Louisiana Unarmed Security Guards Licensing Requirements

State Security Licensing Authorities: Louisiana

 Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners

Louisiana Unarmed Security Guards Licensing Requirements

The person seeking employment as an unlicensed security guard in the state of Louisiana is required to apply for an unarmed security guard license. In order to apply for this license, there are requirements the applicant will need to supply. The license that will be issued must have all of the requirements satisfied, which the state requires prior to the application being issued. This includes both personal information, and there will also be a required sixteen hours of state certified training. The personal information required is:

• The person applying must be at least 18 years of age.
• The applicant will have a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate.
• The applicant will have an FBI style background check.
• Fingerprints from the applicant are required.
• Proof must be submitted to work legally within the United States.
• The applicant will not have any felony convictions or certain misdemeanors.
• The applicant will have completed the required sixteen hours of training.

The sixteen hours of training that is required by the state of Louisiana will include education in security, medical emergencies, and other useful education for the person that will be employed in the security field. This type of training can answer the legal questions and make the unarmed security guard feel confident; it is also a requirement to qualify for the license. This training will open many employment opportunities once the course has been successfully completed. The education that is included will be:

• The legal and ethical issues that can arise in some situations.
• Professionalism on the job.
• Medical emergencies.
• Fire management.
• Crowd control.
• Limits of detainment.
• Use of force.

This training prepares the applicant for work in the security sector; this can include both the public security field and the private sector. The licensed unarmed security guard will find employment opportunities in many areas of the security field such as:

• The banking and loan industry
• Schools and colleges
• Airports, bus and train stations
• Factories
• Malls and retail stores
• Museums
• State and federal office buildings
• Apartment complexes
• Hotels
• Hospitals
• Private security

The employment opportunities may also require the licensed unarmed security guard to have a valid Louisiana driver’s license; this is not a requirement to obtain the Louisiana unarmed security license. The driver’s license would be a request by the employer to qualify for a certain position and will often include a security vehicle provided by the employer. The unarmed security guard that finds work in the private sector will often be employed as a gate guard to a large property.
The Louisiana unarmed security license that will be issued when the qualifications are met will be valid for two years, with an annual refresher course required to keep the license current. The license will need to be renewed thirty days prior to the expiration date and will need to be renewed as long as the applicant works in the security field as a Louisiana unarmed security guard.

Louisiana Armed Security Guard Licensing Requirements

The state of Louisiana requires that any person that will be employed in the security field as an armed security guard must be licensed. This license cannot be obtained without meeting all the requirements according to the state statutes; this will include both personal information and training. The training must be completed at a state certified facility for the amount of sixteen hours for security, and firearms training will also be completed. The personal information that must be supplied is as follows:

• The applicant must be at least 21 years of age to qualify.
• The applicant will hold a high school diploma or an equivalency certification.
• There will be a FBI style background check.
• The applicant will submit fingerprints.
• Applicants will provide proof; they can legally work in the United States.
• The applicant will not have a criminal history that includes felony convictions or aggravated misdemeanors.
• The applicant will complete security training and firearms training prior to applying for a license.

The training that is required in the state of Louisiana will prepare the armed security guard to work within the security sector and will be trained to handle emergency situations and criminal activity. The sixteen hours of security education will include the laws that apply to the Louisiana licensed armed security guard. The sixteen hours of training will include:

• Legal issues
• Ethical issues
• Louisiana law
• Emergency medical including first aid and CPR
• Crowd control
• Use of non-lethal force
• Emergency fire management
• Firearm’s training
• Marksmanship and target
• Use of force
• Louisiana limits of force

The applicant that has completed both the sixteen hours of security training and the firearm’s training successfully will then be issued an armed security guard license. This training will educate the applicant to handle fire and medical emergencies until the fire or ambulance authorities arrive on the scene. The applicant will also be prepared to deal confidently with criminal activity including detaining a suspect until the police arrive and report to them both orally and in written reports.
The employment opportunities that are available to the Louisiana licensed armed security guard are both in the public and private sector. These opportunities can include:

• Banks
• Financial institutions
• State office buildings
• Federal office buildings
• Schools
• Colleges
• Airports
• Hotels
• Museums
• Apartment complexes
• Housing developments
• Armored vehicles
• Private security duty

These are some of the employment opportunities the licensed armed guard will find in the security field. There are some employers that will require further training and that will require the armed security guard to hold a valid Louisiana driver’s license.
The Louisiana armed security guard license is valid for two years; it must be renewed thirty days prior to the date of expiration as long as the applicant continues to work in the security field. There is also a requirement to take a refresher course annually in both the security training and in the firearm’s training to keep the licensing current.

 Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners