Armed Security Guard Application

[Shelly Takacs]

Asecurity guard is an individual who provides security guard services to any person on behalf of a security guard agency. Security guard services include any activity that is performed for compensation as a security guard to protect any individual or property.

To qualify for a State of Maryland Security Guard Certification, an applicant shall be an individual who is a current employee of, or a current applicant for employment with a licensed security guard agency and be of good moral character and reputation. Applicants must also meet any standards set by the Maryland State Police.

The Security Guard Unit will only accept applications completed electronically on the PDF form(s) provided below under Documents for initial and renewal applications. Answer all questions accurately, completely and honestly. Once completed, the PDF form should be printed, signed, and mailed.

Mail the application packet to the Licensing Division at the address provided above. Allow 90 business days for the completion of the application process. If the Licensing Division does not receive the renewal application, satisfactorily completed, by the expiration date, the applicant must begin as a new applicant and complete all requirements necessary for an initial application.

All original applications require FBI and CJIS fingerprint submissions. Additionally, applicants must submit two photographs of applicant (2"x2" square, light background, head and shoulder full face, no hat or head coverings, no dark glasses).

A Security Guard Certification expires three (3) years after its date of issuance and upon the date the Secretary of State Police sets. By regulation, the Secretary shall stagger the terms of the certification. The license may be renewed for an additional 3-year term.

The renewal process is the responsibility of the applicant and should be started no less than 90 business days from expiration of the license. Timely renewal is the responsibility of the license holder. The renewal application and required material must be mailed to the Licensing Division at least 90 business days before a certification expires. Renewals require, in addition to the FBI fingerprints:

NOTE: Renewal applicants must be entitled to be certified. If a prohibiting conviction or event has occurred, the renewal will not be granted. If the Maryland State Police does not receive the documents required at least 90 days before the license expiration date, the Maryland State Police shall charge the licensee a late fee of $5 per day, beginning the day after the expiration date. A maximum of $150.00 may be assessed. The Licensing Division may not certify any applicant if the applicant has outstanding late fee obligations.

Below you will find links to PDFs of relevant Maryland statutes, provided for your convenience. Please note that laws change over time. The below documents were created on June 12, 2013, and are for reference purposes only. To obtain the most recent text of any legislation, please go online to LexisNexis to access the up-to-date Maryland code.

The State of Maryland pledges to provide constituents, businesses, customers, and stakeholders with friendly and courteous, timely and responsive, accurate and consistent, accessible and convenient, and truthful and transparent services.

Any person engaging in the business of providing a security guard and patrol service on a contractual basis for another person. If the person is a partnership each partner must qualify; if the person is a corporation or an LLC an agent of the corporation must qualify.

Requirements

"Proprietary Security Organization" means any person or department thereof which employs a security guard/officer solely for such person in an employer/employee relationship.

It is unlawful for any person to act as a proprietary security organization without first having notified the commissioner in writing.

A security guard/officer is an individual employed by a contract security company or a proprietary security organization to protect persons and/or property from criminal activities. A security guard who holds armed guard registration may work an armed or unarmed post, and is not required to hold an additional "unarmed" guard registration.

Training Requirements

Training includes an examination covering subjects in which the individual must have training. All candidates must complete a four hour basic course including one (1) hour each of:

In addition, an armed guard applicant must complete an additional four hours of marksmanship training and achieve a minimum of 70% on any silhouette target course approved by the commissioner.

Training Requirements for the use of a Club, Stun Gun, Chemical Spray, Night Stick or other less than lethal device

Registered guards or applicants who will carry a club, stun gun, chemical spray, night stick or other less than lethal device, the commissioner shall require appropriate training specific to such device by a certified trainer who is certified to instruct for such specific device. It shall be the employers' responsibility to keep training records of their employees for each device. The security officer/guard shall also have in such person's possession a certification card issued by an instructor/trainer who is certified to instruct/train in the legal use of such specific device and shall exhibit such card upon demand by the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized agent or any full time law enforcement officer.

A security guard/officer is an individual employed by a contract security company or a proprietary security organization to protect persons and/or property from criminal activities. If an individual maintains an armed guard registration it is not necessary to also be registered as an "unarmed" guard.

Training Requirements

Training includes an examination covering subjects in which the individual must have training. All candidates must complete a four hour basic course including one (1) hour each of:

Training Requirements for the use of a Club, Stun Gun, Chemical Spray, Night Stick or other less than lethal device.

Registered guards or applicants who will carry a club, stun gun, chemical spray, night stick or other less than lethal device, the commissioner shall require appropriate training specific to such device by a certified trainer who is certified to instruct for such specific device. It shall be the employers' responsibility to keep training records of their employees for each device. The security officer/guard shall also have in such person's possession a certification card issued by an instructor/trainer who is certified to instruct/train in the legal use of such specific device and shall exhibit such card upon demand by the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized agent or any full time law enforcement officer.

Renewals

An individual certified by the commissioner as qualified to administer and certify as to successful completion of the minimum training requirements prescribed for a security officer/guard. A certified trainer may appoint an instructor to assist with the implementation of the training program by notifying the commissioner of the appointee. Only a certified trainer is eligible to certify successful completion of required training of a security guard/officer before the guard can be registered. Registration is required of armed or unarmed security guards/officers in Tennessee.

Any instructor assisting in the implementation of a training program shall be under the supervision and control of the certified trainer by which he/she was appointed. The certified trainer shall be accountable for the performance of each instructor appointed.

To assist in the implementation of the training program, the certified security guard trainer may appoint as an instructor any individual who:Is at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and has at least one (1) year of experience with:

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Was engaged in the private security guard or agency business for a period of at least 4 years as an employee of the holder of a certificate of authority to conduct a private security guard or agency business and has experience reasonably equivalent to at least 4 years of full-time guard work in a supervisory capacity with rank above that of patrolman.

LARA is proud to be recognized as a Veteran-Friendly Employer committed to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices. LARA is dedicated to bridging the gap between civilian and military employment and helping veterans gain and retain employment.

The Licensing Unit regulates security guards, security agencies, private investigators and private investigative agencies. Additionally, the unit accepts complaints from the public and enforces statutory laws and administrative rules pertaining to those entities.

In accordance with A.R.S 41-1080.01 A except for an individual who applies for a license pursuant to title 36, chapter 4, article 10 or chapter 28.1, an agency shall waive any fee for an initial license for any of the following individuals if the individual is apply for that specific license in the state FOR THE FIRST TIME. Please note, the $22.00 fingerprint fee still applies and will need to accompany your application.

"Private security guard service" means any agency, individual or employer in the business of furnishing to the public for hire, fee or reward dogs, watchmen, patrol service, private security guards or other persons to protect human life or to prevent the theft or the misappropriation or concealment of goods, wares, merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, choses in action or other property, valuable documents, papers and articles of value.

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