Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Are peace officers exempt from guard card requirements? –
Partly, yes. BSIS grants specific exemptions to active full-time peace officers and to Level I and Level II reserve officers who hold peace officer status under Penal Code sections 830 through 832.6.
For the guard card, two exemptions apply:
– Fingerprinting. You may begin working after submitting your Security Guard Registration application, without completing Live Scan. The documentation is a photocopy of the front and back of your peace officer identification card.
– Power to Arrest training. If you completed POST-approved arrest training, or a federal law enforcement equivalent, you are exempt from that portion. The documentation is your peace officer ID photocopy plus one of the following: a letter from your commanding officer, your POST completion certificate, or a POST profile showing completion of basic training.
Exemptions for the exposed firearm permit are different, and one of them runs the other way — firearms permit fingerprinting is not exempt. See the Firearm Permit section.
BSIS makes these determinations, not us. We do not grant exemptions and cannot waive any requirement. Submit your documentation with your application and BSIS decides.
Current details and documentation requirements are on the BSIS peace officer exemptions page at bsis.ca.gov. You can also call BSIS at (916) 322-4000.
If BSIS tells you the training is required in your case, the process is the same as for anyone else. See “How do I get a California guard card?”
Do you offer a military discount? +
No. Everyone pays the same price.
The 8-hour guard card class is $150, or $296 with Live Scan fingerprinting and the BSIS application included. The firearms course is $312. There are no discounts for active duty, veterans, law enforcement, students, groups, or referrals.
Part of what you pay is not ours to discount anyway. The BSIS application fee and the state’s fingerprinting fees are pass-through — we collect them and send them on.
Military service also does not reduce the training hours. BSIS sets those and we cannot waive any of them.
There is a real benefit on the state side, though, and it is worth knowing about:
– The Department of Consumer Affairs expedites license applications for active-duty service members, and for spouses and domestic partners of active-duty personnel stationed in California. BSIS is a DCA bureau, so this covers both guard card and firearms permit applications.
– Military spouses may also have their initial application and license fees waived.
That is the state’s program, not ours, and we cannot apply it on your behalf. Current criteria and required documentation are at dca.ca.gov.
Do I need a guard card if I’m only going to work for one company? +
If you are working in an unarmed security position for only one company, you may be able to work under either a California guard card or a Proprietary Private Security Officer (PPSO) registration, depending on the type of employer.
A PPSO registration allows a person to work as an in-house security officer for a single company that employs its own security staff. However, a PPSO registration only allows you to work for that specific employer.
We generally recommend obtaining a California guard card instead, because it allows you to work for any licensed security company or proprietary security employer anywhere in the State of California.
Are you a legitimate training company and how can I tell? +
Yes. Valley Guard Training is a legitimate training facility licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). We have been a BSIS-licensed training provider since December 1993. Our credentials can be verified through the Department of Consumer Affairs license search on the BSIS website.
Do you get me a job when I finish my training? +
No. Valley Guard Training does not place students into jobs after training.
However, we do help point you in the right direction. We provide information about security companies that are hiring, the types of positions available, and where to apply. We also maintain a job board at our Van Nuys location where students can review current security job opportunities.
Can I make payments for my training? +
Yes. We allow students to start training with as little as $50 down.
However, the full balance must be paid before we complete processing your fingerprints and applications.
What types of payments does Valley guard training except? +
Valley Guard Training accepts cash and major credit cards, including American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. We also accept Apple Pay and tap-to-pay.
The credit card must be in the name of the student or the person paying for the course at the time of payment. We do not accept credit card payments over the phone and personal checks are not accepted.
Is a DMV printout okay to bring in as proof of a current identification? +
No. A DMV printout is not accepted as identification.
For Live Scan fingerprinting and training, you must bring a current, valid, and physical U.S. state-issued driver’s license or state identification card. Temporary DMV printouts or paperwork cannot be used as a substitute for the actual ID card.
