STATE OF CALIFORNIA—STATE AND CONSUMER SERVICES AGENCY

GOVERNOR EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

BUREAU OF SECURITY AND INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES
P.O. Box 989002
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002
(916) 322-4000
www.bsis.ca.gov

AUGUST 2002

PRIVATE PATROL OPERATOR
(FACT SHEET)

Private Patrol Operator or Qualified Manager
Requirements for Licensure
A private patrol operator operates a business that protects persons or property or prevents theft. In order for a
company to seek licensure as a Private Patrol Operator, the Qualified Manager (see below) must have passed
the licensing examination. In addition, each individual applicant, partner, or corporate officer must meet the
following requirements:
• Be 18 or older.
• Undergo a criminal history background check through the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and
• Have committed no offense or violation of the Private Security Services Act that would be grounds for
license suspension or revocation
To apply for a company license, submit the $700 company license fee, two recent passport-quality photographs
and a Private Patrol Operator Live Scan form signed by the Live Scan Operator. A $32 DOJ fingerprint
processing fee and a $19 FBI fingerprint processing fee must be paid at the Live Scan site for each applicant,
partner, and officer. Send your application to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, P.O. Box
989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002. (A Qualified Manager who is also an applicant, partner, or officer
is not required to send in another set of fingerprints or pay another fingerprint processing fee.)

Insurance
A Private Patrol Operator who employs armed security guards must have $1 million in insurance — $500,000
for one loss due to bodily injury or death, and $500,000 for one loss due to injury or destruction of property.

Qualified Manager
An individual, partnership, or corporation seeking a license as a Private Patrol Operator must specify in the
application the individual who will manage the business on a day-to-day basis.
This individual is called the Qualified Manager. (An owner, partner, or corporate officer may serve as the
Qualified Manager, or may hire someone to fill this role.) To be eligible to apply for licensure as a Qualified
Manager, you must meet the following requirements:
• Be 18 or older.
• Undergo a criminal history background check through the DOJ and the FBI.
• Have committed no offense or violation of the Private Security Services Act that would be grounds for
license suspension or revocation.

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Have one year of experience (2,000 hours) as a patrolperson, guard, or watchperson, or the equivalent.
Pass a two-hour multiple-choice examination covering the Private Security Services Act and other rules and
regulations, business knowledge, emergency procedures, security functions, and use of deadly weapons. A
copy of the Private Security Services Act is available through this link:
www.bsis.ca.gov/about_us/laws/pssact.shtml
Submit a completed application with two recent passport-quality photographs, a $500 application and
examination fee and a Private Patrol Operator Live Scan form signed by the Live Scan Operator. A $32
DOJ fingerprint processing fee and a $19 FBI fingerprint processing fee must be paid at the Live Scan site
for each applicant, partner, and officer. Send your application to the Bureau of Security and Investigative
Services, P.O. Box 989002, West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002.

To request an application for licensure as a Private Patrol Operator or qualified manager, call the Department of
Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210, or visit our Web site: www.bsis.ca.gov.

"Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the Bureau of Security and Investigative
Services in exercising licensing, regulatory and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the
public is consistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be
paramount."