How to get a Washington security guard license
In Washington, security guards are licensed by the Department of Licensing (DOL). You need a job or a job offer with a licensed security company, 8 hours of training before your first post and a fingerprint background check. Armed officers add an armed endorsement and a firearms certificate from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC).
At a glance
- License
- Private security guard license
- Minimum age
- 18 (21 to work armed)
- Training
- 8 hours before your first post, 8 more after it, then 4 hours a year
- Fees
- $101, including the background check
- Renewal
- Every year, $95
Last verified: October 21, 2026
Requirements change; confirm with DOL before applying.
Sources: RCW 18.170.040, armed license, RCW 18.170.105, training, WAC 308-18-150, fees
Requirements
- You must be at least 18 and be employed by, or have a job offer from, a licensed private security company.
- You must be a United States citizen or a resident noncitizen.
- Every applicant has a fingerprint background check. Inside Washington you book it with IdentoGO and pay its fee; outside the state, your local law enforcement agency takes your prints.
- You need an application number before you submit fingerprints, so you apply first.
Sources: DOL: get your unarmed license, RCW 18.170.030, license requirements
Training hours
- Before your first post: at least 8 hours of pre-assignment training, at least 4 of them in a classroom.
- After you start: at least 8 hours of post-assignment training.
- Every year after that: at least 4 hours of refresher training.
- A former full-time sworn peace officer who served in the last 5 years and passes the exam can have the pre-assignment training waived.
Source: RCW 18.170.105, training
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| License, new (includes the background check) | $101 |
| Renewal, every year | $95 |
| Late renewal penalty | $15 |
| Transfer to a new employer | $25 |
| Armed endorsement | $10 |
IdentoGO charges its own fingerprinting fee, paid to the vendor.
Sources: WAC 308-18-150, fees, DOL: get your unarmed license
How to apply, step by step
- Get hired by, or get a job offer from, a licensed private security company.
- Finish the 8 hours of pre-assignment training.
- Apply and pay online through SecureAccess Washington (DOL says this is faster), or mail form 690008 with a check or money order.
- Once you have an application number, get fingerprinted through IdentoGO.
- After you start work, finish the 8 hours of post-assignment training.
Sources: DOL: get your unarmed license, RCW 18.170.105, training
Armed security officer license
- Anyone who carries a firearm while on duty for a licensed private security company needs an armed license.
- DOL can issue the armed license as an endorsement on your private security guard license.
- You must already hold the private security guard license, be at least 21, and hold a current firearms certificate from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC).
- Only your employer can apply for the CJTC firearms certificate: the application is signed by a principal or officer of the licensed company.
- A CJTC-certified firearms instructor qualifies you on each firearm you will carry, your employer owns or leases those firearms, and your employer makes sure you pass a proficiency check every year.
- The armed endorsement costs $10.
Sources: DOL: get your armed license, RCW 18.170.040, armed license, WAC 139-30-015, CJTC firearms certificate, WAC 308-18-150, fees
Renewal and license lookup
- A license expires one year after it is issued.
- Renewal costs $95. Renewing late adds a $15 penalty, which is waived when the renewal comes with a transfer or rehire.
- Keep up the 4 hours of refresher training each year.
Look up or verify a license on the DOL license lookup.
Sources: WAC 308-18-150, fees, RCW 18.170.105, training
Security officer pay in Washington
What the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates Security Guards earn in Washington, May 2025:
- Mean hourly wage
- $24.41
- Median hourly wage
- $22.64
- Mean annual wage
- $50,770
- Median annual wage
- $47,100
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Security Guards, May 2025
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a security guard license in Washington State?
Get a job or a job offer with a licensed private security company, finish 8 hours of pre-assignment training, apply and pay through SecureAccess Washington or by mail, then get fingerprinted through IdentoGO once you have an application number.
Do you need a license to be a security guard in Washington State?
Yes. A security officer working for a private security company needs a private security guard license from the Department of Licensing, and an armed endorsement to carry a firearm on duty.
How much does a Washington security guard license cost?
The license costs $101, which includes the background check, plus IdentoGO’s own fingerprinting fee. Renewal is $95 a year, and the armed endorsement is $10.
How long does it take to get a security guard license in Washington?
DOL does not publish a processing time. It says applying and paying online gets you your license faster than applying by mail.
How do I become an armed security guard in Washington State?
Hold the private security guard license, be at least 21, and have your employer apply for a CJTC firearms certificate. With the certificate, you apply to DOL for the armed endorsement, which costs $10.
What is the CJTC firearms certificate, and how do I get one?
It is the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s certificate that you are qualified on the firearms you will carry for your employer. Only your employer can apply for it, and a CJTC-certified instructor qualifies you on each firearm.
How do I look up a Washington security guard license?
Use the DOL license lookup. You can search by name, license number or license type, and it shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
How do I renew my security guard license in Washington?
Renew every year, before your license expires one year after it was issued. Renewal costs $95, plus a $15 penalty if you are late, and you keep up 4 hours of refresher training each year.
Can I get a security guard license with a felony?
The law lets DOL deny a license for a conviction only when the director finds the crime directly relates to the work and that denying the license protects the public. Ask DOL about your own record.
How much do security guards make in Washington?
BLS estimates that Security Guards in Washington earned a median wage of $22.64 an hour ($47,100 a year) in May 2025. The mean wage was $24.41 an hour ($50,770 a year).
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Sources
More state guides
- How to get a guard card in California
- How to get a security guard license in Texas
- How to get an Illinois PERC card
- All state licensing guides
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