South Carolina Unarmed Security Guards Licensing Requirements

State Security Licensing Authorities: South Carolina

South Carolina Security Guard License

Security Guard Registrations are issued by SLED (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) and are valid for one year from date of issue. Persons holding commissions or appointments that confer law enforcement authority and administrative employees of public law enforcement agencies may not hold private security registrations. Officers of the South Carolina Department of Corrections who hold limited-authority law enforcement commissions, as defined by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, are exempt from this restriction for purposes of employment as private security officers.

Required fees must be received with the application form and must be in the form of a valid business check, cashier check or money order.   The following fees are applicable and are non-refundable:

Private Security Officer Registration

• Armed: $110.00 annually
• Unarmed: $65.00 annually
• Replacement-lost or destroyed card: $20.00

Each candidate for registration as a private security officer must qualify by successfully completing a basic training course approved by SLED. The standard basic training course consists of four or more hours of training by a certified private security company training officer and must consist of the latest material provided to the trainer by the South Carolina Technical College Private Security Training School.  Such basic training must be completed; a written examination administered and scored, accurate results of the testing documented in the employer’s files, and application for registration received by SLED before the security officer begins duties at a client site.  A candidate who successfully completes such basic training will, upon issuance of a registration card by SLED, be designated as a Registered Private Security Officer. The security officer must complete an additional minimum two hours of orientation and training by a certified company-training officer.

Armed Security Guard

In addition to the training required, a private security officer who will be authorized to carry a firearm must, before being issued, authorized or permitted to carry a firearm on duty, successfully complete a course approved by SLED, consisting of a minimum of four hours of training by a private security company certified training officer or law enforcement firearms instructor currently certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, in the safe and proper use of the specific type(s) of firearm(s) to be issued or carried.  Such training must:

• Adhere to the lesson plan(s) and course(s) of fire provided by the South Carolina Technical College Private Security Training School, and
• Include a demonstration of the safe and competent use of the firearm on a range supervised and documented by a private security company certified training officer or law enforcement firearms instructor currently certified by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.

Security Guard Information and Licensing Applications