Oklahoma's Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) licenses security guards under the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator Act (59 O.S. 1750.1 and following) and CLEET's rules in Title 390, Chapter 35 of the Oklahoma Administrative Code. Unarmed and armed guards hold separate licenses, and CLEET can combine an armed guard license with an armed private investigator license.
Who can get a license
- 18 or older for an unarmed license, 21 or older for an armed license (59 O.S. 1750.5).
- A U.S. citizen or a noncitizen legally residing in the United States, of good moral character.
- No felony, and no conviction or plea (guilty, no contest or Alford) for larceny, theft, fraud, embezzlement, impersonating an officer, a crime of moral turpitude, an offense against a minor, a nonconsensual sex offense, a drug offense or a firearms offense.
- If a disqualifying offense is more than five years old and CLEET is convinced it was isolated and you have been rehabilitated, CLEET can waive it for an unarmed license. It will not issue an armed license if the offense involved a firearm or violence, or if you have any felony.
- No disqualifying charge pending in any court.
Unarmed security guard
- Training: 40 hours at a CLEET-approved school, called the Security Guard Training Course: Phase I "Basic" (20 hours) and Phase II "Security Guard" (20 hours), using the curriculum the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education publishes (OAC 390:35-15-1).
- State exam: the Phase I and II exam, taken online at one of 44 CareerTech locations around the state.
- Proof of training and testing is good for an original application for five years.
Working before the license arrives
- The 45-day rule: since November 1, 2022, an unarmed guard employed by a licensed security agency who has submitted a complete application has 45 days from the date of employment to get the license. If the application is denied, or 45 days pass without a license, you stop working until it is issued (59 O.S. 1750.4).
- Conditional license: CLEET can issue a conditional license to an agency employee, either as a trainee or while the FBI fingerprint check is pending. A conditional training license gives you 180 days to finish training. A conditional license never allows carrying a firearm, and it ends if you leave the employer you applied through (59 O.S. 1750.5; OAC 390:35-5-3).
Armed security guard
- 21 or older.
- Training: Phases I and II plus Phase IV "Firearms," at least 32 hours for each category of firearm (handgun, shotgun or rifle), with the Phase IV state exam. That is 72 hours for a handgun-only armed license.
- Psychological evaluation: the MMPI or another CLEET-approved instrument, given during firearms training and evaluated by a licensed psychologist, at your cost. Results are good for six months, and someone found at risk waits a year to reapply (59 O.S. 1750.3A).
- Upgrading from unarmed costs $50 and needs the armed affidavit, Phase IV training and testing, and the MMPI. The upgraded license keeps its original expiration date.
- On duty: the license authorizes carrying only in the course of your employment. Out of uniform, the firearm must be concealed. You may carry only firearm types you are trained on. If you fire your weapon, phone CLEET right away (the next working day if it happens after hours) and follow up in writing (OAC 390:35-5-2, 390:35-13-1 and -2).
- Every year: requalify on every firearm you are authorized to carry (OAC 390:35-13-3).
Credit for comparable training
CLEET can credit comparable training, including firearms training, when you document it (59 O.S. 1750.3). Armed applicants with a training waiver still take a 2-hour legal block unless they are CLEET-certified peace officers, and still complete the psychological evaluation (active and retired certified peace officers are exempt from it).
Applying
Applications go through CLEET's online portal; CLEET no longer accepts paper. Have ready:
- a certified court judgment and sentence, or a letter of no record, for every arrest or charge
- a current passport-size color photo
- a letter of employment, or proof of bond or insurance
- fingerprints taken at an IdentoGO site within 30 days of submitting the online application, using CLEET's security guard and private investigator service code
Fees
$50 for an unarmed license and $100 for an armed license, the same to renew, plus IdentoGO's national fingerprint fee. An active certified peace officer pays 20% of the armed fee. If you do not qualify, CLEET keeps 20% of the license fee as a processing fee and refunds the rest (59 O.S. 1750.6).
Renewal
- A license lasts three years from the date issued.
- Renewal needs 8 hours of continuing education from an approved source during the license period, plus a notice of employment or current bond or insurance.
- A renewal filed after the expiration date pays a $25 late fee. More than 30 days after expiration, the license cannot be renewed and you apply again as a new applicant.
- Report a change of address or phone number to CLEET within 10 days (OAC 390:35-5-13).
Special events
CLEET also issues a special event license (unarmed) for $7, valid only for the event it names. You can hold up to two a year.
How tessura helps
An Oklahoma armed guard tracks a three-year license, eight hours of continuing education and a yearly requalification on each firearm. tessura is free for guards: add each date to the credential wallet and you get reminders at 60, 30 and 7 days before it.
tessura is not affiliated with CLEET or any state agency. Rules change, so confirm anything you rely on with CLEET.