TL;DR
The Arizona guard card background check uses your fingerprints to review state and federal criminal history. Only certain offenses block approval, and Arizona DPS makes the final call.
Felony convictions and certain recent misdemeanors can preclude approval.
Answer every application question truthfully, even about older offenses.
Respond quickly if DPS requests court records for an open arrest.
Denied applicants may pursue a good cause exception, depending on the offense.
If you are applying for an Arizona guard card, completing the required training is only one part of the process. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) also conducts a fingerprint-based background review before determining whether you qualify for a security guard registration.
For applicants with no criminal history, this step may be relatively straightforward. If you have an arrest, misdemeanor, felony, old conviction, or other criminal-history record, the process can raise more questions.
Having a criminal record does not mean every applicant is automatically denied. What appears in the record, when an offense occurred, how the case was resolved, and whether the offense falls within Arizona's statutory restrictions all matter.
Most importantly, GuardCard.com does not decide whether an applicant passes the background review. Arizona DPS makes the final eligibility determination.
What Does DPS Check for an Arizona Guard Card?
Arizona DPS requires fingerprints as part of the security guard application process. Those fingerprints are used for state and federal criminal-history checks.
DPS reviews the results in connection with the qualifications established by Arizona law. The review can identify criminal-history information that may affect whether an applicant qualifies for a security guard registration.
The background review is separate from the required eight-hour unarmed security guard training. Successfully completing your course satisfies the training requirement, but it does not guarantee that DPS will approve your application.
Why Are Fingerprints Required?
Fingerprints allow DPS to conduct a fingerprint-based criminal-history check rather than relying only on the information an applicant provides on an application.
The fingerprints are used to check criminal-history records maintained at the state and federal levels.
This is why applicants should provide complete and accurate information when completing the DPS application. DPS has access to fingerprint-based criminal-history information, so leaving out information requested on the application can create additional problems.
Does Having a Criminal Record Automatically Disqualify You?
Not necessarily. A criminal record and a precluding criminal history are not the same thing.
Arizona law establishes specific qualifications for security guard applicants. Under A.R.S. § 32-2622, an applicant cannot have been convicted of a felony or currently be under indictment for a felony.
The law also identifies certain misdemeanor convictions that can prevent someone from qualifying when the conviction occurred within the five years immediately preceding the application.
Those misdemeanor categories include acts involving:
Personal violence or force against another person
Threats of personal violence or force
Misconduct involving a deadly weapon
Dishonesty or fraud
Arson
Theft
Domestic violence
Certain drug offenses
Sexual misconduct
Other legal circumstances can also affect eligibility, including certain probation or release conditions, outstanding arrest warrants, registered sex-offender status, and other conditions specified by Arizona law.
DPS reviews the actual record against the applicable legal requirements.
What Is a Precluding Offense?
A precluding offense is an offense or criminal-history condition that prevents an applicant from satisfying the applicable licensing requirements under Arizona law.
The exact offense matters. So does its classification, date, disposition, and other circumstances.
For example, Arizona law specifically addresses felony convictions and indictments differently from certain misdemeanor convictions. The statute applies a five-year period to specified categories of misdemeanor convictions, while its restriction concerning felony convictions is not written with that same five-year limitation.
Applicants should therefore avoid assuming that all criminal records are treated the same way.
What If Your Conviction Happened a Long Time Ago?
The age of a conviction can matter, particularly with the misdemeanor categories for which Arizona law specifies a five-year period.
But an applicant should not assume that an old criminal record can simply be ignored.
If the DPS application asks for information about arrests, charges, convictions, or other legal matters, answer the question according to its wording. Do not omit information simply because you believe the incident happened too long ago to matter.
Applicants with complicated criminal histories may want to obtain their court records before applying. If you are unsure how Arizona law applies to a particular conviction or disposition, contact the Arizona DPS Licensing Unit or consult a qualified Arizona attorney.
GuardCard.com can provide guard card training and application guidance, but it cannot provide a binding determination about whether a particular criminal record qualifies.
What Happens if DPS Finds an Open Arrest?
An open arrest does not necessarily produce an immediate final decision.
Arizona law specifically addresses situations in which the DPS director determines that an applicant's criminal history contains open arrest information. In that situation, the applicant must be given notice and 45 days to provide documentation concerning the disposition of the arrest or arrests.
This is one reason applicants should monitor their DPS Public Services Portal account and associated email address after submitting an application.
If DPS asks for court records, disposition information, or another document, responding promptly can help prevent avoidable delays.
What if Your Application Doesn't Match Your Background Check?
Accuracy is particularly important when completing the Arizona guard card application. Arizona law allows DPS to deny issuance of a security guard identification card if an applicant knowingly makes a false statement in the application.
That makes disclosure different from eligibility. An applicant might believe an old offense should not prevent approval, but that does not mean the applicant should omit it when the application requires disclosure.
Read every question carefully and answer it truthfully. If DPS asks for additional records or clarification, provide the requested information within the specified timeframe.
Applicants also have rights concerning the accuracy of criminal-history information. DPS provides procedures for reviewing and challenging Arizona criminal-history records, and federal procedures exist for challenging inaccurate or incomplete FBI criminal-history information.
Can Someone Ever Qualify After a DPS Denial?
A denial does not necessarily mean every applicant is permanently barred from receiving an Arizona security guard registration. Arizona DPS states that, depending on the offense involved, an applicant who receives a denial may be eligible to pursue a good cause exception through the Arizona Private Investigator and Security Guard Hearing Board.
Whether that process is available depends on the circumstances and the offense involved. Applicants who receive a denial should follow the instructions provided by DPS and contact the Licensing Unit if they have questions about their options.
Who Makes the Final Decision?
Arizona DPS does. A training provider can explain the process, provide required training, help applicants understand application steps, and point them toward current state requirements. It cannot approve a guard card or guarantee that an applicant will pass the background review.
DPS reviews the application, fingerprints, criminal-history results, and other required information before determining whether the applicant satisfies Arizona's requirements.
Prepare Before You Apply
If you know you have a criminal history, doing some homework before beginning the application can save time and confusion. Review the current Arizona security guard requirements. Gather court records or disposition documents that may be relevant. Make sure the information you provide is complete and accurate, and monitor your DPS account after submitting the application.
Once you are ready to move forward, GuardCard.com provides the required eight-hour Arizona unarmed security guard training completely online. Applicants can choose the standard training course or the Arizona Unarmed Guard Card All-in-One Bundle, which combines the required training with fingerprinting, passport photos, DPS application processing and submission, applicable DPS application fees, and step-by-step guidance through the process.
Completing the training gets one important requirement out of the way. Arizona DPS then makes the final decision about whether you qualify for your Arizona unarmed guard card.