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Welcome to Security Guard Training Headquarters! We have everything you need to make your life easier as you begin your career as a security guard officer. State specific training requirements, a step-by-step hiring process, potential employers and interviews to help you get hired are just some of the helpful things you'll find here.

Security Guard Training in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, a license is required for unarmed security guards. The process is rather detailed. An applicant or hiring company must petition the court for the license. The County Clerk’s office is limited to the questions they can answer about this process and recommends that an attorney be retained for such matters.

Basic requirements to submit petition for unarmed security guards in Pennsylvania:

Must file a petition with the following attachments:

Passport photos (2)
Letters from character witnesses pointing out your good moral character
Certified proof of criminal background check
Fingerprint card with fee (this card must be submitted to the County Clerk’s office with a money order that will be mailed to the Pennsylvania State police)

Statewide requirements that may be helpful in getting Petition Approved:

Be at least 18 years old
Citizenship
Mentally competent
Have good moral character
No drug or alcohol use or dependence
No felony convictions
No disabilities that would prevent performance of duty

Training Requirements

In Pennsylvania, there are no set rules as to the type of training or experience required. It is ultimately up to the judge.

Fees are nonrefundable:

Fingerprint card: $17.50 (money order must be made out to the Pennsylvania State Police)
License: $200 (This fee is paid only if petition is approved)

For more information, please read Promulgation of Local Rules of Civil Procedure; No. 6513 CV 2005 or call the Pennsylvania County Clerk’s office at 570-517-3387.

27 Responses to “Security Guard Training in Pennsylvania”

Julian, on July 16th, 2011 at 3:36 pm Said:

How do i become a security guard?
Brett, on August 1st, 2011 at 7:18 pm Said:

Where do I find a petition to mail to the County Clerks office to become a Security Guard?
What are Passport Photos?
Where do I get a finger-print card to mail?
How do I submit the petition?
How do I get a certified criminal background check?
Do I mail money order to PA Police Station?
Or am I just supposed to go there to do all this?
Kelly Kudlacik, on August 30th, 2011 at 6:57 am Said:

it.thanks!!!
C.Winston Bailey, on October 8th, 2012 at 3:08 am Said:

Please call me so I can began the process. thanks
Rita Knox, on December 21st, 2012 at 6:08 pm Said:

I want to know more about the training and the requirements for the training
Chad, on February 26th, 2013 at 3:19 pm Said:

I already have an Unarmed Security License for another state. Is it transferable or do i need to take another class?
Dante m diaz, on October 5th, 2013 at 6:12 pm Said:

Looking forward 2 knowing more about security guard if anything hit me up
jasmine, on July 14th, 2014 at 8:22 pm Said:

I have an armed and armor truck guard license will this help or is it transferable.
Ray Jay, on August 12th, 2014 at 2:12 pm Said:

Where are you getting your information because I live in PA and don’t have any such paper
Michael chinchilla, on August 18th, 2014 at 4:14 pm Said:

If I have a florida security liscense in florida is there anyway it can be transferred?
Bush, Emily N., on February 17th, 2015 at 1:37 pm Said:

I’m just getting out of the military. I have a clearance and some basic teachings. Is there a number I can call to get assistance in getting this all done since my time in the military is all I have? I need assistance so I know exactly what I need to get and how much and where?
Alan G, on May 3rd, 2015 at 8:55 am Said:

Next week at the school prom my Principal asked me to be an extra set of “eyes and ears” i’m still 16 so i can’t get a license. so i’m going to go as a urarmed security officer with OC, and handcuffs.
Stephanie, on September 8th, 2015 at 6:46 pm Said:

I would like to know the cost for security guard classes and if I can take the classes online
Chris, on October 13th, 2015 at 11:13 am Said:

I’m a security supervisor in Pittsburgh, PA. There is no such thing as an unarmed security officer license. The only licenses needed to work for our company are in the event that you live in Ohio, (we have sites there) because it is required, there is no such requirement in Pa.
Jeremy, on November 28th, 2016 at 9:24 pm Said:

I just want to get detain licences
Taikiem Jennings, on February 3rd, 2017 at 4:22 pm Said:

I already have a security License from another state how do I go about transferring it over, upon relocating?
Pete Narvaez, on March 5th, 2017 at 10:47 pm Said:

So no one with any type of criminal background can get licensed as an unarmed security guard?
Soguel Paul, on January 11th, 2018 at 3:15 am Said:

I’m holding a Florida G and D license and I’m moving to Pennsylvania. Can I still work security with my license or what should I do?
Denice, on March 6th, 2018 at 6:35 pm Said:

What i need to do for becoming a security guard in PA? Do i have to take training hours?
Ashantia Hall, on July 14th, 2018 at 8:22 pm Said:

I’m a registered security guard in mud how can I become one in p.a.
Glotilde, on September 27th, 2018 at 7:16 pm Said:

I’m interested in arm security training
Kenneth Richter, on May 14th, 2019 at 1:54 am Said:

I’m already a security guard, at a local mall. So do I need to get seperate licences, to be able to work anywere, and what do I need to do to be able to carry a firearm?
I of course had a background check and fingerprinted,
How Do I Become an Armed Security Guard? | Security Guard Training HQ, on April 19th, 2020 at 2:44 pm Said:

[…] Pennsylvania […]
Lori A Williams, on July 28th, 2020 at 1:29 pm Said:

I have been a security officer in the state of Pennsylvania for 34 years. You do not need a license or guard card in Pennsylvania. Surrounding states do.
Zaf, on August 8th, 2021 at 10:04 pm Said:

Does a Pennsylvania security guard license work in NYS?
Jessiy, on October 18th, 2021 at 5:24 pm Said:

I have my florida state class D license. Can it be transferred?? Also im confused because some people are saying you dont need a license in the state of pa but others say you do per state requirements? Soo do i need to take the 40hr course again in pa and get re licensed???
David Coen, on January 4th, 2022 at 8:48 am Said:

I recently relocated to PA Butler County from Florida. I have a Security Officer Class D License from the state of Florida. Is is transferrable to the state of Pennsylvania? If it is, what is the procedure? If not, what do I need to do?