Ohio Security Guard Training & License

Unarmed

• New OH Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience.
• Rookie OH Security Guard Training: No additional requirements during your 1st year on duty.
• Pro OH Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty.

Armed

• New OH Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience.
• Rookie OH Security Guard Training: No additional requirements during your 1st year on duty.
• Pro OH Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty.

New Unarmed Security Guard OH – Fees & Training

Type of Security Guard Registration Required & Issuing Authority

• Security Guard Registration Type: Security Guard
• Security Guard Registration Length: 1 year
• Security Guard Registration Authority:  Ohio Department of Public Safety Private Investigators & Security Services
• Security Guard Registration Authority Website: http://www.pisgs.ohio.gov/pisgs.stm
• Security Guard Registration Authority Phone Number: (614) 466-4130 and (614) 466-0342 (fax)
• Security Guard Registration Authority Address: 

1970 West Broad Street
P.O. Box 182001
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2001

• Security Guard Registration Laws: Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4749

Temporary Security Guard License

You may work as an unarmed security officer before you receive your security guard  identification card from the BCI department only if:

• Your employer obtains a waiver from the person who receives, for hire, security guard services,  acknowledging that the person is aware the employees have not completed their registration and  agreeing to their employment.

In most cases, no one will sign this waiver due to the liability issues involved.

Security Guard Training Requirements & Fee

Ohio doesn’t mandate any security guard training. However, your employer may require you to take training before starting to work as a security guard.

Security Guard Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees

You need to electronically submit your fingerprints when applying to register as a security guard in Ohio through WebCheck. Your employer may take your fingerprints or you may need to provide them.  You need an FBI check if you’ll be carrying a weapon. Else you only need a BCI background check. Your employer doesn’t submit your fingerprints. You must submit them directly to the BCI. Typical fingerprinting fees are:

• Ohio BCI (state database check): $40.00  (varies by provider)
• FBI (national database check): $50.00 (varies by provider)
• Ohio BCI & FBI (both database checks): $70.00 (varies by provider)

Security Guard Registration Application Fees

• Security Guard Registration Application Fee: $40
• Payment Types Accepted: Money order or check
• Payable To: Ohio Treasurer

Security Guard Other Requirements

In order to be a security guard in Ohio, you need to:

• Have not been convicted of a felony in the last 20 years.
• Have not been convicted of a misdemeanor on the last 20 years.

Security Guard Registration ID Card

If your security guard registration is accepted, the statue issues you a security guard registration card. This card has:

• Your employer’s license  number and signature. If you’re employed by a company, the signature is of its president or its qualifying agent.
• Your name, address, age, physical description.
• Your right thumb print or other identifying mark.
• Your  recent photograph.
• Your signature.

Replacing a Lost Security Guard ID Card in Ohio

If you lose, spoil or destroy your security guard card, you can get a replacement one by

• Filing out the Ohio Registration Form again, but checking the Replacement Card box
• Paying a $5 fee.

Security Guard Registration Process

To register as a security guard in OH:

1. The employer submits an application to register a new employee no sooner than 3 days nor later than 7 calendar days after the date on which the employee is hired.
2. Submitted with each employee’s registration application are one recent 2″x2″ color passport  type photo of the employee, the employee’s physical description, and the registration fee of $40.
3. The employee electronically submits one complete set of fingerprints directly to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification (BCI) through WebCheck. Use the attorney general’s website to find a fingerprinting location and WebCheck fingerprinting submittal forms.
4. The BCI conducts a criminal records check.
5. If, after investigation, the BCI finds that the employee has not been convicted of a felony within the  last 20 years, the BCI director issues to the employee a security guard  identification card.

Registration Exemptions

Commissioned peace officers are exempt from  security guard registration.

Ohio Security Guard Registration Renewals & Updates

Once you’ve been a guard for a year in Ohio, you need to renew your security guard registration.

Security Officer Application Renewal

• Renew Every: 1 year
• Fee: $25 (late renewal fee of $40)
• Payment Types Accepted: Money order and cashier’s check
• Payable To: Ohio Treasurer

You cannot have been convicted of a felony offense within the last year for your security guard registration to be renewed. Your employer submits the registration renewal form for you after you have filled it out.

New Armed Security Guard OH – Fees & Training

Type of Armed Security Guard Registration Required & Issuing Authority

• Security Guard Registration Type: Armed Security Guard
• Security Guard Registration Length: 1 year
• Security Guard Registration Authority:  Ohio Department of Public Safety Private Investigators & Security Services
• Security Guard Registration Authority Website: http://www.pisgs.ohio.gov/pisgs.stm
• Security Guard Registration Authority Phone Number: (614) 466-4130 and (614) 466-0342 (fax)
• Security Guard Registration Authority Address: 

1970 West Broad Street
P.O. Box 182001
Columbus, Ohio 43218-2001

• Security Guard Registration Laws: Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4749

Security Guard Training Requirements & Fee

Ohio does mandate firearms training and registration for you to be an armed security guard.

• Handgun Training: 20 hours. Cost varies by training provider. $200 typical.
• Additional Training: 5 hours per each type of non-handgun weapon you’ll carry on your job. Cost varies by training provider. $110 typical for shotgun training.

Security Guard Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees

You need to electronically submit your fingerprints when applying to register as a security guard in Ohio through WebCheck. Your employer may take your fingerprints or you may need to provide them.  You need both a BCI and an FBI background check if you’ll be carrying a weapon. Your employer doesn’t submit your fingerprints. You must submit them directly to the BCI and FBI. Typical fingerprinting fees are:

• Ohio BCI (state database check): $40.00  (varies by provider)
• FBI (national database check): $50.00 (varies by provider)
• Ohio BCI & FBI (both database checks): $70.00 (varies by provider)

Security Guard Registration Application Fees

• Security Guard Armed Registration Application Fee: $15 (This is in addition to the $40 unarmed security guard registration fee.)
• Payment Types Accepted: Money order or check
• Payable To: Ohio Treasurer

Armed Security Guard Other Requirements

In order to be a security guard in Ohio, you need to:

• Have not been convicted of a felony in the last 20 years.
• Have not been convicted of a misdemeanor on the last 20 years.

Armed Security Guard Registration Process

To register as armed security guard in OH:

1. Complete the application and registration process for an unarmed security guard.
2. Complete the 20 hours of handgun training from a police organization. If you will be carrying another type of firearm, complete 5 hours of additional approved training specific to the weapon you’ll be carrying. You’ll receive a certificate of training completion.
3. Your employer submits an Employee Firearm-bearer Notation Application and a copy of your certificate of completion to the Ohio Department of Public Safety Private Investigators & Security Services department.
4. The Public Safety Department runs a fingerprint background check on you through the FBI.
5. If you successfully pass the FBI background check, you’ll receive an armed security guard registration card that looks the same as the unarmed security guard registration card, except it will also have a firearm-bearer notation on it.

Concealed Handguns

Nothing in the security guard registration law prohibits security guard from carrying a concealed  handgun if the security guard complies with sections 2923.124 to 2923.1213 of  the Revised Code. However, your employer may require you to not carry a concealed weapon while on duty.

Both concealed carry and exposed carry gun laws change frequently. It is part of your responsibility as a gun carrier to keep informed about the gun carry laws in your state. Check your state’s websites frequently to keep up with the latest changes in gun carry laws to make sure you’re not violating these laws.

• Renew Every: 1 year
• Fee: $15 (in addition to the unarmed security guard registration renewal fee.)
• Payment Types Accepted: Money order and cashier’s check
• Payable To: Ohio Treasurer

Armed Security Guard Registration Renewal Requirements

To renew your armed security guard registration in Michigan, you must:

• Re-qualify for firearms registration every year by taking training authorized by the police.
• Have not been convicted of a felony in the last 1 year.

Armed Security Guard Re-qualification Training

The cost and number of hours of training required to re-qualify depends on the number of types of guns you are re-qualifying for and the training provider. Below are some typical costs and hours for firearm requalification in Ohio:

• Handgun only: $100 for 4 hours (typical)
• Shotgun only: $80 for 4 hours (typical)