GuardlanternFlorida security guard requirements
To work as a security guard in Florida, a person needs a Class D Security Officer License from the FDACS Division of Licensing, which requires 40 hours of training before applying. Armed guards also need a Class G Statewide Firearm License: 28 hours of firearms training first, then 4 hours of requalification every year of the two-year license. The guard company reports each hire and termination to the state within 15 days.
Who regulates security guards in Florida
License
- Unarmed: Class D Security Officer License (valid 2 years)
- Armed: Class G Statewide Firearm License (on top of a Class D)
- A Class D applicant may start work once a complete application (with the 40-hour certificate) is filed, and must stop if it is denied. No armed duty until the Class G is issued. No regulated work between expiration and renewal.
Required training
| Course | Hours | When |
|---|---|---|
| 40-hour Class D security officer training | 40 | Before applying (certificate goes with the application) |
| 28-hour Class G firearms training (armed) | 28 | Before applying for the Class G |
| 4-hour Class G firearms requalification (armed) | 4 | Each year of the license (missing year one suspends the Class G automatically) |
Pay rules
- Minimum wage: $15.00. $15.00 from September 30, 2026; indexed to inflation from January 1, 2028.
- Overtime: time and a half after 40 hours a week.
- Meal and rest breaks: No meal or rest breaks are required for adults under state law.
- Paid sick leave: No statewide paid sick leave law.
What the employer must do
- Report to FDACS Division of Licensing within 15 days of a hire or separation (licensee employment report). The agency reports every hire and termination of a licensee within 15 calendar days, with the reason for a termination.
- No continuing education for Class D officers was found in ch. 493 or rule 5N-1.140.
- A Class D expired a year or more means redoing the 40 hours; a license cannot be renewed 3 or more months after expiration.
- Report an on-duty firearm discharge within 5 working days (the officer and the agency).
- Issue each licensed employee an agency ID card; keep records in Florida for 2 years.
- The agency carries at least $300,000 of general liability insurance.
How Guardlantern tracks this
Each officer’s license expiration, the training deadlines above, pay below the state minimum, the state’s overtime rules and the employer reports are tracked automatically. An expired license blocks the officer from being scheduled or clocking in; training deadlines raise warnings before they are due.
Frequently asked questions
What training does a security guard need in Florida?
40 hours: 40-hour Class D security officer training (before applying (certificate goes with the application)).
How long is a Florida security guard license valid?
The Class D Security Officer License is valid for 2 years. A Class D applicant may start work once a complete application (with the 40-hour certificate) is filed, and must stop if it is denied. No armed duty until the Class G is issued. No regulated work between expiration and renewal.
What is the minimum wage in Florida?
$15.00 an hour. Overtime: time and a half after 40 hours a week.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. 493.6105 (applications)
- Fla. Stat. 493.6113 (renewal)
- Fla. Stat. 493.6303 (Class D training)
- Fla. Stat. 493.6112 (employment notices)
- Rule 5N-1.140 (training curriculum)
- Florida Constitution Art. X §24 (minimum wage)
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet.
Guardlantern blocks non-compliant shifts before they’re published.