CALIFORNIA SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Private Patrol Operator (PPO) license [1]

Who needs it. Any person (individual, firm, company, association, organization, partnership, corporation, participating tribe) other than an armored contract carrier who, for any consideration, furnishes or agrees to furnish a watchman, guard, patrolperson or other person to protect persons or property or prevent theft. Exemptions in BPC 7582.2 (e.g., unarmed in-house employees of a non-contract employer, government employees, charter patrol special police, off-duty peace officers under Gov. Code 1126 unless contracting as a PPO). [1]

Local licensing. Licensing of the business is STATE-level (BSIS, Department of Consumer Affairs); there is no county/city PPO license. BPC 7582.5 preserves limited local police-power regulation: cities/counties may by ordinance require registration of street patrol services/street patrol special officers (and may allocate territory and refuse registration for bad moral character), may regulate PPO employees who cannot show a current state registration, may require PPOs and their employees to register their name and file a copy of their state ID card (no fee may be charged and no application required for that registration), and may regulate protection dogs. BPC 7583.38 lets a city/county regulate PPO uniforms, insignia and vehicles so they are distinguishable from local law enforcement. Ordinary local business-license/business-tax registration may also apply. Charter-city patrol special police are exempt from the Act (BPC 7582.2).

Your guards. Each uniformed PPO employee performing guard functions must hold a BSIS Security Guard Registration (guard card); armed guards also need a BSIS firearms permit and baton carriers a baton permit. A PPO may not let an employee perform guard functions without confirming a current, valid registration (BPC 7583.8), must certify proof of registration for each employee (BPC 7583.2(d)) and keep training records. Guard registrants need the Power to Arrest/use-of-force course (from a single provider, within 6 months before applying, since 2026-01-01 per SB 652) and 32 hours of security officer skills training (16 within 30 days, 32 within 6 months of registration), plus 8 hours annual review; from 2027-01-01 the skills training may be completed before registration issues (SB 1148/SB 1203 Sec. 15.5). Factsheet: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/guard_fact.pdf [1]

Role

Qualified Manager (Private Patrol Operator Qualified Manager, BSIS certificate type PPQ) [1]

Experience

At least 3 years / 6,000 hours of compensated qualifying experience: 2 years (not less than 4,000 hours) as a patrolperson, guard or watchman or equivalent, AND 1 year (not less than 2,000 hours) as manager or in an administrative position with a licensed and current PPO; substantiated by written employer certifications (Form 31A-8). A year = not less than 2,000 hours of actual compensated work (16 CCR 620(b)). Military: chief may find armed-services applicants with proper skills eligible to take the exam. [1]

Age & background

At least 18; must not have committed acts/crimes constituting grounds for denial under BPC 480; DOJ and FBI criminal history check by Live Scan (submit the application to BSIS before Live Scanning). [1]

• Statute: no person may act as qualified manager until they have demonstrated qualifications by a written or oral examination (or both) 'if required by the director' and shown they meet BPC 7582.8 and that no BPC 7582.24/7582.25 grounds exist. The director requires the written exam by regulation (16 CCR 605). [1]
• Must pass the written qualified manager examination (unless previously passed / currently holds a valid certificate). [17]
• The business must be operated under the active direction, control, charge or management, in California, of the licensee (if qualified) or its qualified manager; a licensee whose primary office is outside California must maintain an in-state office run by a qualified manager and keep required records there. [1]
• Qualified manager certificate is issued by the director. Display rule as of 2027-01-01 (SB 1445): below the PPO license at the principal place of business (below the branch office certificate at each branch if the principal office is out of state). Through 2026 the statute said 'below the branch office license'. [6]
• Since 2025-01-01 the QM certificate expires two years after issuance and must be renewed (renewal fee $248 on/after 10/1/2025). [25]
• If the qualified manager leaves, the licensee must notify BSIS in writing within 30 days; the license stays in force 90 days (or up to one year if approved) pending a new QM, otherwise it is automatically suspended. [1]
• Owner, partner, corporate officer or participating tribal officer may serve as qualified manager, or the company may hire one. [15]
• Three years of experience is equivalent to a minimum of 6,000 hours of compensated time; military experience must be supported by DD-214 or Performance Evaluation Report. [17]
• Each owner, partner, corporate officer, participating tribal officer and QM listed on the application submits a Personal Identification Form (31A-9) with one passport-quality photo taken within the past year. [17]

Exam

Private Patrol Operator Qualified Manager Examination [23]

Who sits it

The individual designated as the PPO's qualified manager (an owner, partner, corporate officer, participating tribal officer, or a hired person meeting QM requirements); the company itself does not sit for an exam apart from its QM, and a company cannot be licensed until its QM qualifies. A person who previously passed the PPO QM exam and/or holds a valid certificate need not retake it. [17]

Administered by

PSI Services LLC (administers); exam developed by DCA Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) [23]

Delivery

Computer-based, at PSI test centers (California sites plus listed out-of-state PSI centers, e.g., Albuquerque, Atlanta/Marietta); scheduled online at test-takers.psiexams.com/cabsi or by phone (877) 392-6422 after BSIS approves eligibility; tutorial of up to 15 minutes does not count toward testing time; pass/fail result given at the end of the exam. [23]

Questions

120 [23]

Scored questions

100 [23]

Time limit (minutes)

120 [23]

Open book

No [23]

Retakes

A candidate who fails (or fails to appear after notice) may not take a later exam without filing a completed Application for Qualified Manager Reexamination (or written request) with the reexamination fee for EACH retake ($66 on/after 10/1/2025; BPC 7582.10, 16 CCR 601.2). There is no stated waiting period or attempt limit, but the application is deemed abandoned if the candidate does not take and pass within one year after becoming eligible (16 CCR 601.3); then a new application, Live Scan and fees are required. [8]

Candidate handbook ↗

Insurance

Commercial general liability policy from an insurer authorized in California with minimum limits of $1,000,000 for any one loss or occurrence (bodily injury incl. death, property damage, or both); occurrence-form only ('claims made' not accepted per BSIS); Certificate of Liability Insurance filed with BSIS (BSIS as certificate holder) at initial licensure and whenever the policy renews/changes; failure = automatic suspension after 30-day notice. [1]

Branch offices

A PPO may not advertise or do business from any location other than its principal place of business without a BSIS branch office certificate; notify BSIS within 10 days of closing/moving a branch; fines $500 first / $1,000 thereafter; certificate posted below the PPO license with the QM certificate below it; each branch needs a designated person in charge, records, and reasonable hours (16 CCR 622). Fees: $275 initial, $165 renewal (on/after 10/1/2025). [1]

• PPO initial company application and examination fee: $605 (applications submitted on or after 2025-10-01 (was $550 before)) [18]
• PPO initial license (company) fee: $847 (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $770)) [18]
• Total PPO initial company fees: $1,452 (packet Rev. 10/2025) [17]
• Qualified manager initial application and exam fee (PPQ): $385 (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $350); not charged separately when the QM applies with the company application) [18]
• Qualified manager re-exam fee: $66 (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $60)) [26]
• Qualified manager certificate biennial renewal (16 CCR 640(u) as adopted): $248 (2025-10-01) [9]
• Biennial PPO company renewal: $990 (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $900)) [18]
• Delinquent PPO company renewal ($990 + $495 delinquency): $1,485 (on or after 2025-10-01) [28]
• Qualified manager certificate renewal: $248 (on or after 2025-10-01; delinquent $372 ($248 + $124)) [27]
• PPO branch office initial application / renewal / delinquent renewal (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $250 / $150 / $225)) [18]
• Replacement PPO license (wall) or pocket card: $25 (unchanged) [18]
• Reinstatement after SOS/FTB suspension: $247.5 (on or after 2025-10-01 (was $225)) [18]
• Company name change / additional fictitious business name: $75 (FAQ revised August 2024; statute allows $75 up to $82) [1]
• Hard-card fingerprint submission (non-Live Scan) per person: $49 (packet Rev. 10/2025; Live Scan DOJ/FBI/operator fees are paid separately at the Live Scan site) [17]
• Statutory fee ranges (BPC 7588, operative 2025-01-01) that cap the regulation amounts (2025-01-01) [1]
• 16 CCR 640 as amended effective 2025-10-01 (controlling regulation amounts) (2025-10-01) [9]
• Fingerprint processing (DOJ/FBI) - statutory pass-through, in addition to BSIS fees (amount charged by DOJ; not stated in statute) [1]
• Delinquency fee rule (statute) (BPC 7588(f)) [1]

1. Pick the qualified manager (owner/partner/officer or hire) who meets the experience requirement; obtain BSIS written approval of the business name before buying insurance or using the name. [15]
2. Submit the Application for License (Form 31A-4) with the $605 application fee, a Personal Identification Form (31A-9) with a passport-quality photo for each owner/partner/officer/tribal officer/QM, Request for Authorization of Business Name (31A-12), and (corporations) endorsed Articles/Statement of Information; online via BreEZe (recommended) or by mail to P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento. [15]
3. If the QM is not already certified, include the QM forms (31A-9, Qualifying Experience Form 31A-8); the company application/exam fee covers the associated QM's exam. [17]
4. After submitting the application, complete Live Scan (DOJ/FBI) for each listed person. [17]
5. After BSIS approves the application, the QM's name goes to PSI; schedule and pass the PSI exam within one year of eligibility. [17]
6. Final steps: pay the $847 initial license fee, file the Certificate of Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 occurrence CGL) and any remaining documents; BSIS then issues the license. [17]
7. Processing time: about 4 months for a complete company application, longer if the QM still has to pass the exam. [20]

Renewal

PPO license, branch office certificate, QM certificate and pocket cards expire at midnight on the last day of the month two years after issuance. Renew on a BSIS form with the renewal fee ($990 company; $248 QM) and proof the $1M CGL insurance is in effect; all unresolved citation fines must be paid first (BPC 7586.1(b); QM: BPC 7586(b)). Standard fee up to 30 days after expiration, then delinquency fee (50% of renewal; $1,485 total company, $372 QM). An expired license/branch certificate may be renewed within three years (BPC 7586.2); after three years a new original application is required (BPC 7586.5). BSIS recommends filing at least 60 days early and returns applications received more than 90 days before expiration. [1]

Disqualifiers & waivers

After a hearing BSIS may deny if the applicant (or, for an entity, its manager and each officer) committed acts that would be grounds for suspension/revocation, dishonesty or fraud, acts/crimes constituting grounds for denial under BPC 480 'including illegally using, carrying, or possessing a deadly weapon', was refused a license or had one revoked (or was an officer/partner/manager of such a person), engaged in unlicensed activity, or knowingly made a false statement (BPC 7582.24); BPC 7582.25 lets the director refuse persons tied to revoked/suspended licenses. BPC 480 generally limits conviction-based denial to substantially related convictions within the preceding 7 years; the 7-year limit does not apply to serious felonies (Pen. Code 1192.7) or registrable sex offenses. (BPC 480's separate financial-felony exception applies only to the chapters it lists - Ch. 6, Ch. 9, Ch. 11.3 PIs, Ch. 12, Div. 4 - NOT Ch. 11.5 PPOs.) Conviction for unlicensed PPO activity bars licensure for 1 year (first) / 5 years (second or subsequent) (BPC 7582.3(g)). Rehabilitation evaluated under 16 CCR 602/602.1; BSIS FAQ says a denied applicant may reapply one year after denial. AB 2775 (eff. 2027-01-01) amends BPC 480 only for chiropractors. [1]

• 2025-01-01AB 1244 provisions became operative: qualified manager certificates now expire every two years and must be renewed; QM applicants apply and pay directly to BSIS; QM certificate posted below branch certificates; new fee ranges in BPC 7588 (incl. QM renewal $225-$248). Stats. 2023, Ch. 571 (AB 1244); BPC 7580.7, 7582.21, 7582.22, 7586, 7588 [25]
• 2025-01-01SB 1454 (BSIS sunset bill): 'person' now includes participating federally recognized tribes, which may be licensed; Legislature's next BSIS review set as if the chapter were repealed January 1, 2029. Stats. 2024, Ch. 484 (SB 1454); BPC 7580.3, 7580.15, 7582.1, 7582.7, 7588.8 [1]
• 2025-10-01BSIS fee regulation (16 CCR 638-642.5) raised fees to the statutory maximums: PPO application/exam $605, original license $847, renewal $990, branch $275/$165, reexam $66, QM $385/$248, guard registration $60/$44. 16 CCR 640 (OAL Matter 2025-0505-01S, approved 2025-06-17) [9]
• 2026-01-01SB 652: guard Power to Arrest/use-of-force course must be given and certified by a single course provider and completed within six months before the registration application; a licensee may train only its own applicants for employment and direct employees. Stats. 2025, Ch. 94 (SB 652); BPC 7583.6, 7583.10 [5]
• 2026-01-01SB 857 (public safety omnibus) amended BPC 7583.7 (Power to Arrest and appropriate use of force course: ~8-hour course topics; use-of-force portion by traditional classroom instruction). Specific line-by-line changes vs. prior text not isolated. Stats. 2025, Ch. 241 (SB 857); BPC 7583.7 [30]
• 2027-01-01SB 1203: maximum administrative fine in a BSIS citation (BPC 7587.7) raised from $2,500 to $10,000 per violation. This amendment has no delayed operative date, so it takes effect with the bill on January 1, 2027. Stats. 2026, Ch. 1016 (SB 1203), Sec. 20; BPC 7587.7 [3]
• 2027-01-01SB 1445 (DCA omnibus): BPC 7582.22(c) corrected so the qualified manager certificate is displayed below the private patrol operator's license (not 'below the branch office license') at the principal place of business; BPC 7581.5 (director to furnish free copies of the law every two years) repealed. Stats. 2026, Ch. 237 (SB 1445), Secs. 34-35; BPC 7581.5 (repealed), 7582.22 [6]
• 2027-01-01SB 1148 + SB 1203 (Sec. 15.5, double-jointed; SB 1203 chaptered after SB 1148): a guard who has completed the Power to Arrest/use-of-force course may complete the 32-hour security officer skills training before the registration is issued. The current-law version of 7583.6 is otherwise unchanged and sunsets 2029-01-01. Stats. 2026, Ch. 1011 (SB 1148); Stats. 2026, Ch. 1016 (SB 1203) Sec. 15.5; BPC 7583.6(b)(2) [3]
• 2027-01-01AB 2775 amended BPC 480 (general conviction/discipline denial rule) to add a chiropractor-specific exception; no change for PPO/QM applicants identified. Stats. 2026, Ch. 220 (AB 2775), Sec. 2 [7]
• 2029-01-01LATER (already enacted, operative 2029-01-01, after the 2027 edition date): SB 1203 raises guard skills training from 32 to 42 hours (classroom), annual training from 8 to 12 hours (4 hours de-escalation, compensated), adds a 2-hour workers' rights module, requires PPOs to ensure and pay for training, expands firearm-discharge/altercation reports (race/gender of member of public, training status), changes BPC 7587.8 fines, and adds BPC 7583.48 (annual BSIS stakeholder feedback). Stats. 2026, Ch. 1016 (SB 1203); BPC 7583.2, 7583.5, 7583.6, 7583.7, 7583.48, 7587.8 (as added) [3]
• not adopted as of 2026-11-09 (BSIS Approved Regulations index lists no 2026 package)PROPOSED regulation: repeal of exam-application timing rules in 16 CCR 601/601.1, broader 'advertisement' definition (621), terminology and training updates (628, 643), repeal of 636; written comment period closed March 24, 2026. Proposed 16 CCR 601, 601.1, 621, 625, 628, 636, 643 & Appendix (BSIS notice 1/30/2026) [12]

• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7580-7588.8 (Div. 3, Ch. 11.5, Private Security Services Act) — Private Security Services Act [1]
• Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 480, 481, 482, 490, 493 (Div. 1.5) — Denial, suspension and revocation of licenses (criminal history rules applied by BSIS) [2]
• Stats. 2026, Ch. 1016 (SB 1203) — Security services (Stand for Security: Security Industry Standards and Public Safety Act) - chaptered 2026; parts effective 2027-01-01, most operative 2029-01-01 [3]
• Stats. 2026, Ch. 1011 (SB 1148) — Security guards: training - chaptered 2026 [4]
• Stats. 2025, Ch. 94 (SB 652) — Private security services: security guards: training - effective 2026-01-01 [5]
• Stats. 2026, Ch. 237 (SB 1445), Secs. 34-35 — DCA omnibus - repeals BPC 7581.5 and amends BPC 7582.22(c) (QM certificate display); effective 2027-01-01 [6]
• Stats. 2026, Ch. 220 (AB 2775), Sec. 2 — Amends BPC 480 (adds chiropractic-specific exception; no PPO-specific change); effective 2027-01-01 [7]
• Stats. 2025, Ch. 241 (SB 857), Sec. 1 — Public safety omnibus - amends BPC 7583.7 (Power to Arrest / use of force course); effective 2026-01-01 [30]
• Cal. Code Regs., tit. 16, div. 7, §§ 600.1-645 (BSIS) - incl. § 601 (application for exam), § 601.2 (reexaminations), § 601.3 (abandonment), § 602/602.1 (substantial relationship / rehabilitation), § 605 (scope of examination), § 620 (qualifications and experience), § 622 (branch office certificates) — Bureau of Security and Investigative Services regulations (Bureau compilation current through November 2023) [8]
• Cal. Code Regs., tit. 16, § 640 as amended (OAL Matter 2025-0505-01S, approved 2025-06-17, effective 2025-10-01) — Private Security Services Fees [9]
• PROPOSED amendments to 16 CCR §§ 601, 601.1, 621, 625, 628, 636, 643 & Appendix (notice dated 1/30/2026) — Exam Application Repeal, Terminology and Training-related Updates (PROPOSED; not adopted as of 2026-11-09) [12]

1. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code Div. 3, Ch. 11.5, Private Security Services Act, §§ 7580-7588.8 (official Legislative Counsel bulk data) · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 7.5, 480, 481, 482, 490, 493 (official Legislative Counsel bulk data) · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. SB 1203 (2025-2026), Stats. 2026, Ch. 1016 - Security services, chaptered text · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. SB 1148 (2025-2026), Stats. 2026, Ch. 1011 - Security guards: training, chaptered text · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. SB 652 (2025-2026), Stats. 2025, Ch. 94 - Private security services: security guards: training, chaptered text · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. SB 1445 (2025-2026), Stats. 2026, Ch. 237 - DCA omnibus (amends BPC 7582.22, repeals 7581.5), chaptered text · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. AB 2775 (2025-2026), Stats. 2026, Ch. 220 - Chiropractic Act (amends BPC 480), chaptered text · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. California Code of Regulations, Title 16, Division 7 (BSIS) - Bureau compilation, regulations through November 2023 · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. OAL Notice of Approval and Order of Adoption, 16 CCR 638-642.5 Fees (OAL 2025-0505-01S), effective 10/1/2025 · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. BSIS Proposed Text, Fees, 16 CCR 638-642.5 (11/19/2024) · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. BSIS Approved Regulations 2025 page · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. BSIS Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action - Exam Application Repeal, Terminology and Training-related Updates (1/30/2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. BSIS Proposed Language - Exam Application Repeal, Terminology and Training-related Updates · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. BSIS Private Patrol Operators industry page · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. BSIS Private Patrol Operator or Qualified Manager Factsheet (web, July 2020) · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. BSIS Private Patrol Operator or Qualified Manager Factsheet (PDF) · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. BSIS Information About Licensing - PPO and PPO Qualified Manager, application packet (Rev. 10/2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. BSIS Licensing Fees (September 2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. BSIS PPO Insurance Requirement page · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. BSIS FAQ - Private Patrol Operator (Revised August 2024) · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. BSIS Scheduling - Examination - Reexamination · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. BSIS Exam Study Guides page · retrieved 2026-11-09
23. PSI Candidate Information Bulletin - California BSIS Private Patrol Operator Qualified Manager Examination (Updated November 2023) · retrieved 2026-11-09
24. BSIS PPO Qualified Manager exam study guide / content outline · retrieved 2026-11-09
25. BSIS Notice - PPO Qualified Manager (PPQ) Certificate Update (Revised April 1, 2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
26. BSIS Application for Qualified Manager Reexamination · retrieved 2026-11-09
27. BSIS PPO Qualified Manager Certificate Renewal Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
28. BSIS Private Patrol Operator License Renewal Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
29. BSIS Security Guard Registration Factsheet (Rev. October 2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09
30. SB 857 (2025) Stats. 2025 Ch. 241 - excerpt (BPC 7583.7) · retrieved 2026-11-09
31. BSIS Proposed Regulations page · retrieved 2026-11-09
32. BSIS Approved Regulations index · retrieved 2026-11-09
33. BSIS Notice of New Proposed Rulemaking (Feb. 2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
34. BSIS New Legislation Alert - SB 652 · retrieved 2026-11-09
35. BSIS Notice of Fee Increase (September 2025) · retrieved 2026-11-09

Compiled from the primary government sources above, retrieved on the dates shown. This page is a research summary, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the issuing authority before you file.