How to get a security guard license in Arizona: the DPS guard card

In Arizona, the guard card is a security guard registration certificate issued by the Licensing Unit of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). You must be at least 18, a US citizen or legal resident authorized to work, and free of the criminal history the statute lists. You complete an 8-hour unarmed training class with a DPS-registered instructor, submit fingerprints and apply through the DPS Public Services Portal. The fee is $50 for an unarmed registration and $100 for an armed one.

This guide covers each step, the armed card, the fees and the renewal. The facts below come from the DPS Licensing page, the DPS security guard application checklist, the DPS 8-hour unarmed training syllabus and Arizona Revised Statutes § 32-2622 and § 32-2624, checked on November 13, 2026. These pages could not be opened directly when we checked, so the facts are as the DPS and legislature pages are quoted in search results. Confirm fees with DPS Licensing before you pay.

Key points#

• Arizona's guard card is the DPS security guard registration certificate, unarmed or armed.
• You must be at least 18 and a US citizen or legal resident authorized to work in the United States.
• Every guard completes an 8-hour unarmed pre-assignment class taught by a DPS-registered instructor.
• Armed guards also complete a 16-hour initial firearms course and an 8-hour armed refresher every year.
• Registrations received on or after September 26, 2025 are valid for four years, and DPS accepts renewals up to 6 months before expiration.

Who needs a guard card in Arizona?#

Anyone who works as a security guard for a licensed security guard agency in Arizona needs a DPS registration certificate. The DPS training syllabus is clear on timing: a guard may not work a post until they hold a valid card, and a guard working on a pending application is in violation of state law.

If you work in another state, the rules change: see the guides for California, Texas, Florida and New York.

Step 1: Check that you qualify#

A.R.S. § 32-2622 sets the qualifications for a security guard or armed security guard registration certificate. You must:

• be at least eighteen years of age;
• be a US citizen or legal resident who is authorized to seek employment in the United States;
• not have been convicted of any felony or currently be under indictment for a felony;
• not have been convicted, within the five years before applying, of certain misdemeanors, such as those involving dishonesty, fraud, theft or domestic violence;
• not be on parole, community supervision, work furlough, home arrest or any other release, or named in an outstanding arrest warrant;
• not be a registered sex offender.

Armed applicants must also pass more background screening, complete the firearms training and must not be a prohibited possessor. Read the full statute for the exact list before you apply.

Step 2: Complete the 8-hour training#

The 8-hour unarmed pre-assignment training class must be taught by a DPS-registered security guard training instructor, and only that instructor can sign the training verification form. DPS says the training may not be done with videos alone. The form is also signed by the applicant and by the agency's qualifying party or resident manager.

The armed classes must be taught by a DPS-registered firearms-safety training instructor.

Step 3: Apply through the DPS Public Services Portal#

DPS directs applicants to its Public Services Portal to apply for security guard registrations. Create an account, and you can receive messages from DPS and check your application status there. The DPS checklist (form 802-03960S) lists what the application needs:

• the signed and dated registration application;
• the application fee and the fingerprint fee;
• a legible copy of your ID;
• the signed and dated training verification form;
• a 2"x2" photo;
• fingerprints;
• a copy of your proof of US citizenship or legal residence;
• for armed applicants who served in the military, a copy of the DD214.

DPS returns a packet without processing if key items are missing or incomplete.

Step 4: Submit your fingerprints#

Every application needs fingerprints and the fingerprint fee. According to DPS, after you submit your application in the portal you receive a reference number to use when you are fingerprinted. DPS describes electronic fingerprinting at a Fieldprint location, and fingerprint cards taken at a police department, sheriff's office or other provider. Follow the instructions the portal gives you for your application.

Step 5: Wait for approval#

DPS asks applicants to allow at least 15 business days after submitting before they contact the Licensing Unit about status. DPS cannot email or fax status to applicants or employers, so check the portal instead. Remember that you cannot work a post while the application is pending.

Step 6: Renew every four years#

Under A.R.S. § 32-2624, as amended in 2025, registration certificates are issued for four years. DPS says licenses and registration certificates received on or after September 26, 2025 are valid for four years, and the expiration date is printed on the identification card. DPS accepts renewals up to 6 months before expiration. Armed guards must also keep up the 8-hour refresher every year.

What employers should keep on file#

Arizona puts the pre-assignment training on the agency: the agency's qualifying party or resident manager signs each guard's training verification form, and a guard may not work a post until the card is issued. For each guard, keep a copy of the card and its expiry date, the signed training verification form and, for armed guards, the 16-hour firearms certificate and each year's refresher.

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 the yearly armed hours on record. For what guards do once they are on post, read security guard duties and responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions#

How much does an Arizona guard card cost?#

DPS lists $50 for a new or renewed unarmed security guard registration and $100 for an armed one. The fingerprint processing fee is $22, and training schools set their own course prices.

How long is the Arizona guard card training?#

Every guard completes an 8-hour unarmed pre-assignment class with a DPS-registered instructor. Armed guards also complete a 16-hour initial firearms course and an 8-hour refresher every year.

How old do you have to be to get a guard card in Arizona?#

A.R.S. § 32-2622 says an applicant must be at least eighteen years of age. The applicant must also be a US citizen or legal resident authorized to work in the United States.

Can I work while my Arizona guard card is pending?#

No. The DPS training syllabus says a guard may not work a post until they hold a valid card, and a guard working on a pending application is in violation of state law.

How long is an Arizona guard card valid?#

Registration certificates received on or after September 26, 2025 are valid for four years. The expiration date is printed on the card, and DPS accepts renewals up to 6 months before it.