Missouri Security Training Courses

Minimum Requirements for Unarmed Security Guards in Missouri

The state of Missouri does not license or regulate unarmed or armed security guards. However, individual cities and municipalities may have their own requirements.

While the state does not stipulate the minimum qualifications of an unarmed security guard, most security companies follow these industry hiring guidelines:

• Must be at least 18 years old with provisions that the candidate must be able to perform the duties required of the position

• Must be a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work

• Must possess a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. Also, the applicant should demonstrate an ability to read, write, and speak English and the language(s) most appropriate to his or her assigned duties.

• Successfully pass a background check

• Must not have been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or job related crime for a minimum seven-year period immediately preceding the candidate’s date of hire. Any felony conviction discovered in the course of conducting the search should also be considered relevant to the candidate’s qualifications for the position.

• Submission of a fingerprint card or electronic fingerprint

• Pass a drug screening test

Licensing Requirements in the State of Missouri

Each city or municipality has its own licensing requirements (if any). Only some are listed here, so check with your local City Clerk or Police Department. 

City of St. Louis

The City of St. Louis requires security guards and security agencies to be licensed through the Metropolitan Police Department Private Security Section. (https://www.slmpd.org/private_security.shtml)

There are three different licensing categories for individuals:

1. Watchman: A person employed without police powers and without authorization to carry weapons or protective devices.  A watchman performs the tasks of observation and reporting on or in a designated area and may include patrolling a public street.  A watchman has no powers of arrest, search or detention and must wear an approved uniform.

2. Courier: A person employed to carry out the assignment of protecting/transporting property from one designated area to another. A courier must wear an approved military style uniform. A courier has no powers of arrest, search or detention. If qualified, a courier may carry a firearm.

3. Security Officer: A person employed with certain police powers to protect life or property on or in designated premises. A security officer’s powers exist only within the established property owned or leased by the contracting employer and to incidents occurring on the premises.  If qualified, a security officer may carry a firearm and certain protective devices.

To be licensed, an individual must:

• Be at least 21 years old (18 years old if applying for the Watchman category)

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident alien

• Have no felony convictions

• Be free of any type of chemical dependency

• Apply at the Private Security Section, with a photo ID and dated letter from intended employer

• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check

• Pay a fee

Licensed individuals must wear or carry a badge/identification card issued by the Private Security Section while on duty. If an individual is employed by multiple security companies, they must receive a license for each company and display the appropriate license while on duty. Each license must be renewed annually.

To be licensed, a company must:

• Have served two years in the security field, either as a licensed security officer or police officer

• Register with the Office of Secretary of State, located in the U.S. Customs House & Old Post Office Building at 815 Olive Street, Suite 210, in St. Louis

• Provide proof of liability insurance of at least $1,000,000

• Present photographs of uniforms for approval

Guidelines for opening a security agency: http://www.slmpd.org/images/GuidelinesForOpeningASecurityAgency.pdf 

City of Columbia

Per Columbia Code of Ordinances 13-47, security guards are required to be licensed: https://library.municode.com/mo/columbia/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH13LIPEMIBURE_ARTIIIARGUSEGU 

To be licensed as an unarmed guard, an individual must:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be of good moral character

• Complete an application. Available here: https://www.como.gov/finance/business-licenses/armed-guard or here: https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UNARMED-SECRITY-GUARD-LICENSE-update.pdf 

• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check

• Provide proof of liability insurance of at least $500,000

• Pay a fee

The license must be renewed annually.

To be licensed as an armed guard, an individual must:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Be of good moral character

• Complete an application. Available here: https://www.como.gov/finance/business-licenses/armed-guard or here: https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ARMED-SECRITY-GUARD-LICENSE-update.pdf 

• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check

• Provide proof of liability insurance of at least $500,000 

• Pay a fee

• Pass a written exam on firearms safety, firearms law, firearms skill and shooting exam demonstrating firearms safety and skill. More information: https://www.como.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Armed-Guard-Study-Guide-for-Testing.pdf 

The license must be renewed annually.

City of Kansas City

Kansas City requires security guards and security agencies to be licensed through the Kansas City Missouri Police Department Private Officers Licensing Unit (https://www.kcpd.org/about/services/private-officers-licensing/)

There are two different licensing categories:

1. Class A: Licensees shall have the authority to detain or apprehend suspects either committing felonies, misdemeanors or city ordinance violations in the presence of the licensee or during the attempt to commit the same or upon probable cause to believe an offense was committed; provided, however, the authority is limited to the property the licensee is hired to protect during the hours s/he is hired to protect and is not to extend to the public streets of Kansas City, Missouri excepting airport police officers whose authority is set forth in this rule. Class A licenses may be further classified pursuant to the following titles, designations and authorities:

   • Loss prevention - Unarmed, non-uniformed, prevents theft, observes, investigates, apprehends shoplifters, fraud checks, internal thefts, etc.

   • Patrol agent - Armed/unarmed, uniformed, foot patrol, responds to alarms, pedestrian checks on designated private property, investigations, assigned designated post, protects persons/property.

   • Proprietary private investigator - Armed/unarmed, non-uniformed person employed exclusively and regularly by one employer in connection with the affairs of that employer and where there exists and employer-employee relationship, responsible for investigations which impact that employer.

   • Airport police - Armed and uniformed, enforce ordinance and state violations upon the streets of the Kansas City International Airport and the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. The Class A license that has the designation unarmed “traffic control officer” shall have the authority to control traffic and issue citations for parking violations.

   • Park ranger - Armed and uniformed position responsible for providing security for the City of Kansas City, Missouri parks and parks property. The Class A license park ranger designation shall have the authority to enforce specific city ordinance violations upon park property

2. Class B: Licenses shall grant limited powers and authorities to a licensee, but this classification does not grant the authority for the licensees to detain or apprehend suspects. An applicant shall designate the particular subclassification listed in this subsection when applying for a Class B license. An applicant must make a separate application when applying for a Class B license designating more than one (1) subclassification of authority. The license identification issued by the board shall designate which subcategory of a Class B license has been granted.

   • Guard - Unarmed, uniformed, watches and reports on premises, escorts or guides, to control crowds, to give directions, to monitor camera systems, to control access, can request identification or ask for nature of business on premises. 

   • Armed courier - Armed, uniformed, transports money, conducts private security on streets of Kansas City, Missouri, protects from activity that impacts property hired to protect. 

   • Proprietary private investigator - Armed/unarmed, non-uniformed person employed exclusively and regularly by one employer in connection with the affairs of that employer and where there exists and employer-employee relationship, responsible for investigations which impact that Employer.

Per Title 17 of the Code of State Regulations, 10-2.010-2.060, to be licensed as an unarmed guard, an individual must:

• Be at least 18 years old

• Be able to read, write, and understand the English language

• Meet physical and mental standards equivalent to those required of department police officers

• Be capable of understanding and performing the duties and responsibilities of a licensee

• Never have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor

• If applicable, have an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge from the military

• Be of good moral character

• Have no prior revocation of a security license

• Complete an "Employer's Application for Employment of Private Security/Proprietary Private Investigator 'Intent to Hire' Form," Form 5409 P.D. https://www.kcpd.org/media/2334/form-5409-employers-application-for-employment-of-private-security-officer-intent-to-hire.pdf 

• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check

• Submit the following forms of identification:

  • Photo ID

  • Original Social Security card

  • Proof of citizenship or permanent resident card

  • Military DD214 (if applicable)

• Pass a written exam demonstrating knowledge of the responsibilities and legal consequences associated with performing private security/proprietary private investigative services. Applicants will be allowed to retake the exam up to three times. Manual and study guide here: https://www.kcpd.org/media/2076/form5061bkcpdprivateofficerslicensingsectioninformationalmanual102018.pdf 

• Pay a fee

The license must be renewed annually.

 Per Title 17 of the Code of State Regulations, 10-2.010-2.060, to be licensed as an armed guard, an individual must:

• Be at least 21 years old

• Be able to read, write, and understand the English language

• Meet physical and mental standards equivalent to those required of department police officers

• Be capable of understanding and performing the duties and responsibilities of a licensee

• Never have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor

• Not be named in a current full order of protection

• If applicable, have an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge from the military

• Be of good moral character

• Have no prior revocation of a security license

• Complete an "Employer's Application for Employment of Private Security/Proprietary Private Investigator 'Intent to Hire' Form," Form 5409 P.D. https://www.kcpd.org/media/2334/form-5409-employers-application-for-employment-of-private-security-officer-intent-to-hire.pdf 

• Complete firearms training and submit the Verification of Firearms Training Form, Form 5715 P.D. https://www.kcpd.org/media/2335/form-5715-weapons-regulations-and-firarms-qualification-private-officers.pdf 

• Submit fingerprints and complete a background check

• Submit the following forms of identification:

  • Photo ID

  • Original Social Security card

  • Proof of citizenship or permanent resident card

  • Military DD214 (if applicable)

• Pass a written exam demonstrating knowledge of the responsibilities and legal consequences associated with performing private security/proprietary private investigative services. Applicants will be allowed to retake the exam up to three times. Manual and study guide here: https://www.kcpd.org/media/2076/form5061bkcpdprivateofficerslicensingsectioninformationalmanual102018.pdf 

• Pay a fee

The license must be renewed annually.

Code of State Regulations, Title 17, 10.2010-2.060: https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/17csr/17c10-2.pdf  

Information for Private Security/Proprietary Private Investigative Personnel: https://www.kcpd.org/media/2336/form-5001-information-for-private-security-proprietary-private-investigative-personnel.pdf 

To be licensed, a company must:

• Submit Form 5486 P.D. (https://www.kcpd.org/media/2088/form5486.pdf) including:

  • Company information

  • Approximate number of licensed security personall exmployees

  • Photographs of the company uniform and patch

  • Photographs of company vehicles

  • Descriptions of company-owned weapons

  • Copies of birth certificates, state-issued IDs, or passports for company owners, partners, officers, directors, or associates

• Provide a certificate of insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 general liability naming the Kansas City Missouri Board of Police Commissioners as additional insured and the certificate holder

• Pay a fee

Instructions for licensing a private security company: https://www.kcpd.org/media/2315/form-5073-instructions-for-licensing-a-private-security-company-letter.pdf

Instructions for licensing a company to employ private security/proprietary private investigative personnel: https://www.kcpd.org/media/2316/form-5297-instructions-licensing-company-to-employprivate-security-proprietary-private.pdf 

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