Georgia security guard license requirements

Georgia does not register unarmed security guards, but they must finish 24 hours of training set by the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies before they work. Armed security guards register with the Board through their employer and need a weapon permit.

At a glance

License: No unarmed registration; armed officers register with the Board
Regulator: Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies
Minimum age: 18 (21 for armed)
Training: 24 hours of classroom training before you work (armed: 15 more hours)
Fees: Unarmed: no state fee. Armed: $70 to register
Processing time: Allow at least 15 business days (armed registration)
Renewal: Every 2 years for armed registrations, by August 31 of odd years

Last verified: October 19, 2026

Requirements change; confirm with the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies before applying.

Sources: Board questions and answers, Board fee schedule, Board employee registration application, Board Rules Chapter 509-2, registration

Requirements

Unarmed security officers do not register with the Board, but must be trained under the Board’s laws and rules.
Armed security officers must work for a company the Board licenses. Each registration is tied to that employer.
You must be at least 18, or 21 for an armed license.
Armed applicants sign an affidavit that they are a U.S. citizen or a lawfully present noncitizen.
A felony conviction may be cause for the Board to deny a registration or weapon permit. A misdemeanor need not bar you.

Sources: Board questions and answers, Board employee registration application, Board Rules Chapter 509-2, registration

Training hours

Before you work: at least 24 hours of classroom instruction in a basic training program. This applies to unarmed and armed security officers.
Armed officers: at least 15 more hours of handgun training, including 8 hours on the range.
Registered officers need 8 hours of continuing education before each renewal, except the first.

Sources: Board questions and answers, Board Rules Chapter 509-3, training

Fees

Fee	Amount
Unarmed security officer	No registration fee
Armed security officer, first registration	$70
Weapon permit	$25
Renewal, on time	$65
Renewal, late	$80

Sources: Board fee schedule, Board weapon permit application

How to apply, step by step

Get hired by a security company the Board licenses. For an armed registration, your employer applies for you.
Finish the 24-hour basic training, plus the handgun course and range test if you will be armed.
Gather the application, proof of training, the citizenship affidavit and your ID, then apply online in GOALS.
Get fingerprinted for the background check.
Do not work armed until your license is active.

Sources: Board questions and answers, How to apply to be a private detective or security employee

Armed security officer license

An armed security officer registers with the Board and holds a weapon permit for an exposed handgun, a concealed handgun or a shotgun.
Handgun training is at least 15 hours, and you must pass the written exam and the range with 80%, using the type of weapon you carry.
You must requalify with your weapon every year.

Sources: Board questions and answers, Board Rules Chapter 509-3, training

Renewal and license lookup

Armed registrations and weapon permits expire on August 31 of each odd-numbered year.
Renew online in GOALS. Renewal opens 90 days before expiration, and a late renewal costs more.

Look up or verify a license on the Georgia license search.

Sources: Board Rules Chapter 509-2, registration, How to apply to be a private detective or security employee

Security officer pay in Georgia

What the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates Security Guards earn in Georgia, May 2025:

Mean hourly wage: $18.22
Median hourly wage: $16.82
Mean annual wage: $37,890
Median annual wage: $34,980

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Security Guards, May 2025

Frequently asked questions

Do unarmed security guards need a license in Georgia?

No registration is needed. Unarmed security officers must still finish at least 24 hours of classroom training under the Board’s rules before they work.

How much does an armed security guard license cost in Georgia?

The Board’s fee schedule lists $70 for a first armed registration and $25 for a weapon permit, and $65 to renew on time.

Can I take Georgia security guard training online?

The Board’s rules call the 24-hour basic training classroom instruction, so plan to attend in person.

How do I look up a Georgia security license?

Use the Georgia Secretary of State license search in GOALS.

How often do I renew an armed security guard license in Georgia?

Every 2 years: registrations expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years. You also requalify with your weapon every year.

How much do security guards make in Georgia?

BLS estimates that Security Guards in Georgia earned a median wage of $16.82 an hour ($34,980 a year) in May 2025. The mean wage was $18.22 an hour ($37,890 a year).

How long does it take to get an armed license in Georgia?

The Board asks you to allow at least 15 business days to process the application, fingerprints and documents.

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