GuardlanternNew Jersey security guard requirements
To work as a security guard in New Jersey, a person must be registered with the New Jersey State Police under the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) before working. The 24-hour SORA course is completed within 30 days of applying, and an 8-hour refresher comes before each renewal: every two years for unarmed officers and every year for armed officers, who also need a permit to carry a handgun. Employers report new hires and resignations within 5 business days.
Who regulates security guards in New Jersey
New Jersey State Police, Private Detective Unit (SORA)
License
- Unarmed: SORA registration (valid 2 years)
- Armed: Armed SORA registration (renewed every year); NJ Permit to Carry a Handgun
- No work before the SORA registration is issued (working unregistered is a fourth-degree crime). Armed registrations renew every year.
Required training
| Course | Hours | When |
|---|---|---|
| 24-hour SORA initial training | 24 | Within 30 days of the initial application |
| 8-hour SORA refresher training | 8 | Before each 2-year renewal (each yearly renewal for armed officers) |
Pay rules
- Minimum wage: $15.92. $15.92 in 2026 and $16.48 from January 1, 2027; employers with fewer than 6 employees and seasonal employers pay $15.23 / $16.25.
- 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: 1 hour per 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours a year, for employers of every size. New hires can use it from day 120.
What the employer must do
- Report to New Jersey State Police within 5 days of a hire or separation (SORA employee report). New hires and resignations within 5 business days; terminations for cause within 48 hours, with the reasons.
- Get a signed, notarized NJSP employee statement from each hire.
- Keep work records for each officer (dates, hours, post, duties) for the length of employment plus 5 years.
- Issue a company ID card; the State Police can inspect offices and posts at any time.
- Firearms requalification for armed officers was not confirmed from an official source; check with NJSP.
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 New Jersey?
24 hours: 24-hour SORA initial training (within 30 days of the initial application); 8 hours: 8-hour SORA refresher training (before each 2-year renewal (each yearly renewal for armed officers)).
How long is a New Jersey security guard license valid?
The SORA registration is valid for 2 years. No work before the SORA registration is issued (working unregistered is a fourth-degree crime). Armed registrations renew every year.
What is the minimum wage in New Jersey?
$15.92 an hour, rising to $16.48 on January 1, 2027. Overtime: time and a half after 40 hours a week.
Sources
- P.L.2015 c.295 (SORA)
- P.L.2017 c.351 (SORA amendments)
- N.J.A.C. 13:55A-4.1 (initial training)
- N.J.A.C. 13:55A-4.2 (refresher training)
- N.J.A.C. 13:55A-6.3 (employee reports)
- NJ DOL: 2027 minimum wage
- NJ DOL: Earned sick leave
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