How to get a Class D security license in Florida: requirements, training and renewal

To work as a security officer in Florida, you need a Class "D" Security Officer License from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing. You must be at least 18, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien or have authority to work in the United States, complete at least 40 hours of training at an FDACS-licensed security officer school, and submit your fingerprints. You can apply online, in person at a regional office or by mail.

This guide walks through each step, the Class "G" license for armed officers, renewal, and what an employer should keep on file. Every rule below comes from the official FDACS pages: Private Security Licenses, Class "D" Security Officer License Requirements, the electronic fingerprints FAQ, the Private Investigation, Recovery and Security Services FAQ and Renewing Your Private Security License, checked on November 11, 2026.

Key points#

• Any individual who performs the services of a security officer in Florida must have a Class "D" license from FDACS.
• You must be at least 18 and be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien, or have been granted authority to work in the United States.
• You need proof of at least 40 hours of professional training from a security officer school or training facility licensed by FDACS.
• Every applicant submits a complete set of legible fingerprints. Electronic scanning costs about $35 at a sheriff's office or police department and $42 at an FDACS regional office.
• Licenses issued to individuals last two years. A Class "D" officer who carries a firearm on duty also needs a Class "G" license.

Who needs a Class D security license in Florida?#

FDACS licenses and regulates the private security industry under Chapter 493, Florida Statutes. Its Private Security Licenses page states that any individual who performs the services of a security officer must have a Class "D" license.

FDACS lists these security services: providing bodyguard protection, guarding property, transporting prisoners, providing armored car services, assisting in the prevention of theft, and assisting in the prevention of the misappropriation or concealment of articles of value or assisting in the return of such articles.

The Class "D" license belongs to the officer. A business that works as a private security agency needs its own Class "B" security agency license, and each branch office needs a Class "BB" license.

Other states use different rules and agencies. If you also staff sites in California, see how to get a guard card in California.

Step 1: Check that you qualify#

FDACS lists two eligibility requirements for a Class "D" license. You must:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Be a citizen or legal resident alien of the United States, or have been granted authority to work in this country by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Step 2: Complete 40 hours of training#

You must submit proof of successful completion of a minimum of 40 hours of professional training provided by a security officer school or training facility licensed by FDACS. Those schools hold a Class "DS" license, and the people who teach the classroom instruction hold a Class "DI" security officer instructor license.

If you completed the 40-hour course at a licensed Class "DS" school on or after July 19, 2023, FDACS asks you to look up and print a copy of your training certificate and submit it with your application.

FDACS accepts other proof in place of the 40 hours in four cases:

• You are a currently employed law enforcement officer, correctional officer or correctional probation officer certified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission: a copy of your valid ID card from your employing agency is enough.
• You completed a training program approved by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for certification as one of those officers: a copy of your certificate of completion is enough.
• You qualify for a Class "DI" instructor license under Rule 5N-1.138(1)(e)-(g), Florida Administrative Code: proof of that qualification is enough.
• You received relevant military training or education during service in the U.S. Armed Forces, in accordance with Rule 5N-1.119(4), Florida Administrative Code: proof of that training or education is enough.

Step 3: Submit your fingerprints#

The law requires every applicant for a private security license to submit a complete set of legible fingerprints, and you can submit them electronically. According to the FDACS electronic fingerprints FAQ, you can have them scanned at your local sheriff's office or police department (call ahead to check that it offers the service and whether you need an appointment), at an FDACS regional office, or at a Livescan service provider.

Keep the receipt the technician gives you. It carries your Transaction Control Number (TCN), and copies of these documents go with your application. Most sheriff's offices and police departments cannot take payment, so you pay online through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Civil Applicant Payment System: by credit card, within 30 days of the scan, entering your TCN and name exactly as they appear on the receipt. At a regional office you can pay by personal check, cashier's check or money order.

Send your application to FDACS within 90 days of your fingerprint scan. The FBI allows two fingerprint submissions for one fee if both happen within 180 days, but if your application arrives after 90 days and the first submission has a problem, FDACS may have to ask you to be fingerprinted again and pay another fee.

Step 4: Apply online, in person or by mail#

The Class "D" requirements page gives three ways to apply:

• Online, through the FDACS online licensing portal.
• In person, by scheduling an appointment at a regional office. You do not need to fill in an application form before the appointment. FDACS says appointments are preferred and receive first priority.
• By mail, by downloading the Class "D" Security Officer License Application and mailing it to Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, P.O. Box 5767, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5767.

With the application, include the fingerprint receipts and every document the application instructions list, such as a passport-style color photograph, your training documentation and the license fee. FDACS's fingerprints FAQ says Class "D" applicants are not required to pay an application fee, only the license fee, which is set in the FDACS new application fee schedule.

You can follow your application with the Individual Name Search, which FDACS links from its services FAQ.

Class G: carrying a firearm on duty#

To carry a firearm while performing security duties, a Class "D" officer must also hold a Class "G" Statewide Firearm License. FDACS says the firearm must be required by the employing agency and carried openly, except as provided in Subsection 493.6115(4), Florida Statutes, and that no licensee may carry more than two firearms on their person while on duty.

The Class "G" requirements page sets these rules:

• You must be at least 18 and either a U.S. citizen or a permanent legal resident alien, with documents to prove it. This is narrower than the Class "D" rule, which also accepts work authorization.
• You must complete an initial 28-hour course of classroom and range training: Legal Aspects of Use of Firearms (12 hours), Operational Firearms Safety and Firearms Mechanical Training (8 to 11 hours), and Firearms Qualification (8 hours). No more than eight of the 28 hours can be range training, and students fire 144 rounds for initial qualification.
• To keep the license, you must complete four hours of requalifying training each year, including a passing score on a 48-round cycle of fire.

License term and renewal#

FDACS's services FAQ says licenses issued to individuals are valid for two years. About 95 days before your license expires, FDACS mails you a renewal application with instructions. You can renew a Class "D" license online, in person at a regional office, or by mail to the same P.O. Box in Tallahassee.

A license that has been expired for no more than three months can still be renewed, with a late fee equal to the license fee on top of the renewal fee. After three months, you must apply for a new license. If your license is lost, stolen or destroyed, a replacement individual license costs $15, and the request cannot be made online (Replace Your License).

What employers should keep on file#

For each officer, a security company should be able to show the Class "D" license number and expiry date and the 40-hour training certificate. For armed officers, add the Class "G" license and each year's requalification training certificate.

In Guardix, each officer's licenses and certificates sit on the Documents tab of their employee record with issue and expiry dates and a Valid, Expiring Soon or Expired status, so the office sees renewals coming. See documents and certifications in Guardix, and training and quizzes for keeping training on record.

Frequently asked questions#

How long is a Florida Class D security license valid?#

Two years. FDACS says licenses issued to individuals, including agency managers, have a two-year term. FDACS mails a renewal application about 95 days before the expiration date.

How many training hours do you need for a Class D license?#

At least 40 hours of professional training from a security officer school or training facility licensed by FDACS. Certified law enforcement and correctional officers, applicants who qualify for a Class "DI" instructor license and applicants with relevant U.S. military training can use other proof instead. Armed officers also need the 28-hour Class "G" course and four hours of requalifying training each year.

How much does it cost to get a Class D license in Florida?#

Electronic fingerprinting costs about $35 at a sheriff's office or police department and $42 at an FDACS regional office. FDACS says Class "D" applicants pay no application fee, only the license fee listed in its fee schedule.

Can I get a Class D license if I am not a U.S. citizen?#

Yes, if you are a legal resident alien of the United States or have been granted authority to work in the country by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. A Class "G" firearm license is narrower: it requires U.S. citizenship or permanent legal resident alien status.

Can I renew an expired Class D license?#

Yes, if it has been expired for no more than three months. You pay a late fee equal to the license fee in addition to the renewal fee. After three months, you must apply for a new license.