Security Guard & Private Investigator Licensing
The Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing Unit regulates security guards, security agencies, private investigators, and private investigative agencies. It also accepts complaints from the public and enforces statutory laws and administrative rules regarding those entities.
For Technical Support on the (PSP) Public Services Portal for Fingerprints, SGPI Licensing, or Records, please contact (602) 223-2999 and select option 8.
UPDATE
Licenses and registration certificates received BEFORE September 26, 2025, are valid for a two-year term. In accordance with recent legislation, licenses and registration certificates received ON OR AFTER September 26, 2025, are valid for a four-year term. The expiration date is indicated on the identification card or license.
Who is required to be licensed?
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.
How long is a Security Guard or Private Investigator Registration/License valid for?
Per Arizona Revised Statute ARS §32-2624(A), a security guard or private investigation registration or license is valid for four (4) years.
How long before my card expires should I send in a renewal application?
Per Arizona Administrative Code R-13-6-302(A), security guard licenses can only be renewed within 180 days of the expiration date.
If you send in your renewal before the 180-day expiration date, it will be returned to you.
How can I check to see if a Security Guard or Private Investigator License/Registration is valid?
You can check the status of a Security Guard or Private Investigator Registration/License online at the PSP Portal.
Where can I find out what offenses could keep me from obtaining a security guard or private investigator license or registration?
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
Can DPS tell me if I qualify for a Security Guard or Private Investigator Registration/License before I apply?
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.
Can DPS send me and/or my employer an email or fax saying my application is in process or that my card is valid?
DPS cannot send an email or fax to an employer regarding the status of an application, or to verify that 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.
My name has legally changed. I can only request a new copy because it was lost, stolen, damaged, or I did not receive it. How do I get one with my new name?
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.
Investigations
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.
Agency Name
You need to get approval of your agency name through the DPS Licensing Unit before contacting the Arizona Corporation Commission or the 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.
Qualifications of Licensee
A Security Guard 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 per ARS §32-2612.
Agency Associates
Per AAC R13-6-102, 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
Liability and Worker's Compensation Insurance
Do not purchase or submit evidence of your liability and workers' 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.
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.
Uniforms and Vehicles
ARS §32-2635 Uniform and Insignia
AAC R13-6-501 Uniforms and Vehicles
Qualifications of Licensee
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 per ARS §32-2422.A.10.
Worker's Compensation Insurance and Surety Bonds
Surety Bonds
As required by ARS §32-2423.B, each agency is required to have a valid surety bond. Before the issuance of an original or renewal agency license, the applicant shall provide to the department: A four-year (4) surety bond in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars.
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.
Who is required to be registered?
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.
Guard Training Requirements
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 by contacting the Licensing Unit. 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.
Authorized Instructors
The Qualifying Party must 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.
Resources for:
- Active Duty Services Members
- Military Spouses
-
Veterans
Eligibility Information:
In accordance with ARS §41-1080.01 “A except for an individual who applies for a license pursuant to title 36, chapter 4, article 10 or chapter 28.1, an agency shall waive any fee for an initial license for any of the following individuals if the individual is applying for that specific license in the state FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Note: The $22.00 fingerprint fee still applies and will need to accompany your application.
- Any individual applicant whose family income does not exceed two hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Any active duty military service member's spouse.
- Any honorably discharged veteran who has been discharged not more than two years before application.
If any of the options above apply to the applicant and this is your first time applying, please contact the Licensing Unit at 602-223-2361 for further information.
Under the authority provided by ARS. §32-2607, the Department establishes and shall collect the following fees:
A person shall pay a fee by cash, cashier’s check, certified check, credit card, or money order made payable to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
All fees are non-refundable.
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NOTE:
- Fingerprints and a fingerprint fee are required for every security guard application. If you are applying for an additional armed employer and your fingerprints were taken more than 90 days ago, include a fingerprint card and fingerprint processing fee. Private Investigator applications: fingerprints and fingerprint processing fee are required if more than 365 days have passed since you last provided a fingerprint card and fingerprint processing fee.
- PI Employee applications and fingerprints may be submitted separately from the Agency renewal application, but will not be accepted before receiving the agency's renewal.
- PI Employee registration certificate expiration dates will always be the same as those of the agency.
- Allow at least 15 business days after the submission of your application before calling the unit to check your status. Repeated phone calls will only delay your application.
SECURITY GUARD
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR
INSTRUCTORS & TRAINING
AGENCIES
How do I apply for an Unarmed Guard card?
You will need to contact an Arizona-licensed security guard agency to take the eight hours of unarmed guard training. 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 Licensing Unit. If your background check 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" 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 or a Permanent resident. Such as an American birth certificate, a US passport, a Certificate of naturalization, etc...
How do I apply for an Armed Guard card?
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 Licensing Unit. 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 armed instructor(s)
- Copy of your driver's license
- Fingerprint card - Form FD-258
- 2" x 2" 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, a US passport, a Certificate of naturalization, etc...
Is a photocopy proof that a card is valid?
No.
A photocopy of a security guard or private investigator registration, or the Card itself, is not proof that it is a valid card. As an employer, you will need to either check the status online at the DPS website or contact 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 the security guard or private investigator registration. Replacement card requests can be made through the employee’s portal account.
Please see Arizona Revised Statutes ARS §32-2624.E
Can I use my employer's address as my mailing address?
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.
How to obtain a replacement card if lost, stolen, or if my name changes?
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.
I'm a registered/licensed security guard in another state. Is my registration/license transferable to Arizona?
No. Out-of-state security guard credentials are not valid in Arizona.
Are fees refundable, even when I no longer need the service?
No, fees paid for services involving fingerprint-based checks conducted by DPS are not refundable per Arizona Revised Statutes ARS §41-1750.J
When approved (ISSUED), your card will be transmitted to our third-party printer. It will then be printed and mailed out within 2 business days. Please allow 14 business days for your identification card to be delivered via US Post.
NOTE: You cannot pick up your ISSUED card at our physical office. All identification cards are mailed out to the applicant's address on file.
Please contact us using any of the methods listed below:
Visit the Public Services Portal for assistance with Security Guard & Private Investigator Licensing