Unarmed
- New Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience
- Rookie Security Guard Training: 0-12 Months on Duty
- Pro Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty
Armed
- New Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience
- Pro Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty
New Jersey New Unarmed Security Guard Training Requirements
New Jersey security guards are regulated under the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA). SORA defines a security officer to be any person who performs any of the following functions or activities as an employee, agent or subcontractor of a security officer company for a fee, hire or reward, not withstanding the fact that other functions and activities may also be performed by the same person for fee, hire or reward.
- protection of person or property, real or personal, from injury or harm or for any other purpose whatsoever;
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deterrence, observation, detection or reporting of incidents and activities for the purpose of preventing the theft, or the unlawful taking, conversion, concealment or misappropriation of goods, wares, merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes or other valuable instruments, documents, papers or articles; or
- deterrence, observation, detection or reporting of incidents and activities for the purpose of preventing any unauthorized or unlawful activity, including but not limited to, robbery, burglary, arson, criminal mischief, vandalism or trespass.
You must fill out and sign the Security Agency Employee’s Statement provided by the Division of State Police and Department of Law and Public Safety for the State of New Jersey when you begin working. This form requires your temporary ID number or Security Officer Certification Number.
Type of Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority
- License Type: Security Officer Registration
- NJ Security Officer License Length: 2 years
- NJ Security Officer Licensing Authority: New Jersey
- NJ Security Officer Licensing Website: njsp.org
License Laws
NJ Security Officer ID Cards
You will be issued a registered security officer identification card. You must not lend, let or allow any other person to use, possess, exhibit or display your security officer ID card. You cannot use, possess, exhibit or display any license, card, shield or badge of any design or material purporting to authorize the holder or wearer to act as a security officer, unless such person holds a valid certificate of registration as a security officer. If you violate the security officer ID rules, you can be found guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in addition to any other crime or offense specified by law.
Temporary Security Guard License
If you have a 30 Day Temporary Certificate, you may work as a security officer while you complete your application steps. Once the 30 day period is over, you must cease work until your application steps are complete.
New Jersey New Unarmed Security Guard Training & Fees
- 30 Days: 24 Hours, We’ve seen costs between $125 and $175 advertised online. Cost varies by location and training instructor.
A SORA training course includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:
- NJ Guard Training Academy Orientation
- NJ Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy
- Terrorism Awareness
- Cargo Theft
- Security Measures: Prevention and Deterrence
- New Jersey’s Critical Infrastructure Awareness
- Suspicious Letters and Packages
- Suicide bombers and Vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED’s)
- First Aid Awareness
- Incident Command System
- Ethics
- Report Writing
- Street Gangs
- Verbal Judo
Active Law Enforcement Security Officer Training Exemptions
Active law enforcement officers are exempt from the 24 hour mandated training course. However, fingerprinting is required through MorphoTrak. Upon retirement or termination of employment as a law enforcement officer, the training exemption is no longer applicable and completing the 24 hour security officer training course provided by a certified SORA instructor is mandatory for the continued validity of the SORA certification.
Security Guard Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees
You must be fingerprinted using the MorphoTrak form provided at the end of the Security Officer application. This form is already filled out with the required information for fingerprinting. To schedule an appointment, which is commonly 2-3 weeks away, go online to www.bioapplicant.com/nj.
NJ Background Check
- Amount: $67.50 payable when scheduling your appointment. ($11 cancellation fee or rescheduling fee before Noon on the business day prior to scheduled appointment. You will also be charge $11 if you cannot present proper ID or the proper and current version of the Universal Fingerprint form.)
- Payment Types Accepted
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- money orders
- credit cards
Security Guard Application Fees
Crimes involving moral turpitude, control substances and any fourth degree crime or greater prohibits you from becoming a security guard in NJ. Remember the police will not refund your application fee for any reason. Hence, if you think you might have something on your criminal record that would disqualify you from becoming a guard, contact the NJ State Police for guidance before you apply to help prevent losing your $75 security guard application fee.
- Fee: $75 Non refundable
- Payment Types Accepted:
- Debit or credit card by Visa or MasterCard
- Visa gift card
- Payable To: Use online registration form.
Security Officer Application Process
To be an unarmed security officer in NJ, you need to complete three major steps. If you don’t complete all three steps within 30 days, your 30 day temporary security ID expires and you can no longer work as a guard. You then have to start the registration process over, but you won’t get another 30 day temporary security ID.
Step 1. Find and Schedule a Training Class
To take a class, you usually need two forms of government issued ID (one with photo), a copy of your 30 Day Temporary Certificate (from Step 2) and your payment. The week of your training class, if you complete your registration with the State Police and get fingerprinted, you maximize your 30 day temporary period when you can work before getting your permanent card.
Step 2. Register with State Police
You must register with the State Police. You can’t take your security officer training class until you register with the State Police. After you finish your registration, you must print out one copy of the MorphoTrak Fingerprint Form and two copies of your 30 day Temporary Certificate.
- Go to www.njsp.org
- Click Services.
- Click Private Detective Info.
- Click Security Officer, Instructor, Owner and Bounty Hunter Applications link on the right hand side of the page.
Step 3. Get Fingerprinted
Complete a fingerprint scan at a MorphoTrak online. Sometimes there is a 2 to 3 week wait to get an appointment. Take either a valid drivers license or government-issued ID card to your fingerprint appointment.
How Long does it Take to Get a NJ Security Officer Licensee?
The amount of time it takes to get your guard license depends on how fast you complete each step of the process. It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete the online registration form with the police department. Obviously, the training course is 24 hours, so it could be two days of 12 hour classes or 3 days of 8 hour classes. However, you have to get into a scheduled class, which could take a few days or a few weeks depending on your location. Fingerprinting only takes about 10 minutes once you are at the fingerprinting location. After completing all 3 steps and you clear the background check, the police can usually issue your SORA card by mail within 15 business days.
NJ Security Officer Training Locations
At the end of the online security officer application there is a link to browse the instructor registry. The list of instructors can be searched by zip code, state/county or by an instructor’s last name. It is your responsibility to contact an instructor and schedule the 24 hour training class within 30 days from the date of your application. You can also view a complete list of certified instructors here.
NJ Unarmed Security Officer License Renewal
90 days prior to expiration, you will be notified via email that it is time to renew. Subsequent emails are sent at 60 days and 30 days prior to expiration. Emails are sent to the email address that is listed on your personal profile when you submitted your security officer application online. When you log back into the NJ State Police system, click Submit Renewal.
Renew Every: 2 years
Renewal Fee: $82.55 paid using Visa or MasterCard.
Background Check Fee: $25.30 Archive Fingerprint Fee. Automatically submits fingerprints for new background check without you needing to get fingerprinted again.
Security Officer Re-certification Training in NJ
The Security Officer Registration Ac (SORA) requires re-Certification training or refresher course of 8 hours, which can include such topics as:
- NJ Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy
- Ethics
- Report Writing
The cost of your renewal training can be between $50 and $75. You must complete your refresher training with a SORA certified instructor before you security office registration expires.
Armed Security Officer License Requirements in New Jersey
If you want to be an armed security guard in NJ, you need to be registered just like an unarmed security officer and be authorized to carry a handgun. New Jersey strictly limits carry permits to “persons specifically employed in security work and to others who can establish an urgent necessity for carrying guns for self-protection.”
Permit to Carry a Handgun in NJ
A permit to carry is required for any handgun and it must be renewed every 2 years. In addition to meeting the requirements of the Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and Permit to Purchase a Handgun, you must also:
- supply proof of your familiarity with handguns (firearms qualifications)
- supply 3 completed applications with four 2×2 photos
- supply employment letter of need and a copy of your security guard registration card
- supply photocopies of past permits, Firearms ID card, driver’s license and Social Security card
- include endorsements from three individuals attesting to your good moral character and ability to exercise self-control
- have a “justifiable need to carry a handgun”
- provide a description and serial number for every handgun you intend to carry
- submit a $20.00 money order made out to the New Jersey Judiciary
NJ Armed Security Officer License Renewal
You must renew your carry permit every 2 years and also re-new your security officer registration every 2 years.