Frequently Asked Questions Security Guards

Excise and Licenses will no longer renew merchant guard licenses as of November 1st, 2018. Any individual wishing to either renew a merchant guard license or begin working as a security guard will need to apply for a new security guard license.

Individuals that currently hold a merchant guard license can continue working with their existing license until it expires. We recommend that current merchant guards apply for a security guard license 30 days before their current license expires to allow time for application processing.

Individuals interested in becoming security guards who do not currently hold a merchant guard license will need to obtain a new security guard license before starting their employment.

Excise and Licenses will strive to complete the application process within 7 days. However, if your submittal is found to be incomplete or if a police review is required, we may need more time. 

We are recommending that you apply for your new security guard license 30 days before your current license expires to ensure that there is plenty of time for your application to be processed.

No - bars and restaurants that currently hold in-house security status will not be eligible to employ security guards. These entities must apply for a Private Security Employer license before employing security guards.

Only if your employer is an Eligible Training Provider. 

First, please refer to our New Security Guard Online Application Guide(PDF, 3MB) for a step by step walk-through of how to fill out the application. For other application types, please refer to our online application user guides below to see if they can answer your questions.

If you are experiencing what may be an issue with our website, please e-mail us at licenses@denvergov.org with full details of the issue so that we can help you troubleshoot.

You can call 311 with additional questions, or e-mail us at licenses@denvergov.org.

.

An Affidavit of Criminal and Employment history is used to ensure that security guard applicants are eligible for licensing and are of good moral character. As such, it is imperative that all questions are answered truthfully.

All questions on this form must be answered and five full years of employment (or education history) must be provided. Incomplete forms will be rejected.

Download an Affidavit of Criminal and Employment History form(PDF, 869KB).

A Certificate of  Physical and Mental Fitness is used to ensure that applicants are physically and mentally ready to perform the duties of a security guard. 

This form must be completed by a physician, physician's assistant or a registered nurse licensed to practice in the State of Colorado.

All fields must be filled out - incomplete forms will be rejected.

The form must be completed within 60 days of the filing of the prospective guard's application

Download a blank Certificate of Physical and Mental Fitness form(PDF, 349KB).

A Certificate of  Security Guard Training Completion proves that a security guard has completed mandatory training on the following topics:

• Duties of a Security Guard
• Communication Protocols and Procedures
• Interaction with Law Enforcement
• Use of Force

Applicants for a new security guard license are required to complete a 16 hour course, and applicants for a security guard renewal course are required to complete an 8 hour refresher course on the same topics.

Only Eligible Training Providers can provide Certificates of  Security Guard Training Completion. When an individual/organization becomes an Eligible Training Provider, they are given instructions on how to create these certificates.

Individuals wishing to obtain an endorsement allowing him/her to be accompanied by an explosive detection canine will need to upload this document to prove that:

• The security guard is the canine's primary handler
• The canine has been certified by a national accredited/recognized training association to detect explosives

The certificate must be a valid certificate when the application is submitted. It cannot be expired. 

If you have any questions about this certificate, please e-mail us at DPDExciseandLicenses@denvergov.org

All applicants for a new security guard license must provide an FBI background check to ensure that the applicant is eligible for licensing and of good moral character.

FBI background checks must be ran within 60 days of the application.

A Firearm Training Certification demonstrates that guards wishing to obtain a Firearm endorsement(PDF, 405KB) have been properly trained in handling firearms and have an acceptable range proficiency score of at least 80%.

Applicants for a new firearm endorsement will need to have completed a minimum of 5 hours of classroom instruction and 3 hours of live-fire practice including a weapons qualification course. Training must be provided by a certified POST or NRA instructor. There is no specific timeframe during which this training must have been completed.

Applicants looking to renew or obtain a new firearm endorsement must also have obtained a qualifying range proficiency of at least 80% within the last 6 months.

Note - All firearm endorsement requests will be treated as "new" requests until they are approved at which point they are eligible to be renewed annually. No exception will be made or merchant guards holding armed status.

Proof of training and range qualification is provided by having the POST or NRA instructor who oversaw your training complete this Firearm Training Certification(PDF, 923KB) form.

Because Excise and Licenses is moving its security guard license applications online, we will now require applicants to upload a headshot photo that we can use to create your security guard badge. The rule of thumb is that if a photo would pass as a passport photo, it will suffice for badging purposes. Specifically, it must:

• Be recent, clear and in color, and demonstrate a true likeness of you
• Be taken with a solid background that you will not blend into
• Your head must face the camera directly and your entire head must be in the photo (no hats)
• Nothing may cover your eyes, including glasses or hair

Individuals wishing to obtain an endorsement allowing him/her to be accompanied by an explosive detection canine will need to upload this document  in order to:

• Prove that there is a legitimate need for being accompanied by an explosive detection canine
• Identify the  specific canine that will be accompanying the guard

Letters of Explosive Detection Canine Endorsement Requests must be completed by a guard's employer and then signed by both the employer and the guard. These requests must be dated within 60 days of the application.

NOTE - these forms can be completed by either Private Security Employers holding a valid license.

Download a blank Letter of Explosive Detection Canine Endorsement Request template(PDF, 535KB).

Individuals wishing to obtain an endorsement allowing him/her to carry a firearm while working will need to upload this document  in order to:

• Prove that there is a legitimate need for carrying a firearm
• Prove that the employer requesting this endorsement has properly vetted the guard's physical, mental, and emotional fitness in regards to carrying a firearm.

Letters of Firearm Endorsement Requests must be completed by a guard's employer and then signed by both the employer and the guard. These requests must be dated within 60 days of the application.

NOTE - these forms can be completed by either Private Security Employers holding a valid license.

Download a Letter of Firearm Endorsement Request template(PDF, 405KB).

Individuals wishing to obtain a security guard license will need to upload this document  in order to:

• Prove that they will be employed by a licensed private security employer upon licensing.
• Ensure that the employer accepts responsibility and liability for the security guard's actions while they are providing security services on behalf of the employer.

Letters of Hire must be completed by a guard's employer and then signed by both the employer and the guard. These requests must be dated within 60 days of the application.

NOTE - These forms can be completed by either Private Security Employers holding a valid license.

Download a Letter of Hire template(PDF, 522KB).

Individuals wishing to obtain an endorsement allowing him/her to work in plainclothes (outside of a uniform) will need to upload this document  in order to:

• Prove that there is a legitimate need for working in plainclothes
• Identify the  specific dates, times, and/or events during which the security guard will be working in plainclothes.

Letters of Plainclothes Endorsement Requests must be completed by a guard's employer and then signed by both the employer and the guard. These requests must be dated within 60 days of the application.

NOTE - these forms can be completed by either Private Security Employers OR Merchant Guard Companies holding a valid license.

Download a blank Letter of Plainclothes Endorsement Request template(PDF, 705KB).

This is generally a valid driver's license. For other forms of valid ID, please see a full list of acceptable forms of ID.

For instructions on how to check on the status of an application through the online portal, please download our Application Status Check-In Guide(PDF, 457KB).

If you have received a Notice of Application Deficiency e-mail, please download our Document Correction Guide(PDF, 1005KB)  for step by step  instructions on how to proceed.

If you are struggling with the online application, please download our New Security Guard License Application Guide(PDF, 3MB).