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Getting started in security

Need help with your Guard Card? Contact us for details

PPO #122730

Thinking about getting your California security guard card and not sure where to start? We have been through the process, we know what BSIS actually requires, and we are happy to point you in the right direction. Reach out and we will walk you through it — no pressure, no sales pitch.

1-800-823-5337Send us a message

What it takes to get registered

California sets the requirements — we just help you make sense of them. Here is the general path most aspiring officers follow to earn a BSIS guard card.

  1. 1

    Meet the eligibility basics

    California requires you to be 18 or older, pass a DOJ and FBI fingerprint background check, and complete a 40-hour course of BSIS-mandated training before you can work as a registered security officer.

  2. 2

    Get fingerprinted

    Fingerprints are submitted through a BSIS-approved Live Scan provider. The background check clears through the Department of Justice — this is the step that takes the longest, so start it early.

  3. 3

    Complete the required training

    The 40-hour training covers Power to Arrest, weapons of mass destruction awareness, communication, observation, and use of force. A portion must be finished before you apply; the rest within your first months on the job.

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Your application goes to BSIS with your training certificate, Live Scan receipt, and fees. Once issued, your guard card is valid for two years and renewable with continuing education.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a guard card to work as a security guard in California?

Yes. California law requires every security officer to hold a current BSIS guard card before working a single shift. The card is issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services after you complete training, pass a background check, and submit your application.

Can Summit Force help me get my guard card?

We are a licensed private patrol operator, not a public training facility — but we regularly point aspiring officers in the right direction, share what BSIS actually requires, and in select cases help motivated candidates get through the process. Call 1-800-823-5337 and tell us where you are in the process.

How long does it take to get a guard card in California?

Once your application, fingerprints, and training certificate are submitted, most applicants receive their guard card within a few weeks. The background check is the variable — a clean record clears quickly, and delays almost always trace back to the Live Scan step.

How much does a guard card cost?

You can expect to pay for your 40-hour training course, the Live Scan fingerprinting, and the BSIS application fee. We are happy to walk you through the typical cost breakdown over the phone so there are no surprises.

Does Summit Force hire officers who already have their guard card?

Yes. We are always interested in guard-card verified officers who take the work seriously. If you are already registered — or close to it — reach out and we can talk about open posts across the Sacramento region and beyond.

Want to verify a license you already hold or were quoted? Read our BSIS license verification guide.

Have questions about the guard card? Let's talk

Licensed California PPO #122730. Call dispatch or send a few details and we will walk you through the next step.

1-800-823-5337Get a free quote
Free site assessment

Tell us about your property

Send a few details and a supervisor will walk your site, identify the vulnerable hours, and return a written coverage plan with flat hourly pricing — no obligation.

  • Same-day response on urgent coverage requests
  • Licensed, guard-card verified, uniformed officers
  • GPS-tracked patrol reports delivered every morning
  • Short-term, event, and long-term contracts available