West Virginia security guard license lookup
How to check a West Virginia security guard license in the official lookup, what the result means, and what to do if the guard is not there.
Step-by-step: how to look up a guard in West VirginiaA short "Licensee ID" of three to five digits, e.g. 556 or 35065. This is an internal database key, not a number printed on anything the guard carries, search by surname instead.6 steps
- Ask the guard for their full legal name and the name of the company that employs them. Do not bother asking for a license number, West Virginia’s ID is an internal key the guard will not recognise.
- Open apps.sos.wv.gov/business/licensing/, set the Type dropdown to "Security Guard", and type the surname into Last Name. Leave the field labelled "If you are human, leave this field blank" empty.
- Click Search and read the Results table: Name, Address, License Type, Status and ID.
- Use the Address column as an employer check, it is populated with the employing security firm’s name and address, so you can confirm the guard works for the firm that sent them.
- Confirm Status reads Active. "Pending", "Expired", "Denied", "Resigned" and "Terminated" all mean not currently licensed.
- The table shows no expiration date at all, so if you need the expiry in writing, email investigationsupport@wvsos.gov quoting the ID from the results.
A short "Licensee ID" of three to five digits, e.g. 556 or 35065. This is an internal database key, not a number printed on anything the guard carries, search by surname instead.
Live WV SOS Licensing Search results for Type = Security Guard, Last Name = SMITH, whose ID column returned 556, 35065, 70567 and 73466. Nothing in the WV application packet indicates this value appears on a guard’s credential.
Reading the lookup result & if they don't show upHow to interpret status, expiration dates, and pending applicationsResult guide
- Status. It should read active or current. Expired, inactive, suspended and revoked licenses still come back as results, so finding a record is not the same as a valid license.
- Expiration date. This lookup does not show one. Read it off the card and confirm it with the West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division.
- License type. The standard credential is the Individual Security Guard License. Make sure the type on the record matches the post, especially if they will carry a weapon.
Search the surname alone, in case the record uses a different spelling or a middle name. If there is still nothing, that is not proof either way: ask the guard for the exact name and number on their card, then contact the West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division.
West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Building 1, Suite 157-K, Charleston WV 25305.
How to check the security company in West VirginiaThe West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division licenses the firm itself (Security Guard Firm License)Agency license
- Ask the company for the exact legal name on its license. West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division does not publish license numbers here, so the name is what you can actually match.
- Open the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division lookup and search for that name.
- Search the legal name, not the name on the uniform or the invoice. Brand names, DBAs, and the name on the truck are often not the licensed entity.
- Read the status and the expiry date, not just the presence of a record. An expired or suspended license still returns a result.
- If nothing comes up, ask which entity holds the license and in which state, then check that name. If the answer does not resolve, treat the license as unconfirmed and call West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division before signing.
The West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division names the firms it licenses but publishes no license number; match on the legal name instead.
Ask for company insurance & bonding properlyWest Virginia requires liability coverage by statute — what to ask for on the COIRequired by law
No amount is published anywhere. The statute requires "a surety bond or sufficient proof of liability insurance as required by the Secretary of State" and fixes no figure, and neither the application packet nor the renewal page supplies one. Anyone quoting a West Virginia insurance minimum is guessing.
If it lapses: Not specified in statute or on the Secretary of State’s pages. A lapse would surface at the two-year renewal, if then.
W. Va. Code §30-18-6(h), https://code.wvlegislature.gov/pdf/30-18-6/
tessura does not verify anyone’s insurance and has no access to insurers’ records. This is guidance for doing it yourself, not legal advice.
West Virginia license lookup: common questionsQuick answers on lookup timing, missing records, and armed permits5 questions
How do I look up a security guard license in West Virginia?
Open the WV Secretary of State Licensing Search at apps.sos.wv.gov and search for the guard. The record shows the license status but not clearly an expiration date, so confirm that with the West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division.
What is a security guard license called in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division issues the Individual Security Guard License.
What does a West Virginia security guard license number look like?
A short "Licensee ID" of three to five digits, e.g. 556 or 35065. This is an internal database key, not a number printed on anything the guard carries, search by surname instead.
What if the guard does not show up in the search?
Search the surname alone, in case the record uses a different spelling or a middle name. If there is still nothing, that is not proof either way: ask the guard for the exact name and number on their card, then contact the West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division. West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Building 1, Suite 157-K, Charleston WV 25305.
How do I check a security company’s license in West Virginia?
Companies need their own license from the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division: Security Guard Firm License. Search the company’s exact legal name at apps.sos.wv.gov and read the status and expiry date on the record.