California Guard Card
Requirements
Anyone working as a security guard in California must hold a Security Guard Registration — the "guard card" — issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Here's the whole road, in order. Every student in our 8-Hour course receives this as a printed guide after class.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old BPC § 7582.8
- Pass a criminal history background check through the California DOJ and FBI, via Live Scan fingerprinting BPC §§ 7581 & 7583.9
- Complete the Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force training before your registration can be issued BPC §§ 7583.6 & 7583.7
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial application | $60 |
| Biennial renewal | $44 |
| Delinquent renewal ($44 + $25) | $69 |
| Replacement card | $25 |
Plus Live Scan / DOJ / FBI fees, paid at fingerprinting. Always verify current fees on the official BSIS fee schedule.
Questions? Contact BSIS for help: (800) 952-5210 or (916) 322-4000 · bsis@dca.ca.gov · official BSIS contact page.
Four Steps, In Order
Complete the 8-Hour Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force Course
Both parts in one session — 3-hour Power to Arrest and 5-hour Appropriate Use of Force.
- Taught following the official BSIS Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force Training Manual (July 2023)
- 52-question open-book exam requiring 100% to pass
- Under SB 652 (effective Jan 1, 2026), all 8 hours must come from a single provider — exactly how our course works
- You leave with a serialized, BSIS-compliant certificate the same day
- Apply within six months of finishing — your certificate must be dated within the six months preceding your application, or you'll retake the course
- Keep the certificate until your registration expires or is canceled
Apply for Your Guard Card Through BSIS
Submit your application right after class — online is fastest.
- Apply online (recommended): use BreEZe, the state's licensing portal — it bypasses the Cashiering Office and can cut processing by up to two weeks
- Create an account, enter your details exactly as they'll appear on your Live Scan, and pay the $60 fee online (see the BSIS fee schedule, page 5)
- ResourceNew to BreEZe? Step-by-step video walkthrough: creating a BreEZe account
- Or apply by mail: download the official Security Guard Application form (PDF) and send it to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002
- ResourceSecurity Guard Registration Fact Sheet & Instructions
- GuideHow to apply through BreEZe, step by step — including exactly what to enter in the Powers to Arrest Course Certification section
Submit Fingerprints & Pass Your Background Check
Right after applying, complete Live Scan so the DOJ and FBI can report your results to BSIS. For Live Scan (FBI/DOJ fingerprinting), we partner with the UPS Store located downstairs, offering our students a discounted service fee. We recommend completing it right after class. By submitting your application and Live Scan the same day, you'll leave with your part of the process complete, and the only remaining step is the BSIS decision.
- Download the official Security Guard Request for Live Scan Service form — the wrong form is a top cause of delay
- ResourceFull fingerprinting process: BSIS Live Scan page
- Make sure your name, date of birth, and identifiers match your application exactly
- Find a Live Scan location — you pay all Live Scan, DOJ, and FBI fees at the appointment
- Allow roughly 4–6 weeks for processing (current timeframes)
- Once your Security Guard registration has been approved by BSIS, you can work before your physical card arrives by carrying a hardcopy printout of the approval plus valid photo ID — cards typically arrive within about 3 weeks
- Verify your status anytime on the Verify a License page
Complete Your Remaining 32 Hours Within 6 Months
After your registration is issued, California requires 32 more hours of skills training — bringing your total to 40 hours.
- 16 hours within your first 30 days, the remaining 16 within six months
- Four mandatory courses build the foundation: public relations; observation & documentation; communication; liability & legal aspects
- Electives include areas like officer safety and crowd control
- Security Guards are required to complete 8 hours of continuing training each year (BPC § 7583.6 and CCR § 643), including at least 2 hours on appropriate use of force
- Keep every certificate of completion
- ResourceSkills training details: BSIS Security Guard Training Regulation page
Your guard card is valid 2 years. BSIS mails a renewal notice about 90 days before expiration; submit your renewal at least 60 days before expiration. Registrations not renewed within 60 days after expiration are canceled and you'd reapply as a new applicant.
See our full California guard card renewal guide →
All of it can be completed through the BreEZe portal:
- Renew a Security Guard registration
- Update an address change
- Submit a name change
- Request a duplicate / replacement Security Guard registration card
Verify everything — including us. All requirements above were checked against the official Security Guard Registration Fact Sheet and Training Regulation page. And you can verify our approval — BSIS License ATG #2995 — anytime at search.dca.ca.gov. We encourage it.
Step One Starts Here
Complete your 8-hour course with us — same-day certificate, printed guide to every step above, and an instructor who answers questions long after class ends.
Book the 8-Hour Course — $80All fees non-refundable. Date changes require 48-hour notice. See Class Policies.