To work as a security officer in Virginia, you need a registration from the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). For an unarmed post, that means the 18-hour 01E course, fingerprints, and an application in DCJS’s Lotus system. Armed officers add arrest authority and handgun training, 50 hours in all, plus a firearm endorsement.
Here is the path in order, what each class costs at our school in Manassas, and the rules that trip people up. Each rule links to the Virginia regulation or statute it comes from.
Who needs a DCJS registration
Virginia calls it a registration, not a license, but it is what most people mean by a security guard license. Virginia law bars anyone from being employed as an unarmed or armed security officer without a valid registration (§ 9.1-139). Working without one is a Class 1 misdemeanor (§ 9.1-147).
There are two kinds:
- Unarmed security officer. You do not carry or have access to a firearm on the job.
- Armed security officer. You carry a firearm, so your registration also needs a firearm endorsement (6VAC20-174-40).
You must be at least 18 and a US citizen or legal resident alien (6VAC20-174-40). Some criminal convictions disqualify an applicant unless DCJS grants a waiver (§ 9.1-139). Armed officers must also be able to legally possess and carry a firearm.
Step 1: Take the entry-level training
DCJS sets the minimum hours, and you take them in person at a DCJS-certified training school.
| Course | Who needs it | Hours | Price at Fidus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01E Core Subjects | Every officer, unarmed and armed | 18 | $120 |
| 05E Arrest Authority | Armed officers | 8 | $125 |
| 75E Security Officer Handgun | Armed officers | 24 | $250 |
| 08E Shotgun | Armed officers whose post uses a shotgun | 3 | $200 |
Unarmed officers need only the 01E. The armed path is 50 hours, or 53 with shotgun (6VAC20-174-220). Those hours do not include exams or range qualification. To pass the handgun course, you need at least 75 percent on the range (6VAC20-173-170).
Do not sit on your certificate. Training only counts toward a registration if your application reaches DCJS within 12 months of finishing it (6VAC20-174-160).
Step 2: Get fingerprinted
Your registration depends on a state and national criminal history check, run by the Virginia State Police from your fingerprints. You book the appointment through Fieldprint, the vendor DCJS uses, and your fingerprints have to be submitted on or before your first day on the job (6VAC20-174-30).
DCJS charges a fingerprint fee and has announced changes to it for 2027 and 2028, so check the current amount when you book.
Step 3: Apply in Lotus
Applications go through Lotus, the online licensing system DCJS has used since December 2024. You create an account, enter your completed training, and pay the registration fee. Armed officers apply for the firearm endorsement as part of the same registration.
Can you work while you wait?
Sometimes. Once your training is complete and your fingerprints are in, DCJS can issue a letter of temporary registration. It is good for up to 120 days while your background check comes back (6VAC20-174-40).
Unarmed officers have one more option. You can work an unarmed post while you finish your entry-level training, for up to 90 days, as long as your fingerprints are submitted and you carry photo ID and your employer’s authorization (6VAC20-174-150). Armed officers get no such window. You need a current registration with the firearm endorsement before you carry on the job.
Can you get a Virginia security guard license online?
Not the training. Virginia allows online training only for in-service requirements, the refresher hours you need to renew (6VAC20-173-180). The 01E, 05E and 75E are taught in person, and handgun training happens on a range with a certified firearms instructor directly controlling the firing line (6VAC20-174-380).
The paperwork is online. You apply in Lotus and book your fingerprint appointment online.
Keeping your registration current
A registration lasts up to 24 months. DCJS should receive your renewal at least 30 days before it expires, and a renewal notice that never arrived is not an excuse (6VAC20-174-50).
- In-service training. Every officer takes the 4-hour in-service course (01I) once in each 24-month registration period (6VAC20-174-170). Ours is $50.
- Firearms retraining. A firearm endorsement lasts up to 12 months. You complete retraining within the 90 days before it expires (6VAC20-174-60). Our handgun requalification (07R) is 4 hours, $110.
Miss the date and you have 60 days to reinstate, at 50 percent over the normal fee, and you still cannot work during those 60 days. After that you start over. A firearm endorsement cannot be reinstated at all (6VAC20-174-90). We run renewals and requalification on Mondays and Fridays, so book a few weeks out.
Common questions
How long does it take to get a security guard license in Virginia?
The training is the part you control: 18 hours for unarmed, 50 for armed. After that, the wait is the background check. Once your training is done and your fingerprints are in, a temporary registration letter lets you work for up to 120 days while it clears.
What does it cost?
At our school, the 01E is $120. The full armed path (01E, 05E and 75E) is $495, plus $200 if you add shotgun. DCJS charges its own registration and fingerprint fees on top, which you pay when you apply.
Is a concealed handgun permit the same thing?
No. A concealed handgun permit covers carrying for personal protection. An armed security registration covers carrying on the job. An armed officer who carries concealed on duty needs both, plus the employer’s written permission (6VAC20-174-40). We teach the concealed carry class too.
What happens if I have a conviction after I register?
You have to report it to DCJS within 10 days (6VAC20-174-140).
Start with the 01E
Every path starts with the same 18 hours. Our next dates are on the class schedule, where you can pay for your seat online. Not sure which path fits the job you want? Call us at 703-408-3530 and we will walk you through it.