California Occupational License

License Title:
    Private Patrol Operator
Return to Occupation Profile
Licensing Agency:
     Department of Consumer Affairs
     Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

Licensing Agency Contact Information:
     Address: PO Box 989002
West Sacramento,  CA  95798

     Phone Number: (916) 322-4000
     Fax Number: (916) 575-7290

     E-mail Address: bsis@dca.ca.gov
     Internet Address: http://www.bsis.ca.gov

License Requirements, Fees, and Examination Information:
A Private Patrol Operator is a person/company who agrees to furnish, or furnishes, a watchman, guard, patrolperson, or other person to protect persons or property or to prevent the theft, unlawful taking, loss, embezzlement, misappropriate, or concealment of any goods, wares, merchandise, money, bonds, stocks, notes, documents, papers, or property of any kind.

Requirements:
Be 18 or older.
Undergo a criminal history background check through the DOJ and the FBI.
Possess a minimum of 2,000 hours of compensated experience in security work (equates to 1 year of full-time employment).
Pass a multiple-choice examination covering the Private Security Services Act.

Exams are given by a State contracted company known as PSI. If the individual meets the minimum requirements for admittance to the examination after the application has been reviewed and approved, he/she will receive a letter to contact PSI for scheduling. Exams are given five days a week at 13 different PSI locations within California.

Application and Exam Fee - $500
Initial License Fee - $700
DOJ Fingerprint Processing Fee - $32
FBI Fingerprint Processing Fee - $17
Renewal Fee - $700

The initial license is valid for 2 years. Each renewal cycle extends the registration for an additional 2 years.

Average time to process an application is 120 days.

Authority: Business and Professions Code, Chapter 11.3
Occupations To Which This License Applies:
Occupation TitleSOC Code
Protective Service Workers, All Other 339099