Tennessee: Armed Security Officers
Legislation and Details for Tennessee
Tennessee Code Title 62 – Professions, Businesses and Trades
Chapter 35 – Private Protective Services Licensing and Regulatory Act
And
Rules of Department of Commerce and Insurance
Division of Regulatory Boards
Chapter 0780-05-02 Private Protective Services
In Tennessee, the licensure process is reserved to entities offering security services- whether individual, corporate or partnership. As the regulations indicate, the licensee must have a strong experiential background of at least 3 years in a managerial position.
For the individual security guard or officer, the call is for a registration card rather than a license.
62-35-115. Registration cards – Guards, officers and agents.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, it is unlawful for any individual to act as an armed or unarmed security guard/officer without having first obtained the appropriate registration card from the commissioner.
(b) Any individual who holds a valid armed security guard/officer registration card may act as an armed or unarmed security guard/officer under that registration card.
Proprietary Security Organizations are not subject to licensure, but have to notify the commissioner in writing and maintain a Certificate of Insurance. However, when working in either a proprietary or contract security services setting, the individual security officer must be registered.
Note that an armed guard need not maintain registration status as “unarmed” since the candidate has met the requirements.
Fees:
$105 Application Fee
$35.15 Fingerprint Fee
$60 Renewal Fee
The registration must be renewed every two years.
Reciprocity varies by the state.
The applicant must be at least 21 years of age
The applicant must be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien
See: Tennessee Private Protective Services official website
No baseline requirement
TN Code §62-35-103 provides an extensive list of exempt professions not covers under the chapter.
Not required
The application or registration card shall be exhibited upon request of the commissioner, the commissioner’s designee, a full-time law enforcement officer or an employer to verify that the security officer/guard is working pursuant to the requirements of this chapter.
See: Tennessee Code 62-35-120
The applicant must be of good moral character
All applicants are required to utilize electronic fingerprint submission. The fee is $35.15.
The applicant must not be suffering from habitual drunkenness or narcotics addiction or dependence
Must not have been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease unless a court of competent jurisdiction has since declared the applicant competent.
Tenn. Code Ann. 62-35-116(a)(10) requires that all applicants provide a statement of all convictions and pending charges of a felony or a misdemeanor in any jurisdiction.
Tenn. Code Ann. 62-35-117(4) requires that persons convicted of any of the following offenses must have completed serving sentence or court ordered probation at least five years prior to making application.
Conviction of the following crimes shall disqualify an applicant, if the applicant has not completed sentence or court ordered probation at least five years prior to making application:
Any felony or misdemeanor involving shooting a firearm or other weapon, shoplifting, assault and battery or other act of violence against persons or property, crimes involving the sale, manufacture or distribution of controlled substances, drugs or narcotics, theft of property or theft of services.
Tenn. Code Ann. 62-35-130(a) states that the Commissioner may deny an application for registration upon finding that the applicant has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of any felony or of a misdemeanor, if the Commissioner finds that such conviction reflects unfavorably on the fitness for such registration.
Not Required
Must complete a four hour basic unarmed course including one-hour each of:
• Orientation – Tennessee Private Protective Services Licensing and Regulatory Act and Administrative Rules, Role of a Security Officer and Attitude and COnduct of Security Officers.
• Legal powers and limitations of a security guard/officer – Authority (T.C.A. 62-35) and Criminal and Civil LAws and Liabiltiies (T.C.A. 39 & 40).
• Emergency procedures – General First Aid and Emergency Evacuation and Notification Procedures.
• General Duties – PAtrol Procedures (foot and vehicle), General Security Terminology (inlcuding access control, etc.) and Report Writing.
Examination – Seventy percent (70%) required. Minimum of twenty-five (25) questions relating to the above listed topics.
Must complete eight additional classroom hours of firearms training in the following subjects:
• Legal limitations and liability issues on the use of a firearms (4 hours) – explain and define T.C.A. 62-35, 39 and 40, explain and
define relevant Federal laws and regulations of possession and ownership of firearms and ammunition,
explain and define Tennessee’s self-defense laws and explain and define Tenneessee’s Law regarding the use of deadly force.
• Handling of a Firearm (3 hours) – Proper firearm carry procedures and holsters, safe retention procedures, basics of markmanship, firearm nomenclature
and firearm operation and function.
• Safety and Maintenance (1 hour) – Safe firearm handling, firearm storage at home, work adn transporting and cleaning and care of a firearm.
Examination – Seventy percent (70%) required. Minimum of fifty (50) questions relating to the above listed topics.
Must complete an additional four hours of range training:
• Handgun range qualifications – fire range safety, loading and unloading hadngun, drawing and holstering the handgun and minimum course of fire.
• Shot gun range qualifications – firing range safety, loading and unloading shotgun and minimum course of fire.
Examination – Seventy percent (70%) required. Achieve a minimum of Seventy (70%) on any approved silhouette target.
See: Training curriculum.
Rule 0780-05-02.09
The examination(s), which must be passed by an applicant for a new registration card, will be administered and graded by the applicant’s certified trainer. Such examination(s) shall be:
(a) Written
(b) Designed primarily to measure the applicant’s knowledge in the field of security guard and patrol service generally, rather than in policies, procedures, or requirements associated with a particular contract security company or proprietary security organization, and
(c) Subject to review and evaluation by the Commissioner at any reasonable time upon request.
Firearms License
Must achieve a minimum of 70% of any silhouette target course approved by the commissioner
See: Section 0780-05-02.09 and Tennessee Private Protective Services official website
No baseline requirement