How to get a security guard license in New York: requirements, training and fees

To get a security guard license in New York State, you register with the New York Department of State (DOS), Division of Licensing Services. You must be 18 years old, complete the 8-hour pre-assignment training, get electronically fingerprinted, have a current NYS photo driver's license or non-driver ID card, and send the Department of State a completed application with the $36 fee. The registration is good for two years.

This guide walks through each step, the training you owe after you start work, and what an employer should keep on file. Every rule below comes from the Department of State pages Become a Security Guard, Security Guard Training Requirements, Electronic Fingerprinting, Renew or Update Security Guard License and the security guard FAQ, checked on November 11, 2026.

Key points#

• A New York security guard license is a security guard registration issued by the Department of State.
• You must be 18, have no conviction for a serious criminal offense, complete the 8-hour pre-assignment course and submit proof of fingerprinting with your application.
• The application fee is $36, and the fingerprinting fees are paid separately to IDEMIA.
• Within 90 days of starting work as a guard you must complete the 16-hour on-the-job training, then 8 hours of in-service training each calendar year.
• The registration is good for two years and costs $25 to renew.

Who needs a security guard license in New York?#

The Department of State says that Section 89-G of Article 7A requires all persons engaged in security guard activities be registered with the New York State Department of State and complete all training (unless exempt) at schools approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

The DOS FAQ lists who is exempt from registration:

• a security guard who is otherwise subject to regulation with respect to registration and training by the federal government in the performance of his or her duties;
• a security guard providing services on a voluntary basis;
• active police officers (police officers separated from service, for example retired, are considered civilians and must register);
• peace officers while working in their official capacity for their primary employer. A peace officer who is moonlighting is considered a security guard and must register.

There is one registration for the whole state, so a guard working in New York City applies to the same Department of State. The Division of Licensing Services has a customer service center at 123 William St., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10038-3804. Guard companies in the city also have new pay rules to plan for: see the NYC security guard minimum wage for 2027.

Step 1: Check that you qualify#

The Department of State lists these requirements:

1. Submit a completed application and the required fee to the Department of State.
2. Be 18 years old.
3. Proof of fingerprint completion.
4. Have not been convicted of a serious criminal offense.
5. Have a current NYS photo driver's license or non-driver ID card.
6. Complete training.

If you do not have a current NYS photo driver's license or non-driver ID card, the DOS FAQ says you must go to a DMV office and have your photo taken (at no cost to you) before you apply, bringing the Request for Photo ID form. DMV gives you a receipt with a 9-digit ID number, which you write on your application.

Step 2: Complete the 8-hour pre-assignment training#

The 8 Hour Pre-Assignment Training is a general introductory course. You must complete it and submit a copy of the certificate with your security guard application. The courses are taught at schools approved by DCJS.

Step 3: Get fingerprinted through IdentoGO#

Security guard applicants must submit electronic fingerprints through IdentoGO by IDEMIA. Rolled fingerprints are not accepted, and you must visit a site in New York. You schedule the appointment at identogo.com (select NY) or by calling 1-877-472-6915, using the service code for Security Guard - Armed or Unarmed: 1545R1. Using the wrong service code may mean you have to be printed again.

Bring a valid ID from the DOS list, such as a driver's license, a DMV non-driver ID card, a U.S. passport or an NYC Identification Card. You get two copies of the receipt: one goes with your application, and the second should be kept by your employer. The receipt is valid for 5 months from the date of fingerprinting, so send the application within that time or you will have to be fingerprinted again.

Step 4: Send the application and fee#

You apply with the Employee Statement and Security Guard Application (DOS-1206), which you download from the Become a Security Guard page. The Department of State publishes it in English and 12 other languages. The DOS pages we checked describe a mailed application, not an online one. The FAQ says completed applications go to:

NYS Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, PO Box 22052, Albany, NY 12201-2052

A completed application must include the signed application, the fingerprinting receipt, the $36 fee, a copy of the 8-hour pre-assignment certificate, any extra documents the application asks for, and, if employment starts when the application is filed, the Notice of Employment section completed by your employer. You also send a signed DMV consent form.

You can pay by check or money order made payable to the Department of State, or by MasterCard or Visa using the DOS credit card authorization form. Do not send cash. Application fees are nonrefundable, and a $20 fee is charged for any check returned by your bank.

The fingerprinting page says the vendor fee is subject to change in January and July of each year. The Become a Security Guard page lists the fingerprint fee as a single $102.50 payable to IDEMIA, so check the amount when you book.

Once you are approved, the Department of State sends your name and DMV number to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which prints the ID card and mails it to your residence address on file.

Step 5: Finish the 16-hour on-the-job training#

The 16 Hour On-The-Job Training (OJT) is a course relevant to the duties of guards, the requirements of the work site and the needs of the employer. You must complete it within 90 days of employment as a security guard.

Step 6: Take the 8-hour annual in-service training and renew#

The 8 Hour Annual In-Service Training must be completed each calendar year you hold a security guard registration. Because the registration is issued for two years, you must complete two 8-hour in-service courses (16 hours every 2 years) within your registration's effective and expiration dates to be eligible for renewal.

Renewal forms are mailed about 90 days before the expiration date, and the renewal fee is $25. You must renew by the expiration date of your current registration or you cannot work as a security guard. If your registration is not renewed within 6 months after it expires, you must re-apply and re-qualify.

The training school, not the guard, reports completed courses: the school submits them to DCJS, which transfers them electronically to the Department of State. Guards may not mail or fax course certificates to the Department of State.

Armed guards#

An armed guard also needs the 47 Hour Firearms Training, which requires a valid NYS Pistol Permit and a security guard registration to enroll, and then the 8 Hour Annual Firearms Training each calendar year on top of the in-service course.

What employers should keep on file#

New York puts real checks on the employer. Before hiring, a guard company must use the Online Security Guard Registry to get a transaction number, and must submit the registration application within 24 hours of receiving it. If the person is already registered, the company sends a Security Guard Employment Status Notification with a $25 fee.

The Department of State says employers should keep, for each guard, one copy of every item in the application, plus the temporary identification card and a copy of the Employment Status Notification. On top of that, a guard company should track the 16-hour OJT deadline, each year's 8-hour in-service course and the registration expiry date.

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 hours on record. If you also staff sites in California, read how to get a guard card in California.

Frequently asked questions#

How much does a New York security guard license cost?#

The Department of State application fee is $36 and the renewal fee is $25. Fingerprinting is paid separately to IDEMIA: the DOS fingerprinting page lists a $75.00 DCJS fee, a $15.00 FBI fee and a $17.50 vendor fee. Training course fees are set by the training school.

How long is a New York security guard registration valid?#

A security guard registration is good for two years. Renewal forms are mailed about 90 days before it expires, and you need two 8-hour annual in-service courses on file to be eligible for renewal.

Do I need a separate security guard license for NYC?#

No separate city registration is described on the Department of State pages: guards in New York City register with the New York State Department of State like the rest of the state. The Division of Licensing Services has a customer service center at 123 William St. in Manhattan.

Can I apply for a New York security guard license online?#

The Department of State pages we checked on November 11, 2026 describe mailing the DOS-1206 application with the fee and fingerprint receipt to PO Box 22052 in Albany. Fingerprint appointments are booked online with IdentoGO.

How many training hours does a New York security guard need?#

An 8-hour pre-assignment course before you apply, a 16-hour on-the-job course within 90 days of starting work, and an 8-hour in-service course every calendar year. Armed guards also need the 47-hour firearms course and 8 hours of firearms training each year.