Security Guard Requirements in Indiana

Security guard employees are not required to hold licensing. However, they will need to be fingerprinted by the employing agency. The agency must have fingerprints on record. The licensing agency has stated that the “qualifier” or licensee is civilly responsible for employee conduct.

To head a private security business in Indiana, one must be state licensed. The Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board has set a high set of standards for the responsible party of a security agency, whether proprietor or manager. The professional must have either 1) a baccalaureate degree in a field related to criminal justice or 2) two years of qualifying experience.

Security guard licenses do not authorize the use of firearms. Individuals are directed to the Indiana State Police with questions about the carrying of firearms (http://www.in.gov/pla/3087.htm).

Select an Indiana Security Guard or Private Security License Topic:

• Find Security Training Near You
• Education and Experience Requirements for Private Security Licensees
• Security Business License Applicatnt Background Check Requirements
• Security Business Liability Insurance Requirements
• Private Security Business Application Process
• The Indiana Private Investigator and Security Licensing Board and Additional Information

Education and Experience Requirements for Private Security Licensees

A licensee will need to have reached the age of at least 21. He or she must meet education or experience requirements. The professional may qualify on the basis of a criminal justice or related degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs or by any of six regional accrediting institutions.

The professional may also achieve eligibility through two years (4,000 hours) of qualifying experience. There are multiple security and investigations-related options. If the experience is in private security, it will need to be at the management or administrative level. The Board can accept experience in a security agency or a proprietary security fleet that has at least 20 employees. The Board may consider experience in cases where there were fewer employees; experience will need to be judged to be equivalent. The Board can also accept experience earned in the following roles:

• Private investigator
• Manager or supervisor of a private investigation company
• Sheriff’s investigator
• Investigator for the United States Department of the Treasury or the United States Department of Justice
• Claims investigator
• Armed forces criminal investigator
• Military or security police
• Attorney or investigator for attorney
• Law enforcement officer
• Railroad police or investigator

If the agency is a partnership, at least one partner must be qualified. If it is a corporation, at least one officer must meet the requirements. This individual may be referred to as the ‘qualifier’.

Background Check Requirements

Prospective licensees can expect thorough background screening. Felonies are disqualifying. Misdemeanors are disqualifying if they are determined to have “direct bearing” on the ability to practice the profession.

All applicants will need to have a fingerprint-based background check carried out by the Indiana State Police. Fingerprints are to be processed by the approved vendor, MorphoTrust. There are electronic fingerprinting sites located throughout the state; the list is organized by region (http://www.l1enrollment.com/locations/?st=in). Candidates can register online ( http://www.identogo.com/FP/Indiana.aspx). They may instead call (877) 472-6917.

The applicant will also need to provide a background check, or ‘CBC’, from each state, county, and city of residence for the prior seven years. In the case of military applicants, a DD-214 can be accepted. The applicant will, however, need to provide CBCs for post-discharge residences.

The licensing agency has provided detailed instructions about the background check process (http://www.in.gov/pla/3089.htm).

Liability Insurance Requirements

The licensee will need liability insurance. The policy is to cover at least $100,000 in damages (http://www.in.gov/pla/3467.htm). The licensing agency notes that an applicant does not have to obtain the policy until after application acceptance. However, the license cannot be issued until the certificate of insurance is in hand.

The Application Process

Application materials can be downloaded from the website of the Professional Licensing Agency (http://www.in.gov/pla/3766.htm).

The experience verification form is to be completed by an employer. In the case of military experience, a DD-214 will suffice. Academic education is verified through official transcripts.

The applicant will attach a passport-quality photograph to the application.

Applicants who answer “yes” to legal or professional history questions will need to provide notarized statements. Court documents must also be provided (if applicable).

Applicants who have held other professional licenses during the prior ten years are asked to provide official license verification; this is the case even with out-of-state licenses in unrelated fields, such as real estate.

The agency licensing fee is $300. It may be pro-rated to $150 depending on the stage of the current renewal cycle.

Application materials are to be sent to the following address:

Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
Attn: Private Investigator and Security Guard Board
402 West Washington Street, Room W072
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Applications cannot be reviewed without the required fee, background check results, and documentation of required experience. The completed application should arrive no less than a week before a scheduled Board meeting; the licensing agency has published a list of upcoming meeting dates (http://www.in.gov/pla/3088.htm). The application will first be reviewed for administrative completeness by a Customer Service Representative. If there is missing documentation, the applicant will receive email documentation.

The Board may attach any of the following statuses to an application: approved, approved pending, tabled, or denied. “Approved pending” means there is something that must be submitted prior to issuance. If it is “tabled”, there are concerns, and the applicant may be asked to appear before the Board.

It will be necessary to submit a new application for an existing security agency if there is a new qualifier.

Additional Information

The Indiana Private Investigator and Security Licensing Board is under the banner of the Professional Licensing Agency (http://www.in.gov/pla/pisg.htm). Licensing staff can be reached by telephone at (317) 234-3022 or by email at ‘pla10 at pla.in.gov’.