WASHINGTON SECURITY GUARD AGENCY LICENSE

The license. Private security company license (statute, ch. 18.170 RCW); DOL and WAC call it the private security guard company license (company/qualifying principal license) [1]

Who needs it. Any person or entity that owns or operates a business providing private security guard services on a contractual basis; operating without the license is a gross misdemeanor. DOL also says a guard working for himself/herself with no employees must hold the company license. [1]

Local licensing. State licensing is exclusive. RCW 18.170.140(1): "No governmental subdivision of this state may enact any laws or rules licensing for regulatory purposes such persons, except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section." Cities/counties may still levy a general business license fee, B&O tax or other tax on security companies if levied on other businesses (18.170.140(2)), and may regulate non-security activities (18.170.140(3)). DOL also requires a valid Department of Revenue business license (UBI). No local regulatory licensing layer exists for the security business. (src: v-rcw-18-170, v-dol-sgc-get-license)

Your guards. Every guard employed must hold an individual DOL private security guard license (RCW 18.170.030: 18+, employed by/offer from licensed company, training, fingerprints); 8 hours preassignment training by a DOL-certified trainer, 8 hours postassignment and 4 hours annual refresher; company may issue a DOL-supplied temporary registration card (max 60 days, no firearms) after preassignment training and application; already-licensed guards are added via association request ($25, form PSG-690-012); owner/qualifying agent commits a gross misdemeanor by employing an unlicensed guard without a temporary card. [1]

Role

Qualifying agent (corporation) / principal owner (sole proprietor) / each partner (partnership); DOL calls this person the company principal or qualifying principal [1]

Experience

Three years' experience as a manager, supervisor, or administrator in the private security business or a related field approved by the director, OR be at least 21 and pass the DOL principal examination [1]

Age & background

Must meet all private security guard license minimums (RCW 18.170.030): at least 18; U.S. citizen or resident noncitizen; no conviction the director finds directly related to guard duties; fingerprints. Statute requires age 21 only on the exam route; DOL's web page says all owners/partners/qualifying agents must be at least 21. [1]

• Must first meet the minimum requirements for an individual private security guard license, plus the insurance requirement and any additional fees [1]
• DOL page: all owners/partners/qualifying agents must be at least 21 (agency statement; statute ties 21 only to exam route) [14]
• Physical business location in Washington and a valid Department of Revenue business license (DOL requirement) [14]
• Valid Department of Revenue business license [14]
• Fingerprint-based background check for owners/partners/qualifying agents. Statute: WSP comparison for all; FBI national check only for armed applicants. DOL company page says 'state and national' but DOL fee table lists unarmed company principal as state check only. [1]
• Qualifying agent of a corporation or partnership must be authorized to operate and represent it as a legal agent (managing officer, agent, employee or partner) [6]
• Corporations furnish certified articles of incorporation and officer/director list; foreign corporations furnish certificate of authority and evidence of current Secretary of State registration; each partner of a partnership applies [6]
• If the qualifying agent stops performing duties regularly: notify director by certified or registered mail and obtain a substitute qualifying agent within 60 days (director may extend) [1]
• Company license may not be assigned or transferred without the director's prior written approval [1]
• Company name may not portray or associate the company with a public law enforcement agency or include the word 'police' [1]
• Military training or experience satisfies training/experience requirements unless the director finds it not substantially equivalent [1]
• Notify the director within 30 days of any change in officers/directors or material change in information furnished [1]
• Notify DOL of change of company office location/mailing address within ten working days [6]
• Keep training, temporary-card ledger and armed-guard shooting records for at least three years [6]

Exam

Private security guard company principal examination (WAC 308-18-310; also 'agency principal examination' in WAC 308-18-320; DOL form calls it 'Company principal' exam; DOL study guide titled 'Security guard exam study guide') [6]

When it applies

Conditional: a written exam is required only for a principal/qualifying agent who does NOT have the 3 years' management/supervisory/administrative experience (exam is an alternative route to experience) [6]

Who sits it

Company principal (sole owner, each partner, or corporate qualifying agent) qualifying by examination; the same 'agency principal examination' is also taken by certified trainers [6]

Administered by

Washington State Department of Licensing (state-administered; no third-party testing vendor identified in any source) [23]

Delivery

Delivery mode (online, in-person, proctored) is not published. Exam/re-exam applications are filed online at professions.dol.wa.gov or by mail on form PSG-690-013; DOL notifies the score about 10 days after the exam. [29]

Questions

Minimum of 50 questions (exact number administered not published) [6]

Passing score

85 percent [6]

Retakes

WAC: wait a minimum of seven days before reexamination; DOL FAQ: at least 7 working days; no limit on attempts; $25 per re-exam (form PSG-690-013) [6]

Candidate handbook ↗

Insurance

Comprehensive general liability coverage of at least $25,000 for bodily or personal injury and $25,000 for property damage; certificate of insurance filed and maintained with the director (DOL) [1]

Surety bond

None. No surety bond requirement appears in chapter 18.170 RCW or chapter 308-18 WAC; the company-license financial requirement in RCW 18.170.060(1) is insurance only. [1]

Branch offices

Principal lists all branch offices (same name as main office) on the company application; DOL issues a duplicate license for each branch, displayed prominently there; report branch additions/deletions by mail within 30 days. No separate branch fee in WAC 308-18-150. [6]

• WAC 308-18-150 (WSR 22-22-022, eff. 11/22/22): company/principal application, includes first examination plus background check fee: $263.00 [6]
• DOL fee page: private security guard company license $364 [16]
• Form PSG-690-001 (R/2/26): Company with principal $364 [27]
• Change of principal (includes first examination plus background check fee): $80 (WAC $80.00; DOL form and fee page $80) [27]
• Principal re-examination: $25 (WAC 'Reexamination 25.00'; form PSG-690-013 'Company principal – $25') [29]
• WAC company license renewal $237.00; DOL renewal form/fee page: $332 'includes Principal's renewal' [28]
• Company late renewal: WAC penalty $110.00; DOL form 'additional $110'; DOL fee page late renewal total $442 [28]
• Principal armed endorsement: $10.00 (WAC) [6]
• License print fee: $5 per DOL-printed copy; $0 self-print online [27]
• Fingerprinting via IdentoGO (paid to vendor): unarmed security guard company principal $18 fingerprint + $21 background = $39 (state check only); armed principal $18 + $36 = $54 (state and national) [25]
• Related employee fees (DOL fee page): unarmed guard license $101; armed endorsement $10; association (adding an already-licensed guard to company) $25; guard renewal $95 (late $110) [16]

1. Meet requirements (qualifier experience or exam route, age, citizenship/resident noncitizen, physical WA business, DOR business license) and obtain a certificate of liability insurance ($25,000 bodily injury / $25,000 property damage) [14]
2. Submit the application online (SecureAccess Washington / professions.dol.wa.gov) or by mail on form PSG-690-001 with certificate of insurance and fee to Private Security Guard Program, PO Box 35001, Seattle WA 98124-3401; check the qualifying route (3 years' experience or examination) [14]
3. After receiving an application number, submit fingerprints (IdentoGO inside Washington; ink card via local law enforcement outside WA, security guard ORI WA920220Z) [25]
4. Exam-route applicants apply for the examination and the license together, then pass the principal exam (85%) [6]
5. DOL investigates the application and has WSP compare fingerprints; issuance may take up to 60 days, longer for company principal licenses [18]
6. Within 72 hours of receiving the license certificate, post it conspicuously in the principal Washington office; every advertisement must show licensee name, address of record and license number [1]

Renewal

Annual. Company license expires one year from issuance (or earlier, on the date the corporation's Secretary of State registration/certificate of authority expires); renew on or before the renewal date or pay the late penalty; cancelled if not renewed within one year after expiration (then must requalify as new, including any exam). DOL: renew up to 120 days early; company renewal also renews the principal/qualifying agent license. [6]

Disqualifiers & waivers

Director may withhold a license for a conviction directly related to guard duties (notwithstanding ch. 9.96A RCW); unprofessional-conduct grounds in RCW 18.170.170 and 18.235.130; DOL may not disqualify for sealed/dismissed/expunged/pardoned convictions or juvenile adjudications, and a certificate of restoration of opportunity (RCW 9.97.020) bars disqualification for a related conviction (RCW 18.400.030); free optional preliminary conviction screening, written determination within two months (statute) / 60 days (DOL page) (RCW 18.400.020). [1]

• 2026-06-11HB 2632 (Ch. 36, Laws of 2026) sec. 23 amended RCW 18.170.030(2) (guard license minimums, which also apply to company principals via RCW 18.170.060) to replace 'resident alien' with 'resident noncitizen'. Terminology only. Note: DOL form PSG-690-001 (R/2/26) still shows a 'Resident alien' checkbox. 2026 c 36 s 23 (HB 2632) [4]
• 2026-02-06WSR 26-02-056 amended WAC 308-18-100 (company applications) and WAC 308-18-190 (brief adjudicative proceedings) for inclusive language and numerals only; no substantive change. WSR 26-02-056 [7]
• not yet adopted; intended adoption 2026-12-09PENDING, NOT ADOPTED as of 2026-11-09: DOL proposed amendment to WAC 308-18-150 splitting the $263 company/principal fee into a $25 application fee + $238 license fee and the $101 guard fee into $15 + $86 (totals unchanged), adding certified trainer application/license fees ($10/$15). First hearing Oct 28, 2026 (WSR 26-19-137); continued by WSR 26-22-106 with a second hearing Dec 8, 2026 and intended adoption Dec 9, 2026. Not expected to be in effect on 2027-01-01 (effective date not yet set). Proposed WAC 308-18-150 (RDS-7426.1); CR-101 WSR 26-14-106; CR-102 WSR 26-19-137; continuance WSR 26-22-106 [10]

• Chapter 18.170 RCW (key sections: 18.170.010 definitions,.030 guard minimums,.060 company license/qualifying agent,.070 certificates/advertising,.080 insurance,.090 temporary registration cards,.110 notices,.130 investigation,.140 state preemption,.160 penalties,.170 unprofessional conduct) — Security Guards [1]
• Chapter 18.235 RCW — Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions (applies via RCW 18.170.290) [2]
• Chapter 18.400 RCW — Professional Licensure - Previous Criminal Convictions [3]
• Chapter 308-18 WAC (key sections: 308-18-100 company applications, -105 branch offices, -150 fees, -160 expiration/renewal, -200 to -240 office and records, -310 principal examination, -320 certified trainers) — Private Security Guard Companies and Private Security Guards [6]

1. Chapter 18.170 RCW - Security Guards (full chapter) · retrieved 2026-11-09
2. Chapter 18.235 RCW - Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions · retrieved 2026-11-09
3. Chapter 18.400 RCW - Professional Licensure - Previous Criminal Convictions · retrieved 2026-11-09
4. Chapter 36, Laws of 2026 (HB 2632) session law · retrieved 2026-11-09
5. Chapter 370, Laws of 2025 (E2SHB 1163) - Firearms purchase and transfer permit (session law) · retrieved 2026-11-09
6. Chapter 308-18 WAC - Private Security Guard Companies and Private Security Guards (last update 1/6/26) · retrieved 2026-11-09
7. WSR 26-02-056 Permanent Rules, DOL (filed 1/6/26, eff. 2/6/26) · retrieved 2026-11-09
8. CR-101 Preproposal Statement of Inquiry WSR 26-14-106 (professional license fees) · retrieved 2026-11-09
9. CR-102 Proposed Rule Making WSR 26-19-137 (professional license fees) · retrieved 2026-11-09
10. CR-102 continuance of WSR 26-19-137 (WSR 26-22-106) · retrieved 2026-11-09
11. WAC 308-18-150 proposed rule text (RDS-7426.1) · retrieved 2026-11-09
12. WA DOL - Current rulemaking activity (professional licensing fees excerpt) · retrieved 2026-11-09
13. WA DOL - Security guard company (landing page) · retrieved 2026-11-09
14. WA DOL - Get your license: Private security guard company · retrieved 2026-11-09
15. WA DOL - Associate a new security guard to your company · retrieved 2026-11-09
16. WA DOL - Fees: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
17. WA DOL - Resources and publications: Security guards (security guard exam study guide) · retrieved 2026-11-09
18. WA DOL - Frequently asked questions: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
19. WA DOL - Renew your license: Security guards, security guard company, or trainer · retrieved 2026-11-09
20. WA DOL - News and updates: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
21. WA DOL - Forms: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
22. WA DOL - Laws and rules: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
23. WA DOL - Get your license: Security guard certified trainer · retrieved 2026-11-09
24. WA DOL - Get your license: Security guards (unarmed) · retrieved 2026-11-09
25. WA DOL - Fingerprinting and background checks · retrieved 2026-11-09
26. WA DOL - Criminal conviction screening · retrieved 2026-11-09
27. DOL form PSG-690-001 (R/2/26) Private Security Guard Company/Qualifying Principal License Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
28. DOL form PSG-690-002 (R/12/24) Private Security Guard Company License Renewal Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
29. DOL form PSG-690-013 (R/2/25) Private Security Guard Exam/Reexam Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
30. DOL form PSG-690-008 (R/2/26) Private Security Guard Initial License Application · retrieved 2026-11-09
31. DOL form PSG-690-012 Private Security Guard Company Association Request · retrieved 2026-11-09
32. WA DOL - Resources and publications: Security guards · retrieved 2026-11-09
33. WA DOL - Current rulemaking activity · 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.