Georgia Security Guard License Steps Begin With 24 Hours of Training
A training certificate and the correct next employer step for unarmed or armed Georgia security work.
- Time
- 24 hours of basic training
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Steps
- 6
- Cost:
- $65 listed course price in 2026; armed registration $70 plus $5 online or $10 paper processing
Before you start, have
- A 24-hour basic training course taught by a Board-certified instructor
- Time to finish training before providing private-security services
- A licensed security employer for onboarding
- For armed work: age 21, handgun training, range qualification, and an employer prepared to submit registration
Heads up: Do not describe an unarmed course certificate as an individual Georgia guard card or state license.
Heads up: Do not assume a course alone guarantees employment or permission to start work.
Heads up: Do not use the 48-hour fingerprint-result estimate as the full armed-registration approval timeline.
By Sharon DeCet, Founder · Reviewed 25 Sept 2026
In brief
Georgia unarmed security guards do not receive an individual Board registration. Complete 24 hours of training from a Board-certified instructor before providing services, then complete employer onboarding. Armed work adds an employer-tied registration, a minimum age of 21, 15 hours of handgun training, and an 80% range score.
- 1
Decide whether the post is unarmed or armed
Read the job description before choosing a course. An unarmed guard does not receive individual Board registration, while an armed guard needs an employer-tied registration. The Georgia Secretary of State's FAQ says armed applicants must be at least 21. You have chosen correctly when the employer confirms whether the post requires a firearm.
- 2
Choose a Board-certified 24-hour basic course
Select training delivered by a Board-certified instructor and confirm that the course covers the required security-officer curriculum. Georgia's Rule 509-3-.02 sets the 24-hour minimum and topics. The Learning Shop USA course listing shows a 24-hour course at $65 in 2026. Compare the certificate details with this Georgia course cost and certificate FAQ.
- 3
Complete training before providing security services
Finish all 24 required hours before you begin private-security work. Georgia's training rule requires training before services and requires the employee to receive a certificate of completion. Check that your certificate includes your name, provider, dates, topics, actual hours, instructor signature, and instructor license number.
- 4
Give your certificate to the licensed employer
Apply to a licensed security employer and provide the certificate during onboarding. The employer must retain Board-mandated training documentation completed after January 1, 2022 for five years under the Georgia Secretary of State rules. For unarmed work, the completed employer record and training certificate are the relevant result, not an individual Board guard card.
- 5
Add armed requirements when the post requires them
For an armed post, complete the 24-hour basic course plus at least 15 hours of handgun training, then achieve the required 80% range score. Your employer submits the registration application. The Board's posted employee-registration form lists a $70 initial armed security-guard registration fee, plus processing, and says to allow at least 15 business days for the application, fingerprints, and documentation.
- 6
Check the result before accepting a post
For unarmed work, confirm you have the completed certificate and that the employer has finished onboarding. For armed work, confirm the registration is issued for the employer you will work for. The Board says an armed registration is not transferable to another employer.
You'll know it worked when
You can show a certificate with the required training details. For unarmed work, your licensed employer has completed onboarding and retained the training record. For armed work, you have employer-linked Board registration before carrying out armed duties.
Choose the path your job requires
This guide uses the Georgia Secretary of State rule compilation current through August 21, 2026. The basic course comes first in both routes, but an armed post adds firearms training and employer-submitted registration. For a separate checklist on assessing online delivery, see which online guard training meets state rules.
Two routes after basic training
Keep reading
Frequently asked
No. The Georgia Secretary of State says unarmed guards are not required to be individually registered with the Board. They must complete Board-standard training, and their employer must retain the required training record.
Yes. The Georgia Board FAQ says a person may attend Board-approved training before being hired by a licensed company. The hiring company remains responsible for using a Board-approved instructor for employee training.
A Georgia security-training certificate must show the participant name, training provider, date or dates, topics, actual training hours, and the licensed instructor or facilitator's name, signature, and full license number.
Armed security work requires an employer-tied Board registration. The Georgia Secretary of State says armed applicants must be at least 21, complete the 24-hour basic course plus at least 15 hours of handgun training, score at least 80% on the firing range, and requalify annually.
A course certificate documents training, but it is not an individual unarmed license or a job offer. For armed work, the employer submits the registration application, and the posted Board form says to allow at least 15 business days for processing, fingerprints, and documentation.
Start the 24-hour basic security course
Use your certificate as training evidence when completing employer onboarding.
View the course