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No statewide license, local rules may apply

How to become a security guard in Colorado

Colorado has no statewide security guard license, a 2025 bill to create one (HB25-1262) died in committee. Regulation happens at the city level: Denver and Colorado Springs both license guards, and requirements vary by municipality.

CO

Reviewed September 27, 2026

The path

  1. NoneState licenseNo statewide scheme; a city or county may still require a permit.
  2. LocalCheck city and county rulesDenver licenses guards through its Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and requires 16 hours of training from an eligible provider, with an 8-hour refresher at each yearly renewal; $25 to apply plus $25 for the license. Colorado Springs requires 8 hours with a 75% score through the City Clerk; $110 a year plus a $7 background check. Check the city that covers your job site.
  3. WorkEmployer sets the standard

Steps to get started

  1. Check whether the city where you'll work licenses security guards (Denver and Colorado Springs do).
  2. If it does, complete that city's required training (16 hours in Denver, 8 in Colorado Springs) and background check.
  3. If it doesn't, your employer sets the training and background check; keep a copy of every certificate.
  4. Renew every year: Denver and Colorado Springs licenses both last 1 year, and Denver renewals need an 8-hour refresher.

Working armed in Colorado

Armed requirements are set by the licensing city and by employer policy, on top of state and federal firearms law. Denver's firearm endorsement takes age 21, an employer request, 5 classroom and 3 live-fire hours with a POST or NRA instructor and an 80% range score within 6 months; a concealed handgun permit is needed only to carry concealed in plainclothes. Colorado Springs requires 16 hours of firearms training with a 75% score, plus 4 hours for concealed carry.

Local rules to know

Denver licenses guards through its Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection and requires 16 hours of training from an eligible provider, with an 8-hour refresher at each yearly renewal; $25 to apply plus $25 for the license. Colorado Springs requires 8 hours with a 75% score through the City Clerk; $110 a year plus a $7 background check. Check the city that covers your job site.

What guards earn in Colorado

A median of $21.71 an hour across 16,890 security guards, from official BLS wage data.

Security guard pay in Colorado →

Hiring a guard rather than becoming one?

The same rules read from the other side: what to ask a guard and a security company for in Colorado, and the steps to confirm it in the regulator's own records.

How to check a licence in Colorado →

Sources

tessura is an independent study and career tool, not affiliated with any state agency. Rules change; always confirm current requirements with the regulator before relying on them.

Keep your Colorado credential alive

The free wallet computes your renewal deadline from Colorado's rules and reminds you at 60, 30, and 7 days. Exam prep for Colorado follows.

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