Obtain A California Guard Card Quickly
How To Get A California Guard Card Quickly and Cheaply
All individuals who work as security guards and interact with the general public in the State of California are required to hold a state issued security guard license, commonly referred to in the business as a California guard card. Finding employment as a security officer without first having a guard card can be very challenging and will, in pretty much all cases, be illegal should you start working. This will explain the method to most easily and inexpensively acquire a California guard card.
However, before you even start the process, you’ll want to first make certain that you meet the general eligibility requirements. As long as you are at least eighteen years of age and have no criminal convictions on your record, you should be qualified to acquire a California guard card.
At a minimum, all applicants are required to take eight hours of education from a state licensed training facility. This can either be done at a local school or at one that offers the class over the internet. Finding a school is not difficult if you do a local search in Google for “security guard training”. Costs can vary greatly from one school to another, so it does pay to shop around. Prices typically range between $60 and $120 dollars. Schools based online generally tend to be slightly cheaper and most also provide the advantage of allowing you to register and start your training coursework immediately.
The coursework itself consists of eight hours of “powers to arrest”, terrorism awareness, and basic security guard training. At the conclusion, you'll also be required to pass a final exam which is not difficult as long as you're paying attention. In the unlikely event you fail to pass, most schools will permit you to take the exam again for free, but this is something you should confirm with your school in advance.
After you have passed the course, you will then need to visit the Bureau of Safety and Investigative Services (BSIS) website to download and print a Livescan form. The Livescan system electronically records your fingerprints and transmits them to the FBI and Department of Justice so that they can conduct a background clearance. The fee associated with this service varies depending on which Livescan facility you choose to visit, but most typically charge about sixty to sixty-five dollars. Don’t forget to bring at least two forms of ID to your appointment, including at least one government issued photo ID such as a driver’s license, passport and/or state issued identification card.
Once your fingerprinting has been put in process you are clear to submit your California guard card application to the BSIS for processing. The easiest way to do this is via the BSIS website. The cost is fifty-one dollars and can be paid online.
The final step is to simply wait about a week for your new California card to arrive in the mail. Or, if you are anxious to start a new job, you can speed things up by a couple of days by printing out a copy of your approval letter from the BSIS website. This can serve as legal temporary license until your new one arrives in the mail.