How the California guard card works
In California, a security guard registration is often called a guard card. It is issued by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), part of the Department of Consumer Affairs. You need it to work as a security guard for a licensed private patrol operator.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Complete Power to Arrest training before the registration is issued.
- Get fingerprinted by Live Scan using the security guard Live Scan form. The California Department of Justice and the FBI check your criminal history.
- Apply online through BreEZe or mail a paper application with the fee.
Processing usually takes several weeks. Once BSIS approves you, you may work with a printout of the approval from the BSIS website and a valid photo ID until the card arrives.
On duty and renewals
- Carry your valid guard card whenever you are on duty.
- Keep your address current with BSIS, because renewal notices are mailed.
- Send your renewal at least 60 days before the card expires.
- If a registration is not renewed within 60 days after it expires, it is canceled and cannot be renewed. You would have to apply again.
Training timeline
California training happens in three stages. Keep every certificate until your registration expires or is canceled, because your employer and BSIS may ask to see them.
| When | Training | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Before the guard card | Power to Arrest (3 hours) and Appropriate Use of Force (5 hours) | You must pass the exam with a score of 100%. |
| First 6 months | 32 hours of security officer skills | Includes four mandatory 4-hour courses plus electives. |
| Every year | 8 hours of continuing training | At least 2 hours must review appropriate use of force. |
The four mandatory skills courses
- Public Relations (community and customer)
- Observation and Documentation
- Communication and its Significance
- Liability and Legal Aspects
Electives include topics such as trespass, access control, evacuation procedures, first aid and CPR, handling difficult people, workplace violence, preserving the incident scene and radio procedures. Weapons of mass destruction and terrorism awareness is also offered as an elective.
Training may be given by a private patrol operator, a BSIS-certified training facility or a BSIS-approved course provider.
Power to Arrest: what the law allows
A guard card does not give you police powers. Your arrest powers are the same as any private person's. Most of the time your job is to observe, deter and report, and to call the police.
Most security work is watching, being visible and reporting, not making arrests.
- Observe: watch people, places and activity carefully
- Deter: a visible, alert officer discourages crime
- Report: pass on what you see by radio, phone or written report
Penal Code section 834 says an arrest means taking a person into custody as the law allows, and that a peace officer or a private person may make one. Section 837 says a private person may arrest someone:
- For a public offense committed or attempted in their presence.
- When the person has committed a felony, even if it was not in their presence.
- When a felony has in fact been committed and they have reasonable cause to believe the person committed it.
After a citizen's arrest, section 847 requires you to take the person before a magistrate or hand them to a peace officer without unnecessary delay. Section 835 says the person may be restrained only as much as is reasonable for the arrest and detention.
Merchants have a separate rule. Under Penal Code section 490.5, a merchant with probable cause to believe a person is stealing merchandise may detain them for a reasonable time to investigate, in a reasonable manner.
The Power to Arrest course also covers the relationship between guards and peace officers during an arrest, limits on searches and seizures, criminal and civil liability for you and your employer, trespass law, ethics, emergency response and officer safety.
Appropriate use of force
The 5-hour Appropriate Use of Force course explains when force may be used and how to avoid it. Topics include:
- Legal standards for use of force, including statutes, contracts and liability
- Objectively reasonable force, restraint techniques and force options
- The duty to intercede when another person uses excessive force
- Supervisory responsibilities and incident reporting
- De-escalation and interpersonal communication
- Implicit and explicit bias and cultural competency
- Interacting with people with disabilities or behavioral health issues
- Active shooter situations
Whether force is reasonable depends on the threat, the situation and the options available.
- 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
Use force only when it is lawful and necessary, and only as much as is reasonable. Stop when the threat stops. Report every use of force to your supervisor in writing.
Weapons and extra permits
- Firearms: carrying an exposed firearm needs a separate BSIS firearms permit.
- Batons: only a registered guard may carry a baton on duty, after training at a BSIS-approved baton training facility.
- Tear gas: carrying tear gas on duty requires training under Penal Code section 22835.