How to become a security guard in Minnesota

Every Minnesota credential

All 4 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 licensed Minnesota protective agent company.
2. Complete 12 hours of board-certified pre-assignment training within your first 21 days.
3. Keep the certificate of completion, instructors must issue one showing subjects and hours.
4. Complete 6 hours of certified refresher training every year.

Protective Agent Employee Pre-assignment Training Certificate (PPA, 12 hr): Minnesota licenses the company, not the guard, but every protective-agent employee must complete a 12-hour board-certified 'PPA' course within 21 days of hire (Minn. R. 7506.2600; Minn. Stat. 326.3361) and the instructor must give the student a certificate of completion that is the employee's property and is portable to other Minnesota licensees for 3 calendar years. Thereafter 6 hours/year of board-certified continuing education (PPA/CPA/CPDPA), tracked on the license year, not hire date; the employer attests at license renewal. Must be repeated after 3+ years out of the industry. No card or fee from the board; the employer issues the guard's ID card (Minn. Stat. 326.336 subd. 2). Until the BCA report clears, the hire is a conditional employee who may be trained but may not work as a guard (326.336 subd. 1). Proprietary employers need no license but must run the same check (326.3381 subd. 1a).

Private Detective Employee Pre-assignment Training Certificate (PPD, 12 hr): Same board and rule as protective agents: employees of a licensed private detective must complete a 12-hour 'PPD' course within 21 days of hire, then 6 hours/year of PPD/CPD/CPDPA continuing education (Minn. R. 7506.2600 subp. 4, 7506.2700).

Qualified Representative / Minnesota Manager (protective agent or private detective license): The named individual who is the day-to-day manager of a partnership/corporate protective agent or private detective license (a 'Minnesota manager' is required when the licensee is based out of state). Must be 18+, felony-free, and show by employer affidavit 6,000 hours of experience as an investigator or protective agent with a licensed agency, government investigative service, police/sheriff's office or equivalent (Minn. Stat. 326.3382 subd. 3). Subject to the same 12-hour pre-assignment training (Minn. R. 7506.2600) and the same 6 hr/yr continuing education as employees; Board staff confirmed the pre-assignment requirement applies to Minnesota Managers and Qualified Representatives by email on 2026-09-17. Not a stand-alone card - it is a designation on the company license.

Working armed in Minnesota

Armed guards complete the one-time 6-hour board-certified Initial Armed (IA) course before working armed, then 6 hours of armed training a year (including range certification and first aid) on top of the 6 general hours. Carrying a pistol in public generally also requires a permit to carry from a county sheriff (Minn. Stat. 624.714).

Initial Armed Training Certificate (IA, 6 hr) + annual Continuing Armed Training: Any license holder, qualified representative, Minnesota manager, partner or employee who carries a firearm (or other weapon) must first complete a 6-hour board-certified 'IA' course (one-time) taught by an instructor certified per Minn. R. 7506.2300 subp. 4, then 6 hours/year of 'IA' or 'CA' continuing armed training in the weapons used, including annual range certification and an approved first aid/CPR course (Minn. R. 7506.2700; Minn. Stat. 326.3361 subd. 2(3)). This is IN ADDITION to the 6 hr/yr general CE. The board issues no card; the course certificate is the credential. No weapon may be carried during on-the-job training (Minn. Stat. 326.3361 subd. 2).

Keep your Minnesota credential alive

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