To work as a security officer in Orlando, you need a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and that license requires state-approved training first. Security guard training in Orlando comes in two forms: a 40-hour course for the Class D unarmed license, and an additional 28-hour firearms course for the Class G statewide firearm license if you plan to carry on duty.1Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Private Security Licenses Both licenses fall under Chapter 493, Florida Statutes, and both are handled through the same FDACS licensing process.
Before You Sign Up: Are You Eligible
You must be at least 18 to apply for either license.2Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Class G Statewide Firearm License Requirements To carry a concealed firearm on the job, you must be 21, even with a valid Class G.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 493 – Section 493.6115 You also need to be a U.S. citizen or hold an alien registration number showing authorization to work.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 493 – Section 493.6105
The state runs a full background check. You must disclose every criminal conviction, guilty plea, and nolo contendere plea, whether or not adjudication was withheld.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 493 – Section 493.6105 A felony conviction leads to denial unless your civil rights have been fully restored.5Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 493.6118 – Grounds for Disciplinary Action Domestic violence and sexual offense convictions function as permanent bars. Misdemeanors involving theft, fraud, or drugs can trigger a waiting period, and violence-related misdemeanors like battery and assault are reviewed case by case and often lead to denials. If you have any criminal history, call FDACS before you pay for a course.
The 40-Hour Class D Course
Every Class D applicant must complete at least 40 hours of professional training at a school licensed by FDACS.6Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Class D Security Officer License Requirements The curriculum covers legal authority under Chapter 493, emergency procedures, basic first aid, access control, patrol and observation, report writing, terrorism awareness, public relations, courtroom procedures, interpersonal communication, traffic direction, and crowd control. You need a passing exam score to receive the training certificate you’ll submit with your license application.
Orlando has several FDACS-licensed schools running this course. Tuition typically falls between $100 and $300. Some schools bundle fingerprinting and application notarization into the price, so compare what’s included before you enroll.
The 28-Hour Class G Firearms Course
If you plan to carry a firearm on duty, you need a Class G statewide firearm license on top of your Class D. The firearms training runs 28 hours and must be taught by an instructor holding an active Class K firearms instructor license. Classroom hours cover the legal use of force, safe handling, and weapon mechanics. Range time is a substantial portion of the course, and you must pass a live-fire qualification to earn the certificate.
The Class G is not a standalone credential. You still need the Class D to work as a security officer, which is why most people take the courses back to back. Many Orlando schools offer a combined D and G package that runs roughly a week of full-time instruction.
Applying for the License
Once you have the training certificate, you submit an application to FDACS. The agency runs an online portal where you create an account, upload a photo, and enter your legal name, Social Security or alien registration number, residential address, and physical descriptors matching your driver’s license.7Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Security Officer License Application – New Applicant You upload the school’s training certificate through the same portal.
Every applicant submits electronic fingerprints. A local sheriff’s office or police department charges roughly $35, the FDACS regional office charges $42, and private vendors set their own prices.8Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Submitting Fingerprints Electronically for Private Investigative, Security, and Recovery Licenses FAQ Prints go directly to FDACS for the background check.
Fees
The Class D application fee is $45. A separate fingerprint processing fee of $42 applies to every license type.9Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. License Fees – Chapter 493 The Class G carries its own application and fingerprint fees. Budget roughly $130 to $175 in state fees for a combined D and G application, on top of tuition.
Where to File
You can apply entirely online, mail your materials to FDACS in Tallahassee, or bring them to the Orlando Regional Office at 5750 Major Blvd, Suite 100, Orlando, FL 32819.10Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Orlando Regional Office Walking in is worth the trip if you want staff to check the file for completeness before it enters the queue. A mismatched address or a missing training certificate can stall processing for weeks.
Temporary License and Wait Time
Once FDACS accepts your application, you can receive a temporary license that lets you begin working while the full background check runs. That matters in Orlando, where theme parks, convention venues, and resorts often need shifts filled quickly. The permanent hard-copy license typically arrives by mail within 30 to 90 days.
Do not work before you have at least the temporary license in hand. Florida law prohibits performing security duties without valid credentials, and the agency putting you on post faces its own penalties.
Keeping the License Active
A Class D license is valid for two years. FDACS sends a renewal notice to your address on file about 95 days before expiration. If the license lapses for more than a year, you are treated as a brand-new applicant and must repeat the full 40 hours of training.11Florida Senate. Florida Code 493 – Section 493.6113 Keep your address current with FDACS.
Class G holders have an additional annual obligation: four hours of requalification training every year, including a live-fire course of 48 rounds. You must pass. Three failed attempts require remedial training before you can try again.2Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Class G Statewide Firearm License Requirements Miss the annual qualification and your armed authority lapses even if the license card itself hasn’t expired. Several Orlando schools offer the four-hour requalification as a standalone weekend session.