Private Security FAQs

Contact the Licensing Coordinator immediately to verify if any additional requirements need to be met. Any new officers will need to submit fingerprints and if there is an entity change it may require initial licensing requirements. 

It can take up to 30 days to be issued a business license depending on when all requirements are met. 

Go to the directory on our website at https://www.cms.dcjs.virginia.gov/GLSuiteWeb/Clients/VADCJS/Public/Verification/Business/Search.aspx. 

Yes, DCJS needs written notification within 30 days of such a change. Written notification should include fingerprint cards and social security numbers of the new owners or principals. 

No, a compliance agent must be designated in writing on forms provided by DCJS. 

The business must notify the department in writing within 10 calendar days and provide the name of the individual responsible for the licensee's adherence to applicable administrative requirements and standards of conduct during the period of replacement. 

A new certified compliance agent must be designated within 90 days following the sole compliance agent's termination.

Compliance agents ensure that the licensee and all employees conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the state regulations.  In addition, the agent ensures that all regulated employees carry a state issued photo identification.  Compliance agents also maintain documentation for all employees, or persons otherwise utilized, that verifies compliance with requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the state regulations. 

Documents must be maintained after employment is terminated for a period of not less than 3 years. 

The license immediately becomes null and void and the business may not provide regulated services without the required liability coverage.  Each day of uninsured activity would be construed as an individual violation of the requirement to maintain current liability coverage and could result in sanctions to include monetary fines up to $2500.00 per day or suspension or revocation of the license.

Renewals should be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to their expiration. 

No. Timely renewal of applications for licenses, registrations, and certifications are the responsibility of the individual businesses, training schools, instructors, compliance agents, and individual personnel. DCJS normally sends out a reminder as a courtesy to the last known mailing address or email address, but due to current technical difficulties the Department is unable to send individual reminders. The Department is working to address this issue. 

To ensure that you renew timely, remember the expiration date is listed directly on your credential, and it is your responsibility to submit for renewal 30 days in advance of the expiration.  Should you fail to renew prior to the expiration, you may apply for reinstatement during the immediate 60 days after your expiration date.   There are limited reasons in which an individual may request an extension, for more information on extensions, see the Extension FAQ.

If a new legal entity is created a new private security services license must be obtained.

No, the compliance agent does not have to be trained and registered in any category unless he/she is actually providing regulated services in addition to compliance agent duties. 

Yes, a business is required to maintain one compliance agent but may designate as many compliance agents as needed.  If a company has more then one compliance agent it must advise DCJS of the primary agent for contact purposes.

This is an individual designated by the business and certified by DCJS whose responsibilities are to ensure that the licensee and all employees conform to all application requirements, administrative requirements and standards of conduct pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the state regulations. Compliance agents also maintain documentation for all employees, or persons, that verifies compliance with requirements pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the state regulations. 

No, you can only solicit business once issued a private security services business license.

A $50.00 fee for each additional category of service over one category that the licensee provides. 

Yes, it is a Class I misdemeanor to engage in the private security services business without a license. 

Yes, it may be issued while waiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. In addition, all other requirements must be met. 

The business may begin providing this service only after they have been issued a private security services business license. 

If your business cannot provide all security services requested by your client, you may subcontract those services to another licensed private security services business.  If you choose to do this, keep in mind that a 1099 cannot be issued to the subcontractor. 

Exclusively owned or private. For example: Kings Dominion Amusement Park employs personnel for their security needs. Kings Dominion is a proprietary business and their security employees are "in-house" proprietary security personnel. Additionally, "loss prevention" or "assets protection" for stores such as Kmart or Target are individuals employed by the company and therefore are not required to be registered with DCJS. 

A company is required to be licensed if it is engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, alarm respondents, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, expressed or implied. 

Any sole proprietor, individual listed as an officer or director with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, board member of the association, or partner of a licensed firm or applicant for licensure may be considered a "principal" of a company. This person(s) must submit fingerprints with the business license application. 

You must display your business license number on business advertising material, display advertisements in telephone directories, letterhead, business cards, local newspaper advertising, contracts, and any electronic medium, including the Internet, social media, and digital advertising. 

The official number issued to a private security services business licensed by DCJS. The number will be 11- followed by 4 digits – (11-1234). 

Please visit the Business page of our website for details. 

Please Business page of our website for details. 

Any person who engages in the business of or undertakes to (i) sell, (ii) install, service, maintain, design or consult in the design of any electronic security equipment to an end user; (iii) respond to or cause a response to electronic security equipment for an end user; or (iv) have access to confidential information concerning the design, extent, status, password, contact list, or location of an end user's electronic security equipment. 

Any person engaged in the business of providing, or who undertakes to provide, armored car personnel, security officers, personal protection specialists, private investigators, couriers, security canine handlers, security canine teams, detector canine handlers, detector canine teams, alarm respondents, locksmiths, central station dispatchers, electronic security employees, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians and their assistants to another person under contract, expressed or implied.