Arizona Security Guard Study Guide 2026

The Arizona guard card

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) registers private security guards through its Licensing Unit. The laws are in A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 26, and the rules are in Title 13, Chapter 6 of the Arizona Administrative Code. The card you receive is called a security guard registration certificate, often just a guard card.

There are two kinds of certificate: unarmed and armed. This guide focuses on the unarmed certificate. An armed guard must meet all the unarmed rules plus extra firearms rules.

Who can apply

You must be at least 18 years old.
You must be a US citizen or a legal resident allowed to work in the United States.
You must have no felony conviction and no pending felony indictment.
You must have no conviction in the last five years for listed misdemeanors, such as violence, theft, dishonesty, weapons misconduct or sexual misconduct.
You must not be on parole or similar release, have an outstanding warrant or be a registered sex offender.

Each application needs fingerprints and a fingerprint affidavit. Applications go to the DPS Licensing Unit with your signed training verification form. Check the DPS Licensing page for the current way to submit, because DPS has announced changes to electronic submissions.

The 8-hour pre-assignment course

Under A.R.S. 32-2632, every guard needs 8 hours of pre-assignment training before working as a security guard. A DPS-certified security guard training instructor must teach it, using the curriculum that DPS sets. Security agencies may use only instructors registered with DPS.

Curriculum subject (R13-6-601)	What you learn
Orientation	What security work is and how the licensing system works
Criminal law and laws of arrest	Your legal authority and its limits
Uniform and grooming	Wearing an authorized uniform and looking professional
Communications	Reports, notes and dealing with people
Use of force	When force is justified and how much is reasonable
General security guard procedures	Patrols, access control and daily duties
Crime scene preservation and first response	Protecting evidence until police arrive
Ethics	Good moral character on and off duty
Emergency response procedures	Fires, medical calls and evacuations

The DPS syllabus also includes a module on sexual harassment and a practical exercise on crime scene response. Duties for your exact post are taught later, at the work location.

How the course must run

At least 8 hours, not counting lunch.
Short breaks are allowed but do not shorten the 8 hours.
Videos may support the instructor but cannot replace live teaching.
At the end, you, the instructor and the agency's qualifying party each sign the training verification form.

Renewal and armed guards

Before you renew, you must complete 8 hours of refresher training within the 90 days before you send your renewal application. A DPS-certified instructor teaches it, using a DPS curriculum.

Your registration belongs to you alone. DPS says guard registrations are not transferable between states or between people. If you move to another state, you must meet that state's rules.

Armed certificates

You must not be a prohibited possessor of firearms under state or federal law.
You must have no conviction for a crime involving domestic violence.
You need at least 16 hours of initial firearms training and 8 hours of continuing firearms training every year on the weapon you carry.
A DPS-certified firearms safety training instructor gives all firearms training and qualifications.

Arizona law for security guards

A guard card does not make you a police officer. Your main job is to observe, deter and report.

Watching, being visible and reporting are the core of security work.

Observe: watch people, places and activity carefully
Deter: a visible, alert guard discourages crime
Report: pass on what you see by radio, phone or written report

Justification and use of force

The DPS syllabus calls justification (A.R.S. Title 13, Chapter 4) the most important part of the legal training. These sections explain when the use of force is legally justified. Use force only when it is necessary, use only as much as is reasonable, and stop when the threat stops.

Reasonable force depends on the threat, the people involved and your other options.

The threat faced
Whether force was needed at that moment
Proportionality: force in balance with the threat
Other options that could have been used
The aftermath and the duty of care

Arrest by a private person

The course covers Arizona's laws on arrest by private persons (A.R.S. 13-3881 to 13-3900). If an arrest is made, the person making it must call the police. Arrests carry legal risk, so follow your post orders and call police whenever you can instead.

Working with police

When police arrive, be a good witness. Tell them what you saw and give them your notes. Do not physically help police unless they ask you to.

Crimes you should recognize

The syllabus teaches the crimes guards are most likely to see: criminal trespass and burglary, theft, robbery, assault, criminal damage, arson, disorderly conduct and weapons offenses. It also covers search and seizure, so you understand people's rights.

Reports, crime scenes and conduct

Communications is a full curriculum subject. Write notes as soon as you can, while details are fresh. Answer who, what, when, where, why and how. Record facts, not opinions.

A good notebook entry is dated, timed, factual and corrected with a single line and initials.

Date
Time
Location
Details of what happened
Signature

Crime scene first response

Make sure people are safe and call 911 if needed.
Keep people out of the area and do not touch or move anything.
Write down who was there and what you saw.
Hand the scene over to police when they arrive.

Ethics

Arizona expects guards to show good moral character on and off duty, including courteous driving. Be honest, keep client information private and never accept gifts to look the other way.

Key terms

The 16 words and rules to know for this test. Read the list or study them as flashcards: flip each card, then mark it "Know it" or "Still learning".

Arizona DPS Licensing Unit: The part of the Department of Public Safety that registers private security guards in Arizona.
Guard card: The common name for an Arizona security guard registration certificate, issued as unarmed or armed.
A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 26: The Arizona law that governs security guards, with rules in Title 13, Chapter 6 of the Administrative Code.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18, allowed to work in the US, and have no felony conviction or pending felony indictment.
Pending application: Working a post before you physically hold a valid guard card is a violation of Arizona law.
Pre-assignment training: 8 hours of training required by A.R.S. 32-2632 before working, taught by a DPS-certified instructor.
Training verification form: Signed by you, the instructor and the agency's qualifying party at the end of the pre-assignment course.
No state exam: Arizona sets no state written exam for unarmed guards, though your instructor may still quiz you.
Refresher training: 8 hours completed within the 90 days before you send your renewal application.
Non-transferable registration: Your guard registration belongs to you alone and cannot move between people or to another state.
Armed certificate: Needs 16 hours of initial firearms training and 8 hours of continuing training every year on the carried weapon.
Prohibited possessor: A person barred from having firearms under state or federal law, who cannot hold an armed certificate.
Justification: A.R.S. Title 13, Chapter 4, explaining when force is legally justified and called the most important legal training.
Private person arrest: Covered by A.R.S. 13-3881 to 13-3900. Whoever makes an arrest must call the police.
Crime scene first response: Keep people safe, call 911 if needed, keep others out, touch nothing, take notes and hand over to police.
Observe, deter, report: The guard's main job: watch carefully, discourage crime by being visible, and pass on what you see.