Verify a license in six steps
- 1
Open the DCA license search
Go to the California Department of Consumer Affairs license lookup at search.dca.ca.gov. BSIS licenses — PPO firms, guard cards, and firearm permits — are all published there.
- 2
Choose the right license type
Select 'Security Guard' to check an individual officer's guard card, or 'Private Patrol Operator' to check the company itself. A company and an officer are two separate licenses; verify both.
- 3
Search by license number, not by name
Ask for the exact number. A California PPO number looks like PPO 122730 and a guard card is a seven-digit registration. Numbers return one record; name searches return look-alikes.
- 4
Confirm the status reads CLEAR
You want 'Clear' with an expiration date in the future. 'Delinquent', 'Expired', 'Suspended', or 'Revoked' means the license is not valid for work today, regardless of what the company tells you.
- 5
Check for disciplinary action
Open the record and look for citations, probation, or enforcement history. BSIS publishes actions taken against both firms and individual registrants.
- 6
Match the license to who is actually on your site
Verify the guard card of the officer standing at your post, not just the salesperson's company license. Officers must carry the physical card on duty and show it on request.
Open the California DCA license lookup
Red flags that mean walk away
- The company will not give you a PPO number in writing
- The PPO number returns no record, or a different business name, in the DCA lookup
- License status shows Delinquent, Expired, Suspended, or Revoked
- Officers cannot produce a physical guard card on request
- The quote is dramatically below market — usually unregistered or uninsured labor
- No certificate of insurance naming your property as additional insured
What a compliant California officer carries
- A current BSIS guard card, physically on their person
- 32 hours of BSIS Power to Arrest and skills training
- 8 hours of annual continuing education
- Employment under an active PPO firm, not as a solo contractor
- A firearm permit and exposed-weapon card if armed
- Identifiable uniform and patch identifying the licensed firm
Verify us first
We publish our license so you can check it before we ever quote you. Summit Force Security Group, Private Security operates under PPO #122730. Licensed by the California Bureau of Security & Investigative Services (BSIS), Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). Run the number through the DCA lookup, then call 1-800-823-5337.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a BSIS license in California?
Use the California Department of Consumer Affairs license lookup at search.dca.ca.gov, select 'Security Guard' for an individual or 'Private Patrol Operator' for a company, and search by license number. A valid license shows a status of 'Clear' with a future expiration date.
What is the difference between a guard card and a PPO license?
A guard card is the individual registration that lets one person work as a security officer in California. A PPO (Private Patrol Operator) license authorizes a company to sell security services and employ those officers. A legitimate contract requires both — the firm's PPO and each officer's guard card.
How long does a California guard card stay valid?
Guard card registrations run two years and require 32 hours of BSIS training within the first six months of employment, plus eight hours of continuing education each year after. Expired registrations must be renewed before the officer works again.
Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed security guard in California?
Providing security services without a PPO license is a violation of the California Business and Professions Code, and hiring an unlicensed provider exposes the property owner to liability for the officer's conduct and can void coverage after an incident. Verify before you sign, not after.
What is Summit Force Security Group's PPO number?
Summit Force Security Group operates under California PPO #122730, licensed by BSIS under the Department of Consumer Affairs. Every officer we post carries a current BSIS guard card, and we provide license numbers and certificates of insurance with every proposal so you can verify us the same way.
Hiring in the Sacramento region? See our Sacramento security guard services or browse every city we cover.