VIRGINIA SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Private Security Services Business License issued by DCJS (license number format 11-####). A guard company licenses in the category 'security officers/couriers (armed and unarmed)'; the initial fee includes one category. [4]

Who needs it. Any person engaged in the business of providing, or undertaking to provide, security officers, armored car personnel, couriers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, canine handlers/teams, alarm respondents, locksmiths, central station dispatchers or electronic security personnel to another person under contract, express or implied. Proprietary (in-house) security employed by a business that is not a private security services business is excepted (§ 9.1-140(8)). In-house employees who carry a firearm and deal directly with the public must still be registered. [1]

Local licensing. Contract security businesses are licensed at the state level by DCJS. The regulation requires licensees to 'Not violate any state or local ordinance' (6VAC20-172-80(25)).

Your guards. Security officers employed by a licensed business must hold individual DCJS registrations under 6VAC20-174 (unarmed security officer: 18-hour 01E entry-level course; armed security officer/courier: 50 hours, or 53 with shotgun, plus a firearms endorsement). Once fingerprints are submitted, unarmed officers may work up to 90 consecutive days while completing training, never more than 120 days without registration. Armed personnel need registration and a firearms endorsement before working. The compliance agent keeps the training and registration documentation. [1]

Role

Compliance Agent: an individual certified by DCJS (ID prefix 99-). At least one compliance agent must be designated before a license issues, and the licensee must employ one at all times. [1]

Experience

None. Chapter 214 of the 2018 Acts of Assembly removed the compliance agent experience requirement (regulation amended effective 11/28/2018). 6VAC20-172-90 now lists only age 18+ and U.S. citizenship or legal residency, plus an application, fingerprints, the fee and completion of entry-level training. [17]

Age & background

Minimum age 18; U.S. citizen or legal resident alien; fingerprint-based Virginia and national criminal records search. Any felony, or a misdemeanor in the categories listed in § 9.1-139 K, is a bar unless the DCJS Director waives it. [2]

• Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien [2]
• Must complete DCJS entry-level regulatory compliance training (course 12E) within 12 months of approval of the initial compliance agent application [2]
• Must score at least 80% on the entry-level regulatory compliance training examination [2]
• Fingerprints are scanned by appointment through Fieldprint Virginia. A separate criminal history processing fee appears on the invoice. [5]
• A compliance agent does not need an individual registration unless also performing regulated services [5]
• Certification is issued for up to 24 months [2]
• Designation is filed on the DCJS Compliance Agent Designation/Removal Form (07/2021), signed by a principal/owner and the compliance agent. Processing takes about 5 to 7 business days. [12]
• A compliance agent may work for more than one employer, subject to employer conflict-of-interest policies [5]
• If the sole compliance agent leaves, the business must notify DCJS within 10 calendar days and designate a replacement within 90 days [2]
• The licensee itself must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien [2]

Exam

Entry-level regulatory compliance training examination (end of DCJS course 12E, Compliance Agent Entry Level) [2]

Who sits it

The individual applying for initial Compliance Agent certification. The business entity and its principals do not take it as such. It is the end-of-course exam of DCJS's entry-level regulatory compliance training (12E). [2]

Administered by

DCJS itself (no third-party testing vendor). The online course runs on DCJS's Benchmark Analytics learning management system. [8]

Delivery

Taken within the 12E course, which is offered as a DCJS classroom session (Option 1) or a DCJS online course (Option 2). The online course runs two hours. [5]

Passing score

80% [2]

Insurance

Comprehensive general liability insurance, minimum $1 million general aggregate, from an insurer authorized in Virginia, with DCJS as certificate holder. It must be kept in force at all times (each day uninsured is a separate violation). PPS/PI independent contractors need the same $1 million CGL. Statutory basis: § 9.1-144. [2]

Branch offices

No separate branch license was found. The licensee must keep on file with DCJS the physical address of every Virginia location where regulated services are offered, and report changes within 10 days. [2]

• Initial business license - 1-year license: $550 (6VAC20-172-20, eff. Sept. 9, 2015) [2]
• Initial business license - 2-year license: $800 [2]
• Business license renewal - 2-year license: $500 [2]
• Business license category: $50 for each additional category beyond the one included in the initial fee [2]
• Initial compliance agent certification: $50 [2]
• Compliance agent certification renewal: $25 [2]
• Regulatory compliance - entry-level training (12E): $75 [2]
• Regulatory compliance - in-service training (12I): $50 [2]
• Fingerprint processing: $50 per regulation (6VAC20-172-20). CONFLICT: DCJS says it will 'restore' the fingerprint fee to $35 starting Jan. 1, 2027 and to $50 starting Jan. 1, 2028. The regulation is the legal schedule; the amount DCJS will actually charge on Jan. 1, 2027 is $35. [2]
• Fingerprint fee $35 starting January 1, 2027 (DCJS Fee Restoration Notice, Sept. 22, 2026) [11]
• Reinstatement fee (renewal received after expiration, within 60 days): 50% above the renewal fee [2]
• Manual processing service fee for non-electronic applications: $5.00 [2]
• All fees are nonrefundable [10]

1. Create or log in to a DCJS Lotus account, submit the Initial Business License Application online and pay the nonrefundable fees [4]
2. Submit fingerprints (Virginia and national criminal history search) for each principal and supervisor, and for each electronic security employee of an electronic security business [2]
3. Provide a certificate of insurance ($1M CGL general aggregate, DCJS as certificate holder) [4]
4. Nonresident applicants file an Irrevocable Consent for Service [4]
5. Provide the Virginia State Corporation Commission ID number (except sole proprietors and partnerships) [2]
6. Give a physical Virginia address where records are kept (no P.O. box) [2]
7. Designate at least one compliance agent who is certified or eligible. The compliance agent applies separately, is fingerprinted through Fieldprint and completes 12E training. [2]
8. Select license categories (initial fee includes one category; guard companies use 'security officers/couriers (armed and unarmed)') [2]
9. DCJS may issue a temporary licensure letter for up to 120 days while fingerprint results are pending. Under statute, a temporary license requires a designated compliance agent who has completed compliance agent training. [2]
10. No soliciting or providing services until licensed; issuance can take up to 30 days [4]
11. Initial license term: not to exceed 24 months [2]

Renewal

Business license renewals run up to 24 months. The renewal application (renewal fee, insurance certificate, fingerprints for new principals, a designated compliance agent with all training complete) should arrive at least 30 days before expiration. A license not renewed by expiration is null and void. It can be reinstated within 60 days after expiration with the 50% reinstatement fee; after 60 days the business must meet all initial requirements. The compliance agent renews every 24 months ($25) after completing 12I in-service training in the 12 months before expiration. [2]

Disqualifiers & waivers

Any felony, or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, assault and battery, property damage, controlled substances, prohibited sexual behavior or firearms, bars a business license or compliance agent certification unless the DCJS Director grants a written waiver (decided within 30 days). Under the regulation, a nolo contendere plea counts as a conviction. DCJS may also deny for lack of good standing elsewhere, prior discipline, false statements or other just cause (6VAC20-172-150). [1]

• 2027-01-01DCJS begins restoring fees to the Virginia Administrative Code amounts: fingerprint fee $35 and training roster submissions $15. This is an administrative change; no regulation was amended. Business license and compliance agent fee amounts are not mentioned ('majority of our fee schedules will remain the same'). DCJS Fee Restoration Notice (Sept. 22, 2026); 6VAC20-172-20 [11]
• 2028-01-01LATER (after the 2027-01-01 edition date, already announced): fingerprint fee to $50 and training roster submissions to $30 DCJS Fee Restoration Notice (Sept. 22, 2026) [11]
• n/aNo 2025 or 2026 Act amended Va. Code §§ 9.1-138 to 9.1-150. Section history lines end at 2018 (§ 9.1-139, § 9.1-144) and 2024 (§ 9.1-141, c. 367). The LIS 2026 Updates list for Title 9.1 has no Article 4 section, including none with a delayed 2027 effective date. Va. Code §§ 9.1-138 to 9.1-150; LIS 2026 Updates, Title 9.1 [18]
• not effective (pending)PENDING, NOT adopted: Town Hall Action 5651 'Amendments to Schedule of Fees' (6VAC20-172/-174) has been at the Proposed stage in Governor's office review since 2021 and has not been published in the Register. Not in effect for 2027. Town Hall Action 5651 / Stage 9326 [16]
• not effective (pending)PENDING, NOT adopted: 6VAC20-174 NOIRA 'Amendments to Entry-Level and In-Service Training to Include Human Trafficking' (implementing the 2024 amendment to § 9.1-141, c. 367) is in Governor's office review. 6VAC20-174 itself has not been amended since Dec. 1, 2017. Town Hall 6VAC20-174 chapter page; Va. Code § 9.1-141 A [14]

• Va. Code §§ 9.1-138 through 9.1-150 (Title 9.1, Ch. 1, Art. 4) — Private Security Services Businesses [1]
• 6VAC20-172 — Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Businesses (business license and compliance agent) [2]
• 6VAC20-174 — Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Registered Personnel (individual registrations, training hours, firearms endorsement) [3]
• 6VAC20-173 — Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Training Schools [6]

1. Code of Virginia §§ 9.1-138 to 9.1-150 (Title 9.1, Ch. 1, Art. 4) Private Security Services Businesses · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. 6VAC20-172 Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Businesses · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. 6VAC20-174 Regulations Relating to Private Security Services Registered Personnel · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. DCJS Private Security Services - Business (license steps and FAQs) · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. DCJS Private Security Services - Compliance Agent (certification steps and FAQs) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. DCJS Private Security Services overview · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. DCJS Private Security Services - Individual registration categories · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. DCJS 12E Compliance Agent (Entry Level Online) course page · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. DCJS 12I Compliance Agent (In-Service Online) course page · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. DCJS Lotus Resources (online credentialing FAQs) · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. DCJS LRS Fee Restoration Notice (Sept. 22, 2026) · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. DCJS Compliance Agent Designation/Removal Form (PSS-CD, 07/2021) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. Virginia Regulatory Town Hall - 6VAC20-172 chapter actions · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. Virginia Regulatory Town Hall - 6VAC20-174 chapter actions · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. Town Hall Action 5651 - Amendments to Schedule of Fees · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. Town Hall Action 5651 Stage 9326 (Proposed) status · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. Town Hall Action 5144 - Experience and insurance requirements (Ch. 214, 2018 Acts), eff. 11/28/2018 · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. Code of Virginia 2026 Updates - Title 9.1 · 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.