How to get a security guard license in New Jersey

New Jersey licenses unarmed security guards individually. The credential is the Security Officer Certification (SORA certification), issued by the New Jersey State Police, Private Detective Unit (Security Officer Registration Act, SORA, N.J.S.A. 45:19A).

Licensing agencyNew Jersey State Police, Private Detective Unit (Security Officer Registration Act, SORA, N.J.S.A. 45:19A) official source
Credential for unarmed guardsSecurity Officer Certification (SORA certification) official source
Credential for armed guardsArmed Security Officer Certification: a separate SORA application on the NJSP online portal; its firearms requirements were not researched official source
Training, unarmed24 hours of security officer training from a certified SORA instructor, with fingerprinting and training both completed within 30 days of applying; 8-hour refresher before each renewal. Active law enforcement officers are exempt from the 24-hour course only official source
Background checkYes: fingerprints through the NJSP vendor (MorphoTrak/IdentoGO), form printed from the online application official source
State feeUSD 75 (non-refundable initial Security Officer application fee (NJSP SORA FAQs)); not confirmed (fingerprinting and renewal: the two official NJSP FAQs give different amounts (fingerprints USD 78 or USD 67.50; renewal USD 60 or USD 82.55) and the current NJSP fee page returned 404; confirm with NJSP before publishing) official source
Renewal2 years official source

Official New Jersey application page

Checked against official New Jersey 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.

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