How to get a security guard license in Georgia: unarmed and armed

In Georgia, security guards are regulated by the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, which sits under the Secretary of State. An unarmed guard does not register with the Board, but must be trained to the Board's standards, with at least 24 hours of basic classroom training. An armed guard needs an employee registration and a weapon permit from the Board. The employer files the application, the guard is fingerprinted through a Georgia Applicant Processing Services (GAPS) site, and the initial armed registration fee is $70.

This guide covers who needs what, the training, the application, the fees and the renewal. The facts below come from the Board's Private Detective and Security Agency FAQ, its employee registration application, its fee schedule, its weapon permit application and the Board rules in Chapter 509-2 and Chapter 509-3, checked on November 13, 2026. Several of these pages could not be opened directly when we checked, so some facts are as the Board's pages are quoted in search results. Confirm fees with the Board before you pay.

Key points#

• Unarmed security guards are not required to register with the Board, but they must be trained under the Board's laws and rules.
• The Board's FAQ sets basic training for security guards at a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction.
• Armed guards must be at least 21, complete at least 15 hours of firearms classroom training and score at least 80% on a firing range.
• The employer submits the application for each armed guard, and the guard completes LiveScan fingerprinting at a GAPS site.
• Employee registrations and weapon permits expire on August 31 of each odd-numbered year, and weapon permit holders must qualify every year.

Who needs a security guard license in Georgia?#

Georgia splits guards into two groups. The employee registration application says unarmed security guards are not required to be registered with the Board, but they must be trained according to Board standards. In practice, the "license" for an unarmed guard in Georgia is proof of that training, kept by the employer.

Armed guards are different. The employer must submit an application to the Board for every employee hired to work as an armed security guard, even if the employee already holds an active registration with another company. Employee registrations are not transferable. A company must hold its own Board license before its employees can apply under it.

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

Step 1: Check that you are eligible#

According to the Board's FAQ, you must be at least 18 years of age to be employed by a licensed company as a private detective or armed security guard, and at least 21 for armed licenses. The Board runs a fingerprint background check on every applicant for a registration. The Board's application and rules list the other conditions, including criminal history questions, so read them before you apply.

Step 2: Complete the training#

The training must follow the Board's curriculum and be taught under its rules for instructors. A concealed carry permit does not, on its own, let you work as an armed guard.

Step 3: Your employer applies to the Board#

The Board takes online applications through its GOALS licensing portal, which is linked from the Secretary of State's online licensure applications page. The licensed company files the employee registration for each armed guard, with the supporting documents the application lists. A separate weapon permit application covers the weapon the guard will carry. For a concealed handgun or shotgun permit, the employer must explain in writing why the employee's duties need it.

Step 4: Get fingerprinted through GAPS#

The Board's forms tell applicants to complete LiveScan fingerprinting at an approved Georgia Applicant Processing Services (GAPS) site. The fingerprint fee is paid to the fingerprint processor, not to the Board, and the Board does not approve the registration until the results arrive.

Fees#

The fee schedule also lists a processing fee on each application, with a lower amount for online filing than for paper. Fees are non-refundable. The Board accepts cashier's checks, certified checks, money orders or an approved online payment method. The schedules we found are dated 2022 and 2023, so check the current one before you pay.

Step 5: Renew by August 31 of odd-numbered years#

Board Rule 509-2 says employee registrations and weapon permits expire on August 31 of each odd-numbered year. Renewal is done online, and the renewal period opens 90 days before the expiration date. The Board's how-to guide describes a late window in September with a late fee. A registration or weapon permit that is not renewed by the end of that window is treated as revoked.

Continuing education is required every two years, in addition to the yearly weapon requalification. According to Board Rule 509-3-.12, registered security employees need eight hours before renewal: two hours in homeland security, two hours in firearms-related training and four hours in industry-related training. Employees renewing for the first time are exempt for that first renewal period. Proof of completion is reported to CE Broker.

What employers should keep on file#

In Georgia the company carries most of the paperwork. For unarmed guards, there is no state registration to look up, so the training record is your proof that the guard meets the Board's standards. Keep the 24-hour basic training certificate for every guard, armed or not. For armed guards, also keep the registration number and its expiry date, the weapon permit, the firearms training and range scores, each year's requalification and the continuing education certificates.

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 the odd-year renewal coming. See documents and certifications in Guardix, and training and quizzes for keeping training hours on record. For what guards do once they are on post, read security guard duties and responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions#

Do unarmed security guards need a license in Georgia?#

Unarmed guards do not register with the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. They must still be trained according to the Board's laws and rules, and the Board's FAQ sets basic training for security guards at a minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction.

How old do you have to be to be an armed guard in Georgia?#

The Board's FAQ says you must be at least 21 for armed licenses. Armed applicants also complete firearms training and pass a range qualification with a score of at least 80%.

How much does a Georgia armed security guard registration cost?#

The Board's fee schedule lists $70 for an initial armed security guard employee registration and $25 for a weapon permit, plus a processing fee. On-time renewal is $65 and late renewal is $80. Fingerprinting is paid separately to the processor.

When does a Georgia security registration expire?#

Employee registrations and weapon permits expire on August 31 of each odd-numbered year, whenever they were issued. You can renew online from 90 days before that date.

Can I take my Georgia armed registration to a new employer?#

No. Employee registrations are not transferable, and each licensed company must submit an application for every armed guard it hires, even one who already holds an active registration with another company.