Security guard job description template: post type, armed or unarmed, and state guard license lines
On this page
"Security officer, unarmed, must have guard card" is a start, but it is the post that makes or breaks a security hire. A quiet overnight lobby, a hospital emergency department, a moving vehicle patrol and a stadium gate need different people. A useful security guard job description names the post type, armed or unarmed status, the exact state license the guard must hold, the shift pattern and how much the guard works alone. Below are the post types, the license lines for three states with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and the mistakes that bring in the wrong applicants. The phone screen itself is covered in security guard screening questions.
Name the post type
| Post type | What the shift looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Access control or front desk | Badge checks, visitor logs, deliveries, camera monitoring, customer service | Calm, polite enforcement of access rules; basic computer use for visitor systems |
| Mobile patrol | Driving between client sites, lock-ups, alarm responses, written reports per stop | Driver's license and driving record that meets the insurer's standard; works alone |
| Armed post | Banks, cash handling, high-risk sites; firearm carried on duty | State armed license or permit, current qualification |
| Healthcare | Emergency department, behavioral health units, patient watches, workplace violence response | De-escalation with people in crisis; works with clinical staff |
| Event or crowd | Bag checks, gates, crowd flow, short intense shifts | Availability for event dates; works in loud, crowded settings |
Settle with the account or site manager: armed or unarmed, how many guards are on post together, whether the guard is ever alone, the post orders' main tasks, and any client requirements beyond the state license (for example a specific training course or a uniform standard). Put the alone-or-with-others line in the summary; it is one of the first things experienced guards look for.
State license lines: three examples
Not legal advice. The license points below were checked against the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and BLS as of October 2026. Every state sets its own rules; check yours before posting.
BLS notes that most states require guards to be licensed, that guards who carry weapons usually must be licensed by the appropriate authority, and that applicants must be at least 18 (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026). Three states show how different the posting line can be:
- California. A guard registration requires being at least 18, a Live Scan fingerprint check through the state Department of Justice and FBI, and Power to Arrest training before the registration is issued. Guards then complete 32 hours of skills training, 16 within 30 days of their employment date and 16 within six months, plus 8 hours of continuing training every year. Carrying a firearm, baton or tear gas requires separate permits (BSIS guard fact sheet).
- Texas. The Department of Public Safety licenses non-commissioned and commissioned security officers (Texas DPS license types). Level II training is required for all of them, and Level III training (at least 45 hours, with a course of fire) for commissioned officers, who must also show firearm proficiency (Texas DPS training).
- Florida. A Class D security officer license requires being at least 18 and 40 hours of training from a licensed school or facility (FDACS Class D). A Class D licensee who carries a firearm must also hold a Class G license, which requires 28 hours of classroom and range training (FDACS Class G).
Posting lines that follow: "Active California guard registration (guard card)"; "Texas non-commissioned security officer license, or commissioned for armed posts"; "Florida Class D license (Class G for armed posts)." If you sponsor training for new guards, say so and give the timeline.
The security guard job description template
Security Officer — [Unarmed / Armed], [Access Control / Mobile
Patrol / Healthcare / Event], [Days / Swing / Nights / Weekends]
[Company], post at [site type, city, state]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per hour, plus [armed differential $N/hour,
overtime pattern, holiday pay]. [Benefits summary, if required.]
SUMMARY
You will protect [a corporate office / a hospital / client sites
across [area] / event venues] on [shift and days]. You will work
[alone / with N other officers] and report to a [site supervisor /
field supervisor by phone]. Main duties are [access control and
patrols / alarm response / patient watches].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Follow the post orders for [access control, patrol routes, alarm
response].
- Patrol on foot [or by vehicle] and check doors, alarms and
hazards.
- Observe and report incidents; call police, fire or EMS when
needed and notify your supervisor.
- Write clear daily activity and incident reports in [system].
- De-escalate conflicts by talking first, following our use-of-force
policy.
- [Monitor cameras / manage visitor and contractor sign-in.]
YOU MUST HAVE
- At least [18 / 21] years old.
- [State license line, for example "Active California guard
registration" / "Texas non-commissioned security officer license"
/ "Florida Class D license"], or [completion of state training
within [N] days, which we sponsor].
- [Armed posts: [state firearm license or permit] and current
qualification.]
- [Mobile patrol: valid driver's license and a record that meets our
insurer's standard.]
- Availability for [shift pattern, weekends, holidays].
- Ability to stand, walk and patrol for [N]-hour shifts, with or
without reasonable accommodation.
NICE TO HAVE
- Experience at [healthcare / corporate / event] posts.
- First aid, CPR or de-escalation training.
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
FIXED CONDITIONS
- Uniform [provided]; [boots / equipment you supply].
- Offers subject to [license verification, background check, drug
test] as permitted by law.
[EEO STATEMENT]
To request an adjustment to apply or interview, contact [contact].Pay, record checks and EEO
Post the hourly range and every differential (armed, nights, holidays) separately. The BLS profile for security guards and gambling surveillance officers linked above publishes pay data; this page does not quote figures. The state checks the record for the license, so the posting does not need a blanket "no criminal history" line, which the EEOC's guidance on arrest and conviction records warns against and many fair chance laws restrict; see ban-the-box interview questions. If you also run your own background check through a vendor, follow the FCRA background check process. Close with an EEO statement covering the characteristics the EEOC lists.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| State license | "Which license do you hold, what number, and when does it expire?" | Not scored: verified on the state lookup | Matches the state record; armed status matches the post |
| Post experience | "Describe your last post: the site, the shift, how many officers, and your main tasks." | Relevant experience | Specific site type, tasks and whether they worked alone |
| De-escalation | "Someone without a badge insists on getting past you to see a manager. What do you say and do?" | Conflict handling | Calm, explains the rule, offers to call the person, involves the supervisor; no physical contact as a first step |
| Reporting | "After an incident, what goes in your report?" | Written reporting | Time, place, people, what they saw and did, who was notified, facts rather than opinions |
| Shift | "The post is Friday to Monday nights, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., alone. Does that work?" | Not scored | Knockout confirmed |
Fuller question sets are in security guard screening questions. If you are filling a site or shift lead role, use security officer supervisor screening questions for the extra leadership and scheduling questions.
Common mistakes in security guard job descriptions
"Guard card required" in a state that calls it something else
Use the state's license name so out-of-state applicants know what they need.
Not saying armed or unarmed
It changes the license, the pay and the applicant pool. Put it in the title.
Hiding solo work
Some guards want quiet solo posts; others will not take them. Say how many officers are on post.
Physical tests as fixed numbers
Describe the real duties (patrol distance, stairs, standing time) and add an accommodation contact rather than a generic lifting figure.
Before you publish
- Post type, armed status and shift are in the title.
- The state license line uses the state's own name, with armed licensing where it applies.
- Solo or team work and the supervisor contact are in the summary.
- Pay and every differential are stated.
- No blanket record line; the EEO statement and an accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
Does a security guard need a license?
In most states, yes, and the rules are set by each state. California requires a guard registration from the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, Texas licenses non-commissioned and commissioned security officers through the Department of Public Safety, and Florida requires a Class D security officer license. Name the exact license for your state in the posting.
What extra license does an armed security guard need?
Armed guards usually need a separate firearm license or permit, and BLS notes that guards who carry weapons usually must be licensed. In California it is a firearms permit on top of the guard registration; in Texas an armed officer holds a commissioned security officer license, which requires Level III training of at least 45 hours with a course of fire; in Florida a Class G license with 28 hours of classroom and range training is required to carry a firearm.
Can a security guard start work before finishing state training?
It depends on the state. In California, for example, Power to Arrest training must be completed before the registration is issued, and 32 hours of skills training follow, 16 within 30 days of employment and 16 within six months. Check your state's timeline and say in the posting whether you hire candidates who are still completing training.
Should a security guard posting say no criminal record?
No. States run their own background checks for guard licenses, and blanket record exclusions raise problems under EEOC guidance and fair chance laws. Say that the role requires a state guard license and that offers are subject to the checks the law allows.