Frequently Asked Questions

Certain peace officers and qualifying reserve officers may be exempt from BSIS fingerprinting and some training requirements when applying for a guard card or firearms permit. To qualify, applicants must submit documentation verifying their peace officer status and applicable POST training.

Applicants seeking a firearms permit must still meet BSIS firearms training, qualification, and assessment requirements. Peace officers should consult the BSIS website for the most current instructions and documentation requirements, as eligibility and exemptions may vary depending on status and agency.

To obtain an exposed firearms permit, you must first hold an active California guard card.

Applicants must then pass the required firearms psychological assessment, complete BSIS-certified firearms training and range qualification, and submit a complete application with the required fees to BSIS.

The firearms psychological assessment must be completed within six months before submitting the firearms permit application. Once BSIS reviews and approves the application, the exposed firearms permit will be issued.

No. Owning a firearm is not required to take the BSIS firearms training course.

We provide a large selection of revolvers and semiautomatic firearms in different calibers that students may use as loaners during training. Many officers choose to use our firearms and ammunition for convenience, especially because ammunition for the initial qualification is included in the course price.

You must be at least 21 years old to participate in the BSIS firearms training course.

No. A concealed weapons permit is not the same as a BSIS exposed firearms permit.

A BSIS exposed firearms permit authorizes a licensed security guard to carry a firearm openly while performing security duties. It does not allow concealed carry.

A concealed carry permit (CCW) is issued by a local law enforcement agency and authorizes a person to carry a concealed firearm. Holding a BSIS firearms permit does not grant concealed carry privileges unless the individual also has a valid CCW permit.

Yes. Even if you are in the U.S. military, you must still take the BSIS firearms training course if you want to obtain a BSIS exposed firearms permit.

Military service does not exempt applicants from the BSIS guard card or firearms training requirements, although qualifying military service may sometimes allow for expedited processing of the application.

Certain peace officers and qualifying reserve officers may be exempt from some BSIS fingerprinting and training requirements when applying for a guard card or firearms permit. To qualify for these exemptions, applicants must submit documentation verifying their peace officer status and applicable POST training.

However, firearms permit applicants must still meet BSIS firearms training, qualification, and assessment requirements, and eligibility may vary depending on the applicant’s status and agency. Applicants should consult BSIS for the most current requirements and documentation needed for peace officer or reserve officer exemptions.

For a BSIS exposed firearms permit, you must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Acceptable documents include:

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card

U.S. Birth Certificate

Certificate of Naturalization

Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)

DD-214 (military discharge document)

No. A work permit or a non-U.S. passport alone is not sufficient to obtain a BSIS exposed firearms permit.

BSIS requires applicants for a firearms permit to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Individuals who only have a work permit or temporary authorization to work in the United States are not eligible for a BSIS firearms permit.

Applicants must provide documentation such as a U.S. passport, birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, or permanent resident card (green card) to meet the eligibility requirements.

You can obtain a copy of your birth certificate by contacting the County Recorder’s Office in the county where you were born. In many cases, you may be able to receive a certified copy the same day if the records are available locally.

In some situations, you may need to request the certificate and wait for it to be mailed, depending on where the birth records are stored.

You must complete four range qualifications during the two-year firearms permit period. Two qualifications must be completed within each year of the permit, and all qualifications must be at least four months apart.

Before each qualification, you must also complete the required review of use-of-force and de-escalation training.

You can start the firearms permit course anytime during our regular business hours.

Hours of Operation:

Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday.

No. To renew a BSIS exposed firearms permit, you must complete all four required range qualifications during the two-year permit period. Two qualifications must be completed each year, and all qualifications must be at least four months apart.

If the required qualifications were not completed during the permit cycle, you will not be eligible to renew the permit. However, the permit remains valid until its expiration date.

You may apply for a new firearms permit up to two months before your current permit expires so that the new permit can be issued without a gap in your authorization to work armed.

Possibly. Company qualifications may count toward your BSIS re-qualifications only if they meet BSIS requirements.

The qualification must be conducted by a BSIS-certified firearms instructor, at a BSIS-approved training facility, using the official BSIS course of fire, and proper documentation must be issued. In addition, before each qualification you must complete the required two-hour review of use-of-force and de-escalation training.

If these requirements are not met, the qualification will not count toward your required BSIS re-qualifications.

The only things we require for a guard to start training with us is a valid state issued ID, social security number, you can bring the card with you or just a number and a proof of citizenship if you taking the firearms course. Other than that the only other thing we would recommend would be a jacket since it gets cold sometimes in the office and possibly a drink or snack to have during the training.

To obtain a BSIS exposed firearms permit, you must complete several required steps.

First, you must complete the required psychological assessment before beginning firearms training. The assessment helps determine whether the applicant possesses the judgment, restraint, and self-control necessary to carry a firearm while on duty.

The assessment is administered by PSI Services LLC using the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF), which is commonly used for police officers, firefighters, and security professionals. The assessment fee is $69, and it is paid directly to PSI, not to Valley Guard Training.

After completing the assessment, you should keep the proof-of-completion letter provided by PSI in case it is needed as documentation.

Once the assessment is completed, you can come to Valley Guard Training to take the BSIS firearms training course. When attending the course, you must bring a valid state-issued ID, your Social Security number, and proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence, such as a U.S. birth certificate, DD-214, U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, or permanent resident card.

During the course, you will receive training on the safe use of a firearm for security work, as well as the laws, rules, and regulations that apply to armed security officers in California. You will also complete range training and the required shooting qualification.

Our course includes the classroom training, range time, ammunition for the initial qualification, targets, firearm rentals, and Live Scan fingerprinting. These services cover the training and qualification portion required for the permit.

After completing the training, you must submit your firearms permit application and the $110 application fee directly to BSIS. This fee is paid to the state, not to Valley Guard Training.

Once BSIS reviews your application, background check, assessment results, and training documentation, the Bureau will issue the exposed firearms permit if all requirements are met. If the application is denied, BSIS will send a letter explaining the reason and the process to appeal the decision.