GEORGIA BOARD OF PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND SECURITY AGENCIES
The Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies ("The Board") is charged with the responsibility of regulating and monitoring the certain aspects of security guard training and licensing in the State of Georgia. The Board was created with a primary public interest purpose in mind -- to safeguard the citizens of Georgia by regulating the security business.
Having been appointed by the Governor, the seven (7) members of the Board are statutorily granted the authority to:
(1) Set the qualification for licensing and regulation;
(2) Review the applications during meetings;
(3) Administer the security guard examinations;
(4) Grant licenses to qualified applicants;
(5) Regulate security guard licensees throughout Georgia; and
(6) Investigate complaints and, if appropriate, take disciplinary action.
Meetings of the Board are held in Macon, Georgia and are public proceedings (i.e., anyone is permitted to attend) However, anyone wanting to bring matters for the Board’s consideration is required to submit a written notification or request to the office.
BOARD MEMBERS
1. Anthony "Tony" Biello – Chairman
2. Pam Griggs - Vice Chair
3. Timothy "Tim" Mitchell
4. John Villines
5. Vic Reynolds
6. James “Tripp” Mitchell
7. Antonio Long
Private security companies are required to have a company license issued by the Board. Armed security guards must also be registered with a security company. Unarmed security guards are not required to be registered but must have completed the minimum number of training requirements set by board rule. The Board also licenses training instructors to regulate all training requirements for licensure, registration, and weapon permits required by the law.
INITIAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A GEORGIA UNARMED SECURITY GUARD:
As stated above, unarmed security guards need not be registered with the Board to employed. However, because security guard agencies (i.e., the companies that hire unarmed security guards) are regulated, these companies typically based their hiring criterion as if the would-be security guard was, in fact, required to be registered. Accordingly, Georgia security guard agencies usually scrutinize the backgrounds of their applicants. The following are the guidelines that the Board considers in deciding whether to grant a license to an armed security guard:
CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS
(1) Upon receipt of an application for employee registration that indicates a prior criminal record, the Board may register such employee who has previously been convicted of a misdemeanor provided that:
(a) The criminal record does not show evidence of disregard for the law, which may be cause for the Board to deny any application for registration.
(2) Any felony conviction may be cause for the Board to reject an application for employee registration. However, the Board may inquire into the nature of the crime, the date of conviction or plea, and other underlying facts and circumstances surrounding such criminal conviction and, in its discretion, may allow the employee to be registered.
WHITE CARD VS BLUE CARD
White Card
Firearm license issued by the Probate Court to be used in the personal defense of one’s self. This license cannot be used to work any type of security in the state of Georgia. It is only used for ones personal self defense.
Blue Card
License issued by the Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies to be used by licensed security officers, and private detectives in the performance of their duties. This card is only used while the security officer is on duty. It is not to be used as the "White Card" above, for ones own self defense. These are both, two separate licenses that must be used for its individual intended purpose.
NOTE: As of this year the Blue Card License is no longer issued. Once approved, the applicant simply prints out a digitized copy of the license applied for.