How to get a security guard license in Virginia: DCJS registration

In Virginia, a security guard does not get a "license" in the usual sense. You get a registration from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). An unarmed guard applies for the Unarmed Security Officer/Courier registration. You must be at least 18, finish the 18-hour entry-level course called 01E Security Officer Core Subjects, apply online, pay the fee and submit your fingerprints.

This guide walks through each step, the fees, the 90-day rule for new hires and the renewal. The facts come from the DCJS Unarmed Security Officer/Courier page, the DCJS initial registration application and renewal application, the DCJS private security FAQs and the DCJS regulations in 6VAC20-174, checked on November 13, 2026. DCJS changes its fees from time to time, so confirm the amounts on its site before you pay.

Key points#

• Virginia security officers are registered, not licensed, by DCJS. The unarmed category is the Unarmed Security Officer/Courier registration.
• You must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien.
• The entry-level training is 01E Security Officer Core Subjects, 18 hours with a written exam.
• According to DCJS, the initial 2-year registration fee is $39, plus a separate $25 criminal history processing fee.
• A new unarmed officer can work for up to 90 consecutive days while finishing training, if fingerprints were submitted on or before the date of hire and the employer gives a 90-day authorization document.
• To renew, an unarmed officer completes 4 hours of in-service training (01I) and, according to the DCJS renewal form, pays $34.

Who needs a DCJS registration in Virginia?#

DCJS registers the people who work for licensed private security services businesses. The registration categories include unarmed security officer/courier, armed security officer/courier, personal protection specialist and others. If you work as a guard for a licensed security company in Virginia, you need the registration for the work you do.

The rules elsewhere are different. Compare California's guard card, the Texas security license, the Florida Class D license and the New York security guard license.

Step 1: Check that you qualify#

According to the DCJS regulations for registered personnel (6VAC20-174-40), an applicant must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Be a United States citizen or legal resident alien.
3. Successfully complete all initial training requirements for each registration category requested.

DCJS also runs a fingerprint-based criminal history check. If you have been convicted or found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor (not minor traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction, including a military court martial, or you are under a protective order, DCJS says you must submit a Criminal History Supplemental Form.

Step 2: Complete the 01E entry-level training#

The compulsory minimum entry-level training for an unarmed security officer is 18 hours, excluding examinations and practical exercises (6VAC20-174-330). DCJS calls the course 01E Security Officer Core Subjects, and it ends with a written exam. Take it at a DCJS-certified private security training school.

Do not wait too long after the course. DCJS says training will be credited only if your application for registration is received within 12 months of completion of training.

An armed officer must also hold a firearms endorsement, which the regulations say is issued for a period not to exceed 12 months. This guide covers the unarmed registration; check the DCJS armed security officer page for the rest.

Step 3: Apply online and pay the fees#

DCJS takes initial applications and fees through its online regulatory licensing system, which is linked from the Unarmed Security Officer/Courier page. The Criminal History Processing form is part of the online initial application.

DCJS says all fees are non-refundable. Fingerprinting vendors may also charge their own fee, so check the amount when you book.

Step 4: Submit your fingerprints#

Apply first, then get fingerprinted. DCJS says the application and fees must be submitted online before you schedule a fingerprint appointment, and fingerprints received before the application and fees will not be accepted. DCJS gives the current scheduling instructions on its unarmed officer page.

Can you work before the registration is issued?#

Yes, for a limited time. According to DCJS, an unarmed security officer can work for 90 consecutive days while completing the compulsory minimum training, provided the fingerprints were submitted on or before the date of hire and the employer provides a 90-day authorization document. The regulations say this may not run more than 120 days without a registration being issued.

Once you are registered, carry your valid registration card, or a valid temporary registration letter, at all times while on duty.

Step 5: Renew every two years#

DCJS may issue a registration for a period not to exceed 24 months. To renew an unarmed registration, you complete 4 hours of 01I Security Officer Core Subjects in-service training and submit the renewal application with the fee. The DCJS renewal form lists $34 for a 2-year renewal. If your registration has lapsed, ask DCJS what applies before you work again.

What employers should keep on file#

Virginia ties a new hire's right to work to paperwork the employer controls. Keep the 90-day authorization document for each new unarmed officer and the date the fingerprints were submitted, so you can show the officer was allowed to work during those first 90 days. For every officer, keep the registration number and expiry date, the 01E training certificate and each 01I in-service certificate. For armed officers, also track the firearms endorsement, which runs for no more than 12 months.

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 in-service hours on record. For what the job involves once you are registered, read security guard duties and responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions#

How do I get a security guard license in Virginia?#

Complete the 18-hour 01E Security Officer Core Subjects course at a DCJS-certified school, apply online to DCJS for the Unarmed Security Officer/Courier registration, pay the fees and submit your fingerprints after you apply. You must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien.

How much does a Virginia unarmed security registration cost?#

According to the DCJS initial registration application, the 2-year registration fee is $39, and there is a separate $25 criminal history processing fee. The training school sets its own course fee. Confirm current amounts with DCJS before you pay.

How many training hours does a Virginia unarmed security officer need?#

18 hours of entry-level training (01E) before registration, and 4 hours of in-service training (01I) to renew. The training must be credited within 12 months, so apply soon after the course.

Can I work as a guard in Virginia before my registration arrives?#

An unarmed officer can work for up to 90 consecutive days while completing the training, if the fingerprints were submitted on or before the date of hire and the employer provides a 90-day authorization document.

How long is a Virginia security officer registration valid?#

DCJS may issue a registration for up to 24 months. The DCJS forms describe both the initial registration and the renewal as 2-year registrations.