How to get a security guard license in New York

New York licenses unarmed security guards individually. The credential is the Security Guard Registration (security guard registration card), issued by the New York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (security guard registration); training mandated by General Business Law Article 7-A with course approval by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

Licensing agencyNew York State Department of State, Division of Licensing Services (security guard registration); training mandated by General Business Law Article 7-A with course approval by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) official source
Credential for unarmed guardsSecurity Guard Registration (security guard registration card) official source
Credential for armed guardsArmed security guard registration (armed guard registration card); the 47-hour firearms course requires a valid NYS pistol permit and a security guard registration to enroll official source
Minimum age, unarmed18 (NY Business Express: applicant must be at least 18 years of age) official source
Training, unarmed8-hour pre-assignment course (certificate submitted with the application); 16-hour on-the-job training within 90 days of employment; 8-hour annual in-service training each calendar year (two courses, 16 hours, per 2-year registration, needed to renew) official source
Training, armed47-hour firearms course (certificate submitted with the armed upgrade application) or a DCJS waiver; then each calendar year an 8-hour annual in-service course and an 8-hour annual firearms course official source
Background checkYes: all applicants must submit fingerprints (DOS FAQ); a DMV photo/ID record is used for the card official source
State feeUSD 36 (security guard registration application fee payable to the NYS Department of State (DOS FAQ; Business Express)); USD 75 Criminal Justice fee + USD 12 FBI fee + vendor fee (electronic fingerprints through the IdentoGO vendor (NY Business Express); total with vendor fee not confirmed); USD 25 (renewal (DOS FAQ); also the change-of-employer fee (Business Express)) official source
Renewal2 years (NY Business Express: biennial term, renewable biennially, renewal notices sent automatically) official source
Working while the application is pendingYes, employment may start with the filing of the application: the employer gets a transaction number from the Online Security Guard Registry, files the application (with the 8-hour pre-assignment certificate) within 24 hours and completes its Notice of Employment section; the employer keeps the guard's Temporary Identification Card on file (DOS FAQ) official source

Checked against official New York 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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