No statewide license, local rules may apply
How to become a security guard in Kansas
Kansas has no state license for security guards, armed or unarmed; the Attorney General licenses private detectives, and guards protecting a client's property are exempt (K.S.A. 75-7b03). Wichita, Kansas City (KCK) and Topeka each require a city permit for guards who work for a security company, with fingerprints, an employer letter and an 18+ age floor. In-house guards on their employer's property are exempt in all three.
Reviewed September 27, 2026
The path
- NoneState licenseNo statewide scheme; a city or county may still require a permit.
- LocalCheck city and county rulesWichita: permit from the police Private Security office, $50 plus $57 KBI, drug screen, 90-day temporary permit, basic course, $40 yearly renewal. Kansas City: $52 in person at KCKPD Records, 2-year permit. Topeka: $40 license, $30 yearly renewal, 60-day temporary license. Overland Park and Lawrence have no guard license.
- WorkEmployer sets the standard
Steps to get started
- Get an intent-to-hire letter from a security company licensed in the city where you'll work.
- Apply in person to that city's police department with ID, photos and fingerprints; Wichita also requires a drug screen from the last 30 days.
- Work on the temporary permit (90 days in Wichita, 60 in Topeka) while you finish any city-required course.
- Renew before it expires: yearly in Wichita and Topeka, every 2 years in Kansas City; a lapse means applying again.
Working armed in Kansas
No armed guard license. Adults 21+ may carry concealed without a license; 18 to 20 need a provisional license (K.S.A. 21-6302). The Attorney General's carry license has no fee beyond $32.50 for fingerprints and lasts 4 years. Cities no longer regulate guard firearms, and a private employer can ban guns on duty but not in your own parked vehicle (K.S.A. 75-7c10).
Local rules to know
Wichita: permit from the police Private Security office, $50 plus $57 KBI, drug screen, 90-day temporary permit, basic course, $40 yearly renewal. Kansas City: $52 in person at KCKPD Records, 2-year permit. Topeka: $40 license, $30 yearly renewal, 60-day temporary license. Overland Park and Lawrence have no guard license.
What guards earn in Kansas
A median of $17.83 an hour across 7,150 security guards, from official BLS wage data.
Security guard pay in Kansas →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 Kansas, and the steps to confirm it in the regulator's own records.
How to check a licence in Kansas →Sources
- Kansas Attorney General, Licensing
- K.S.A. 75-7b17 (private detective firearm permit)
- K.S.A. 75-7b04 (private detective license qualifications)
- Wichita Code ch. 3.72 Private Security Officers and Agencies
- Wichita PD private security permit / fingerprinting
- KCKPD Security Guard Permits
- Unified Government Code ch. 19 art. V, Private Security Businesses and Officers
- Topeka Municipal Code ch. 5.90 Art. II License
- Topeka Resolution 9790 (2026 fee schedule)
- K.S.A. 21-6302 (criminal carrying of a weapon)
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 Kansas credential alive
The free wallet computes your renewal deadline from Kansas's rules and reminds you at 60, 30, and 7 days. Exam prep for Kansas follows.
Join free