Online California Guard Card Classes

Can you get a California Guard Card entirely online?

Part of it, yes — but not all of it. BSIS requires part of your 8-hour guard card training to be completed in person. Any provider telling you that all 8 hours can be done online is describing a rule that no longer exists.

This changed a few years ago. The full 8 hours used to be available online, and a lot of outdated pages and ads still say so. If you buy 8 hours of online-only training today, BSIS will not accept it toward your guard card.

What the training actually looks like now

Powers to Arrest — online

Self-paced, on your own schedule. Works on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or your phone. Start and stop as often as you like — your progress is saved, so you can pick up right where you left off.

Appropriate Use of Force — in person

Completed at our Van Nuys facility. You must finish the online course first, then walk in any day we’re open — no appointment needed. Plan on about 3 hours, so arrive at least 3 hours before we close.

Both courses have to come from the same provider, on one certificate. That’s a BSIS rule too — you can’t buy the online half from one company and the in-person half from another.

See full details on the guard card class →

How to spot an outdated or dishonest offer

If a training provider advertises any of these, walk away:

“All 8 hours online” — not accepted by BSIS
“Power to Arrest and Weapons of Mass Destruction” as your 8 hours — that’s the old curriculum. The current pairing is Powers to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force
A same-day guard card — processing takes roughly 15–20 business days after a clean background check
No BSIS license number shown anywhere on their site

What you can do entirely online

Plenty, once you have your card:

Your 32 hours of continuing education — fully online, no facility visit. See the 32-hour bundle →
Your 8-hour annual refresher, every year after — also fully online. See refresher courses →
Baton, pepper spray, and handcuffing coursework and more than twenty other BSIS-approved courses

The in-person requirement applies only to the Appropriate Use of Force portion of your initial guard card training.

What’s included in our online training

Unlimited access to your course materials
Self-paced content — stop and restart anytime, on any device
Fail-proof tests — the exams are open note, and if you miss a question you get a second attempt with a hint
Certificates on demand — print or email your certificate the moment you finish, and it stays in your account permanently
Employer sharing — send your completion records straight to your employer
Free permit tracker — keeps your renewal and qualification dates straight

After your classes — two more steps

Get fingerprinted (Live Scan)
Submit your application to BSIS

We can handle both for you while you’re here for your in-person course — $146 covers the $74 guard Live Scan, the $60 BSIS application fee, and our $12 processing fee. That’s $296 total with the class, and no separate trip to a fingerprinting shop.

Bring a valid photo ID and know your Social Security number or ITIN. Live Scan and sign-ups must be started at least 1 hour before we close.

Se habla español. The same guard card class is available in Spanish at the same price — 8 Hour California Guard Card (Spanish).

Helpful links

Valley Guard Training
16140 Cohasset Street, Van Nuys, CA 91406
(818) 989-7825

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.