INDIANA SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Security Guard Agency License [1]

Who needs it. Any person (individual, firm, company, association, organization, partnership or corporation) that engages in business, solicits or advertises for business, or holds itself out as a security guard agency, meaning a person in the business of providing, for hire or reward, a guard or other individual to protect persons or property or to prevent misappropriation or concealment of goods, money, documents, etc. (IC 25-30-1.3-5, -7). Exempt (IC 25-30-1.3-6): law enforcement officers performing official duties; railroad police licensed under IC 8-3-17; an industrial plant owner hiring plant guards for its own plant; a retail merchant hiring guards for its own store. Out-of-state licensees must also hold an Indiana license (IC 25-30-1.3-15). Unlicensed operation is a Class A misdemeanor, plus a fine equal to the compensation earned (IC 25-30-1.3-23). [1]

Local licensing. Indiana licenses the security guard agency business at the state level only (PISG Board/PLA). There is no state registration or guard card for individual officers. IC 25-30-1.3-13 lets a licensee employ 'as many unlicensed persons as necessary' and makes the agency keep a photo and fingerprints for each one. IC 36-1-3-8(a)(7) withholds from local units 'The power to regulate conduct that is regulated by a state agency, except as expressly granted by statute', which weighs against a parallel local agency license. Local special-police or armed-officer layers are therefore unverified. The license does not authorize carrying weapons (IC 25-30-1.3-20) or arrests (PLA FAQ).

Your guards. Indiana does not register or license individual security guards. The agency may employ as many unlicensed persons as necessary and is civilly responsible for their conduct. For each employee it must keep a photo taken within 30 days of hire and a full set of fingerprints of both hands, and it must give the board a roster on request (IC 25-30-1.3-13). [1]

Role

Qualifier: the individual sole-proprietor applicant, one individual of a partnership applicant, or one officer of a corporate applicant who meets the experience requirements [6]

Experience

Either (1) at least 2 years of experience verified by at least 4,000 hours of employment in listed areas or a combination of them: employed PI for a licensed PI firm (Indiana or a substantially equivalent state); full-time manager or administrator of a licensed security guard agency, a licensed PI firm, or a proprietary security force of at least 20 employees (or fewer with equivalent experience, as the board determines); U.S. DOJ or Treasury investigator; armed forces criminal investigator; sheriff's investigator; railroad detective; insurance claims investigator; practicing attorney or attorney's investigator; paid federal/state/local law enforcement officer (not unpaid reserve or volunteer); railroad policeman under IC 8-3-17; armed forces military or security police officer. Or (2) a bachelor's degree or higher in criminal justice or a related field (as the board determines) from an institution accredited by a listed regional association or the Commission on Accreditation of Criminal Justice Programs (874 IAC 1-3-1). [6]

Age & background

At least 21 years old and must demonstrate, as the board determines, the knowledge and skills needed to run a security guard agency competently (IC 25-30-1.3-9(a)). Background: criminal history from each city, county and state of residence for the prior 7 years, plus an Indiana State Police fingerprint-based check (874 IAC 1-3-2). [1]

• Business-entity applicant: one officer (corporation) or one partner (partnership) must meet the personal qualifications. [1]
• Qualifier must submit criminal history from each city, county and state of residence for the preceding 7 years, plus an ISP fingerprint-based check. The applicant pays any fees for releasing this information. [6]
• PLA practice: only W-2 experience is accepted, not 1099. The rule text says only 'employment'. The board denied two applications (one new agency, one new qualifier) 'based on 1099 experience' on Feb. 12, 2026, but in Dec. 2025 it approved one applicant whose experience was neither 1099 nor W-2 (K-1, mainly law enforcement). [18]
• Experience is verified on the board's Verification of Experience Form, completed by each employer (someone other than the applicant). [8]
• Nonresident applicants licensed elsewhere must supply good-standing license certification letters from each state. A corporation must also show foreign registration with the Indiana Secretary of State. [6]
• If a change in ownership leaves the agency without a qualifying individual, the license terminates and a new application is required. [1]
• Applicants may be called for a personal appearance before the board. The Aug. 13, 2026 agenda lists new-agency applicants under 'Personal Appearance'. [20]
• Replacing the qualifier on an existing license (new qualifier transfer) requires a registration code from PLA. If the license has expired, the new qualifier must apply and be approved first. [8]

Insurance

Certificate of insurance or other evidence of financial responsibility, approved by the board, from an insurer or other entity authorized in Indiana. Requirements: general liability of at least $100,000; cancellation or nonrenewal not effective until the board gets at least 10 days' prior written notice; must cover bodily injury and property damage caused in conducting the business; must include false arrest/detention/imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and wrongful entry/eviction/invasion of private occupancy; may not exclude injury from reasonable force used to protect persons or property. If coverage lapses, the license is suspended until reinstated with proof of insurance (IC 25-30-1.3-16). CONFLICT: the PLA page says the certificate must list the 'State of Indiana' as additional insured, but the 2026 statute does not require this. The clause was in the pre-2014 statute and was removed by P.L.112-2014. [1]

• Security guard agency application/issuance fee: $300 [6]
• Security guard agency application/issuance fee (reduced): $150 [6]
• Quadrennial renewal fee: $300 [6]
• PLA fee schedule (Security Guard Agency) [8]
• Reinstatement after more than 3 years expired: $600 [2]
• Pre-licensure conviction-of-concern determination petition: $25 [6]
• Late fee on paper renewal postmarked after expiration (2023 renewal form only): $50 [12]
• All fees nontransferable and nonrefundable [1]

1. Log in to or create an Access Indiana account, create a MyLicense One account, and select Initial Application (online). [8]
2. Pay the application fee: $300, or $150 if filed less than one year before the quadrennial renewal date. [8]
3. Upload criminal background checks from each city, county and state of residence for the prior 7 years (a DD-214 may cover active-duty periods) plus the ISP fingerprint-based check. The ISP report is sent to the applicant, who must upload the original. [8]
4. Submit Verification of Experience Form(s) for W-2 experience (Section I by the applicant, Section II by each employer), or an official transcript for the degree route. Add DD-214, corporate filings, and other-state license verifications if they apply. [8]
5. Answer the application's four background questions. Any 'Yes' answer needs a full affidavit with the relevant legal documents. [8]
6. Choose a business name and advertising that do not imply any connection with law enforcement (874 IAC 1-1-2(b)). The board may require a name change. [8]
7. Board review, with a possible personal appearance. The board can approve before insurance is in place, but the license issues only after proof of $100,000 liability insurance is received. [8]
8. Finish all requirements within one year of filing, or the application is treated as abandoned. [8]
9. Nonresident agencies: provide good-standing license certification letter(s) from each state where licensed. Corporations also need Indiana Secretary of State foreign-registration verification. [6]

Renewal

All board licenses expire October 1, 2011 and every four years after (2023, 2027,...). The next common expiration is October 1, 2027. Renewal fee is $300. Renewal notices go out about 90 days before expiration. The qualifier must get a limited criminal history background check from each state of residence for the prior 4 years (state-level, no third-party checks), keep copies at least 4 years, and the board may require it at renewal, in a random audit within one year of the renewal deadline, or during an investigation (874 IAC 1-1-4). A license first issued less than 90 days before the common expiration runs to the end of the next period (IC 25-1-2-6(e)). Expired 3 years or less: reinstate under IC 25-1-8-6(c) (renewal fee plus a PLA-set reinstatement fee; the PLA fee table lists 'Renewal - Expired $300.00'). Expired more than 3 years: reinstate under IC 25-1-8-6(d) for $600. The PLA may not renew while the person is on the tax-warrant list or owes the ATC or BMV (IC 25-1-5-12, eff. July 1, 2026). A denied renewal can be appealed under IC 4-21.5-3 (IC 25-1-5-4.7). [6]

Disqualifiers & waivers

IC 25-30-1.3-9(c): the board may deny unless the applicant (or qualifying officer or partner) shows they have not done any of the following: committed an act that would be grounds for suspension or revocation; been convicted of a felony or of a misdemeanor directly bearing on the ability to practice competently; been refused a license or had one revoked; done licensable acts while unlicensed. They also must not be on probation or parole or wanted on an active warrant. IC 25-1-1.1-6 (applies to licenses in effect on or created after July 1, 2018) narrows conviction-based denial in four ways: (1) only explicitly listed crimes directly related to the occupation count (874 IAC 3-1 'convictions of concern', filed 11/14/2023, includes substantially similar out-of-state crimes); (2) disqualification may not exceed 5 years after conviction, except for crimes of violence, criminal sexual acts, or a new conviction in the period; (3) the board must weigh nature and seriousness, time passed, relation to duties, and rehabilitation; (4) the board must give written findings by clear and convincing evidence. An individual may petition at any time for a pre-determination ($25 fee, FBI background check at own expense, decision within 60 days). Under 874 IAC 1-3-4 the board may, at its discretion, consider an applicant who operated as an unlicensed security guard agency within the prior 2 years. [1]

• Filed 4/3/2025 (Indiana Register 20250430-IR-874240610FRA). Exact effective date not shown in any retrieved source, but in force before 2027-01-01 per the current code listing.New 874 IAC 2-1-2 'Fines and civil penalties' (LSA #24-610, implementing HEA 1623 and IC 4-22-2-19.6). Board fines and civil penalties are set at 50% of the statutory maximum, or $1,000 if there is no maximum, adjusted for listed mitigating and aggravating factors, with a $100 floor. 874 IAC 2-1-2; LSA #24-610 [6]
• 2026-07-01HEA 1230 (2026), P.L.29-2026, SECTION 49: IC 25-30-1.3-17 cross-reference changed from IC 25-1-6-4 to IC 25-1-5-4 because the act repeals IC 25-1-6 (SECTION 25) and folds PLA functions into IC 25-1-5. No change to the 4-year term or the 3-year reinstatement split. HEA 1230-2026 SECTION 49; IC 25-30-1.3-17 as amended by P.L.29-2026, SEC.49 [4]
• 2026-07-01HEA 1230 (2026) SECTION 27 amends IC 25-1-11-12, the sanctions statute applied to agency licensees through IC 25-30-1.3-19 and IC 25-0.5-12-12. Civil penalty per violation is capped at $1,000 for an individual practitioner and $5,000 for a business entity. Read with 874 IAC 2-1-2's default of 50% of the statutory maximum. HEA 1230-2026 SECTION 27 (IC 25-1-11-12(a)(6)) [4]
• 2026-07-01New IC 25-1-5-4.7: a person whose renewal is denied by a PLA-administered board (which includes the PISG board) may appeal under IC 4-21.5-3. IC 25-1-5-4.7, added by P.L.29-2026, SEC.21 [2]
• 2026-07-01New IC 25-1-5-12: the PLA may not issue or renew a license while the person is on the Department of State Revenue tax-warrant list, or has an outstanding ATC balance or a BMV dishonored-payment balance, until cleared. IC 25-1-5-12, added by P.L.29-2026, SEC.24 [2]
• 2026 (P.L.85-2026). Exact effective date not shown in the compiled code.IC 25-1-1.1-6 (conviction-of-concern limits) amended by P.L.85-2026, SEC.9. The crime-of-violence exception to the 5-year disqualification cap now cross-references IC 35-31.5-2-79. Appears technical; prior text not compared. IC 25-1-1.1-6(f)(1); P.L.85-2026, SEC.9 [2]
• unknown (pending)PENDING, NOT FINAL as of 2026-11-09: LSA #26-152, a proposed rule adding a late license renewal fee. Timeline: board approved the proposal 12/3/2025; proposed rule published 5/27/2026 (20260527-IR-874260152FNA); comments closed 6/26/2026; public hearing 8/12/2026; 'RULE ADOPTION LSA #26-152' on the 8/13/2026 board agenda. No final filing, fee amount, or effective date found. If finalized, it would likely apply to the October 1, 2027 renewal. LSA Document #26-152 [16]

• IC 25-30-1.3-1 to -24 — Security Guard Agency Licensing (2026 Indiana Code, includes P.L.29-2026 amendment to sec. 17) [1]
• IC 25-30-1-5.2, 25-30-1-5.5 — Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board (shared with PI firms); board rulemaking [1]
• IC 25-0.5-3-19, -4-26, -7-11, -8-23, -9-24, -10-26, -12-12 — Lists that apply IC 25-1 general provisions (renewal, PLA administration, fees, reinstatement, discipline under IC 25-1-11) to the PISG board [2]
• IC 25-1-1.1-6 — Explicit list of disqualifying crimes; conviction-of-concern limits; pre-application petition [2]
• IC 25-1-2-6(e); IC 25-1-5-4; IC 25-1-8-6 — First-license-period rule; PLA sets expiration dates; reinstatement of lapsed licenses [2]
• IC 25-1-5-4.7, IC 25-1-5-12 (added by P.L.29-2026) — Appeal of denied renewal; no issuance/renewal while on tax-warrant list or owing ATC/BMV [2]
• HEA 1230 (2026) / P.L.29-2026, SECTIONS 21, 24, 25, 27, 49 — PLA reorganization; IC 25-1-11-12 civil penalty tiers; IC 25-30-1.3-17 cross-reference (effective July 1, 2026) [4]
• IC 36-1-3-8(a)(7) — Local units lack power to regulate conduct regulated by a state agency, except as expressly granted by statute [3]
• 874 IAC 1-1 — General provisions: definitions (incl. 'qualifier'), advertising, renewal date, renewal background checks [6]
• 874 IAC 1-3 — Security guard agency: experience/education, criminal history, nonresidents, prior unlicensed activity [6]
• 874 IAC 2-1 — Fees; fines and civil penalties [6]
• 874 IAC 3-1 — Convictions of concern; pre-licensure determination fee [6]

1. Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-30-1 and IC 25-30-1.3 · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. Indiana Code 2026, IC 25-0.5 (PISG entries), IC 25-1-1.1, 25-1-2, 25-1-5, 25-1-8 (official IGA Title 25 PDF text) · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. Indiana Code 2026, IC 36-1-3-8 and IC 36-8-3-7 (official IGA Title 36 PDF text) · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. House Enrolled Act 1230 (2026), enrolled text (codified as P.L.29-2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. HEA 1230 (2026) enrolled text, S3 copy of the iga.in.gov PDF (cross-check; includes bold/strike styling notes for SECTIONS 27 and 49) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. 874 IAC Articles 1-3 incl. 874 IAC 3-1-6 · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. in-874iac-lii-20261109 · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. Indiana PLA - Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information (application instructions, insurance, FAQ, renewal, fee schedule) · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. Indiana PLA - PI & SG Licensing Information (earlier same-day capture) · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. Indiana PLA - Private Investigator & Security Guard Home · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. Indiana PLA - PISG Board (members, 2026 meetings) · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. Private Investigator Firm and Security Guard Agency Renewal Form (2023) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. Security Guard Agency Verification of Experience Form (OCR of image PDF) · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. PLA RulesINgov - LSA #24-610 Fines and Civil Penalties docket · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. PLA RulesINgov - LSA #23-52 Convictions of Concern docket · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. PLA RulesINgov - LSA #26-152 Late License Renewal Fee docket · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. PISG Board Minutes, December 3, 2025 · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. PISG Board Minutes, February 12, 2026 · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. PISG Board Minutes, May 13, 2026 · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. PISG Board Amended Agenda, August 13, 2026 · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. PISG Licensing Board Laws and Regulations, 2014 Edition (PLA compilation; historical text, incl. former 'additional insured' clause) · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. IC 25-30-1.3 (LawServer mirror, 'current as of 2024', pre-P.L.29-2026; superseded by official 2026 text, kept for cross-check) · 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.