How to Get a California Guard Card: Steps and Costs Explained

Getting a California guard card comes down to five steps: meet the basic eligibility rules, complete the state's 8-hour pre-assignment training, get fingerprinted, submit your application to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), and then finish 32 more hours of training on the state's schedule. This guide walks through each step with the real costs — including the state fees most training sites don't mention.

Step 1: Meet the basic requirements

Before spending anything, make sure you qualify. California requires that you are at least 18 years old, hold a valid government-issued photo ID, and can pass a criminal-history review by the California Department of Justice and the FBI. A record doesn't automatically disqualify you — BSIS evaluates each application individually — but serious convictions can. More detail in our requirements guide.

Step 2: Complete the 8-hour pre-assignment training

Every new guard completes the same initial 8 hours before being assigned to a post — and since January 1, 2026, state law (SB 652, amending BPC §7583.6) splits it into two parts that must come from the same BSIS-licensed provider:

• 3 hours online — Powers to Arrest. Citizen's-arrest authority, liability, search and seizure, trespass, and reporting. You complete this from any device, at your own pace, for $28. Start it here.
• 5 hours in person — Appropriate Use of Force. Scenario training, de-escalation, and a practical evaluation with a live instructor. We hold these classes at our Santa Rosa training facility for $150. Book your class date.

That's $178 for the complete 8-hour requirement. Any provider still selling a "100% online" 8-hour course is not delivering a compliant certificate — the in-person half is written into state law. Full details on the 8-hour course page.

Step 3: Livescan fingerprinting and the BSIS application

With your training certificate in hand, you'll submit a guard registration application to BSIS and complete Livescan electronic fingerprinting, which routes your prints to the DOJ and FBI. These are state and vendor fees, paid directly to them — not part of any training course:

You can apply online through BSIS's licensing portal. Processing times vary — BSIS publishes current turnaround estimates, and applying with complete, accurate paperwork is the single best way to avoid delays.

Step 4: Start working — and finish your 32 hours

The initial 8 hours gets you eligible for assignment, but California requires 40 total hours of training for new guards. The remaining 32 hours run on a state-set clock from the time you begin work:

Our complete 32-hour program is $68, fully online, with both deadlines tracked in your student dashboard.

What the whole thing costs

How long does it take?

The training itself moves as fast as you do: most students finish the online 3 hours in a day or two, and in-person classes run regularly in Santa Rosa. The BSIS application review is the longest wait — start your Livescan and application as soon as your 8 hours are done, and use the time while BSIS processes to knock out your 16 mandatory hours.