the Licensed Security Guard Agency, and the DPS Licensed Instructor(s)
• Copy of your Government- issued ID
• Fingerprint card - Form FD-258
• 2" x 2" Facial photograph or passport-style photograph
• $72 processing fee ($50 application fee + $22 fingerprint fee)
• If you were born outside the United States, include documents to substantiate that you are an American Citizen/Permanent resident. Such as an American birth certificate, US passport, Certificate of naturalization, etc...

You will need to contact a Security Guard Agency to help you with the paperwork and put you through the training. There may be a charge for the security guard training.  Once you have completed the eight hours of Unarmed and sixteen hours of Armed training, you can submit the application with supporting documents and fees to The DPS SGPI Licensing Unit. It is $122 to process an initial or new armed guard application. If your background passes, we will issue you both the unarmed and armed guard cards.

You need to submit the following:

• Armed Guard Application - completed by the Security Guard Agency and you. 
• Training Verification Form - completed by you, the Security Guard Agency, and the unarmed and the armed instructor(s)
• Copy of your driver's license
• Fingerprint card - Form FD-258
• 2" x 2" Facial photograph or passport-style photograph
• $122 processing fee ($100 application fee + $22 fingerprint fee)
• If you are a veteran, submit a copy of your DD214
• If you were born outside the United States, include documents to substantiate that you are an American Citizen/Permanent resident. Such as an American birth certificate, US passport, Certificate of naturalization, etc...

If you received your unarmed card and/or submitted your fingerprints less than 90 days ago, then you do not need a fingerprint card and you only have to pay $50 for the upgrade to armed.

No.

A photocopy of a security guard or private investigator registration or the Card itself is not proof it is a valid card. As an employer, you will need to either check the status online at the DPS website or by contacting the DPS Licensing unit to determine if the person has a valid card.

If the person only provides a photocopy, they should request a replacement of security guard or private investigator registration. Replacement card requests can be made through the employee’s portal account.

Please see Arizona Revised Statute ARS §32-2624.E

No.  The cards and any correspondence will be between the applicant and the Department. Because of the information we send out, it is between the Department and the applicant. 

You will need to submit a card replacement form. The form may be obtained in one of two ways:

• Online – Replacement card requests can be made through the PSP Portal.
• In-Person – Replacement card requests can be made at our office by filling out the replacement card request form. 

No. Out-of-state security guard credentials are not valid in Arizona.

No, fees paid for services involving fingerprint-based checks conducted by DPS are not refundable per Arizona Revised Statutes ARS §41-1750.J