Georgia regulates private security through the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, part of the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division, under O.C.G.A. Chapter 43-38 and the board's rules in chapter 509. The short version: security companies are licensed, armed officers are registered with the board, and unarmed officers are not, although they still need training before they work.
Unarmed guards: no state license, but 24 hours of training
- No board license or registration. An unarmed guard working for a private security company does not need a license from the board (43-38-7(b)(2)(A)). The licensed company keeps registration records on its unarmed employees instead (43-38-7.1).
- Fingerprints go through your employer. The company sends your fingerprints to the GBI's Georgia Crime Information Center for state and FBI checks and keeps the results on file.
- 24 hours of classroom training before your first shift. Since January 1, 2022, the board's basic curriculum is at least 24 hours, taught by a board-certified instructor (rules 509-3-.01 and 509-3-.02). It covers the role of private security, legal topics including arrest and use of force, patrol and report writing, emergency response including active assailants and mental health awareness, security technology such as CCTV and access control, customer service and a first aid overview.
- Keep your certificate. You get a copy of your certificate of completion, and your employer keeps the training record for five years. When you change companies, that certificate is your proof of training.
- Special events: temporary staff hired for an event must be trained before it, to the unarmed standard.
- In-house guards: a business that uses its own employees for its own security is outside the chapter, though it may choose to be licensed (43-38-14).
Armed guards: board registration and a weapon permit
- Registration. Armed employees register with the board (43-38-7). You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or registered resident alien, of good moral character, and without a felony, a weapons crime or a crime of moral turpitude, although the board can look at the circumstances of a conviction or first offender plea and still approve you. The application is made under oath with two sets of fingerprints and a photo, within 180 days of finishing the board's pre-licensing training.
- Weapon permit. Carrying a firearm on duty takes a board weapon permit (43-38-10), and the board grants it only to someone who holds a Georgia weapons carry license. That license generally requires you to be 21, or 18 if you have finished basic training in the armed forces and are serving or were honorably discharged (16-11-129). So for most people the working minimum age for armed security in Georgia is 21.
- Handgun training. At least 15 hours from a board-licensed firearms instructor: use of deadly force (1 hour), liability (2), ballistics (1), types of handguns (3) and range work (8). You need 80% on a written exam and 80% on the range, firing two strings of 48 rounds with the higher score counting, using the same type of weapon you will carry (509-3-.10).
- What the permit covers. An exposed weapon permit covers a revolver up to .357 or a semi-automatic handgun up to .45. You may carry only while working or going directly to and from work (509-4-.01).
- Shotguns need written authorization from the board, 2 more hours of classroom training and 80% on both a written test and the range (509-3-.08).
- Qualify every year with the weapon you carry or are assigned; you or the company keeps the range scores (509-4-.01(5)).
- Card on you. Keep your board card on you on post and whenever you are in uniform. Your employer tells the board within 30 days when it hires or lets go of a registered employee (43-38-7).
Renewal
- Every employee registration and weapon permit expires on August 31 of odd-numbered years, whenever it was issued (509-2-.01). The next date is August 31, 2027.
- Renewing late costs a penalty fee through the end of September. After that the registration or permit is treated as revoked, and the board can make you apply again as a new applicant.
- Continuing education: 8 hours before each renewal, made up of 2 hours on homeland security, 2 on firearms and 4 industry-related. Your first renewal is exempt (509-3-.12).
Peace officers working security
Georgia POST-certified peace officers who work for a licensed security company, as employees or independent contractors, are exempt from the board's training and further licensing and can carry without a board weapon permit. The company still has to register them with the board (43-38-14), and they can meet continuing education with POST in-service hours.
How tessura helps
Georgia's registrations and weapon permits all expire on the same day, and the yearly range qualification runs on its own clock. tessura is free for guards: keep your 24-hour training certificate in the credential wallet so it moves with you from job to job, and add your registration, weapon permit and weapons carry license to get reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days before each expires.
tessura is not affiliated with the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, the Georgia Secretary of State or any state agency. Rules change, so confirm anything you rely on with the board.