Arkansas Security License: Requirements, Training, and Renewal

To work as a security guard in Arkansas, you need a security license — technically a credential — issued by the Arkansas State Police under the Private Security Agency, Private Investigator, and School Security Licensing and Credentialing Act.¹ You will pay $75 at application, complete at least eight hours of state-approved training, pass state and federal background checks, and renew every two years.² Working without a valid credential is a criminal violation.

Which Credential You Actually Need

Arkansas issues two individual credentials for security work. A Private Security Officer (PSO) credential is the unarmed license: surveillance, access control, incident reporting, and similar duties without a firearm. A Commissioned Security Officer (CSO) credential is the armed equivalent, letting you carry a firearm on duty. CSOs face a higher minimum age and additional firearms training.

Neither of these is the same as a Class B license, which is what a security company itself must hold to operate.³ If you plan to work as a guard for an existing company, you need only the individual PSO or CSO credential. If you plan to start your own security firm, you will also need the Class B license, which carries its own fingerprinting, bond, and fee requirements for the business and any partner owning 25% or more.

Who Qualifies

You must be at least 18 for a PSO credential and at least 21 for a CSO credential.⁴ U.S. citizenship or lawful residency is required for both.

Every applicant runs through state and federal criminal background checks via the Arkansas State Police and the FBI.³ On the application, you sign a verified disclosure listing any felony convictions, Class A misdemeanors, crimes of violence, and crimes involving moral turpitude, including offenses that have been sealed or expunged.

A disqualifying prior offense will bar you even after a seal or expungement. The only exception is a full pardon, and for a CSO credential the pardon must specifically restore firearms rights.⁵ Beyond the criminal record, the director evaluates whether you are “honest, trustworthy, and of good character,” which gives the State Police some discretion.³

Training You Must Complete First

Every security officer applicant, armed or unarmed, must complete Phase I training. It runs a minimum of eight hours and covers:⁶

Legal authority, including the limits on arrests, detentions, and use of force
Classification of crimes a guard is likely to encounter
Report writing, with field notes and practical exercises
Arkansas fees, renewal rules, training obligations, and penalties for violations
Site-specific legal issues tailored to where you will work — hotel, school, bar, or other setting

Commissioned officers add Phase II firearms training: weapons safety, handling, and a qualifying score on a live-fire proficiency test at a state-approved range. The instructor must hold current firearms certification through the Arkansas State Police. Employers often add training beyond these state minimums.

How to Apply

Applications go through the Arkansas State Police Regulatory Services Division. You will submit:³

The application form with your full name, business address, and Social Security number
Two passport-style photographs
The verified disclosure of criminal history
Two classifiable sets of fingerprints, submitted electronically through a livescan operator
A signed waiver authorizing the State Police to access your medical and criminal records
Proof of completed training
Proof of the applicable surety bond or insurance, or a sworn statement of exemption⁷

Fingerprints are no longer taken at the Arkansas State Police headquarters in Little Rock. You must use an approved livescan operator; the State Police maintains a provider list on its website.⁸ Livescan operators may charge their own service fee.

The director may also require an examination. Your initial application fee covers one attempt; a reexamination fee applies if you fail.³

What It Costs

The credential fee itself is $40 for either a PSO or CSO application.⁹ Background check fees add to the total. On the current unarmed application form, the breakdown is:¹⁰

Credential fee: $40
State background check: $22
Federal background check fees: $13, split across three line items
Total due at application: $75

The commissioned application follows a similar structure. All fees are non-refundable, so double-check your paperwork before you pay. Livescan fingerprint fees at your chosen provider are on top of the $75 above.

Renewal Every Two Years

Every credential expires two years from its date of issue.² Renewal requires a fresh state and federal background check, an updated application, and the $40 renewal fee — the same as the initial credential fee.⁹ Commissioned officers must also requalify on firearms.

Do not let it lapse. Working with an expired credential is illegal, can trigger criminal penalties, and is grounds for termination.

Suspension, Revocation, and Appeals

The director can suspend or revoke your credential during its two-year term. Common triggers:¹¹

An arrest or formal charge for a disqualifying crime, which you must report to the State Police immediately. Your credential is suspended until final disposition.
Any new conviction, guilty plea, or no-contest plea during the license term.
False statements on your application or in any communication with the State Police. This is also a Class A misdemeanor.
A suspension order from the Office of Child Support Enforcement.

If your application is denied or your credential is suspended or revoked, the director must notify you in writing with the reasons. You then have 30 days to request a hearing before the Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies. Miss that window and the denial is final. An adverse board decision can be appealed to circuit court within 30 days.¹²

Uniform Restrictions to Know About

Arkansas law prohibits any private security firm or officer from wearing a uniform whose design and color scheme matches the Arkansas State Police.¹³ You also cannot display the State Police logo, patches, or terms like “Arkansas State Trooper” without written permission from the director. The rule is not limited to exact replicas — if the overall look could be confused with a trooper’s uniform, you are in violation. Most employers handle this by issuing company-branded uniforms in distinct colors.

Out-of-State Reciprocity

If you already hold a security license in another state, Arkansas offers a reciprocity pathway. Under the State Police rules, an applicant with a “substantially similar” license from another U.S. state, territory, or district may apply for a reciprocal or temporary Arkansas license.¹⁴ Your existing license must be in good standing, never revoked for bad faith or a legal violation, and not currently suspended or on probation. You will also need to demonstrate competency in the field. Arkansas does not publish a list of specific reciprocity states; each application is evaluated on whether the other state’s requirements are comparable.

1
Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Private Investigators, Security Companies, and Alarm Installation and Monitoring
2
Justia. Arkansas Code 17-40-313 – License and Credential – Expiration and Renewal
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Justia. Arkansas Code 17-40-307 – License or Credential
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Justia. Arkansas Code 17-40-306 – License or Credential – Applicant Qualifications
5
Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Code of Arkansas Rules Part 350 – Section 350-210, Prior Offenses
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Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Rules for Licensing and Regulation of Private Investigators, Private Security Agencies – Rule 10.3, Phase I
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Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Rules for Licensing and Regulation of Private Investigators, Private Security Agencies – Rule 2.3
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Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Fingerprinting Information and Services
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Justia. Arkansas Code 17-40-302 – Fees
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Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Private Security Officer Application
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Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Code of Arkansas Rules Part 350 – Sections 350-605 Through 350-608
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Justia. Arkansas Code 17-40-355 – Appeal of Denial, Suspension, or Revocation – Venue
13
Justia. Arkansas Code 12-8-121 – Use of State Uniform, Patch, or Logo Prohibited
14
Arkansas Department of Public Safety. Rules for Licensing and Regulation of Private Investigators, Private Security Agencies – Rule 2.4, Reciprocity and Temporary Licensing