Unarmed

• New Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience
• Rookie Security Guard Training: 0-12 Months on Duty
• Pro Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty

Armed

• New Security Guard Training: No Security Guard Experience
• Pro Security Guard Training: >1 Year on Duty

New Jersey New Unarmed Security Guard Training Requirements

New Jersey security guards are regulated under the Security Officer Registration Act (SORA).  SORA defines a security  officer to be  any person who performs any of the following functions or activities as an employee, agent or subcontractor of a security officer company for a fee, hire or reward, not withstanding the fact that other functions and activities may also be performed by the same person for fee, hire or reward.

Type of Security Guard License Required & Issuing Authority

• License Type: Security Officer Registration
• NJ Security Officer License Length: 2 years
• NJ Security Officer Licensing Authority: New Jersey
• NJ Security Officer Licensing Website:  njsp.org

License Laws

• Security Officer Registration Act (SORA)

NJ Security Officer ID Cards

You will be issued a registered security officer identification card. You must not lend, let or allow any other person to use, possess, exhibit or display your security officer ID card. You cannot use, possess, exhibit or display any license, card, shield or badge of any design or material purporting to authorize the holder or wearer to act as a security officer, unless such person holds a valid certificate of registration as a security officer.   If you violate the security officer ID rules, you can be found guilty of a crime of the fourth degree in addition to any other crime or offense specified by law.

Temporary Security Guard License

New Jersey New Unarmed Security Guard Training & Fees

• 30 Days: 24 Hours,  We’ve seen costs between $125 and $175 advertised online. Cost varies by location and training instructor.

A SORA training course includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

• NJ Guard Training Academy Orientation
• NJ Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy
• Terrorism Awareness
• Cargo Theft
• Security Measures: Prevention and Deterrence
• New Jersey’s Critical Infrastructure Awareness
• Suspicious Letters and Packages
• Suicide bombers and Vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIED’s)
• First Aid Awareness
• Incident Command System
• Ethics
• Report Writing
• Street Gangs
• Verbal Judo

Active Law Enforcement Security Officer Training Exemptions

Active law enforcement officers are exempt from the 24 hour mandated training course. However, fingerprinting is required through MorphoTrak. Upon retirement or termination of employment as a law enforcement officer, the training exemption is no longer applicable and completing the 24 hour security officer training course provided by a certified SORA instructor is mandatory for the continued validity of the SORA certification.

Security Guard Background Check & Fingerprinting Fees

You must be fingerprinted using the MorphoTrak form provided at the end of the Security Officer application. This form is already filled out with the required information for fingerprinting.  To schedule an appointment, which is commonly 2-3 weeks away, go online to www.bioapplicant.com/nj.

NJ Background Check

• Amount: $67.50 payable when scheduling  your appointment. ($11 cancellation fee or rescheduling fee before Noon on the business day prior to scheduled appointment. You will also be charge $11 if you cannot present proper ID or the proper and current version of the Universal Fingerprint form.)
• Payment Types Accepted

• • money orders
  • credit cards

Security Guard Application Fees

Crimes involving moral turpitude, control substances and any fourth degree crime or greater prohibits you from becoming a security guard in NJ. Remember the police will not refund your application fee for any reason. Hence, if you think you might have something on your criminal record that would disqualify you from becoming a guard, contact the NJ State Police for guidance before you apply to help prevent losing your $75 security guard application fee.

• Fee: $75 Non refundable
• Payment Types Accepted:
  • Debit or credit card by Visa or MasterCard
  • Visa gift card

• Payable To: Use online registration form.

Security Officer Application Process

To be an unarmed security officer in NJ, you need to complete three major steps. If you  don’t complete all three steps within 30 days, your 30 day temporary security ID expires and you can no longer work as a guard. You then have to start the registration process over, but you won’t get another 30 day temporary security ID.

The amount of time it takes to get your guard license depends on how fast you complete each step of the process. It only takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete the online registration form with the police department. Obviously, the training course is 24 hours, so it could be two days of 12 hour classes or 3 days of 8 hour classes. However, you have to get into a scheduled class, which could take a few days or a few weeks depending on your location. Fingerprinting only takes about 10 minutes once you are at the fingerprinting location. After completing all 3 steps and you clear the background check,  the police can usually issue your SORA card by mail within 15 business days.

NJ Security Officer Training Locations

• NJ Guard Training Academy: Vocational school that also helps you with finding a security guard job.
• At the end of the online security officer application there is a link to browse the instructor registry. The list of instructors can be searched by zip code, state/county or by an instructor’s last name. It is your responsibility to contact an instructor and schedule the 24 hour training class within 30 days from the date of your application. You can also view a complete list of certified instructors here.

NJ Unarmed Security Officer License Renewal

90 days prior to expiration, you will be notified via email that it is time to renew. Subsequent emails are sent at 60 days and 30 days prior to expiration. Emails are sent to the email address that is listed on your personal profile when you submitted your security officer application online. When you log back into the NJ State Police system, click Submit Renewal.

Renew Every: 2 years

Renewal Fee: $82.55 paid using Visa or MasterCard.

Background Check  Fee: $25.30 Archive Fingerprint Fee. Automatically submits fingerprints for new background check without you needing to get fingerprinted again.

Security Officer Re-certification Training in NJ

The Security Officer Registration Ac (SORA) requires re-Certification training or refresher course of 8 hours, which can include such topics as:

• NJ Attorney General’s Use of Force Policy
• Ethics
• Report Writing

The cost of your renewal training can be between $50 and $75. You must complete your refresher training with a SORA certified instructor before you security office registration expires.

Armed Security Officer License Requirements in New Jersey