TL;DR
To qualify for an Arizona unarmed guard card, applicants generally must be at least 18, be legally authorized to work in the United States, complete the required eight-hour training, submit fingerprints, pass the applicable background screening, and satisfy the eligibility requirements established by Arizona law.
Certain felony convictions, recent misdemeanor convictions, outstanding warrants, probation or release status, and other legal conditions can prevent approval. Arizona DPS makes the final decision on every application.
Before paying for training or submitting an application:
Review the current Arizona DPS eligibility requirements.
Consider whether your criminal history includes a precluding offense.
Complete the required eight-hour unarmed guard training.
Follow the current DPS application and fingerprinting instructions.
Respond promptly if DPS requests additional information.
An Arizona unarmed guard card can open the door to security work in office buildings, residential communities, retail centers, warehouses, hospitals, hotels, construction sites, and other settings. Before beginning the process, however, applicants should understand whether they meet the state’s basic eligibility requirements.
Arizona regulates private security guards through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Completing a training course is required, but training alone does not guarantee that DPS will approve an application. The department also reviews fingerprints, criminal history, application information, and other documentation before issuing a security guard registration certificate.
Understanding the requirements before you apply can help you make informed decisions, prepare the correct information, and avoid preventable delays.
What Is an Arizona Unarmed Guard Card?
“Guard card” is the common name for the registration credential required to perform regulated private security work in Arizona. The official credential issued by Arizona DPS is a security guard registration certificate.
An unarmed guard card applies to security assignments that do not require carrying a firearm. A person who will carry a firearm while performing security duties must satisfy separate armed-security registration, employer authorization, and firearms-training requirements.
An Arizona unarmed guard card does not make someone a police officer. Security guards must operate within Arizona law, their training, their employer’s policies, and the written instructions for their assigned posts.
Arizona DPS, not the training provider, reviews applications and issues registration certificates.
Basic Arizona Unarmed Guard Card Requirements
Arizona law establishes several qualifications for security guard registration. Applicants should review the current requirements before enrolling in training or submitting an application.
You Must Be at Least 18
Applicants for an Arizona security guard registration certificate must be at least 18 years old.
An applicant who is younger than 18 cannot qualify by obtaining parental permission, completing training early, or receiving an employer recommendation.
You Must Be Authorized to Work in the United States
Applicants must be United States citizens or legal residents who are authorized to seek employment in the United States.
Arizona DPS may require documentation that verifies identity, legal status, and employment authorization. Review the current application instructions to determine which documents are accepted.
You Must Complete the Required Training
Arizona requires eight hours of pre-assignment training before a person performs unarmed security guard duties. The training must be provided by an instructor registered with Arizona DPS and must cover the curriculum required by the state.
Required subject areas include:
Orientation
Criminal law
Uniform requirements
Communication
Use of force
General security procedures
Crime-scene preservation
Ethics
First response
The training is designed to help prospective guards understand their responsibilities, legal limitations, reporting duties, and appropriate responses to common workplace situations.
GuardCard.com provides the required Arizona unarmed guard training online, allowing eligible students to complete the coursework without traveling to a scheduled classroom.
You Must Submit Fingerprints
Arizona DPS requires fingerprints for security guard applications. The fingerprints are used to conduct state and federal criminal-history checks.
Application and fingerprinting procedures can change. Effective July 8, 2026, Arizona DPS requires fingerprints submitted by card to be accompanied by a completed Fingerprint Affidavit, with the affidavit and fingerprint card sealed together in one envelope. Applicants using the online Public Services Portal should follow the fingerprinting instructions sent through their portal account.
Use only current forms and instructions. Arizona DPS warns that outdated versions may be rejected.
You Must Satisfy the Background Requirements
Submitting fingerprints does not mean an application will automatically be denied if a record is found. DPS compares the applicant’s history with the eligibility standards established by Arizona law.
Some criminal-history conditions are direct barriers to registration. Other circumstances may require a closer review of the offense, conviction date, court disposition, release status, and information provided with the application.
Arizona DPS makes the final eligibility determination.
Can a Criminal Record Prevent You from Getting an Arizona Unarmed Guard Card?
Yes. Arizona law identifies criminal-history and legal-status conditions that can preclude someone from receiving a security guard registration.
UnderA.R.S. § 32-2622, an applicant cannot currently be under indictment for a felony or have a felony conviction.
The statute also identifies several categories of misdemeanor convictions that can prevent approval when the conviction occurred within the five years immediately preceding the application. These categories include misdemeanor 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
The exact facts, classification, disposition, and date of an offense matter. Do not assume that a charge, dismissed case, set-aside conviction, or offense described informally falls into a particular category. Applicants with questions about how the statute applies to their records should contact Arizona DPS or consult a qualified Arizona attorney.
GuardCard.com provides training and application guidance but cannot determine whether DPS will approve a particular criminal history.
Other Conditions That May Affect Eligibility
Criminal convictions are not the only issues addressed by Arizona’s eligibility law. An applicant may also be ineligible if the person is:
On parole
On community supervision
On work furlough
On home arrest
Released under another basis identified by the statute
Named in an outstanding arrest warrant
Serving probation for a conviction involving personal violence or domestic violence
A registered sex offender
Adjudicated mentally incompetent
Found to constitute a danger to self or others under the applicable Arizona law
Previously convicted of acting as a security guard without the required registration
The statute contains specific language and conditions for each category. Applicants should read the current law and avoid relying on generalized advice from social media, forums, or outdated articles.
Should You Disclose Your Complete Criminal History?
Provide complete and accurate information when the Arizona DPS application requests it. Do not conceal an arrest, charge, conviction, probation status, or other required information because you believe it is too old or unimportant.
DPS conducts fingerprint-based state and federal criminal-history checks. An omission can create another problem even if the original incident would not necessarily have resulted in denial.
Before submitting the application:
Read every question carefully.
Answer according to the wording of the question.
Gather any court records or disposition documents DPS requires.
Explain information when the application calls for an explanation.
Keep copies of everything submitted.
Monitor the DPS portal for requests or notices.
If you are uncertain about what must be disclosed, contact the Arizona DPS Licensing Unit or obtain legal guidance before submitting the application.
Does Completing Training Guarantee Approval?
No. Completing the required course verifies that you satisfied the training portion of the process. It does not mean Arizona DPS has approved your application or issued your Arizona unarmed guard card.
The process includes separate components:
Eligibility
Required training
Application submission
Identification and supporting documents
Fingerprinting
State and federal background screening
Payment of applicable fees
DPS review and approval
GuardCard.com conducts the required training and provides the resulting training documentation. Arizona DPS controls the application review, background screening, processing time, and final decision.
No legitimate training provider can guarantee that DPS will approve an application.
How Long Is an Arizona Unarmed Guard Card Valid?
Under current Arizona law, security guard registration certificates are generally issued for four years.
Guards must keep their registration current and complete the applicable renewal requirements before expiration. They must also notify Arizona DPS within 15 calendar days after a change to their name or residential address.
Requirements can change during a four-year registration period. Review current DPS instructions rather than assuming that the process will remain the same when it is time to renew.
Can You Work While Your Application Is Pending?
Generally, completing training or submitting an application does not authorize you to begin working as a security guard. Applicants must wait until Arizona DPS issues the required registration credential.
Arizona law provides a limited exception for certain honorably discharged United States military veterans who were discharged no more than three years before applying. DPS may issue a qualifying applicant a 45-day security guard registration certificate before the required background screenings are complete. That individual may work only for the agency licensee that provided the required pre-assignment training.
This exception does not apply to every applicant or every veteran. DPS determines eligibility and issuance. ReviewA.R.S. § 32-2624 and contact the Licensing Unit with questions about the current requirements.
How to Prepare Before Starting Your Application
A little preparation can reduce confusion later in the process.
Confirm Your Basic Eligibility
Review the age, employment-authorization, criminal-history, and legal-status requirements. If a possible precluding condition applies, seek clarification before spending money on training and application fees.
Gather Your Information
Prepare your identification, address history, legal-status documentation, court records, and other information that may be requested.
Use Current Arizona DPS Forms
DPS updates forms and instructions in response to legislative and regulatory changes. The department states that only current versions will be accepted. Download forms directly from theArizona DPS licensing forms page.
Complete the Required Training
Enroll in an Arizona-compliant eight-hour unarmed guard course provided by a registered instructor. Keep copies of your course records and training verification.
Follow the Fingerprinting Instructions
Fingerprinting procedures depend on the application method and current DPS requirements. Complete the steps in the proper order and retain appointment confirmations, receipts, reference numbers, and copies of applicable documents.
Monitor Your DPS Account
Arizona DPS uses the Public Services Portal to communicate with online applicants. Check your portal account and associated email regularly so you do not miss a request for clarification or additional documentation.
Get Training and Application Guidance from GuardCard.com
GuardCard.com provides Arizona unarmed guard card training online, giving you a convenient way to complete the required eight-hour course without attending a scheduled classroom.
Students who want additional help with the licensing process can choose the Bundle Package. It combines the required training with step-by-step guidance for navigating the Arizona DPS online application process.
The Arizona Unarmed Security Guard Training Bundle Package helps you understand:
How to prepare for the DPS portal
Which information and documents may be needed
How to approach the online application steps
What to expect during fingerprinting
Which confirmations and records to keep
What to do after completing the course
The Bundle Package does not change Arizona’s eligibility standards, guarantee approval, or control DPS processing times. It helps applicants navigate the administrative process more confidently and avoid common mistakes.
Begin Your Arizona Unarmed Guard Card Training Online
Understanding eligibility is an important first step toward pursuing an Arizona unarmed guard card. Once you have reviewed the requirements, GuardCard.com can help you complete the required training online and move forward with the licensing process.
Choose the standard eight-hour training course or select the Bundle Package for training plus application guidance.
VisitGuardCard.com to begin your Arizona unarmed security guard training.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic requirements for an Arizona unarmed guard card?
Applicants generally must be at least 18, be legally authorized to work in the United States, complete the required training, submit an application and fingerprints, pay applicable fees, and satisfy Arizona’s background and eligibility requirements.
Can I get an Arizona unarmed guard card with a misdemeanor?
It depends on the offense and when the conviction occurred. Arizona law identifies several categories of misdemeanor convictions that can prevent approval when they occurred within the preceding five years. Arizona DPS makes the final determination.
Can I get an Arizona unarmed guard card with a felony?
A.R.S. § 32-2622 states that an applicant must not have been convicted of a felony or currently be under indictment for a felony. Applicants with questions about their legal records should contact Arizona DPS or consult a qualified attorney.
Does Arizona require a background check?
Yes. Applicants must submit fingerprints that Arizona DPS uses for state and federal criminal-history checks.
How much training is required?
Arizona requires eight hours of pre-assignment training for unarmed security guards. The training must cover the state-required curriculum and be provided by a properly registered instructor.
Can I complete the required training online?
Yes. GuardCard.com provides the required Arizona unarmed guard training online. You can access the course without traveling to a scheduled classroom.
Does passing the course mean I have my guard card?
No. Course completion satisfies the training requirement. Arizona DPS must still review and approve your application before issuing the security guard registration certificate.
Who decides whether I qualify?
The Arizona Department of Public Safety reviews the application, fingerprints, criminal history, and supporting information. DPS makes the final decision about whether an applicant qualifies for an Arizona unarmed guard card.