Federal Law (FCRA)
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) establishes the federal minimum requirements for employment background checks, including disclosure and authorization requirements, consumer rights, and the adverse action process. Many states impose additional requirements that employers must also follow.
Read FCRA OverviewRecommended Screening Components
The components below reflect common elements of a security screening package. Requirements change based on state licensing rules, whether the role is armed, and the site being protected.
| Screening Component | What It Covers | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Guard license and armed permit status, confirmed with the state licensing agency. | ||
| Fingerprint-based criminal history, required for licensing in nearly every state. | ||
| Names and addresses associated with the applicant, which identify where to search. | ||
| Criminal records in the counties where the applicant has lived and worked. | ||
| Federal court records, which matter for armed roles and federal contract sites. | ||
| Broad multi-state coverage that points toward records a county search would miss. | ||
| Past employers and dates. Turnover between contract security firms is high. | ||
| Service dates and discharge status, where the applicant claims military experience. | ||
| Driving history, required for patrol roles and mobile response assignments. | ||
| Pre-employment testing, required by state rule for armed licensing in several states. | ||
| Registry records, checked for sites serving children, patients, or residents. | ||
| Ongoing checks during employment, used where a license must stay in good standing. |
Screening components should always be job-related and consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Notes on This Package
Two screenings run in parallel. The state licensing agency runs its own fingerprint check to issue or renew the guard card, and the employer runs a separate background report for the hiring decision. A person can hold a valid license and still fail the employer’s screening, since the two apply different standards.
Armed work raises the bar. An armed permit requires additional training, a firearms qualification, and in several states a psychological evaluation or drug test. Federal law separately bars anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm, which ends eligibility for armed work regardless of what the state permit rules say.
The client site sets requirements too. Guards work on someone else’s property, and hospitals, schools, government buildings, and secured facilities each add their own access requirements. A guard cleared for one assignment may need additional screening before the next.
Military claims are worth confirming. Security work attracts applicants with military and law enforcement backgrounds, and those claims carry weight in hiring. Service dates and discharge status are verifiable through official records, while prior law enforcement service is confirmed through the agency and, where applicable, the state certification commission.
Guard Licensing and Armed Permits
Nearly every state licenses security officers, and the requirements share a common shape.
The unarmed license
Most states require a security officer to hold an individual license, commonly called a guard card, issued after a fingerprint-based criminal history check and a training course covering the officer’s authority, use of force limits, and reporting duties. The license belongs to the individual and carries a renewal cycle.
The armed endorsement
Carrying a firearm on duty requires a separate permit with additional training and a live firearms qualification, usually renewed more frequently than the base license. Several states add a psychological evaluation, a drug test, or a higher minimum age. The permit is specific to the weapon type in some states.
Disqualifying offenses
State rules list offenses that bar licensure, typically covering violent crimes, weapons offenses, and crimes involving dishonesty, with some bars permanent and others running for a defined period. Because the state decides, a person denied a license cannot work as a guard in that state whatever the employer concludes. Check the State Laws Overview for the states where you hire.
Where Screening Changes
The same job title carries different requirements depending on the setting.
| Public Safety | Sworn officers go through state certification with a full background investigation, polygraph, and psychological evaluation rather than guard licensing. |
| Hospitality | Property security holds master keys and enters guest rooms, which places the role inside the property’s access tier. |
| Healthcare | Hospital security has patient contact and is covered by the organization’s exclusion checks and facility credentialing. |
| Education | Campus and school security fall under state education law, which adds fingerprinting and its own disqualifying offense list. |
| Government | Guards at federal facilities require agency credentialing, and some contracts require a security clearance. |
| Distribution | Warehouse and cargo security falls under customer supply chain standards with periodic reinvestigation. |
Screening Considerations
License Status
State agencies show whether a guard license is active, expired, suspended, or revoked, along with any disciplinary action. The license belongs to the individual and moves with them between employers.
Armed Permit Requirements
Armed work requires a separate permit with firearms qualification and, in several states, a psychological evaluation or drug test. Renewal cycles are usually shorter than for the base license.
Firearms Eligibility
Federal law bars firearm possession after a felony conviction or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. That bar ends eligibility for armed work independent of state permit rules.
Statutory Disqualifiers
State licensing rules list offenses that bar a guard license, some permanently and some for a set period. A person denied a license cannot work as a guard in that state.
Client Site Requirements
Hospitals, schools, and secured facilities set their own access standards for anyone working on the property. A guard cleared for one assignment may need more before the next.
Military and Law Enforcement Claims
Service dates and discharge status are verifiable through official records. Prior law enforcement service is confirmed through the agency and, where applicable, the state certification commission.
Patrol and Response Driving
Mobile patrol and alarm response roles involve driving company vehicles between sites. Driving records are checked, and the insurer generally sets what disqualifies a driver.
Ongoing License Standing
A license can lapse or be suspended during employment, and an armed permit renews on its own cycle. Recurring checks require disclosure and authorization covering that period.
Common Questions
Do security officers need a license?
In nearly every state, yes. The license is issued to the individual after a fingerprint check and required training.
Does the license transfer between employers?
Yes. A guard card belongs to the person and moves with them, though a new employer usually runs its own screening.
What does an armed permit add?
Additional training, a firearms qualification, and in several states a psychological evaluation or drug test. Renewal is usually more frequent.
Does a domestic violence conviction disqualify?
For armed work, yes. Federal law bars firearm possession after a qualifying conviction, with no exception for security duty.
Is the state check enough?
It covers licensing, not hiring. Employers run their own report because the state applies different standards than the employer does.
Can military service be verified?
Yes. Service dates and discharge status are confirmed through official records rather than from a document the applicant provides.
Does the client set requirements?
Frequently. Hospitals, schools, and secured sites add their own access standards on top of licensing and employer screening.
What happens if a license lapses?
The person cannot work as a guard until it is restored. Employers commonly monitor status because renewal dates fall during employment.
Worth Knowing
The Guard License Belongs to the Officer
A state issues the license to the individual, and it stays with them when they change employers. The state and the employer apply different standards, so a valid license confirms the person may work as a guard rather than confirming they meet a particular employer’s requirements.