New York Security Guard Training Requirements
Unarmed
- New NY Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience
- Rookie NY Security Guard Training: 0-12 Months on Duty
- Pro NY Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty
Armed
- New NY Security Officer Training: No Security Guard Experience
- Rookie NY Security Officer Training: No additional requirements for your 1st year
- Pro / Renewal NY Security Officer Training: >1 Year on Duty
New NY Unarmed Security Guard Training
You are a security guard in NY if you are not an active police officer in NYS or a private investigator and 50% of your job is one or more of the following is to:
- Protect people and/or property from harm, theft and/or unlawful activity
- Deter, observe, detect and/or report unlawful or unauthorized activity including, but not limited to unlawful or unauthorized intrusion or entry, larceny, vandalism, abuse, arson or trespass on property
- Provide street patrol service that includes such duties as controlling, by street or other patrol service, access to property, including employee personnel, visitors, vehicles and traffic
- Respond to, but not install or service, a security system alarm installed and/or used to prevent or detect unauthorized intrusion, robbery, burglary, theft, pilferage and other losses and/or to maintain security of protected premises
As security guard it is your responsibility, not your employers, to understand the Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies and Security Guard License Law that applies to your security guard occupation. This law is sometimes referred to as the Security Guard Act of 1992. One of the goals of this law is to make sure that private security service providers adhere to standards to help ensure the welfare of people and property in New York.
Security guard training and licensing in NY is handled by two different state agencies as follows:
- NY Security Guard Training: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
- NY Security Guard Licensing: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
In order to become a security guard in NY, you must first pass a preliminary 8-hour training class and get fingerprinted before submitting your security guard application to the state.
Temporary NY Security Guard License
You can use a temporary security guard identification card issued by your employer until your official security guard registration card is issued or denied. Your temporary card must have “Temporary ID” on it. After the issuance or denial of your official registration card, your employer must keep the temporary card in your personnel file for the duration of your employment or for a one-year period following your dismissal.
Type of NY Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority
- NY Security Guard License Type: Security Guard Registration Card
- NY Security Guard License Length: 2 years
- NY Security Guard Licensing Authority: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
- NY Security Guard Licensing Website: Division of Licensing Services for Security Guards
- NY Security Guard Licensing Phone Number: (518) 474-7569
- NY Security Guard Licensing Address: NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001
NY Security Guard License Laws: Security Guard Act of 1992
New York Security Guard Training Requirements & Fees
You must take the required security guard training as shown in the table below in order to apply to be a security guard in New York. The security guard training classes must be taken from a security guard training provider approved by the Criminal Justice Services. Make sure the training provider you chose has a valid license by checking the DCJS website.
- NY Pre-assignment Security Guard Training Course: 8 hours (cost varies by security officer class provider)
The cost of these classes are set by the security guard training provider, not by the state of NY.
New York Security Guard Training (Pre-assignment Course)
The pre-assignment Security Guard Training Course is an overview of security guard duties and responsibilities, including the security guard role, legal powers and limitations, emergency situations, communications and public relations, access control, ethics and conduct. You must pass a written exam to successfully complete this class.
New York Security Guard Training Exemptions
Security guard training exemptions don’t necessarily exempt you from registering as a security guard. You are exempt from taking the initial 8-hour security guard training course, the 16-hour on the job security guard training course and the 47-hour firearms training course, if you are a If you are a current or former:
- Police officer
- NYS correction officer
- NYS bridge and tunnel officer, sergeant or lieutenant of the TBTA
- Court officer or clerk of the Unified Court System
- Sheriff, undersheriff or deputy sheriff in NYC
- Other peace officer
However, if you’re not currently employed in one of the above applications, you may need to take the yearly 8-hour in-service training for unarmed guards and/or yearly 8-hour in-service training for armed guards. Refer to the security guard training requirements page on the Criminal Justice Services website.
NY Security Guard Application Fees
- NY Security Guard Application Fee: $36
- Payment Types Accepted: Money order, company check, cashier’s check. Don’t send cash. No personal checks or credit cards.
- Payable To: NYS Department of State
- Late Fee: $100 (After 30 days employed as security officer.)
NY Security Guard Registration Requirements
To become a registered security guard in New York:
- You must be 18 years of age
- You must be a citizen or resident alien of the United States
- You must have completed an 8-hour pre-assignment training course
- You cannot have not been convicted of a serious criminal offense serious offense or of
a misdemeanor - You must be of good moral character and fitness
- You must not have been declared by any court to be incompetent by reason of mental disease or defect that has not been removed
- You not have been discharged from a correctional or law enforcement agency for incompetence or misconduct
- You must not have a physical or mental disability or disability by reason of intoxication or the use of, addiction to or dependence on alcohol or drugs that makes you unable to perform the essential functions of the security guard position, with or without reasonable accommodation, or if you pose a direct threat to health or safety
NY Security Guard Registration Exemptions
- A security guard subject to registration and training by the federal government
- A volunteer security guard
- Active police officers are exempt from registration, but, when employed by a contractual entity, they must complete an Employee Statement but do not need to be fingerprinted.
- Peace officers while working in their official capacity for their primary employer. However, if moonlighting, a peace officer is considered a security guard and must register.
You aren’t exempt from registering as a security guard if you’re a retired police officer.
NY Security Guard Application Process
To apply to be an unarmed security guard in NY, you must mail the following items into the Division of Licensing:
- Completed Employee Statement and Security Guard Application form available online. This form will ask about your employment history, citizenship, criminal history, obligation to pay child support, and whether you are starting to work as a security guard while your application is being processed. If you are 4 or more months behind in your child support payments, you can have your security guard registration revoked or not approved.
- Copy of certificate showing completion of an 8-hour pre-assignment course;
- Signed DMV consent form. This form will be used to get a photo of you to put on your security guard registration guard. Your license photo will be used. If you don’t have a license, you can go to the DMV with a Request for Photo ID form and get a photo taken for free to use with this form.
- One receipt that provides proof of fingerprint completion OR a rolled FBI (blue) fingerprint card, applicable fees and card scan information form.
- $36.00 fee payable to the NYS Department of State
- Any additional documentation requested in response to specific questions on the application form; and if employment will commence with filing of the application, the Notice of Employment section must be completed by your employer
- If applying for an armed security guard registration, a course completion certificate for 47 hours of firearms training, or a copy of the waiver issued by the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
- Mail your license application and application fee to:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
P.O. Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-2001
NY Security Guard Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees
To become a security guard in NY you must get your fingerprints taken and submit them to the licensing authority in order for a background check to be run on you. Fingerprinting in NY is done by the L1 Enrollment Services.
- Amount: $105
- Payment Types Accepted: Certified check, money order, cashier’s check.
- Payable To: L-1 Enrollment Services
The above security guard fingerprinting fee includes the following fees:
- Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) fee: $75
- FBI fee: $19.25
- Fingerprint vendor fee: $10.75
To get your electronic fingerprints taken for your security guard registration application:
- Schedule an appointment at a L1 Enrollment location near you through their website or by calling 877.472.6915. When you schedule your fingerprinting, use the required ORI number (or in this case a word) of SecGuard and the License Type of Security Guard – Armed or Unarmed.
- Download the Request for NYS Fingerprinting Services-Information Form Security Guards (DOS-1870).
- Complete the Security Guards (DOS-1870) form.
- Make sure you have two of the required IDs listed on the Security Guards (DOS-1870) form. One of the IDs must have a recent picture of you on it.
- Go to the L1 location you scheduled your appointment with at the scheduled time. Make sure to bring along the a printed copy of the completed Security Guards (DOS-1870) form, the 2 required forms of IDs and a check for the $105 fee.
- After you are fingerprinted, you get 2 copies of your receipt.
New York Security Guard License Suspended, not Approved or Renewed or Revoked
If your New York security guard license was suspended or denied, it may be because you failed to take the required training, failed to update your personal and employment statuses with the Licensing Department or failed to pay the appropriate registration and renewal fees. Also, if you’re convicted of any serious crime or a misdemeanor or you fall more than 4 months behind on child support payments, your license can be revoked.
NY Security Guard Training Locations
The following are a few locations where you can get NY security guard training.
Rookie NY Security Guard Training
Once your have your temporary NY security officer license, you need to meet the following requirements your 1st year on duty as a security guard:
- NY on-the-job Security Guard Training Course within 90 Days: 16 hours (cost varies)
Pro / Renewal NY Security Guard Training
NY Security Guard Continuing Education
- NY Annual In-service Security Guard Training Course: 8 hours (cost varies)
- NY Security Officer Application Renewal: Every 2 years
- NY Security Guard License Renewal Fee: $25
NY Yearly In-service Security Guard Training Course
The yearly in-service security guard training course is 8 hours with a variable cost depending on the training school. The cost of this class is set by the security guard training provider, not by the state of NY.
The Annual In-service NY Security Guard Training Course provides updated and enhanced information on the duties and responsibilities of a security guard that were covered in the pre-assignment course.
Security Guard Registration Renewal, Updates & Replacements
- You must renew your security guard registration in NY every 2 years.
- You must mail in your security guard registration renewal 90 days prior to its expiration date.
- If you don’t renew your security guard registration within 6 months after your current registration expiration date, you must re-apply and re-qualify to be a security guard.
- If you don’t renew your security guard registration by the end of your current registration’s expiration date, you cannot work as a security guard.
NY Security Officer Application Renewal
- Renew Every: 2 years
- Fee: $25
- Payment Types Accepted: Money order, company check, or cashier’s check. Don’t mail cash. No credit cards or personal checks.
- Payable To: NYS Department of State
Duplicate NY Security Guard Registration Card
If you lose or damage your security guard registration card license you can request a duplicate copy for $10 using the Duplicate License/Registration Request form.
Change of NY Security Guard Personal Information
As a security guard, if your name, residential address or business address changes, you must report this change to the Division of Licensing using the Change Notice form.
Change from NY Unarmed to NY Armed Security Guard
If you want to change from being an unarmed security guard to an armed security guard you must report this change to the Division of Licensing using the Security Guard Change of Status form. Along with this completed form, you must also return your current security guard registration, proof of taking the required armed security guard training and a $20 check payable to the NYS Department of State.
New Armed NY Security Officer Training
In New York if you want to be an armed security guard, in addition to the unarmed guard training and registration requirements you must complete a 47-hour firearms course and submit the completion certificate with your application to get an armed guard registration card. In order to take the 47-hour firearms course you must have a valid pistol license and a valid security guard registration card.
Type of NY Armed Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority
- NY Armed Security Guard License Type: Armed guard registration card
- NY Armed Security Guard License Length: 2 years
- NY Armed Security Guard Licensing Authority: New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services
- NY Armed Security Guard Licensing Website: Division of Licensing Services for Security Guards
- NY Armed Security Guard Licensing Phone Number: (518) 474-7569
- NY Armed Security Guard Licensing Address: NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, PO Box 22001, Albany, NY 12201-2001
- License Laws: Security Guard Act of 1992
First follow the instructions in the unarmed security guard section for how to become an unarmed security guard.
New Armed NY Security Guard Training Requirements
To become an armed security guard you must take a firearms course as well as the required training for an unarmed guard. You have to be a registered unarmed security guard before you can become an armed security guard in NY.
47-Hour Firearms Training Course for Armed Security Guards in New York
You must already have a valid pistol license and a valid NYS security guard registration card. You must pass a written test and qualify with handgun to successfully complete this class. This class consists of the following two parts:
- 7 hours of NYS Penal Law Article 35 regarding the Use of Force and Deadly Physical Force
- 40 hours of range instruction and qualification
New Armed NY Security Guard Training Exemptions
If you’re currently a police officer, you may be exempt from some of the initial armed security guard training requirements. Check the Criminal Justice Services website for more information.
NY Armed Security Guard Renewal Training
You must complete this class within 1 year of completion of the 47-Hour Firearms Training Course for Armed Guards and every year thereafter. You must already have a valid pistol license and a valid NYS security guard registration card.
8-Hour Annual Firearms Training Course for NY Armed Security Guards
You must pass a written test and qualify with handgun to successfully complete the annual firearms training class. This class consists of the following two sections:
- 3 hours of NYS Penal Law Article 35 regarding the Use of Force and Deadly Physical Force
- 5 hours of range instruction and qualification