How to become a security guard in Oregon

Every Oregon 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. Take the 14-hour unarmed basic course from a DPSST-certified private security instructor and pass its exam and assessments at 100%.
2. Get fingerprinted through Fieldprint (code FPPSCertificationDPSST) or on an FBI card supplied by DPSST.
3. Send DPSST Form PS-1, your instructor's Form PS-6 (within 180 days of the course), fingerprint proof, and $104 plus the background fee, before doing any security work.
4. If you already have the job, your employer's licensed manager can sign a Form PS-20 temporary work permit, good for 120 days with that employer; carry it on duty.
5. Renew every 2 years with the 4-hour renewal course. DPSST accepts renewals up to 180 days early, and a late renewal adds $40.

Unarmed Private Security Professional Certification: Required for anyone whose primary job is security work for pay, armed or unarmed, uniformed or plainclothes, full- or part-time, including in-house staff (ORS 181A.840(7)). Age 18+ with a high school diploma, GED, or two- or four-year degree (OAR 259-060-0020). Training is 14 hours of live classroom instruction, a closed-book exam and hands-on assessments with a DPSST-certified instructor; all exams and assessments must be passed at 100%, with review of missed answers (OAR 259-060-0060, 259-060-0120). DPSST must receive the instructor's Form PS-6 within 180 days of the course. The application (Form PS-1, fingerprints and fees) must be filed before any security work. An employing licensed manager can issue a Form PS-20 temporary work permit, good for 120 days with that employer only (OAR 259-060-0030). Carry the card or permit on duty. Renewal is the 4-hour renewal course and exam; DPSST accepts renewal documents up to 180 days before expiration. Report an address change within 14 days and any criminal charge to the employer within 48 hours (OAR 259-060-0015). Military police, Masters-at-Arms and police, reserve, corrections or parole officers with at least 2 years of experience who apply within 4 years of their last day of active service may take the 4-hour renewal course instead of the basic course (OAR 259-060-0125).

Alarm Monitor Private Security Professional: DPSST certification for central-station / alarm monitoring personnel. Basic training is 8 hours of alarm monitor classroom instruction and exam plus a 4-hour alarm monitor assessment (OAR 259-060-0120(2)); renewal requires the 4-hour alarm monitor renewal course and exam. Age 18+.

Unarmed Private Security Instructor Certification: Prerequisite: three years of full-time private security, military police or law enforcement experience within the last 10 years, age 21+. Training: unarmed professional basic course/exam plus the DPSST unarmed instructor development course and exam (OAR 259-060-0135(3)). Renewal: instructor refresher course, 8 hours of CE, and participation in the instructor demonstration component at least once every three years.

Alarm Monitor Private Security Instructor Certification: Same three-year experience prerequisite as other instructors. Training: alarm monitor professional basic course/assessment/exam plus the alarm monitor instructor course and exam (OAR 259-060-0135(2)); renewal requires the instructor course again plus 8 CE hours.

Private Security Firearms Instructor Certification: Prerequisites: three years' experience, unarmed basic course, armed basic firearms course, and a 40-hour firearms instructor development course (DPSST Handgun Instructor Development, WSCJTC, NRA LE, FLETC or FBI) within five years; then the DPSST private security firearms instructor course. Must pass the instructor marksmanship qualification ANNUALLY (within three attempts in one day) or face emergency suspension (OAR 259-060-0135(4)); renewal requires the instructor course plus 8 CE hours.

Private Security Supervisory Manager License: License for anyone who supervises persons providing security services (OAR 259-060-0130). Requires the basic professional classroom training/exam for the classification plus the DPSST manager course, exam and assessments; biennial renewal repeats the manager course. Age 18+.

Private Security Executive Manager License: Responsible for the compliance of all private security providers employed by the business; may contract to serve as executive manager for multiple entities and must file Form PS-24 within 48 hours of starting. Requires basic professional training/exam plus the manager course, exam and assessments; biennial renewal. Age 21+. Executive managers issue temporary work permits to applicants.

Event and Entertainment Private Security Professional: Limited certification for crowd management / guest services at organized events (OAR 259-060-0145). Basic training is DPSST's online event and entertainment basic course and exam; renewal is the online refresher course and exam (OAR 259-060-0120(4)). Hours not stated in rule. Holders may not be armed or take enforcement action.

Working armed in Oregon

Armed professionals (21+) add a basic firearms course of at least 24 hours with a written exam, a safe gun handling test and marksmanship qualification; temporary work permits do not cover armed work. Every year they requalify and take a 4-hour armed refresher, and carrying concealed on duty also takes an Oregon concealed handgun license.

Armed Private Security Professional Certification: Age 21+. Training is the 14-hour unarmed basic course plus a basic firearms course of at least 24 hours with an open-book written exam, a safe gun handling test and marksmanship qualification, taught by a certified private security firearms instructor (OAR 259-060-0060, 259-060-0120). Temporary work permits do not cover armed work; a certified unarmed professional upgrading to armed may work armed while carrying copies of Forms PS-6 and PS-23 until the new certificate arrives (OAR 259-060-0025, 259-060-0030). Every year: marksmanship qualification plus a 4-hour armed classroom refresher, due the last day of the month one year after the last course. Missing it brings emergency suspension; within 90 days the refresher still counts, after that the full basic firearms course must be repeated. Every 2 years: the 4-hour unarmed renewal course. Carrying concealed on duty also requires an Oregon concealed handgun license (OAR 259-060-0015(4)). Qualifying police or military law enforcement experience can replace the basic courses with the refresher courses (OAR 259-060-0125).

Keep your Oregon credential alive

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