Pennsylvania Security License

Getting a Pennsylvania security license has many prerequisites. All of these may seem a little time-consuming for you. But don’t worry! We are here to guide you through all the steps. So make sure to read this article till the end!

How to Get a Pennsylvania Security Guard Permit?

In this state, the Private Detective Act of 1953 regulates all guard applications. According to the act, a safety officer can be uniformed or non-uniformed. And the primary function of this position is to secure and watch over people or property (either real or personal).

To get qualified, you should hand in all of the materials to the local county authority. Like other states, here also, officials distinguish the inquiries based on armed or unarmed categories. Additionally, a business permit procedure is different, too.

Preconditions For Businesses in Pennsylvania

If the business wants to receive permission, at least one employee should meet the requirements. Below you can find some points from these regulations.

• The applicant has to be of age 25 or higher.
• He/she is required to have at least three years of qualifying law enforcement.

Please note that some processes may differ from county to county. Hence, check every detail with your local authorities before applying.

Preconditions For The Unarmed Category

Some of the few requirements include:

• First, the applicant ought to be 18 or older
• Secondly, he/she must be a US citizen
• No previous records of any abuse should be present on the applicant’s account
• The applicant has to undergo a criminal background check
• Lastly, submit fingerprints

After you submit the whole package of documents, the judge will decide which training you need to undergo.

Armed Security Permit

An armed guard has the right to carry “lethal weapons”. Those weapons are designed to cause serious physical harm. Hence, the applicant ought to undergo special 40-hour training to receive the authorization. However, before the training, he or she is obliged to pass the following three stages.

1. Background check
2. Physical examination
3. Psychological examination

Submission Steps

We have broken down the steps for the safety guard qualification procedure.

1. You have to contact your local county authority to check specifications if any.
2. Next, get at least 5 recommendation letters from different citizens. Those letters should showcase your good moral character.
3. Present 2 passport photos.
4. Submit all of the above-mentioned documents and pay the required fee.
5. Lastly, you must hand in your fingerprints and wait for the results.
6. The clerk transfers your documents and the fingerprints to the court.
7. The court sets out a hearing date.
8. If the court grants you a security guard status, you are required to submit a $200 fee and a cover letter to the court.
9. Lastly, wait for your permit to arrive.

Can I Fill In The Application Online?

As of now, there is no record of online licensing process, unlike, for example, the state of Arizona. The state official website allows downloading the necessary forms online. However, the whole package of required documents and your fingerprints needs to be handed to your local police station.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Response?

After you are done with the files, you will receive a hearing date appointment in the court. Generally, it takes up to 10 working days for the status to be updated.

How Can I Check My Submission Status?

You may see the status of your request anytime. Please find the status on the official website of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Licensing Fees

Before you receive an update on the status of your inquiry, you need to pay a $17.5 fee for a fingerprint card. If your request is approved, you have to pay an additional $200 fee to be able to start the training.

How Can I Renew My Permission?

You can apply for renewal no earlier than 6 months of the expiration date. If your appeal is approved, you have to pass six months to complete the renewal training. After that, you will receive a new certification card. Again, you need to request the renewal from your local police department.