NY State Security Guard Laws Rules and Regulations

Overview NY Security Guard Laws Rules & Regulations

A Security Guard is a person employed in NYS to principally perform one or more of the following duties, and the person is not performing the functions of a private investigator:

• protection of persons and/or property from harm, theft, and/or unlawful activity;

• deterrence, observation, detection, and/or reporting unlawful or unauthorized activity;

• street patrol service;

• response to, but not installation or service of, a security system alarm.

It is the responsibility of licensees to understand the Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies and Security Guards License Law.

Term of registration is two years.

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Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies and Security Guards Licensing Law

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Requirements

• Submit a completed application and the required fee to the Department of State

• Be 18 years old

• Proof of Fingerprint completion

• Have not been convicted of a serious criminal offense

• Have a current NYS photo driver’s license or non-driver ID card

• Complete training

Security Guard Training Requirements  

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Fees

There are fees associated a Security Guard registration. You may pay these fees by check or money order made payable to the Department of State or by MasterCard or Visa using a credit card authorization form. DO NOT SEND CASH. Application fees are nonrefundable. A $20 fee will be charged for any check returned by your bank.

• $36 - Initial Application

• $25 - Renewal

• $102 - Fingerprint Fee (payable to IDEMIA) - Effective January 1, 2022 the Fingerprint Fee will be $101.75

• $25 - Employment Status Notification

• $0 - Change of Personal Name and/or Address

• $25 - Duplicate License/Registration Request

• $25 - Change of Status

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Renew or Update

Renew Your License

A Security Guard registration is good for two years. You are eligible to renew your license 90 days prior to your license expiration date. Your license expiration date is printed on the license.

Renewal forms are mailed approximately 90 days prior to the license expiration date. Complete and submit the renewal form to the address on the form.

If you are eligible to renew your license and you have not received a renewal form, email the Division of Licensing Services and request a form. Your email must include your full name, mailing address, license type, unique identification number and expiration date of your license.

Important Advisory Regarding Security Guard Training
In order to renew a Security Guard registration, the mandatory training courses must be completed and on file
with our office.

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Please do not call the Division of Criminal Justice Services or the Department of State to verify the completion of the required training courses. Begin by contacting the Security Guard Training School to confirm that the training was completed and the appropriate roster was submitted to the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

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All training must be submitted to the State of New York by an authorized school. Individuals are not permitted to mail or fax course certificates to the Department of State. It is the responsibility of the Training School to submit course completion information to the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Once the Division has received your course completion information, it will be electronically transferred to the Department of State.

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Please note that the ID card you now hold remains in effect until the date it expires. Once the ID card expires, you will be ineligible to continue in employment as a security guard. If your registration is expired for 6 months or more, you will be required to reapply for a new registration.

Security Guard Training Requirements
 

Update Your License

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To update your personal name, business or residence address download, complete and submit the Change Notice to the address on the form. 

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To request a duplicate license certificate, complete and submit the Duplicate License/Registration Request to the address on the form.