Rhode Island like selected other states, does not directly license security officers. Instead, the state licenses firms or entities offering security services and promulgates rules as to competency,
qualification for employed security officers through a registration system.
Whether an individual, partnership or corporation dedicated to security services, the state licenses that form of entity.

See: More information on the individual application to do business

Registered security employees are not subject to the same level of regulatory scrutiny as individual security services providers. Rhode island requires that each employee to “execute a verified statement known as ’employee’s registration statement'”.
See: Rules and Regulations 15.4

The registration process only becomes mandatory after a conditional offer of employment to the licensee.
The rules require the licensee to assure compliance with background reviews, training and weapons permit.
See: Rules and Regulations – Relating to The Licensing And Regulation
of The Private Security Guard Business

The individual seeking to be employed as an armed security officer is required to obtain a Pistol Permit from the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

$400   License Fee – If working as an individual business .

$40   Firearms License Fee – valid for four years

$35   Criminal Background Check fee for employee registration. This fee has to be paid for every individual employee.

See: More information on security license application fees

The applicant must be 21 years of age

See: Rhode Island General Laws (RI Gen L) § 11-47-11 License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver

The applicant must maintain a “bona fide resident” status

See: Rhode Island General Laws (RI Gen L) § 11-47-11 License or permit to carry concealed pistol or revolver

In considering each individual application for a pistol permit the Attorney General must determine whether or not the applicant has demonstrated a proper showing of need to carry a loaded firearm in public, and consider the individual’s demonstration of skill and responsibility to safely carry and use a firearm in compliance with all State, Federal and local laws. Because a loaded, concealed firearm in untrained hands presents danger to the public and the applicant, the Attorney General must consider countervailing risks to the public in assessing need.
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 4) for factors that the Attorney General considers when assessing an applicant’s proper showing of need.

RI Gen L § 11-47-9 Persons exempt from restrictions.
(a)   The provisions of § 11-47-8 shall not apply to sheriffs; deputy sheriffs; the superintendent and members of the state police; members of the Rhode Island airport police department; members of the Rhode Island state marshals; Rhode Island state fire marshal; chief deputy state fire marshals; deputy state fire marshals assigned to the bomb squad, and those assigned to the investigation unit; Providence fire department arson investigators, provided that the investigator receiving the permit is a graduate of a police-training academy; correctional officers, within the department of corrections; members of the city or town police force; capitol police investigators of the department of attorney general appointed pursuant to § 42-9-8.1; the witness protection coordinator for the witness protection review board as set forth in chapter 30 of title 12 and subject to the minimum qualifications of § 42-9-8.1; automobile theft investigators of the Rhode Island state police pursuant to § 31-50-1; railroad police while traveling to and from official assignments or while on assignments; conservation officers; or other duly appointed law enforcement officers; nor to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps of the United States, the National Guard, or organized reserves, when on duty; nor to members of organizations by law authorized to purchase or receive firearms from the United States or this state, provided these members are at, or going to or from, their places of assembly or target practice; nor to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry a concealed firearm; nor to any civilian guard or criminal investigator carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of his or her official duties under the authority of the commanding officer of the military establishment in the state of Rhode Island where he or she is employed by the United States; nor to any civilian guard carrying sidearms or a concealed firearm in the performance of his or her official duties under the authority of the adjutant general where he or she is employed guarding a national guard facility, provided, that the commanding officer of the military establishment shall have on file with the attorney general of this state a list of the names and addresses of all civilian guards and criminal investigators so authorized; nor to duly authorized military organizations when on duty; nor to members when at, or going to or from, their customary places of assembly; nor to any individual employed in the capacity of warden, associate warden, major, captain, lieutenant, sergeant, correctional officer or investigator at any project owned or operated by a municipal detention facility corporation, including the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility; nor to the regular and/or ordinary transportation of pistols or revolvers as merchandise; nor to any person while transporting a pistol, or revolvers, unloaded from the place of purchase to their residence; or place of business, from their residence to their place of business or from their place of business to their residence, or to a federal firearms licensee for the purpose of sale, to or from a bona fide gunsmith, or firearms repair facility, to any police station or other location designated as a site of a bona fide “gun buy-back” program, but only if said pistol or revolver is unloaded and any ammunition for said pistol or revolver is not readily or directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such vehicle while transporting same and further provided, that in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the passenger compartment, the firearm or the ammunition shall be stored in a locked container.

(b)   Persons exempted by the provisions of this section from the provisions of § 11-47-8 shall have the right to carry concealed firearms everywhere within this state; provided, that this shall not be construed as giving the right to carry concealed firearms to a person transporting firearms as merchandise or as household or business goods.

Weapons Carry Permit required

In applying for the permit to carry a pistol or revolver, you must familiarize yourself with the policy regarding the issues of the permit.

In considering each individual application for a pistol permit the Attorney General must determine whether or not the applicant has demonstrated a proper showing of need to carry a loaded firearm in public, and consider the individual’s demonstration of skill and responsibility to safely carry and use a firearm in compliance with all State, Federal and local laws.
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 4)

Note: Legislation uses the words ‘permit’ and ‘license’ interchangeably.

The attorney general shall prescribe by regulation the form of identification cards that may be carried by persons licensed under this chapter.
See: Rules and Regulations 17.1

The Attorney General may by rule require the employer to provide information to show the good character, competency, and integrity of the employee.
See: Rules and Regulations – Relating to The Licensing And Regulation
of The Private Security Guard Business Section 15.4

8. All new pistol permits issued from this office must have a full set of
applicant’s fingerprints submitted on a
FBI FINGERPRINT APPLICANT CARD
[FD-258 (Rev. 12-29-82)] included with be application. Fingerprint card must be signed by applicant.

See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 34)

§ 11-47-6 Mental incompetents, drug addicts, and drunkards prohibited from possession.

No person who is under guardianship or treatment or confinement by virtue of being a mental incompetent, or who has been adjudicated or is under treatment or confinement as a drug addict, or who has been adjudicated or is under treatment or confinement as an habitual drunkard, shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her
possession or under his or her control any firearm. Any person affected by the provisions of this section, other than a person who has been pronounced criminally insane by competent medical authority, after the lapse of a period of five (5) years from the date of being pronounced cured by competent medical authority, may, upon
presentation of an affidavit issued by competent medical authority to the effect that he or she is a mentally stable person and a proper person to possess firearms, make application for the purchase of the firearm(s). Any person affected by the provisions of this section, in making application for the purchase of firearms and in executing
the application, thereby voluntarily waives his or her right to refuse or refrain from disclosing any confidential information, including, but not limited to, any information arising from the physician-patient relationship, pertinent to a determination by the proper authorities regarding the approval or disapproval of this application.
Any person affected by the provisions of this section, in making application for the
purchase of firearms and in executing the application, further agrees to allow the proper authorities to investigate any and all medical records of the applicant pertinent to a determination by the authorities regarding the approval or disapproval of this application. In the event that the application is approved and if the person has no other disqualifying record he or she will be allowed to purchase and possess firearms
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 12)

§ 11-47-6 Mental incompetents, drug addicts, and drunkards prohibited from possession.

No person who is under guardianship or treatment or confinement by virtue of being a mental incompetent, or who has been adjudicated or is under treatment or confinement as a drug addict, or who has been adjudicated or is under treatment or confinement as an habitual drunkard, shall purchase, own, carry, transport, or have in his or her
possession or under his or her control any firearm. Any person affected by the provisions of this section, other than a person who has been pronounced criminally insane by competent medical authority, after the lapse of a period of five (5) years from the date of being pronounced cured by competent medical authority, may, upon
presentation of an affidavit issued by competent medical authority to the effect that he or she is a mentally stable person and a proper person to possess firearms, make application for the purchase of the firearm(s). Any person affected by the provisions of this section, in making application for the purchase of firearms and in executing
the application, thereby voluntarily waives his or her right to refuse or refrain from disclosing any confidential information, including, but not limited to, any information arising from the physician-patient relationship, pertinent to a determination by the proper authorities regarding the approval or disapproval of this application.
Any person affected by the provisions of this section, in making application for the
purchase of firearms and in executing the application, further agrees to allow the proper authorities to investigate any and all medical records of the applicant pertinent to a determination by the authorities regarding the approval or disapproval of this application. In the event that the application is approved and if the person has no other disqualifying record he or she will be allowed to purchase and possess firearms
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 12)

The licensee must assure that registered employees are screened for the following:
•   the business or occupation engaged in for the last five (5) years preceding the date of the
filing of the statement, setting forth the places where such business or occupation was
engaged in, and the names of employers.
•   that he has not been convicted of a felony or of any offense involving moral turpitude.
•   any further information as the Attorney General may by rule require to show the good
character, competency, and integrity of the employee.
•   all holders of the license shall be allowed to obtain a criminal background check on any
employee or prospective employee from the Department of Attorney General upon
payment of the required fee.

See: Rules and Regulations – Relating to The Licensing And Regulation
of The Private Security Guard Business Section 15.4

The Attorney General checks the applicant’s background with state, local and federal law enforcement databases. The Attorney General may also check Court records and other sources for pending criminal cases, restraining orders and/or discrepancies in the applicant’s background, including prior history of mental illness.
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet – Procedures (page 3)

Three references and reference letters are required for new applications for licenses to carry a concealed weapon and are to be submitted with the application.
See: Weapons Carry Permit Packet (page 34)