How to become a security guard in Colorado
Colorado has no statewide security guard license. Here is what it takes to work as a security guard in Colorado, from official sources checked November 4, 2026.
Part of the state's website could not be reached when we checked, so some details come from Colorado law and official forms. Confirm them on the official page before you apply.
Colorado security guard license requirements
| State license | No statewide license. No statewide license. The City and County of Denver licenses individual security guards, who must work for a Denver-licensed private security employer, complete a 16-hour course and pass an FBI background check. A 2025 bill to create a state board (HB25-1262) was postponed indefinitely. |
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Steps to become a security guard in Colorado
- Confirm there is no state security guard license in Colorado
- Check whether your city licenses guards; Denver does
- In Denver: get a letter of hire from a licensed private security employer
- In Denver: complete the 16-hour training course and apply through the city's online licensing center
- Pass the background check before starting work
How do you check a security guard's license in Colorado?
- Check that the status is active and the name matches the person or company you're hiring.
- Ask how long they've been licensed and whether any complaints or discipline are on record.