How to become a security guard in Georgia

Every Georgia credential

All 9 individual credentials this regulator issues to security workers, from the entry-level card to specialty and instructor registrations. Rows marked ◇ are drafted from the regulator’s pages and await our reviewer’s sign-off.

Steps to get started

1. Get hired by a Georgia-licensed security company; it keeps your registration record and runs your fingerprints through the GBI and FBI (O.C.G.A. 43-38-7.1).
2. Complete the board's 24-hour classroom course with a board-certified instructor before your first shift, and keep your copy of the certificate (Rules 509-3-.01, 509-3-.02).
3. Unarmed officers stop there: there is no state license card or state renewal.
4. To carry a firearm, get a Georgia weapons carry license, complete at least 15 hours of handgun training with 80% on the written and range tests, and apply to the board for registration and a weapon permit within 180 days of finishing training (43-38-7(b)(1), 43-38-10).
5. Armed registrations and weapon permits expire August 31 of odd-numbered years; complete 8 hours of continuing education before each renewal after the first.

Unarmed Security Officer (employer-registered): Not licensed or registered with the state board (O.C.G.A. 43-38-7(b)(2)(A), 43-38-7.1). The licensed security company keeps your registration record, runs your fingerprints through the GBI and FBI, and must give you the board's 24-hour classroom course from a board-certified instructor before your first shift; you get a copy of the certificate and the employer keeps the record for five years (Rules 509-3-.01, 509-3-.02). Guards who protect only their own employer are outside the Act (43-38-14).

Registered Private Detective Employee (Unarmed): Employee of a Board-licensed private detective company who performs investigative work. Rule 509-3-.06 requires a minimum of 70 hours of Board-approved classroom instruction (effective July 1, 2022). Registration expires August 31 of each odd-numbered year; 16 hours of CE (2 Homeland Security, 2 ethics, 12 industry) required before renewal, waived for the first renewal. Employer submits the application on the employee's behalf.

Board-Approved Classroom Instructor: Teaches the Board's basic security (24-hr) and/or private detective (70-hr) curricula and CE. Rule 509-3-.07: applicant needs 4 years' supervisory experience in contract/in-house security, or 4 years as a licensed detective agency operator, or 4 years law-enforcement or private-sector investigative experience; must submit resume, lesson plan and notarized qualification documents plus a non-refundable fee (amount on Board fee schedule, not readable). Re-approval due by June 30 of odd-numbered years; late fee July 1-31, new application after July 31.

Board-Licensed Firearms Instructor: Required to proctor the 15-hour handgun course, shotgun course, written and range exams for weapon permits (509-3-.08, 509-3-.10). Same 4-year experience qualifications as classroom instructors under 509-3-.07; Board-approved firearms instructors must be re-approved by June 30 of odd-numbered years. Fee not readable (sos.ga.gov blocked).

Working armed in Georgia

Armed officers register with the board and need a board weapon permit, which requires a Georgia weapons carry license (21+, or 18+ with military service; O.C.G.A. 43-38-10, 16-11-129). Training adds at least 15 hours of handgun instruction with 80% on the written exam and the range, using the weapon type carried (Rule 509-3-.10).

Armed Security Officer (Registration and Weapon Permit): Registered with the board under O.C.G.A. 43-38-7; the registration itself is 18+. Carrying on duty needs a board weapon permit (43-38-10), which requires a Georgia weapons carry license, so in practice you must be 21, or 18 to 20 with completed basic training and active or honorably discharged military service (16-11-129). Training: the 24-hour classroom course plus at least 15 hours of handgun training from a board-licensed firearms instructor, with 80% on the written exam and 80% on the range using the same type of weapon you carry (Rules 509-3-.03, 509-3-.10). Registrations and weapon permits expire August 31 of odd-numbered years (509-2-.01); 8 hours of continuing education (2 homeland security, 2 firearms, 4 industry) before each renewal after the first (509-3-.12).

Registered Private Detective Employee (Armed) with Weapon Permit: Private detective employee authorized to carry a handgun. Requires the 70-hour detective curriculum (509-3-.06) plus the 15-hour Board handgun course (509-3-.10) with 80% written exam and 80% range score proctored by a Board-licensed firearms instructor; 85 hours is the sum. Weapon permit holders must requalify annually with the weapon carried (509-4-.01(5)); the annual requalification has no hour figure in rule. Registration and weapon permit expire August 31 of odd-numbered years.

Concealed Weapon Permit (Board-issued): Separate from the standard exposed weapon permit. Rule 509-2-.05 lets the Board issue a permit to carry concealed only when the employer files a sworn statement describing the registrant's duties and detailed justification for concealed carry; applicant must also submit range score for the caliber carried (509-4-.01(4)). Authorizes revolver up to .357 or semi-auto up to .45. Expires August 31 of odd-numbered years like all Board weapon permits.

Shotgun Authorization (Weapon Permit Endorsement): Holder of an existing Board weapon permit may be authorized to carry a shotgun on written request to the Board with justification (509-4-.01(3)(a)). Requires proof of 2 hours of Board-approved shotgun classroom instruction within the past 2 years plus 80% written exam and 80% range qualification proctored by a licensed firearms instructor (509-3-.08). Rides on the underlying weapon permit's August 31 odd-year expiration.

Dual Registered Private Detective & Security Guard Employee (Armed): The Board fee schedule lists a distinct 'DETECTIVE & SECURITY Guard (dual license) - Armed Employee' registration. Rule 509-3-.12(3) sets 16 CE hours per renewal for employees registered as both private detective and security guard. Initial hours not stated as a single figure (presumably the 70-hour detective and 24-hour security curricula plus 15-hour handgun course); left null. Expires August 31 of odd-numbered years.

Keep your Georgia credential alive

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