Training School

Steps for Initial Certification

  1. Log into www.dcjs.virginia.gov/online to create an online account for the training school.
  2. Complete the Initial Training School Application and pay applicable non-refundable fees. 

NOTE:  Course outline and training objectives must be approved by the department prior to offering a course of instruction for enrollment.

  1. For each principal and supervisor of the applying business: submit a Criminal History Processing Form with the applicable non-refundable processing fee. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints scanned at www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364.  DCJS will automatically be notified once you have been fingerprinted.

Submit documentation to DCJS verifying that the applicant has secured the following:

  1. Certification of Insurance reflecting DCJS as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 and $300,000 issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia.
     
  2. Irrevocable Consent for Service if the school is not in Virginia.
     
  3. Identification number issued by the Virginia State Corporation Commission for verification that the entity is authorized to conduct business in Virginia.
     
  4. A physical address in Virginia where records required to be maintained by the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Administrative Code are kept and available for inspection by DCJS. Also include the physical address for all locations in Virginia in which regulated services are offered. A post office box is not considered a physical address.
     
  5. Designation of at least one individual as the training director who is not designated as training director for any other training school, and who is certified as an instructor. For more information, view the Instructor page.
     
  6. copy of the course outline for each category of training to be offered; including the hours of instruction with initial and in-service courses on separate documents.
     
  7. A copy of the training school regulations.
     
  8. A copy of the training completion certificate to be used by the training school.
     
  9. A copy of the range regulations to include the assigned DCJS range identification number, if firearms training will be offered.
  1. Complete the Renewal Training School Application after logging into or creating an account at www.dcjs.virginia.gov/online, and pay applicable non-refundable fee. 
  2. For each new principal and supervisor of the applying business: submit a Criminal History Processing Form with the applicable non-refundable processing fee. Schedule an appointment to have your fingerprints scanned at www.fieldprintvirginia.com or call 877-614-4364.  DCJS will automatically be notified once you have been fingerprinted.

Submit documentation to DCJS verifying that the applicant has secured the following:

Certification of Insurance reflecting DCJS as a certificate holder, showing a policy of comprehensive general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000 and $300,000 issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in Virginia.

A training school that is certified by DCJS for the specific purpose of training private security services business personnel in at least one category of the compulsory minimum training standards. 

Each training director/assistant training director has the authority to submit a training school roster to the DCJS electronically through our on-line system.

A single school can have four assistant training directors. 

You must possess a valid certification as a certified training school before you can offer classes. Classes must be taught by instructors certified to instruct in the categories for which the school offers instruction. 

For information on how to apply, please visit the Training School page.

A school can begin only after they have been issued a private security services training school certification or temporary certification. 

For a period of no more than 30 days, DCJS may grant a temportary exemption only in situations deemed to be an emergency by DCJS. 

The official number issued to a private security services training school certified by DCJS. The number will be 88 followed by 4 digits (88-1234). 

The certification number must be included on business advertising material, display advertisements in telephone directories, letterhead, business cards, local newspaper advertising, and contracts. 

The certification immediately becomes null and void and the school 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 certification.

The school must submit the name of a new training director who is eligible for certification within 90 days following the sole training director's termination. 

No, a training director must be designated in writing on forms provided by DCJS. 

Training school certifications are valid for 24 months. 

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 the certification expiration date.  There are limited reasons in which an individual may request an extension, for more information on extensions, see the Extension FAQ.