Security Guard License Reciprocity by State (2026)
No security guard compact — registration is state by state
Security guard registration does not transfer between states. Where the occupation is regulated it is regulated at state level, and several states regulate it locally instead, so the requirements are set board by board.
- Covers:
- Individual state security officer registrations or licences.
- Governing body:
- Each state licensing authority, or the local jurisdiction where the state does not regulate
What to know before you rely on it
- Some states do not regulate security guards at all, leaving it to cities and counties.
- Where a state does regulate, training-hour and background requirements are set by that state and do not carry over.
- An out-of-state licence rarely shortens the process — expect a fresh application, training check and background check.
Verify this first: Confirm which authority regulates security officers in your destination city or state before applying.
State private security regulator (example: Texas DPS) ↗State-by-state reciprocity notes
No state reciprocity notes for Security Guard are published in our dataset. For every state below, confirm directly with both boards — a missing note is not a negative answer. Licensed unarmed/armed guard. Many states require a short course + registration.
| State | Reciprocity note | Verify with |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Alaska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Arizona | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Arkansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| California | check both state boards | California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) ↗ |
| Colorado | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Connecticut | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Delaware | check both state boards | board site pending |
| District of Columbia | check both state boards | DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs — Security Officers ↗ |
| Florida | check both state boards | Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — Division of Licensing ↗ |
| Georgia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Hawaii | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Idaho | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Illinois | check both state boards | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) ↗ |
| Indiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Iowa | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kansas | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Kentucky | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Louisiana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maine | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Maryland | check both state boards | Maryland State Police — Security Guard Licensing ↗ |
| Massachusetts | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Michigan | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Minnesota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Mississippi | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Missouri | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Montana | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nebraska | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Nevada | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Hampshire | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New Jersey | check both state boards | New Jersey State Police — SORA ↗ |
| New Mexico | check both state boards | board site pending |
| New York | check both state boards | New York Department of State — Division of Licensing Services ↗ |
| North Carolina | check both state boards | board site pending |
| North Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Ohio | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Oklahoma | check both state boards | Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) ↗ |
| Oregon | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Pennsylvania | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Rhode Island | check both state boards | board site pending |
| South Carolina | check both state boards | South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) — Security Officer Licensing ↗ |
| South Dakota | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Tennessee | check both state boards | Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Private Protective Services ↗ |
| Texas | check both state boards | Texas Department of Public Safety — Private Security Bureau ↗ |
| Utah | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Vermont | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Virginia | check both state boards | Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services — Private Security Services ↗ |
| Washington | check both state boards | board site pending |
| West Virginia | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wisconsin | check both state boards | board site pending |
| Wyoming | check both state boards | board site pending |
Frequently asked questions
How does a Security Guard license transfer between states?
Security guard registration does not transfer between states. Where the occupation is regulated it is regulated at state level, and several states regulate it locally instead, so the requirements are set board by board.
Which states participate in No security guard compact — registration is state by state?
Security guard registration does not transfer between states. Where the occupation is regulated it is regulated at state level, and several states regulate it locally instead, so the requirements are set board by board. Confirm the current position with Each state licensing authority, or the local jurisdiction where the state does not regulate.
Does No security guard compact — registration is state by state mean I skip the exam entirely?
Not automatically. Some states do not regulate security guards at all, leaving it to cities and counties. The only reliable answer for your situation comes from the destination board, so verify before you pay application fees.
Can I transfer my Security Guard license to another state?
Reciprocity for Security Guard licenses is decided state-by-state and no state notes are published in our dataset yet. Contact both state boards — your current one and your destination — to confirm whether your license transfers, requires an exam, or needs extra education.
What does reciprocity mean for a license?
Reciprocity lets an already-licensed professional from one state qualify for a license in another state without repeating the full education and exam process. Some states have formal agreements or compacts; others require a state-specific exam or extra coursework even when they accept your license. Many states do not grant a license on reciprocity at all — they grant it by comity or endorsement, meaning you still file an application and meet their requirements.
Why do some states say "check both state boards"?
State reciprocity tables are not consistently published in machine-readable form. When a state has not published an official note in our verified sources, we point you to both boards rather than guess. That is the safest answer for a decision that can affect your eligibility to work.
Does holding a license in one state guarantee a license in another?
No. Every state sets its own licensing law. Even in states with reciprocity or a compact, you typically still file an application, pay a fee, pass a background check and sometimes pass a state-specific exam. Always confirm directly with the destination state board.
Plan your move with Security Guard data
Compare other professions
Reciprocity rules and compact membership change frequently and are set by each state legislature and board. “Check both state boards” means the note is not published in our dataset — it is not a negative answer. Mechanism data retrieved 2026-09-13; always verify with both boards before relocating.