Licensing in Delaware
Delaware regulates private security under the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act, Title 24, Chapter 13 of the Delaware Code. The Delaware Board of Examiners of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies makes the rules, and the Professional Licensing Section issues licenses and identification cards.
Under section 1313, no one may act as a private security guard without first getting a license or identification card. There is no temporary card in the law, so you cannot start work before it is issued.
| Type | Who | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|
| Noncommissioned security guard | Unarmed guard | 18 |
| Commissioned security guard | Carries or has access to a firearm on duty | 21 |
Background rules (section 1314)
- No felony convictions.
- No theft-related, drug or moral turpitude misdemeanors in the past 7 years, and no more than 2 in a lifetime.
- No dishonorable discharge.
- Not a member or employee of a law-enforcement organization.
- Fingerprints for state and federal criminal history checks.
Training and the 75% test
Board rule 4.1 requires every guard to complete a Board-approved training program and pass the mandatory test with at least 75%. The test is given by a Board-approved facility.
Required topics (rule 4.1.1)
- Rules and regulations
- Legal requirements and limitations
- Use of force
- Ethics
- Emergency services
- Diversity
- Communication
- Asset protection
- Terrorism
- Training may be taken at a Board-approved facility or through an employer with a Class B or C license (rule 4.1.3).
- Your training and test certificate must be completed no more than one year before you send a new or renewal application (rule 4.4).
- Cheating or other academic integrity violations mean you must retest, and you may be barred from further testing (rule 4.1.2).
Your identification card
- Carry your card whenever you work, and show it when asked (sections 1325 and 1326).
- Cards expire and are renewed on the fifth anniversary of your birth date.
- If you leave the job, surrender the card, unless you are transferring to another security agency.
- Do not wear or carry any badge or shield except as Board rules allow.
Uniforms and patches
- Uniforms, patches and badges must be approved by the Board before you use them (rule 10.1).
- The words "patrol" and "officer" must be preceded by "security" (rule 10.2).
- No state, county or local seals or crests.
- Patches must name the agency and may not be generic.
Armed (commissioned) guards
A guard may not carry a firearm on duty without a commissioned security guard license (section 1321). The main rules are:
- Age 21 or older, plus all the regular guard qualifications.
- At least 40 hours of training and an initial qualification (rule 1.2).
- A firearms passing score of 80% (rule 1.9).
- Three qualifying shoots per calendar year on at least two days, including one in low light (rule 1.3).
- Firearms licenses are valid for one year (rule 1.11).
- Carry the firearm only on duty or going to or from work, in a distinctive uniform with a company patch, with the weapon in plain view.
Everyday duties
Your license does not make you a police officer. Your main job is to observe, deter and report, and to protect people and property for your client.
Watching, being visible and reporting are the core of security work.
- 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
Use of force and legal limits
Use of force and legal limits are both tested topics. Use force only when the law allows it and only as much as is reasonable. Stop when the threat stops, get medical help for anyone hurt and report it in writing.
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
Asset protection and patrol
Asset protection means keeping the client's people, property and information safe. Most of it is done on patrol. Change the order and timing of your rounds so no one can predict them. Check doors, windows, lights, alarms and fire exits. Watch for signs of theft or damage, and report anything unusual at once. If you find signs of a break-in, do not go in alone: call the police and watch from a safe place.
An irregular patrol is harder to predict than a fixed loop.
- A predictable route that follows the same loop every time
- An irregular route that changes its order and timing
Notes and reports
Write notes as soon as you can after something happens. Answer who, what, when, where, why and how. Record facts, not opinions, and quote people's exact words. If you make a mistake in your notebook, draw one line through it and initial it. Your reports may be read by police, lawyers and courts.
A good notebook entry is dated, timed, factual and signed.
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Details of what happened
- Signature
Communication and emergencies
- Speak calmly, listen and offer choices. Most problems can be solved by talking.
- Treat everyone with the same respect, whatever their background.
- In a fire or medical emergency, raise the alarm, call 911 and follow the site plan.
- Report suspicious packages and possible signs of terrorism right away. Do not touch the item.
Key terms
The 15 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".
- Title 24, Chapter 13
- The part of the Delaware Code holding the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act.
- Board of Examiners
- The Delaware board that makes the rules for private investigators and private security agencies.
- Professional Licensing Section
- The Delaware office that issues guard licenses and identification cards.
- Section 1313
- Says no one may act as a security guard without first getting a license or identification card. There is no temporary card.
- Noncommissioned security guard
- An unarmed guard. The minimum age is 18.
- Commissioned security guard
- A guard who carries or has access to a firearm on duty. The minimum age is 21.
- Background rules
- Section 1314 bars felony convictions, recent theft, drug or moral turpitude misdemeanors, and a dishonorable discharge.
- Mandatory test
- Under Board rule 4.1, every guard must pass a test from a Board-approved facility with at least 75%.
- Training certificate timing
- Training and test must be completed no more than one year before a new or renewal application.
- Card renewal
- Identification cards expire and are renewed on the fifth anniversary of your birth date.
- Uniform approval
- Uniforms, patches and badges must be approved by the Board before use, with no government seals or crests.
- Security officer wording
- The words patrol and officer must be preceded by security on Delaware uniforms.
- Armed guard training
- At least 40 hours of training and an initial qualification, with an 80% firearms passing score.
- Qualifying shoots
- Armed guards need three per calendar year on at least two days, including one in low light.
- Asset protection
- Keeping the client's people, property and information safe, mostly done on patrol.