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Arkansas Security Guard Training & License

Arkansas Security Guard Training Requirements

Unarmed Security Officer

outline of the state of Arkansas

  • New AR Security Guard Training: State requirements first 12 days on duty.
  • Rookie AR Security Guard Training: No additional requirements for your 1st year.
  • Pro AR Security Guard Training: State renewal requirements after your 1st year working as an unarmed Private Security Officer.

Armed Security Officer

  • New AR Security Officer Training: State requirements first 12 days on duty.
  • Rookie AR Security Officer Training: No additional requirements for your 1st year.
  • Pro AR Security Officer Training: State renewal requirements after your 1st year working as an armed Commissioned Security Officer.

New Unarmed Security Guard Arkansas – Fees & Training Detailed Info

To work for a private security guard company or in security for a non-security company in Arkansas, your employer needs to register you as Private Security Officer with the Arkansas State Police Regulatory Services Division. You are a Private Security Officer (PSO) if you are employed by a security services contractor or the security department of a private business to perform the duties of a security guard, security watchman or security patrolman.

If you want to carry a firearm on duty, you must be a  Commissioned Security Officer (CSO).

Type of Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority

  • Security Guard License Type: Private Security Officer (PSO)
  • Security Guard License Length: 1 year
  • Security Guard Licensing Authority and Website: Arkansas State Police  Regulatory Services Division. Downloadable application forms are available on this site.
  • Security Guard Licensing Phone Number: 501-618-8600
  • Security Guard Licensing Address: 

Arkansas State Police Headquarters
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209

  • Security Guard License Laws: The Arkansas Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act (17-40-101 – 107) designates the Arkansas State Police as an administering agency to regulate private security agencies and individuals or businesses offering security services.

Private Security Officer Training Requirements & Fees

You must complete 5 hours of training to become a Private Security Officer in AR. Your training instructor must sign and provide the date that you completed each of the 3 courses. You will be required to take an exam on these topics.

  • 2 hours – Legal Authority
  • 2 hours – Act 429 Rules (the Arkansas rules regarding Private Security Officers)
  • 1 hour – Field Notes and Reports

To pass the exam you must have a minimum score of 70%. If you fail to successfully complete the required examination, you will not be allowed to retake the required examination until a period of 5 working days have elapsed and pay the re-examination fee, which is $50.00. Failure to pass after 2 examinations have been administered shall result in the denial of your Private Security Officer application in accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated 17-40-350 (A-5).

You need to take these courses over every year when you renew your Private Security Officer license.

Private Security Officer Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees

  • Fingerprint Fee:  Unknown. You must submit 2 fingerprint cards with your Private Security Officer application.
  • Background Check Fee: $38.50 ($22 for state background check and $16.50 for Federal background check)

Private Security Officer Application & License Fees

The company that employs you as a security officer must submit an license application for you if you’re not currently licensed within 14 days of hiring you.

  • Security Guard Registration Application Fee: $40
  • Payment Types Accepted: Money order, cashier’s check or check.
  • Payable To: Arkansas State Police

Private Security Officer Other Requirements

To register as an unarmed guard in Arkansas, you must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be US citizen or resident alien. If born outside the US, you have to submit one of the following with your application, work permit, permanent resident card or naturalization papers.
  • You must list all your convictions of a felony, class “A” misdemeanor, crime involving an act of violence or crime involving moral turpitude. If you have been convicted you must attach documentation certified by the court as to the disposition of the charge. You must also list any criminal charges  now pending or on appeal. You don’t have to list traffic violations, except failure to appear.
  • Your application must be notarized.
  • you must provide two recent photos of you with your application.
  • You must wear in plain sight your Arkansas Private Security Officer identification card while on duty.
  • If your company requires, you should shall wear an Arkansas State Police  Regulatory Services Division approved metallic badge or approved cloth insignia. You should wear this badge  attached to the left breast of your uniform. If you wear a cap or hat, it must have an approved metallic badge or cloth insignia attached to the front of such cap or hat. An approved metallic badge or approved cloth insignia shall consist of one that has been submitted to and approved by the Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies. The badge and insignia cannot resemble a badge worn by police agencies in the State of Arkansas.

Termination of Private Security Officer Employment

Your employer must notify in writing the Arkansas State Police Regulatory Services Department within 14 days if you are terminated as a Private Security Officer. The termination form must include a reason for your termination.

Transfer of Private Security Officer Employers

If you change employers as a Private Security Officer,  your company must file the Employee Transfer form within 14 days of the transfer and pay a $20 fee to the Arkansas State Police.

Exemption for Law Enforcement Personnel

You don’t have to apply for a Private Security Officer license if:

  • You work part-time or full-time employment as a law enforcement officer and are certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training as a law enforcement officer and receive compensation for private employment on an individual or an independent contractor basis as a patrolman, guard, or watchman and you are:
    • Employed in an employee-employer relationship; or
    • Employed on an individual contractual basis; and
    • Not in the employ of another law enforcement officer.

Pro Unarmed Security Guard Arkansas – Fees & Training

Once you’ve been on the job in Arkansas for a year, your employer must renew your Private Security Officer (PSO) license. Your PSO license needs to be renewed every year. You must turn into your employer your expired security officer license. Your employer will retain the license as part of your employee file as required by the state of Arkansas.

Private Security Officer Renewal Cost

It costs $40 to renew your license, if your background check is current. If your background check isn’t current, it costs an addition $28.50 to re-do your background check.

Private Security Officer Renewal Training

You need to take the 5 hours of new Private Security Officer training over again each year.

Expired Private Security Officer License

If your Private Security Officer license expires in Arkansas, you have to re-apply as if you are a new security guard.

New Armed Security Guard Arkansas – Fees & Training Detailed Info

If you want to carry a firearm on duty as a security guard in Arkansas, you must be a  Commissioned Security Officer (CSO).

Type of Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority

  • Security Guard License Type: Commissioned Security Officer (CSO)
  • Security Guard License Length: 1 year
  • Security Guard Licensing Authority and Website: Arkansas State Police  Regulatory Services Division. Downloadable application forms are available on this site.
  • Security Guard Licensing Phone Number: 501-618-8600
  • Security Guard Licensing Address: 

Arkansas State Police Headquarters
1 State Police Plaza Drive
Little Rock, AR 72209

  • Security Guard License Laws: The Arkansas Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act (17-40-101 – 107) designates the Arkansas State Police as an administering agency to regulate private security agencies and individuals or businesses offering security services.

Commissioned Security Officer Training Requirements & Fees

You must complete 9 hours of training to become a Commissioned Security Officer in AR. Your training instructor must sign and provide the date that you completed each of the 7 courses. You will be required to take an exam on these topics as well as a firearm range firing test.

  • 2 hours – Legal Authority of Private and Commissioned Security Officers
  • 2 hours – Act 429 Rules (the Arkansas rules regarding Private and Commissioned Security Officers)
  • 1 hour – Field Notes and Reports
  • 1 hour – Legal Limitations of the use of Firearms
  • 1 hour – Weapons Safety
  • 1 hour – Marksmanship
  • 1 hour – Range Firing

To pass the exam you must have a minimum score of 70%. If you fail to successfully complete the required examination, you will not be allowed to retake the required examination until a period of 5 working days have elapsed and pay the re-examination fee, which is $50.00. Failure to pass after 2 examinations have been administered shall result in the denial of your Commissioned Security Officer application in accordance with Arkansas Code Annotated 17-40-350 (A-5).

You need to take these courses over every year when you renew your Commissioned Security Officer license.

Commissioned Security Officer Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees

  • Fingerprint Fee:  Unknown. You must submit 2 fingerprint cards with your Commissioned Security Officer application.
  • Background Check Fee: $38.50 ($22 for state background check and $16.50 for Federal background check)

Commissioned Security Officer Application & License Fees

The company that employs you as a Commissioned Security Officer must submit an license application for you if you’re not currently licensed within 14 days of hiring you.

  • Security Guard Registration Application Fee: $40
  • Payment Types Accepted: Money order, cashier’s check or check.
  • Payable To: Arkansas State Police

Commissioned Security Officer Other Requirements

To  be an armed guard in Arkansas, you must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older
  • Be US citizen or resident alien. If born outside the US, you have to submit one of the following with your application, work permit, permanent resident card or naturalization papers.
  • You must list all your convictions of a felony, class “A” misdemeanor, crime involving an act of violence or crime involving moral turpitude. If you have been convicted you must attach documentation certified by the court as to the disposition of the charge. You must also list any criminal charges  now pending or on appeal. You don’t have to list traffic violations, except failure to appear.
  • Your application must be notarized.
  • you must provide two recent photos of you with your application.
  • You must wear in plain sight your Arkansas Commissioned Security Officer identification card while on duty.
  • If your company requires, you should shall wear an Arkansas State Police  Regulatory Services Division approved metallic badge or approved cloth insignia. You should wear this badge  attached to the left breast of your uniform. If you wear a cap or hat, it must have an approved metallic badge or cloth insignia attached to the front of such cap or hat. An approved metallic badge or approved cloth insignia shall consist of one that has been submitted to and approved by the Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies. The badge and insignia cannot resemble a badge worn by police agencies in the State of Arkansas.
  • You must wear an Arkansas State Police Regulatory Services Division approved company uniform while performing armored car security functions.
  • You must be a Commissioned Security Officer and be armed to perform armored car security functions.
  • If you are involved with an incident that involves the discharge of a firearm, you must report the incident to the Arkansas State Police  Regulatory Services Division within 12) hours after such incident occurs.

Termination of Commissioned Security Officer Employment

Your employer must notify in writing the Arkansas State Police Regulatory Services Department within 14 days if you are terminated as a Commissioned Security Officer. The termination form must include a reason for your termination.

Transfer of Commissioned Security Officer Employers

If you change employers as a Commissioned Security Officer,  your company must file the Employee Transfer form within 14 days of the transfer and pay a $20 fee to the Arkansas State Police.

Exemption for Law Enforcement Personnel

You don’t have to apply for a Commissioned Security Officer license if:

  • You work part-time or full-time employment as a law enforcement officer and are certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training as a law enforcement officer and receive compensation for private employment on an individual or an independent contractor basis as a patrolman, guard, or watchman and you are:
    • Employed in an employee-employer relationship; or
    • Employed on an individual contractual basis; and
    • Not in the employ of another law enforcement officer.

Pro Armed Security Guard Arkansas – Fees & Training

Once you’ve been on the job in Arkansas for a year, your employer must renew your Commissioned Security Officer (CSO) license. Your CSO license needs to be renewed every year. You must turn into your employer your expired security officer license. Your employer will retain the license as part of your employee file as required by the state of Arkansas.

Commissioned Security Officer Renewal Cost

It costs $40 to renew your security guard license, if your background check is current. If your background check isn’t current, it costs an addition $28.50 to re-do your background check.

Commissioned Security Officer Renewal Training

You need to take the 5 hours of new Commissioned Security Officer Training over again each year.

Expired Commissioned Security Officer License

If your Commissioned Security Officer license expires in Arkansas, you have to re-apply as if you are a new armed security guard.

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