How to get a security guard license in South Carolina

South Carolina licenses unarmed security guards individually. The credential is the Security Officer Registration Certificate, issued by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Private Security Services (S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 18).

Licensing agencySouth Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Private Security Services (S.C. Code Title 40 Chapter 18) official source
Credential for unarmed guardsSecurity Officer Registration Certificate official source
Credential for armed guardsArmed security officer registration (separate registration with firearms training and annual requalification) official source
Minimum age, unarmed18 (S.C. Code 40-18-80(A)(5)) official source
Minimum age, armed21 for the Security Weapons Permit a registered security officer needs to carry a firearm (S.C. Code 40-18-100(A)) official source
Training, unarmedSLED-approved training program before registration; SLED's Primary Basic curriculum is a minimum of 4 hours classroom plus 2 hours for company orientation and assignment-specific issues, with written tests and 80% minimum (curriculum PDF read via search tool; not opened directly) official source
Training, armedfirearms in-service and requalification at least once per year (SLED curriculum via search tool); initial armed hours not read official source
Background checkYes: one set of fingerprints, a colour photograph taken within 6 months, and a SLED-approved drug screen; applicant must be a US citizen, with no felony or crime of moral turpitude official source
State feeUSD 65.00 annually (unarmed private security officer registration (S.C. Code Regs. 73-408)); USD 110.00 annually (armed private security officer registration (S.C. Code Regs. 73-408)); USD 20.00 (replacement of a lost or destroyed registration card); separate (FBI fingerprint fee (amount not stated on the pages read)) official source
Renewal1 year (registration is valid for one year, S.C. Code 40-18-80(A)(9)) official source
Working while the application is pendingYes: pending issuance a security officer may perform duties for up to 30 days after SLED receives the application, with no arrest authority and no firearm (S.C. Code 40-18-80(A)(2)) official source

Official South Carolina application page

Checked against official South Carolina 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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