UNARMED SECURITY GUARD CERTIFICATION CLASS

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, licenses and regulates the unarmed security guard certification and the private security industry in accordance with Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. Security officers and security agencies serve in positions of trust. Untrained and unlicensed persons or businesses, or persons not of good moral character are a threat to the public safety and welfare.

The private security industry is regulated to ensure the interests of the public are adequately served and protected. This information has been made available to inform Florida citizens about licensing requirements. If you would like to know more about the security industry in the state of Florida, please click here. The Securus Group conducts the unarmed security guard certification class weekly.

UNARMED SECURITY GUARD CERTIFICATION (CLASS D COURSE) - $100.00

To begin the licensing process for the unarmed security guard certification, you must first successfully complete 40 hours of unarmed security training at a Security Officer School or Training Facility that is licensed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). The training is typically a 5-day course broken down into 8-hour classroom days. Once the training is completed, and the application is successfully submitted, the Division of Licensing will issue the candidate a temporary Class D License or "blue card" which will allow the student to begin working immediately.

SECURITY GUARD LICENSE - REQUIREMENTS

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, licenses and regulates the private security industry in accordance with Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. Security officers and security agencies serve in positions of trust. Untrained and unlicensed persons or businesses, or persons not of good moral character are a threat to the public safety and welfare. The private security industry is regulated to ensure the interests of the public are adequately served and protected. This information has been made available to inform Florida citizens about licensing requirements.

A security officer is any individual or business who, for consideration, advertises as or is engaged in the business of furnishing security services described below. The individuals and agencies are required to be licensed to, among other activities, conduct the following:

• Act as a bodyguard
• Guard Property
• Transport Prisoners
• Guard Armored Cars
• Seek the return of such stolen valuables
• Attempt to prevent theft, misappropriation or concealment of property or other valuables
• Much more...

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing Class D Security Officer Handbook describes a security officer as follows:

A "security officer" means any individual who, for consideration, advertises as providing or performs bodyguard services or otherwise guards persons or property; attempts to prevent theft or unlawful taking of goods, wares, and merchandise; or attempts to prevent the misappropriation or concealment of goods, wares or merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, or other documents, papers, and articles of value or procurement of the return thereof. The term also includes armored car personnel and those personnel engaged in the transportation of prisoners.

TYPES OF SECURITY GUARD LICENSES

The Florida Division of Licensing categorizes licenses for individuals as either an unarmed security guard license (Class D) or an armed security guard license (Class G). An easy and fun way to remember the differences between licenses is that "G stands for gun". Below, you will find information on which security guard license you may need.

• A Class D Security Guard License is necessary to perform unarmed private security guard services in the state of Florida. Chapter 493 of the Florida State Statutes establishes the essential requirements for the license. The licenses are issued and regulated by the Division of Licensing of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. While it's not necessary to hold a Class D license to act as a bodyguard, the license is needed to work for a Class B private security company as an unarmed officer. Such jobs include guarding entrances to buildings, parking garages and commercial yards.
• A Class G Security Guard License is a security guard license where the individual has received additional training to carry a gun on duty. This security guard license is necessary to perform armed security guard services in the state of Florida. Chapter 493 and Chapter 790 of the Florida State Statutes establish the essential requirements and laws for this license.

SECURITY GUARD GENERAL LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

The Florida Division of Licensing has minimal requirements to become a Security Officer. Each individual licensed by the department must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be of good moral character.
• Not have been adjudicated incapacitated under FS 744.331 or a similar statute in another state, unless her or his capacity has been judicially restored; not have been involuntarily placed in a treatment facility for the mentally ill under Chapter 394 or a similar statute in any other state, unless her or his competency has been judicially restored; and not have been diagnosed as having an incapacitating mental illness, unless a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed in this state certifies that she or he does not currently suffer from the mental illness.
• Not be a chronic and habitual user of alcoholic beverages to the extent that her or his normal faculties are impaired; not have been committed under Chapter 397, former Chapter 396, or a similar law in any other state; not have been found to be a habitual offender under FS 856.011(3) or a similar law in any other state; and not have had two or more convictions under FS 316.193 or a similar law in any other state within the 3-year period immediately preceding the date the application was filed, unless the individual establishes that she or he is not currently impaired and has successfully completed a rehabilitation course.
• Not have been committed for controlled substance abuse or have been found guilty of a crime under Chapter 893 or a similar law relating to controlled substances in any other state within a 3-year period immediately preceding the date the application was filed, unless the individual establishes that she or he is not currently abusing any controlled substance and has successfully completed a rehabilitation course.
• Be a citizen or legal resident alien of the United States or have been granted authorization to seek employment in this country by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

SECURITY GUARD LICENSE - TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

To obtain your security guard license, you will need to graduate from an accredited school and get your diploma.