Security Program

The District of Columbia manages the licensure of Security professionals within the District, and protects Security professionals and consumers by upholding the District of Columbia Security License Law and the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations for Security Officers — Title 6A, Chapter 11 and Title 17 Chapters 20 and 21. Agency - § 29–103.01. Permitted names. (f) An entity name shall not be the same as, or so deceptively similar to, the name of any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States or the District of Columbia so as to mislead the public or cause confusion.

2105 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS - CRIMINAL HISTORY SECURITY OFFICERS
2105.1 No person shall be certified or employed as a security officer, nor shall an existing security officer have his or her certification renewed, until the Mayor has conducted a criminal history check of the applicant through the record systems of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Police Department.

1102 CRIMINAL HISTORY - Special Police Officers
1102.1 No person shall be commissioned or employed as a special police officer, nor shall an existing special police officer have a commission renewed, until the Mayor has conducted a criminal history check of the applicant through the record systems of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Police Department

Apply for license

Click to apply for a license.

Items Needed for Application

Security Agency

• Register agency name with the Corporations Division, (202) 442-4432, via CorpOnline.

• Fact Sheet for Attorney in Fact or General Agent Form (if physical business address is outside of the District of Columbia); or
• Occupancy Permit/Current Lease Agreement (if physical address is located in the District of Columbia)
• Proof of Registration Document/ Certificate of Good Standing
• Government-Issued ID
• Birth Certificate; or Proof of Immigration Status
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment
• Proposed Patch Design
• Proof of Insurance

Security Officer

• Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
• Either be a United States citizen or have in his or her possession a valid Immigration and Naturalization Service work permit;
• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language; and
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Security Agency Business

• Government Issued ID
• United States Passport, United States Birth Certificate, and Immigration and Naturalization Service Work Permit
• 2x2 photo 
• Proof of Military Service (DD214 - if applicable)
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Health/Physical Examination
• Security Officer’s Passed Examination Results
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment

Private Detective Agency

• Register agency name with the Corporations Division, (202) 442-4432, via CorpOnline.

• Fact Sheet for Attorney in Fact or General Agent Form (if physical business address is outside of the District of Columbia); or
• Occupancy Permit/Current Lease Agreement (if physical address is located in the District of Columbia)
• Proof of Registration Document/ Certificate of Good Standing
• Government Issued ID
• Birth Certificate or Proof of Immigration Status
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment
• A Bond in the penal sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000)

Private Detective

• Government Issued ID
• United States Passport, United States Birth Certificate, or Immigration and Naturalization Service Work Permit
• 2x2 photo 
• Proof of Military Service (if applicable)
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment

Special Police Officer

• Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Be of good moral character; 
• Possess a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma, or one year of experience as a special police officer in the District of Columbia;
• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language;
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Security Agency;
• Be certified by a licensed physician as physically and psychologically fit to perform the duties of a special police officer;
• An applicant who has been dishonorably discharged from the military shall be ineligible to be commissioned as a special police officer;
• Special police officers shall be required to satisfactorily complete pre-assignment, on the-job, and in-service training programs which have been prescribed and approved by the Mayor;
• Pre-assignment training shall include at least sixteen (16) hours of training on arrest powers, search and seizure laws, the District of Columbia Official Code, and the use of force. Pre-assignment training shall include an additional twenty-four (24) hours of training generally relating to the special police officer's duties and specifically including:
  • Terrorism awareness, including building evacuation, unattended packages, and unknown substances;
  • Emergency procedures, including evacuation and first-aid; and
  • Customer service and interaction with tourists.
• Special police officers shall satisfactorily complete a 16-hour, on-the-job training course within ninety (90) working days following employment, and an 8-hour annual in-service training course;
• Special police officers shall also satisfy all additional initial and re-qualification training standards for firearms and other equipment, as applicable;
• Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a security agency from voluntarily providing training programs and courses which exceed the minimum requirements. Upon satisfactory completion of a required training course, a special police officer shall receive from his or her employer a certificate evidencing satisfactory completion thereof.

• Government Issued ID
• Unites States Passport, United States Birth Certificate or Naturalization Document
• 2x2 photo 
• Proof of Military Service (DD214 - if applicable)
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Physical Examination
• Range Certificate (if armed)
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment

Campus Special Police

• Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Be of good moral character; 
• Possess a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma, or one year of experience as a special police officer in the District of Columbia;
• Be able to read, write, and speak the English language
• Must be affiliated with one of the 9 licensed College/Universities Business;
• Be certified by a licensed physician as physically and psychologically fit to perform the duties of a special police officer;
• An applicant who has been dishonorably discharged from the military shall be ineligible to be commissioned as a special police officer;
• Special police officers shall be required to satisfactorily complete pre-assignment, on the-job, and in-service training programs which have been prescribed and approved by the Mayor;
• Pre-assignment training shall include at least sixteen (16) hours of training on arrest powers, search and seizure laws, the District of Columbia Official Code, and the use of force. Pre-assignment training shall include an additional twenty-four (24) hours of training generally relating to the special police officer's duties and specifically including:
  • Terrorism awareness, including building evacuation, unattended packages, and unknown substances;
  • Emergency procedures, including evacuation and first-aid; and
  • Customer service and interaction with tourists.
• Special police officers shall satisfactorily complete a 16-hour, on-the-job training course within ninety (90) working days following employment, and an 8-hour annual in-service training course.
• Special police officers shall also satisfy all additional initial and re-qualification training standards for firearms and other equipment, as applicable.
• Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit a security agency from voluntarily providing training programs and courses which exceed the minimum requirements of this chapter. Upon satisfactory completion of a required training course, a special police officer shall receive from his or her employer a certificate evidencing satisfactory completion thereof.

• Government Issued ID
• United States Passport, United States Birth Certificate or Naturalization Document
• 2x2 photo 
• Proof of Military Service (DD214 - if applicable)
• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Health/Physical Examination
• 250 Consortium Academy Training or Jurisdictional Police Academy
• Range Certificate (if armed)
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment

Examination

Exams may be scheduled online or by phone.

To schedule online, visit psiexams.com. New users will need to create an account and register prior to scheduling an exam. Once registered, select “Schedule and examination” and then:

1. Select Government/State Licensing Agencies
2. Select District of Columbia exams
3. Select Account for the type of licensing exam that you are seeking

Applicants may also schedule by phone at 1 (855) 557-0616.

Fingerprints: Call to schedule an appointment with the Metropolitan Police Department (202) 671-6705

Agencies located outside the DC Metropolitan Area must have a local agent and District of Columbia address (Post Office Boxes are not accepted).

Fees*

Agency

Private Detective Business

• New – $1,000.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $935.⁰⁰

Security Agency Business

• New application – $1,000.⁰⁰ (5 or more officers)
• Renewal – $935.⁰⁰

Security Agency Campus University

• New application – $1,000.⁰⁰ (5 or more officers)
• Renewal – $935.⁰⁰

Security Agency Individual (4 or less officers)

• New – $500.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $435.⁰⁰

Individual

Campus Special Police Officer

• New – $84.⁰⁰
• Renewal $84.⁰⁰

Private Detective

• New – $500.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $435.⁰⁰

Private Detective Agency

• New – $500.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $412.⁰⁰

Security Officer

• Exam – $69.⁰⁰ (New Applicants Only)
• New – $103.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $103.⁰⁰

Special Police Officer

• New – $84.⁰⁰
• Renewal – $84.⁰⁰

License Renewal

Submit an application for renewal of an occupational or professional license.

• Request a Letter of License Certification
• Security License Designation/Transfer Request

Security Agency and Security Agency Individuals

Documents needed to renew:

• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment
• Proof of Insurance
• List of worksite(s) with name and locations

Private Detective Agency

Documents needed to renew:

• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment
• Proof of Bond
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Private Detective Business (for individuals)

Individual License Renewal Documents

Security Officer Renewal Documents:

• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Health/Physical Examination
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment  Application
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Security Agency Business or Security Agency Individual

Special Police Officer Renewal Documents:

• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Health/Physical Examination
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment Application
• If armed, a Range Certification is required
• If contracted to work at a DC Public Schools, a Letter of Designation is required
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Security Agency Business or Security Agency Individual

Campus Special Police Officer Renewal Documents:

• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Drug Screening (6 panel with levels)
• Health/Physical Examination
• Fingerprint Receipt
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment
• If armed, a Range Certification is required
• 250 Consortium Certification
• Must be affiliated with one of the 9 licensed College/Universities Business

Private Detective

• Notarized Arrest Affidavit (including dispositions for arrests)
• Notarized Authorization to Release Information Form
• Confirmation Receipt of Payment Application
• Must be affiliated with a licensed Private Detective Business or Private detective Individual

For additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service number at (202) 442-4320.
 

• Frequently Asked Questions
• MPD Security Snapshot