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
Submit Fingerprints & Pass Your Background Check
Right after applying, complete Live Scan so the DOJ and FBI can report your results to BSIS.
- 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 — $80