How to become a security guard in Virginia

Every Virginia credential

All 17 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. Complete the 18-hour entry-level core course (01E) with a DCJS-approved provider and pass the written exam.
2. Submit fingerprints for state and FBI checks and apply to DCJS ($39).
3. For armed work, add 05E arrest authority (8 hours) and 075E security officer handgun (24 hours), then the firearms endorsement, renewed every year.
4. Renew every 2 years with the 4-hour in-service refresher (01I).

Unarmed Security Officer Registration: 18+, U.S. citizen or legal resident alien (6VAC20-174-40). May work up to 90 consecutive days while completing training if fingerprints were submitted on or before the hire date and the employer issues a 90-day authorization document, carried on duty with photo ID; never more than 120 days without a registration (6VAC20-174-40(D)). In-person classroom training required for initial applications. Disqualifying convictions per Code of Virginia 9.1-139(K), waivable by the DCJS Director. In-service 01I, 4 hours once per 24-month registration (6VAC20-174-170). The regulation's fee table (6VAC20-174-20: $25/$20) predates the DCJS July 2017 schedule.

Personal Protection Specialist (32): Close-protection registration. 32E Personal Protection Specialist 60 hours (excluding exam and 5 practical exercises). To work armed, also 07E Entry-level Handgun (16 hrs) and 09E Advanced Handgun (14 hrs) plus a firearms endorsement — the admin code says 16 + 14 while the DCJS web page says 14 + 24 ('60-98 hours'); confirm the current hours with DCJS. In-service 32I 8 hours per 24 months (+ 09R 8 hrs if armed).

Security Canine Handler (04S): 6VAC20-174-320: 01E Security Officer Core Subjects 18 hrs + 04ES Security Canine Handler 12 hrs = 30 hrs, excluding basic obedience training (a documented prerequisite) and proficiency demonstration evaluated by a certified canine instructor. In-service 04IS 8 hours per 24 months.

Detector Canine Handler — Explosives/Narcotics (04D): 6VAC20-174-250: 04ED Detector Canine Handler 160 hours including practical exercises, plus a certification exam by a DCJS-certified detector canine handler examiner. Statute lists explosives detector and narcotics detector canine handler as registration categories. In-service 04ID 8 hours per 24 months including re-certification exam.

Central Station Dispatcher (38): 6VAC20-174-240: 30E Electronic Security Core Subjects 4 hrs + 38E Central Station Dispatcher 4 hrs = 8 hours with written exams; in-service 30I Electronic Security Subjects 4 hours per 24 months.

Alarm Respondent: Person who responds to alarm activations at a client site. 6VAC20-174-210: 01E Security Officer Core Subjects 18 hours; in-service 01I 4 hours per 24-month period. Armed alarm respondents need a firearms endorsement.

Electronic Security Technician (35): 6VAC20-174-260: 30E core 4 hrs + 35E Electronic Security Technician 10 hrs = 14 hours; in-service 30I 4 hours per 24 months.

Electronic Security Technician's Assistant: 6VAC20-174-270: 30E Electronic Security Core Subjects 4 hours; in-service 30I 4 hours per 24 months.

Private Investigator (02): 6VAC20-174-310: 02E Private Investigator Subjects 60 hours (excluding exam and 4 practical exercises); in-service 02I 8 hours per 24-month period. Same DCJS registration regime as security officers; armed PIs add a firearms endorsement.

Private Security General Instructor: 6VAC20-173-90: 18+, high school diploma/GED, completion of a DCJS instructor development course within 3 years (or documented instruction since), plus 3 years supervisory / 5 years general / 1 year teaching experience and 2 years experience in each subject taught. Certified by category: (i) security officers/couriers/alarm respondents incl. arrest authority, (ii) PIs, (iii) locksmiths & electronic security incl. dispatchers, (iv) armored car, (v) PPS, (vi) canine handlers, (vii) SCOPs, (viii) bail bondsmen/enforcement agents, (ix) firearms. Certification up to 24 months; renewal requires 4 hours instructor-development CE in the preceding 12 months.

Compliance Agent: Individual certified by DCJS and designated by every licensed private security business to ensure the business and its personnel comply with the Code and regulations (6VAC20-172). Requires 18+, fingerprints, and completion of DCJS's 12E Compliance Agent Entry-Level course (classroom or online, hours not stated) with an 80% exam score within 12 months of application approval. Certification up to 24 months; renewal requires the 12I in-service course within the 12 months before expiration. Need not hold a registration category unless also providing regulated services.

Electronic Security Sales Representative (39): 6VAC20-174-280: 30E core 4 hrs + 39E Electronic Security Sales 4 hrs = 8 hours; in-service 30I 4 hours per 24 months.

Locksmith (25): 6VAC20-174-290: 25E Locksmith 18 hours with written exam; in-service 25I 4 hours per 24 months.

Working armed in Virginia

Armed officers (18+; 21+ with a concealed handgun permit to carry concealed) complete 50 hours: the 18-hour core, 8 hours of arrest authority and 24 hours of security officer handgun. The firearms endorsement renews every year with 4 hours of retraining and requalification.

Armed Security Officer Registration: 6VAC20-174-220: 01E Security Officer Core Subjects 18 hrs + 05E Armed Security Officer Arrest Authority 8 hrs + 075E Security Officer Handgun 24 hrs = 50 hrs (53 with 08E shotgun 3 hrs), excluding exams and range qualification. Firearms endorsement issued for up to 12 months; 4 hours of firearms retraining with handgun requalification (+3 for shotgun) within the 90 days before it expires, or entry-level firearms training again (6VAC20-174-60, -420). 18+ like every registration category (6VAC20-174-40); carrying concealed also requires a Virginia concealed handgun permit (21+, Code of Virginia 18.2-308.02) and the employer's written permission. The 90-day work-while-training rule does not cover armed officers.

Armored Car Personnel (03): 6VAC20-174-230: 03E Armored Car Procedures 12 hrs + 07E Entry-level Handgun 16 hrs = 28 hrs (31 with 08E shotgun 3 hrs). Written exam and range qualification. In-service 03I 4 hours each 24-month registration period plus annual firearms retraining under the firearms endorsement.

Private Security Firearms Instructor: 6VAC20-173-90(C): in addition to general instructor requirements, must complete a DCJS firearms instructor school (or approved LE/private-security equivalent) within 3 years and qualify at 85% with revolver, semi-automatic handgun and shotgun (plus patrol rifle to teach 10E) within the 12 months before application, documented by a certified LE or private security firearms instructor. Certification up to 24 months.

Firearms Endorsement: 6VAC20-174-60: any registrant who carries or has immediate access to a firearm on duty must hold a firearms endorsement in addition to the category registration. Entry training depends on category (75E Security Officer Handgun 24 hrs for armed officers; 07E Entry-level Handgun 16 hrs for others; 08E shotgun 3 hrs; 09E advanced; 10E patrol rifle). Issued for not more than 12 months; retraining (07R handgun 4 hrs, 08R shotgun 3 hrs, 09R, 10R) must be completed within the 90 days before expiration or entry-level training must be repeated.

Keep your Virginia credential alive

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