Firearms Training

To be eligible for a BSIS Firearms Permit, applicants must: • Be a citizen of the United States or have permanent legal alien status. • Be at least 21 years of age. • Not be banned from owning or possessing any firearm pursuant to State or Federal Law. • Be a licensed Private Investigator, Qualified Manager of a Private Investigator, Private Patrol Operator, Qualified Manager of a Private Patrol Operator, Alarm Company Operator, Qualified Manager of an Alarm Company Operator or be a registered Security Guard or Alarm Agent. • Complete a criminal history background check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. • Complete and submit the Firearms Permit Initial Application1 to the Bureau • Complete the required training courses, including passing all required examinations and qualifications. • Pay the initial application fee. • Complete an assessment. Source: https://www.bsis.ca.gov/forms_pubs/fire_fact.pdf

The approximate time frame to process an initial firearms permit application is generally between two and four months (approximately 60 to 120 days). Firearm renewal applications must be submitted to the bureau at least 60 days prior to the expiration date of the firearms permit (BPC Section 7583.32). Applicants are urged to use LIVESCAN rather than fingerprint cards to submit the fingerprints required for a firearm permit, as well as all other licensing, registration or permit applications. Live Scan is a process of electronic transmission of fingerprints rather than the manual submission of fingerprint cards. The processing time may take longer if the applicant has a criminal record. If the guard first applied for and received a guard card then applied for a firearms permit, the guard may not carry a firearm while on duty until the firearms permit is issued by the bureau. The guard must possess and carry a valid firearms permit in order to carry and use a firearm while on duty as a guard. If the firearms permit expires, the guard may not carry a firearm while on duty until the guard receives a new, valid firearms permit. Instructors are to inform students that although they have paid the firearm course fees, successful completion of the course is not guaranteed. Students must establish to the instructor's satisfaction that they are proficient in the handling of the weapon and in meeting course requirements.

Instructors are to clearly inform students that the caliber of ammunition that the student uses for range qualification is printed on the firearms permit. While on duty as a guard armed with a firearm, the guard can only carry a firearm of a caliber which is printed on their firearms permit. A guard may NOT carry while on duty any caliber that is NOT printed on the permit. A student may qualify with more than one caliber provided he/she passes the entire course of fire and qualifies on the range with each caliber the student wants printed on the firearm permit. For example, if a licensee/registrant wants to carry a 38 or 45 caliber while on duty, he/she must qualify on the range with a 38 and 45 caliber and submit that information to the Bureau. The bureau will then issue a firearms permit which states the licensee/registrant may carry a 38 or 45 caliber. The licensee/registrant MUST then carry ONLY a 38 or 45 caliber while on duty. The licensee/registrant may not carry both a 38 and 45 caliber while on duty.