How to get a security guard license in Iowa
Iowa licenses unarmed security guards individually. The credential is the Employee ID card (state-issued identification card for an employee of a licensed private security agency); agencies hold the Private Security Agency License, issued by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Program Services Bureau (Iowa Code chapter 80A; 661 IAC chapter 121).
| Licensing agency | Iowa Department of Public Safety, Program Services Bureau (Iowa Code chapter 80A; 661 IAC chapter 121) official source |
|---|---|
| Credential for unarmed guards | Employee ID card (state-issued identification card for an employee of a licensed private security agency); agencies hold the Private Security Agency License official source |
| Credential for armed guards | Professional permit to carry weapons (Iowa Code chapter 724; 661 IAC 121.19); no separate guard credential found official source |
| Minimum age, unarmed | 18 (661 IAC 121.5(1), applied to ID cards by 121.6) official source |
| Background check | Yes: background investigation by DPS; two FD-258 fingerprint cards or an approved vendor, with FBI processing fees; applicant must not be a peace officer, no felony or aggravated misdemeanor, etc. (661 IAC 121.5) official source |
| State fee | USD 10 (per employee ID card application form (Form PD2), submitted by the agency with the USD 100 agency license fee (661 IAC 121.4(4)(f))); not stated (FBI fingerprint processing fee; the DPS FAQ via search summary put it at USD 30 per set but that page was not read directly) official source |
| Working while the application is pending | Yes: a temporary ID card is issued immediately after payment and is valid 14 calendar days; a provisional permanent card follows once fingerprints are received (DPS page; 661 IAC 121.11) official source |
Official Iowa application page
Checked against official Iowa sources on Oct 18, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the licensing agency before you apply. This page lists only facts we could confirm on an official page.
Open security guard jobs in Iowa
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