Certifications › Armed guard › Virginia
Virginia armed guard requirements
Armed Security Officer/Courier registration with firearms endorsement · Last verified November 1, 2026
Not legal advice. This guide is general information, not legal or career advice. Licensing rules, hours and fees change and vary by state and employer. Verify every requirement with the issuing body before you enroll, apply or work.
Issuing agency
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
Requirements and training
- Minimum age
- 18
- Training and requirements
- 50 hours of entry-level training: 01E core subjects (18), 05E arrest authority (8), 75E handgun (24), plus 08E shotgun (3) if applicable. You must be trained and registered before working armed.
Cost and time
- Fees
- Check with Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
- Time
- Check with Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)
Renewal
In-service: 01I (4 hours) plus 07R handgun retraining (4) and 08R shotgun (3) if applicable. The firearms endorsement must be renewed every 12 months.
Sources
- www.dcjs.virginia.gov/faq/armed-security-officer-courier
- www.dcjs.virginia.gov/licensure-and-regulatory-affairs/unarmed-security-officercourier
Last verified November 1, 2026. Where a field says "Check with", we couldn't confirm it from an official source.