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California armed guard requirements
BSIS Firearms Permit (exposed firearm) · Last verified November 1, 2026
Not legal advice. This guide is general information, not legal or career advice. Licensing rules, hours and fees change and vary by state and employer. Verify every requirement with the issuing body before you enroll, apply or work.
Issuing agency
California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
Requirements and training
- Minimum age
- 21
- Training and requirements
- Hold a BSIS security guard registration (or other qualifying license); be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Power to Arrest training; the Course of Firearms Training (16 CCR 635) at a Bureau-approved facility with a written exam and range qualification in the caliber you'll carry; guards must pass a firearms assessment within 6 months before applying. DOJ/FBI background check.
Exposed carry only, and only for the license types and calibers printed on the permit.
Cost and time
- Fees
- Check with California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)
- Time
- Allow 6-8 weeks after payment is cashiered.
Renewal
Expires 2 years from issuance and can't be renewed after it expires. Before renewing: four range qualifications (two in each 12-month period, at least 4 months apart), a 2-hour use-of-force review before each, and the written exam (85%). File at least 60 days before expiration; a $38 FEA fee applies.
Sources
Last verified November 1, 2026. Where a field says "Check with", we couldn't confirm it from an official source.