How to get a Virginia security guard license

In Virginia, a security guard needs an Unarmed Security Officer registration from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). You take 18 hours of entry-level training, get fingerprinted and apply online. Armed officers also need a firearms endorsement.

At a glance

License: Unarmed Security Officer/Courier registration
Regulator: Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
Minimum age: 18
Training: 18 hours of entry-level training, then 4 hours each renewal
Fees: $39 to register, plus a criminal history processing fee
Processing time: Fingerprint results alone can take up to 60 business days to reach DCJS
Renewal: Every 2 years, $34

Last verified: October 19, 2026

Requirements change; confirm with DCJS before applying.

Sources: 6VAC20-174, private security registered personnel, DCJS unarmed security officer page, DCJS private security fee schedule, DCJS Division of Licensure and Regulatory Services

Requirements

Anyone employed by a licensed private security business in Virginia as an unarmed or armed security officer needs a DCJS registration.
You must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien.
A felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, property damage, drugs, sexual offenses or firearms, bars registration unless the DCJS Director waives it in writing.
If you have any conviction other than a minor traffic offense, or a current protective order, you send a Criminal History Supplemental Form.
You book fingerprints with Fieldprint, and DCJS is told automatically once you are fingerprinted.

Sources: Code of Virginia section 9.1-139, DCJS unarmed security officer page

Training hours

Entry-level: 18 hours of security officer core subjects.
You may work for 90 days in a row while you finish the training, if your fingerprints were sent by your date of hire and your employer gives you a 90-day authorization to carry with a photo ID.
In-service: 4 hours once in each 2-year registration. DCJS lists approved providers who teach it online.
Training only counts if your application reaches DCJS within 12 months of finishing it.

Sources: DCJS unarmed security officer page, DCJS online training alternatives, 6VAC20-174, private security registered personnel

Fees

Fee	Amount
Registration, new	$39
Criminal history processing	$25
Renewal	$34
Firearm endorsement, renewal or added category	$24
Replacement registration card	$34

DCJS says the fingerprint fee rises to $35 on January 1, 2027 and to $50 on January 1, 2028. Fees are not refundable.

Sources: DCJS private security fee schedule, DCJS criminal history processing form, DCJS fingerprint fee notice, 2026

How to apply, step by step

Take the 18-hour entry-level course (and the firearms courses if you will be armed).
Apply online in Lotus, the DCJS licensing system, and pay the fees. The criminal history form is part of the application.
Book your fingerprints with Fieldprint.
For an armed registration, also apply for the firearms endorsement online after your firearms training.

Sources: DCJS unarmed security officer page, DCJS Lotus online system, DCJS firearms endorsement

Armed security officer license

Armed security officers need a registration and a firearms endorsement. Entry-level training is 50 hours, or 53 with shotgun training.
A firearms endorsement lasts up to 12 months. You retrain with your handgun in the 90 days before it expires.
Carrying a concealed handgun on duty also needs a valid concealed handgun permit and your employer’s written permission.
Armed in-service training is 8 to 11 hours, including handgun retraining.

Sources: 6VAC20-174, private security registered personnel, DCJS armed security officer questions

Renewal and license lookup

A registration lasts up to 2 years. To renew, finish your in-service training (and firearms retraining if armed), renew online and pay $34.
DCJS suggests starting your renewal about 90 days before it expires, because background checks can be slow.

Look up or verify a license on the DCJS External Verification Tool.

Sources: DCJS unarmed security officer page, DCJS Division of Licensure and Regulatory Services

Security officer pay in Virginia

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

Mean hourly wage: $22.63
Median hourly wage: $20.98
Mean annual wage: $47,070
Median annual wage: $43,640

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Virginia security guard license cost?

DCJS charges $39 for a new registration plus a $25 criminal history processing fee. Renewal costs $34. DCJS says the fingerprint fee rises to $35 on January 1, 2027.

Can I take Virginia security officer training online?

DCJS lists approved online providers for in-service training and the classroom part of firearms retraining. It lists none for the 18-hour entry-level course.

How do I look up a Virginia security license?

Use the DCJS External Verification Tool to search for a person, a business or a training school.

How often do I renew a Virginia security officer registration?

Every 2 years, with 4 hours of in-service training. An armed firearms endorsement is renewed every year.

How do I get an armed security guard license in Virginia?

Take the 50-hour armed entry-level training, register as an armed security officer and apply for a firearms endorsement. You retrain with your handgun every year.

How much do security guards make in Virginia?

BLS estimates that Security Guards in Virginia earned a median wage of $20.98 an hour ($43,640 a year) in May 2025. The mean wage was $22.63 an hour ($47,070 a year).

How long does it take to get licensed in Virginia?

DCJS does not publish a total time, but says fingerprint results alone can take up to 60 business days. You may work up to 90 days while you finish training if you meet its conditions.

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