Ohio: Armed Security Officers
Legislation and Details for Ohio
Ohio Revised Code Title 47
Chapter 4749: PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS; SECURITY SERVICES
and
Ohio Administrative Code
Chapter 4501:7-1 Private Investigator Security Guard Services
In Ohio, security guards do not need to obtain a license, but the security company employing officers must vet their applicants and then register them with the state in order to abide by mandated state requirements
A security guard is permitted to carry a firearm while working if he/she has completed the appropriate firearm training and has a PISGS registration card with a firearm-bearer (FAB) endorsement that has not expired.
In order to register an unarmed employee as an armed security guard, the employing company must file a firearm-bearer notation application.
$15 Initial application fee
$15 Initial FAB application
$15 Renewal application fee
See: Employee Registration Application form (PSU 0015) and Firearm-Bearer Notation Application (PSU 0016)
Employee’s must be registered by their employing company one year after prior registration.
See: §4749.06
Individual security service providers must display a “Wall License.”
See: Wall License Example
Any person or entity providing investigatory or security services in the state of Ohio must have a license from PISGS to provide such services.
See: FAQs
An age requirement is not explicitly mentioned anywhere.
A citizenship requirement is not explicitly mentioned anywhere.
However, the Employee Registration Application calls for a Social Security Number.
See: Employee Registration Application Form
Not Required
According to Ohio Revised Code 4749.06(E):
Commissioned peace officers, as defined in division (B) of section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, working for, either as an employee or independent contractor, a class A, B, or C licensee are exempt from registration.
Not Required. However, the FAB does not permit the individual to carry firearm off-duty.
See: OH Rev Code §4749.06(D)
At the same time, the possession of an Ohio Conceal Carry Weapon (CCW) permit does not qualify an individual to carry a firearm while working as a security guard.
In order to carry a firearm while working, ALL of the following steps must be taken:
1. Successfully complete a private security firearm training course (20 hours) at an approved Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) training facility and receive a completion certificate
OR, for currently commissioned Ohio peace officers, provide OPOBTC certificate and most recent score sheet
2. Pass an FBI background check
3. The company for which the individual is registered submits an application to PISGS for a firearm-bearer endorsement (FAB) on the individual’s registration
4. The individual receives a registration card from their company with the firearm-bearer (FAB) endorsement from PISGS
5. The individual carries the registration card with the FAB endorsement whenever carrying a firearm while working
6. The type of weapon carried matches the type of weapon the FAB endorsement lists on the registration card.
See: FAQs
The employee receives a notation on the employee’s identification card that the employee is a firearm-bearer and carries the identification card whenever the employee carries a firearm in the course of engaging in the business of security services.
See: OH Rev Code §4749.10(A)(3)
No baseline requirement.
According to OH Rev Code §4749.06(A)(2):
The employee shall submit one complete set of fingerprints directly to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation for the purpose of conducting a criminal records check.
Fingerprints have to be submitted electronically through WebCheck.
See: Fingerprint Information
Applicants for a Firearm-Bearer notification shall notify the bureau of criminal investigations (BCI) at the time fingerprinting. BCI shall make a request to the federal bureau of investigation (FBI) about the employee.
See: OH Admin Code 4501:7-1-09(B)(1)(a)
No baseline requirement
No baseline requirement
According to OH Rev Code §4749.06(B)(3):
An employee applicant cannot have been charged with a disqualifying offense as defined in section 4776.10 of the Revised Code within the last three years.
According to OH Rev Code §4776.10(C):
A disqualifying offense means an offense that is a felony and that has a direct nexus to an individual’s proposed or current field of licensure, certification, or employment. According to OH Rev Code §4776.10(B), Direct nexus means that the nature of the offense for which the individual was convicted or to which the individual pleaded guilty has a direct bearing on the fitness or ability of the individual to perform one or more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related to a particular occupation, profession, or trade.
Ohio Admin Code 4501:7-1-19(B) provides a detailed list of disqualifying offenses.
Not Required
According to OH Rev Code §4749.10
The employee applicant shall satisfactorily complete a firearms basic training program that includes twenty hours of handgun training and five hours of training in the use of other firearms.
However, the applicant does not need to complete this if the applicant has satisfactorily completed firearms training that has been approved by the commission as being equivalent to such a program and has received written evidence of approval of that training from the executive director of the commission; or the licensee or employee is a former peace officer, as defined in section 109.71 of the revised code, who previously has successfully completed a firearms training course at a training school approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission and has received a certificate or other evidence of satisfactory completion of that course from the executive director of the commission.
Not Required
A license, which, according to OH Rev Code §3123, is a certificate, permit, registration, or other authorization to engage in an occupation or profession, may be suspended or revoked for failure to pay child support.