Get a Pennsylvania Security Guard
Pennsylvania doesn’t issue a statewide card for unarmed guards. Armed guards must earn Act 235 certification from the Pennsylvania State Police, and security businesses are licensed in county court under the Private Detective Act. This guide gives exact PSP fees, forms, bond amounts, and renewal timelines with official links.
To learn how to get a security guard license in Pennsylvania, know there’s no statewide “unarmed guard” card. Armed security must earn Act 235 Lethal Weapons certification from the Pennsylvania State Police, and security businesses (watch/guard/patrol agencies) are licensed by the county Court of Common Pleas under the Private Detective Act.
Requirements last verified: 2026-09-29
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Licensing agency (armed individuals) | Pennsylvania State Police – Lethal Weapons Certification Unit (Act 235). Apply and pay via TACS; see Apply for Act 235 and the Lethal Weapons Training Program. |
| Licensing agency (security businesses) | County Court of Common Pleas under the Private Detective Act of 1953 (watch/guard/patrol agencies). See statute Sections 3–6, 11–13 at The Private Detective Act of 1953. |
| Fees (Act 235 – initial) | $50 application (TACS) + $22.60 fingerprints (IdentoGO) + $30 certification card = $102.60 total. Listed on PSP’s official fee breakdown: Apply for Act 235. |
| Fees (Private Detective/agency) | $200 individual license OR $300 partnership/association/corporation, plus a $10,000 surety bond; renewals require the same amounts. See Section 6 and Section 11 of Private Detective Act. Note: counties may also collect a clerk filing fee (e.g., $27 shown in the PA Bulletin court fee schedule: PA Bulletin Doc. 26‑1240). |
| Experience (to license a security agency) | At least one owner/officer must show 3 years as a detective; or in U.S. government investigative service; or as sheriff; or as Pennsylvania State Police member; or as a municipal police officer above patrolman. See Section 4(a) of the Private Detective Act. |
| Exam/training (armed guards) | Act 235 requires approval, then training at a PSP‑certified school after passing physical, vision, and psychological exams; certification card issued upon completion and $30 fee. See Apply for Act 235 and Program overview. |
| Minimum age | 18+ for Act 235 applicants. Listed in Step 1 (eligibility) on Apply for Act 235. |
| Insurance/bond | Security agencies must file a $10,000 corporate surety bond with the court. See Section 6 of the Private Detective Act. |
| Employee registration (agency staff) | Agencies must keep employee statements; submit employee fingerprints to the court; and, if employees will carry lethal weapons, submit proof of Act 235 certification. See Section 13(b)–(f) of the Private Detective Act. |
| Renewal cycle | Act 235 certification is typically valid 5 years; renew via TACS and approved refresher training ($30 certification fee). See PSP Certification renewal. Private Detective licenses are initially 2 years; renewals reissued by the clerk for up to 5 years (fees/bond required). See Section 11 of the Act. |
How to get a security guard license in Pennsylvania
- Decide if you’ll be armed or unarmed. Unarmed guards are not state‑licensed; they work for licensed agencies. If you will carry a firearm or other lethal weapon on duty, you must complete Act 235 certification through the Pennsylvania State Police.
- Create your Keystone Login and apply in TACS (Act 235). Submit the Basic Training Application and pay the $50 application fee in the TACS system, as directed on PSP’s Apply for Act 235 page.
- Get fingerprinted. Schedule fingerprints at an approved IdentoGO site; the fee is $22.60. Results go directly to PSP.
- Complete physical, vision, and psychological exams. Use PSP’s official DocuSign forms (Physical, Vision, Psychological) sent after you apply; Pennsylvania‑licensed professionals must submit them electronically to PSP.
- Await PSP approval, then complete training at a certified school. After PSP issues your approval letter, enroll in an Act 235‑certified school listed on the PSP site and complete required training.
- Pay the $30 certification fee to receive your card. When the school posts your passing grades, log back into TACS and pay the $30 certification fee; your certification card will be mailed.
- If starting a security company, apply for a county license. File under the Private Detective Act at your county’s Court of Common Pleas: meet the 3‑year qualifying experience, provide references and fingerprints, post the $10,000 bond, and pay the statutory license fee. See the Act and your county’s instructions (e.g., Bucks County).
Pennsylvania security guard licensing: what’s actually required
In Pennsylvania, individual unarmed guards do not receive a statewide license card. Instead, employers (watch/guard/patrol agencies) must be licensed by the county Court of Common Pleas under the Private Detective Act. If you will carry a firearm, baton, or other lethal weapon on duty, you personally must obtain Act 235 certification from the Pennsylvania State Police (program page).
For a deeper cost breakdown that includes training and county filing add‑ons, see our analysis of Security Guard License Cost in PA. If you plan to form or upgrade a firm, our Private Security License Requirements in Pennsylvania (2026 Guide) explains owners’ experience proofs, bond mechanics, and clerk processes.
Armed security in PA: Act 235 certification rules
PSP lists the Act 235 eligibility (18+, physical/vision thresholds, psychological exam, and disqualifying offenses), application via TACS with a $50 fee, mandatory fingerprints ($22.60), training at a certified school after approval, and a $30 certification fee for your card. See PSP’s Apply for Act 235 page and program overview. Certification is typically valid five years; renew via PSP’s renewal page. PSP also clarifies that Act 235 is not a substitute for a civilian License to Carry under the Uniform Firearms Act; see the PSP note referencing Commonwealth v. Anderson on the program page.
Starting a Pennsylvania watch/guard/patrol agency
To operate a security company, apply for a license in the county where your principal office is located. The court may issue a two‑year license after a 10‑day posting period if you demonstrate the required character, integrity, and three years of qualifying investigative or policing experience, pay the $200 individual or $300 entity license fee, and file a $10,000 surety bond. See Sections 4 and 6 of the Private Detective Act. Clerk offices can add modest filing charges (the statewide court fee schedule shows a $27 application/renewal line item: PA Bulletin Doc. 26‑1240).
Agency employees must meet disqualifier screens; the agency must retain employee statements, submit fingerprints to the court, and provide proof of Act 235 certification for any employee who will carry a lethal weapon (Section 13 of the Act).
Do you actually need a “security guard license” in Pennsylvania?
Most new guards simply get hired by a licensed agency; no state card is issued for unarmed work. If you’ll be armed, complete Act 235. If you’re forming a company or moving into investigations, study the PA Private Investigator License pathway and our companion primer on private investigator licensing in Pennsylvania to understand overlapping requirements under the Private Detective Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Pennsylvania security guard license for individuals?
No statewide unarmed guard license exists. Armed guards must earn Act 235 certification through the Pennsylvania State Police; unarmed guards typically work for a county‑licensed watch/guard/patrol agency under the Private Detective Act. See PSP’s program and the Act.
How much does Act 235 certification cost in Pennsylvania?
For initial certification, PSP lists $50 (application) + $22.60 (fingerprints) + $30 (certification card) = $102.60, plus whatever your training provider charges. See PSP’s official fee breakdown on Apply for Act 235.
What are the Private Detective Act requirements to license a security company?
File in your county’s Court of Common Pleas with proof of good character, references, fingerprints, and qualifying experience (3+ years); pay $200 (individual) or $300 (entity); and post a $10,000 surety bond. Employee fingerprinting and Act 235 proof are also required where applicable. See Sections 4, 6, and 13 of the Act.
How long is Act 235 certification valid, and how do I renew?
Act 235 certification is typically valid five years. Submit a renewal application in TACS within six months of expiration, complete approved renewal training, and pay the $30 certification fee. See PSP’s Certification renewal page.
Does Act 235 replace a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF)?
No. PSP notes that Act 235 certification is not a substitute for a civilian License to Carry under the Uniform Firearms Act (see PSP guidance referencing Commonwealth v. Anderson) on the program page.
Ready to move forward? License Navigator can walk you step‑by‑step through Pennsylvania’s Act 235 process or a county Private Detective Act filing so you get authorized fast and stay compliant.
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