Indiana: Armed Security Officers
Legislation and Details for Indiana
Indiana Code Title 35 Criminal Law and Procedure
Article 47 Weapons and instruments of Violence
Chapter 2. Regulation of Handguns
In Indiana, only security businesses are subject to licensure. It is the licensee’s responsibility to oversee their unarmed and armed employees.
The legislation regulating the private security business does not mention any requirements for armed employees. Hence, in order to become an armed security officer, a firearms license is required.
Firearms Handgun Licensing Application Fees (Effective July 1, 2021):
Five Year Personal Protection
Local Fee $0
State Fee $0
Lifetime Personal Protection
Local Fee $0
State Fee $0
Retired Law Enforcement Officer: Fee Exempt
Retired Law Corrections Officer: Fee Exempt
Duplicate $20.00 State fee
Additional Fees: All NEW license applications incur a $12.95 fee for IDEMIA Electronic Fingerprinting. Additionally, ALL license applications incur an IN.gov processing fee of $1.00 plus 2% of the transaction amount added to the price of the service.
See: Indiana State Police – Firearms Licensing
Indiana has recently implemented a new electronic web portal for hand gun licensing.
See: Apply for a New License to Carry
For further information on the licensing process, visit: Firearms License Application
Indiana requires an in-state license in the matter of security services. The Regulation states:
IC 25-30-1-14
Nonresidents Sec. 14. It shall be unlawful for a person licensed by any other state to do business in Indiana unless the person is
licensed and authorized to do business in Indiana. A person may not do business in Indiana until the person is licensed with the board
and meets the requirements for licensees of this state.
Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
See: IC 35-47-2-3(g)(3)
Applicant must be:
(A) a citizen of the United States; or
(B) not a citizen of the United States but is allowed to carry a firearm in the United States under federal law;
See: IC 35-47-2-3(e)(4)
None required
Retired law enforcement and retired corrections officers can apply for a retired law enforcement and retired corrections officer license card instead of a handgun license.
See: Indiana State Police – Firearms Licensing
A firearms license is required
Effective July 1, 2022, Indiana will have a permitless carry option providing you meet the criteria of a proper person under Indiana law. If you choose to carry under the permitless option, it is recommended that you speak to an attorney to determine your personal compliance with IC 35- 47-2-1.5 prior to carrying a handgun under this new law. You may still apply for a lifetime or 5 year firearms permit and the Indiana State Police will conduct the necessary checks to determine if you are a proper person under Indiana statute. For more information on permitless carry click the following link Permitless Carry Information.
Indiana now requires a Firearms License ID Card.
See: Firearms Licensing
Effective July 1, 2022, Indiana will have a permitless carry option providing you meet the criteria of a proper person under Indiana law. If you choose to carry under the permitless option, it is recommended that you speak to an attorney to determine your personal compliance with IC 35- 47-2-1.5 prior to carrying a handgun under this new law. You may still apply for a lifetime or 5 year firearms permit and the Indiana State Police will conduct the necessary checks to determine if you are a proper person under Indiana statute. For more information on permitless carry click the following link Permitless Carry Information.
No baseline requirement
The applicant has to submit one (1) set of legible and classifiable fingerprints to the superintendent.
See: IC 35-47-2-3(c)
The ISP Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Section has partnered with IDEMIA to provide electronic applicant fingerprinting to better serve the needs of Indiana Citizens. Fingerprinting service centers have been established throughout Indiana to take Applicant Fingerprints for Electronic submission to ISP for Processing. All criminal history processing will be performed by ISP Personnel; No criminal history information will be available to IDEMIA.
Applicant cannot have a record of being an alcohol or drug abuser.
See: IC 35-47-1-7(5)
Indiana has been criticized for its lack of oversight on handguns permits and its correlation to mental and emotional health problems. The code allows the superintendent of the state police to deny a license for discretionary reasons which does not preclude mental health. In addition, the actual application asks for mental health history. In the most general sense, the Indiana code provisions dealing with application procedures references that an applicant must be a “proper person” which directly references mental health qualities using the following language:
(6) does not have documented evidence which would give rise to a reasonable belief that he has a propensity for violent or emotionally unstable conduct.
See: IC 35-47-1-7
Indiana state police, by and through its licensing unit, oversees all background investigations and is permitted by the Indiana code to solicit information from state, local and national sources for criminal checks.
See: Indiana Code Title 35. Criminal Law and Procedure Article 47. Weapons and Instruments of Violence
None required
None required
None required
No baseline requirement