Alabama licenses security officers through the Alabama Security Regulatory Board (ASRB) under the Alabama Security Regulatory Act, Ala. Code 34-27C. The license belongs to you, but you apply for it through a job: you need to be working for a licensed contract security company.
Who needs a license
- Contract officers. Anyone a contract security company employs to protect people or property: patrol, access control, loss prevention, controlling the movement of people or vehicles (34-27C-1).
- In-house guards are exempt. If you provide security only for your own employer and not for a third party, the Act does not apply to you (34-27C-17). Sworn peace officers are exempt too.
- Custodial staff whose only security role is reporting violations of in-house rules, and who do not wear a security uniform, are not security officers under the Act.
- One state rule. Cities and counties cannot create their own guard licensing or training rules; the state law replaces them. Localities may still charge a business or occupational tax (34-27C-18).
Requirements
- Age: 18 for a security officer, 21 for an armed security officer (34-27C-4(d)(1)).
- Status: a U.S. citizen, or legally present with federal documentation.
- Sworn statement: no felony or crime of moral turpitude without a full pardon, never declared incompetent by a court (unless competency was restored), and no alcohol or narcotics dependence.
- Background check: two fingerprint cards for state (ALEA) and FBI checks (34-27C-4(e)).
- References: three unrelated people the board can contact about you.
The 30-day rule and the temporary license
- Apply within 30 days of starting work (34-27C-7(a)). The application must name the licensed company you work for, and it has to be notarized.
- The last page of the application is a temporary license, also notarized. Once your application is submitted, you can work with that page on you until the board approves or denies your license. If you are denied, you stop working as soon as you are notified.
- Working as a security officer without a license is a Class A misdemeanor, and other violations by an officer carry fines of $75 to $5,000 each (34-27C-13). A company that employs an officer who breaks the 30-day rule is also in violation.
Training
- At least 8 hours of board-approved initial training from an ASRB certified trainer (34-27C-8(a)). The law requires use-of-force training as part of initial licensing (34-27C-8(e)). The board lists certified trainers on its website.
- Exemptions from initial training (refresher training still applies): basic security training from a military, government or security training institute within three years before you apply that meets the board's standard; working for a company whose own curriculum the board has accepted; being a sworn peace officer (34-27C-8(g)). The 2026 application also lists retired peace officers and officers with five years of continuous security experience.
Armed security officers
- At least 21.
- 4 hours of initial armed training from a certified trainer, on top of the 8-hour course. The law requires board-approved firearms safety training before an armed license (34-27C-8(c)).
- A pistol permit from the sheriff of the county where you live (34-27C-11). Carrying a firearm on duty without an armed license is a violation of the Act.
Cost
- $112 license fee, nonrefundable, paid by cashier's check, money order or a check from a board-licensed contract security company, payable to the ASRB. The late fee is $25 and a replacement card is $10 (2026 application).
- Your company may take the license fee, uniforms and required equipment out of your wages if you ask it to. A uniform and equipment deposit cannot be more than the actual cost of what you were issued (34-27C-10).
- Training is priced by the trainer, and having your fingerprint cards rolled may cost extra.
Renewal
- Your license expires two years from the date it was issued (34-27C-4(g)(2)), so every guard has a different date. Submit the renewal at least 30 days before it expires (34-27C-7(b)).
- Renewal takes 8 hours of refresher training from a certified trainer, two new fingerprint cards, a copy of your driver's license and the $112 fee. Armed officers add 2 hours of armed refresher training, a current pistol permit and a current course of fire (2026 renewal form).
- You can keep working while a renewal is pending (34-27C-4(g)(2)).
Other situations
- Seasonal work: if you work security six months or less in a year, you can get a special license for a one-time fee of no more than $100 (34-27C-7(f)).
- Licensed in another state: if you now live in Alabama and your old state's qualifying and training requirements are equivalent or substantially similar, the board may license you without repeating them (34-27C-7(e)).
- Badges and vehicles: your badge or patch must say "security officer" or something similar, cannot suggest you are a peace officer or carry the state seal, and your vehicle cannot have law enforcement markings or equipment (34-27C-12).
How tessura helps
Because Alabama licenses expire two years from each guard's own issue date, there is no statewide renewal season to remind you. tessura is free for guards: add your ASRB license and your pistol permit to the credential wallet and you get reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days before each expires.
tessura is not affiliated with the Alabama Security Regulatory Board or any state agency. Rules change, so confirm anything you rely on with the ASRB.