- In Person: The application processing fee can be paid by cash, credit/debit card, or check/money order made payable to “DOPL”.
Address: Heber M Wells Building, 1st Floor Lobby, 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
Or - The application, along with the processing fee (check or money order payable to “DOPL”), can be mailed to the Division of Professional Licensing, State of Utah Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 146741, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741.
- Out-Of-State Applicants: See the fingerprints section below before submitting the application.
Utah Private Security Officer Licensing
No Previous Security Experience Required
The Division Of Professional Licensing (DOPL) regulates all private security officer licenses to work as a security officer for a Contract Security Company. We have provided all the information you need to know below, but you can also see the DOPL website Security Companies and Guards for information.
Eligibility
To obtain an unarmed or armed private security officer license in Utah all applicants must;
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Meet the minimum requirements as described under 58-63-302 Qualifications for licensure and R156-63a-302f Qualifications for Licensure – Good Moral Character – Disqualifying Convictions. If you have a criminal conviction, you may be prohibited from obtaining or holding a private security officer license.
- Complete the appropriate basic education and training program(s) approved by DOPL.
- Apply for and obtain the appropriate private security officer license before being able to work.
IMPORTANT
An individual who held a Utah unarmed or armed private security officer license that expired within the past two years (expired on November 30, 2022) is not eligible to apply as a new applicant. The individual must complete all applicable continuing education and reinstate the license by paying the renewal fee and reinstatement fee.
Military and Military Spouses | Internationally-Trained Applicants
Military & Spouses
If you are a military member or military spouse, please review the DOPL Military Resources page before applying.
Internationally-Trained Applicant Information
Individuals who have international training or education, particularly new Americans such as immigrants and refugees, who have completed extensive education, job training, or work experience abroad may be eligible to have a license issued to qualified professionals with international training or education. You can find more information on the DOPL website and their FAQs.
1. Complete The Required Training
2. Complete An Application
Apply Online - Easiest & Fastest!
If you previously held a Utah unarmed or armed private security officer license, DOPL does not allow you to submit an online application for a new license. You must use a paper application.
- A $90.00 non-refundable application processing fee is due upon submission of the online application. (This does not include any additional training costs)
- Any required documents uploaded with your application must be no larger than 3 MB. Documents can also be emailed to [email protected]. The email must include your full name and profession.
- If you apply by Endorsement, select your endorsement state.
- If you are requesting an interim license, you must obtain a criminal history report, “Right of Access” from the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) showing “No Criminal Record Found” and upload or email the report to DOPL. The report cannot be more than 30 days old. This option is a separate $20.00 cost. If you marked “Yes” to any question on the Qualifying Questionnaire, an interim license will not be issued.
- Upload or email the Certification of Education Requirements.
Unarmed License – Certification Of Initial Basic Education
You can complete the approved basic education and training program in two ways.
– In-person (classroom environment). You must upload or email the Certification of Initial Basic Education, completed and signed by an approved instructor.
– Online. You must upload or email the certificate showing completion of an approved online basic education and training course.
Armed License – Certification Of Initial Firearm Education
You can upload or email the completed Certification Of Training Program, signed by an approved firearms instructor.
Armed training cannot be completed online.
If you do not have a current unarmed license, you must also upload or email a certificate of completion for an approved online basic education and training course.
Paper Application - Slower
- $90.00 non-refundable application processing fee, made payable to “DOPL”. (This does not include any additional training costs)
- A completed and legible application.
- If you are requesting an interim license, you must obtain a criminal history report, “Right of Access” from the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) showing “No Criminal Record Found” and include it with the application. The report cannot be more than 30 days old. This option is a separate $20.00 cost. If you marked “Yes” to any question on the Qualifying Questionnaire, an interim license will not be issued.
- Certification of training requirements:
Basic Education Training Program
– Unarmed License Training –- If you completed the approved basic education and training program in person (classroom environment), this section must be completed and signed by an approved instructor.
- If you completed the training online, leave this section blank. You must include a certificate of completion for an approved online basic education and training course with your application.
- If you have a valid unarmed private security officer license and are completing this application to obtain an armed private security officer license, this section is left blank.
Certification Of Initial Firearm Education
– Armed License Training –- If you are applying for an armed private security officer license, this section must be completed and signed by an authorized instructor showing completion of an approved armed basic education and training course. Armed training cannot be completed online.
- Submit the completed application and documents to DOPL.
3. Fingerprints
Utah Residence
- Utah applicants must have their fingerprints electronically submitted through an authorized vendor.
- After you submit your application with all required documents, DOPL will email you within 24 to 48 business hours. It will include a PDF document titled “Authorization for Electronic Fingerprints (Live Scan)” and a list of authorized fingerprinting vendors. You must take this document to the vendor and obtain fingerprints. Utah FAST is an authorized vendor. You can schedule an appointment on our website, utahfastfingerprinting.com.
Out-Of-State Applicants
- To obtain fingerprints, you must go to your local law enforcement agency or a private fingerprinting company. Fingerprints must be printed on two FBI FD-258 fingerprint cards.
- Both cards must have complete demographic information (all aliases, age, hair/eye color, place of birth, etc.), signed by both the applicant and the individual who took the prints. Prints must be free from smudges and be rolled completely from nail bed to nail bed, and from the tip of the finger to below the first knuckle. Incomplete or low-quality cards will be rejected and may delay the issuance of your license.
- Mail the two completed fingerprint cards WITH your completed application, all required documents, and $90.00 non-refundable application processing fee (check/money order made payable to “DOPL”), to the Division of Professional Licensing, State of Utah Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 146741, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741.
Privacy Act Statement
Before submitting fingerprints, you must read and acknowledge the Privacy Act Statement, fbi.gov/services/cjis/compact-council/privacy-act-statement.
Application Process
No Utah Criminal Record
- If you requested to obtain an interim license, provided a current criminal history report “Right of Access” from BCI showing “No Criminal Record Found”, and has not had a license to practice an occupation or profession denied, revoked, suspended, restricted, or placed on probation DOPL will email you a temporary private security officer license within 24 to 48 business hours to your email address provided on the application. The temporary private security officer license expires 90 days after issuance, or on the date the applicant is issued a license, whichever is earlier.
- When the FBI fingerprint background check is clear, DOPL will email you the private security officer license to the email address you provided on the application. This usually takes approximately two to three weeks.
Past Criminal Record
- If you marked “yes” to any of the questions on the Qualifying Questionnaire, you are not eligible to receive an interim private security officer license, even if you attached a current criminal history report “Right of Access” from BCI.
- The DOPL board will review your criminal history to determine whether you are qualified to obtain a private security officer license.
- Once the FBI fingerprint background check is clear and DOPL has approved your application, DOPL will email the private security officer license to the email address you provided on the application. This usually takes approximately two to three weeks.
License Denial
- Grounds for denial of license can be found in UCA 58-1-401.
- DOPL cannot automatically deny an applicant based on their criminal history. However, some crimes may result in DOPL denying a license. DOPL must carefully review crimes that may “substantially” relate to an individual’s ability to safely or competently practice their profession. This is in keeping with one of DOPL’s main goals when issuing licenses, protecting the citizens of Utah.
- A few license statutes require automatic denial of the license for certain crimes. For example, you cannot hold an armed private security officer license if you have a conviction that restricts you from possessing a firearm.
- To assist applicants, DOPL has created Criminal History Guidelines for each occupation and profession it licenses which can help applicants identify particular crimes that may “substantially” affect their ability to safely or competently practice a specific profession.
- If an applicant’s application is denied, a private security officer license will not be issued and the applicant will receive notice and reason for the denial.
- If an applicant was issued an interim private security officer license it shall automatically expire.
IMPORTANT LICENSING INFORMATION
Division of Professional Licensing
Phone: (801) 530-6628
Address: Heber M Wells Building, 1st Floor Lobby 160 East 300 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Email: doplweb@utah.gov
Website: https://dopl.utah.gov/sec/index.html