Form DOS-1206, the Employee Statement and Security Guard Application, is the form you file with the New York Department of State to get a security guard registration card.1New York State Department of State. Employee Statement and Security Guard Application You mail the completed form, your fingerprint receipt, your 8-hour training certificate, and a $36 fee to the Division of Licensing Services in Albany, and the state sends back a registration card valid for two years.2New York Department of State. Become a Security Guard Two things have to be done before you can even fill out the form: an approved training course and electronic fingerprinting.
Who Files Form DOS-1206
Anyone employed by a security guard company to perform protective functions in New York needs this registration. Under General Business Law § 89-f, that covers protecting people or property from harm or theft, deterring and reporting unlawful activity, street patrol, and responding to alarm systems.3New York Department of State. Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents, Watch, Guard or Patrol Agencies and Security Guards Police officers, guards whose duties are already regulated by the federal government, and unpaid volunteers are exempt.
You must be at least 18 and of good moral character. A conviction for a “serious offense” is an automatic bar, and misdemeanor convictions in New York or another state can disqualify you if the Department decides the offense is related to the duties of a security guard.4New York State Senate. New York General Business Law GBS Article 7-A 89-H – Requirements for a Registration Card If you have a criminal record but have remained conviction-free for ten years, certain records may be sealed; check whether your situation qualifies before assuming you’re out.2New York Department of State. Become a Security Guard A court finding of mental incompetence that hasn’t been removed also disqualifies you, and if you were fired from a correctional or law enforcement job for misconduct or incompetence (or resigned while facing those charges), registration is generally denied, though you can submit a written explanation and ask for a waiver.
Finish These Two Steps Before You Fill Out the Form
The 8-Hour Pre-Assignment Training
You have to complete an 8-hour pre-assignment training course at a school approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. This is required by General Business Law § 89-n and covers the legal authority and limits of a security guard, emergency procedures, communication, and ethics.5New York State Senate. New York General Business Law GBS 89-N – Training Requirements When you pass, the school gives you a completion certificate. That certificate goes in your application packet.
This is the only training you need before filing. The 16-hour on-the-job course and annual in-service training come after you start working.
Electronic Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting is mandatory for the background check and must be done before you mail the application. Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO (operated by IDEMIA) and bring a valid photo ID. Your prints are forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Services and the FBI for a criminal history search.6New York Department of State. Electronic Fingerprinting
Fingerprint fees are paid at the appointment, not with your DOS-1206:
- DCJS fee: $75.00
- FBI fee: $12.00
- Fingerprint vendor fee: $17.50
All three are paid together to IDEMIA by check, money order, or credit card. The vendor fee can change in January and July, so confirm the total when you book.6New York Department of State. Electronic Fingerprinting The technician will give you two receipts. Keep one for your application packet and give the other to your employer.
Filling Out the Form
Download DOS-1206 from the Division of Licensing Services page on the Department of State website.1New York State Department of State. Employee Statement and Security Guard Application Use black ink and print clearly. The form asks for your full legal name, residential address, Social Security number, and DMV ID number. The DMV number links the application to the state’s existing photo records so the registration card can carry a verifiable photo without you submitting one.
You’ll also answer questions about your criminal history, past employment, and any prior professional licenses. Answer everything truthfully. Discrepancies between what you write and what the background check turns up will delay or kill the application. If you answer “yes” to any criminal-history question, attach a separate written statement explaining the circumstances.
The Notice of Employment Section
If you already have a security guard job lined up, your employer completes the Notice of Employment section at the bottom of the form, signing an attestation that they’ve verified your statements and believe you qualify for employment under General Business Law Articles 7 and 7-A.1New York State Department of State. Employee Statement and Security Guard Application No employer yet? Leave the section blank. You can still submit and add an employer later.
What Goes in the Packet
Your completed packet needs:
- The signed DOS-1206 form
- Your fingerprint receipt from IdentoGO
- Your 8-hour pre-assignment training certificate (a copy is fine)
- A $36 application fee, by check or money order payable to the NYS Department of State, or Visa/MasterCard using a credit card authorization form
- Any supporting documents, such as a written explanation of prior convictions
The application fee is nonrefundable. A bounced check adds a $20 returned-check fee.2New York Department of State. Become a Security Guard Don’t send cash.
Where to Mail It
Send the whole packet to:
NYS Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
PO Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-20017New York Department of State. Division of Licensing Services
Before it goes in the mail, confirm the fee is enclosed and the form is signed. Unsigned applications and missing fees are the fastest ways to get a packet returned unprocessed.
After You Submit
The Division of Licensing Services typically processes security guard applications in roughly two to three weeks, though that depends on how quickly the background check clears and how many applications are ahead of yours. You can check status through the Department of State’s online licensing portal by searching your name or ID number. The portal only shows active licenses, so if nothing appears, your application is probably still being reviewed.8New York Department of State. Licensing Status Page
Once approved, the state mails your registration card to the address on your application. It’s valid for two years.1New York State Department of State. Employee Statement and Security Guard Application Keep the card on you whenever you’re working; New York law requires it. If your address, employer, or other circumstances change, notify the Department of State in writing within 14 days.4New York State Senate. New York General Business Law GBS Article 7-A 89-H – Requirements for a Registration Card
What Comes After Registration
Filing DOS-1206 gets you the card, but the training doesn’t stop there. Within 90 working days of starting work, you must complete a 16-hour on-the-job training course arranged by your employer, and every calendar year you hold the registration you must complete an 8-hour in-service course.9New York Department of State. Security Guard Training Requirements Missing an in-service course blocks your renewal. Renewal forms arrive by mail roughly 90 days before your two-year expiration date, so keep your address on file current. If a lapse runs longer than six months, you’ll have to start the entire application process over.
Carrying a firearm on duty requires a separate armed guard upgrade with its own prerequisites, including a valid New York State pistol permit and a 47-hour firearms course, so DOS-1206 on its own only covers unarmed work.