California Guard Card

This article will show you the exact steps to obtain a California Guard Card in approximately seven to ten business days.  In order to obtain your California Guard Card, you must first enroll in  the “Power to Arrest” and ” Weapons of Mass Destruction” courses either  online or at a local BSIS certified training facility.

Things to know before you begin:

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• No felony or misdemeanor convictions*

*Misdemeanor and felony convictions will not necessarily disqualify you from applying.

STEP 1 – Take the eight hour “Powers to Arrest”  and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” courses:

You must complete the eight hour “Power to Arrest” and  “Weapons of Mass Destruction” courses and pass the examinations in order to apply for your license.     This training can be obtained from any BSIS approved  training facility.  Once you complete and pass the courses, you will receive a certificate of completion to submit to the State of California as outlined in step three.

STEP 2 – Submit your fingerprints

You  must submit your fingerprints electronically using Live Scan. You must only use the security guard Live Scan forms downloaded from the Bureau’s web site or obtained from the Bureau. The Live Scan form from the Bureau contains the correct coding to ensure that the Bureau receives Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and California Department of Justice (DOJ) clearances. The breakdown of fees paid at the Live Scan site are as follows:

• Department of Justice Fingerprint Fee $32.00
• Federal Bureau of Investigations Fingerprint Fee $19.00    TOTAL $51.00

Download Live Scan Forms

Locate a Live Scan fingerprinting center near you

STEP 3 – Apply to the State of California

You must register on the BSIS State website before you can submit your application:

Register and submit an application

Registration fees must be paid by credit card at the time of submission.  The online application is sent electronically to the Bureau. The breakdown of fees paid online are as follows:

• Application Fee $50.00
• Online Convenience Fee $1.00                        TOTAL $51.00

STEP 4 – Wait For Approval

Once the Bureau has received the on-line application and criminal history clearances, your name and California Guard Card number will appear on the Bureau’s website. You can verify the Bureau’s approval by checking the Bureau’s “Verify a License” utilizing the following link:

Verify a License

Once the California Guard Card online registration has been cleared and appears on the Bureau’s web site, a screen printout from the web site may be used as an interim license so that you can be placed on assignment.  Once you are placed on assignment, you must have the following documents in your possession at all times.

• A valid California Guard Card or a screen printout of the Bureau’s approval obtained from the Bureau’s web site.
• A valid Government issued photo I.D.

Your license will be mailed to you within a few weeks of clearing the background check.

The initial upfront cost in order to obtain the license will cost you approximately $160. You will be required to obtain another eight hours of training within the first 30 days of receiving your California Guard Card, and the remaining 24 hours (40 hours total) within six months.