To start a security guard company in West Virginia, you need a security guard firm license from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Licensing Division, under W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 18. The firm names a qualifying agent with verified security or investigation experience, files a $5,000 surety bond or proof of liability insurance, and supplies five character references. The license lasts two years. West Virginia does not issue individual guard cards to employees of a firm; instead the firm supervises and trains them and keeps a photo and fingerprints for each one on file in the state. This guide covers each step, and the last section shows how CGuardPro, the guard management software used by 600+ security companies, keeps those employee files and renewal dates current.
Everything below was checked against W. Va. Code 30-18 and the Secretary of State’s firm license instructions as of October 2026. This is not legal advice.
Who regulates security companies in West Virginia?
The Secretary of State’s Licensing Division licenses private investigators and security guards under Article 18 of Chapter 30. The Secretary of State offers an individual license for a person providing security services on their own and under their own name, a firm license for anyone who employs or allows others to perform security guard services, and combined private investigator and security guard licenses.
How do you get a security guard firm license?
Eligibility. Under W. Va. Code 30-18-5, the person qualifying for the license must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen or legal resident, have no felony conviction or other listed disqualifying convictions, no prior license revocation or denial, and at least one year of verified, full-time employment conducting security guard or private investigation business for a licensed firm, or one year of substantially equivalent training or experience.
The Secretary of State’s application instructions describe how that experience is proven: documented employment showing hours per week and number of weeks, the skills acquired and competency, or equivalent law enforcement employment. If the requirement is met by experience alone, the instructions say the work must total at least 32 hours per week for 100 weeks; college credits in the field can count for part of it.
References. Section 30-18-6 requires character references. The Secretary of State’s instructions ask for five reputable citizens who have known the qualifying agent, and each officer, member or partner, for five years.
Bond or insurance. Choose one: a $5,000 surety bond from a surety authorized in West Virginia naming the applicant as principal, or sufficient proof of liability insurance as the Secretary of State requires.
Fingerprints and photos. The application package includes fingerprint instructions and photographs.
Employees. The firm application lists the employees who will conduct security guard operations in West Virginia.
Fee. The Secretary of State’s instructions list $250 for a firm license, for both residents and non-residents, including a $50 non-refundable processing fee that is kept if the license is denied. Confirm the current amount when you file.
What do employees of a security firm need?
West Virginia puts the responsibility on the firm rather than issuing each guard a separate state card. Under W. Va. Code 30-18-7:
- the firm license holder supervises every employee or other individual working under its license, paid or not, and provides the education and training reasonably necessary for them to comply with the article;
- each employee must meet the eligibility requirements of 30-18-5, except the prior employment requirement, and must authorize the Secretary of State to review their conviction records held by the state’s public safety department;
- the firm may not authorize anyone who fails those requirements to work;
- for every employee, the firm keeps a recent full-face photograph and one complete set of fingerprints at its central business location in West Virginia, and releases them to the Secretary of State on request.
Section 30-18-8(b) adds two prohibitions worth knowing before you bid on a large contract: a license cannot be transferred, and a licensee may not contract or subcontract with an unlicensed person, firm or agency. If you plan to subcontract coverage, make sure the subcontractor holds its own West Virginia license.
How many training hours does West Virginia require?
We found no state-mandated number of training hours in Article 18. The statute’s standard is the firm’s duty to provide the education and training that is reasonably necessary. That puts the burden on you to define a training program and be able to show who completed it, which is also what clients and insurers will ask for.
What about armed security officers?
Article 18 does not create a separate armed guard license, and we did not find one elsewhere in the article. Armed officers are governed by West Virginia’s general firearms laws and by your client contracts. If you run armed posts, set a firearms training and qualification standard and record it per officer.
When do West Virginia licenses renew?
Under 30-18-9, a license is in effect for two years and is renewable for two-year periods. The firm’s renewal is the date to watch; employee eligibility, photos and fingerprints are records you maintain continuously.
West Virginia security licensing at a glance
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Regulator | West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division |
| Law | W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 18 |
| Company license | Security guard firm license |
| Qualifying experience | One year verified full-time (SOS: 32 hours/week for 100 weeks), or equivalent |
| Bond or insurance | $5,000 surety bond, or proof of liability insurance |
| References | Five, known for five years |
| Employees | Supervised by the firm; photo and fingerprints on file in WV |
| Training hours | None set; training “reasonably necessary” (30-18-7) |
| Armed | No separate credential in Article 18 |
| Term | Two years |
| Overtime | 1.5x over 40 hours (21-5C-3); FLSA where 80% of workforce is federally covered |
How does overtime work for West Virginia guards?
West Virginia’s wage law, W. Va. Code 21-5C-3, requires time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. The West Virginia Division of Labor explains that the state overtime law does not apply when 80 percent of an employer’s workforce is covered by the federal FLSA, in which case the federal 40-hour rule applies instead. Either way, the threshold is 40 hours a week, with no daily overtime.
How does software help keep the records?
West Virginia’s model is “the firm keeps the file”: eligibility, conviction-record authorization, a recent photo, fingerprints and whatever training you decide is reasonably necessary, for every person working under your license. In CGuardPro, each officer and supervisor record holds credentials of the types you define, such as the background authorization, training certificates and firearms qualification, with number, issue and expiry dates and photos of the document. A daily check alerts the office on a window you choose, from 7 to 120 days ahead, and repeats weekly until each one is renewed. It does not replace the physical fingerprint card the statute says you keep on file. Read how security guard license tracking works, and see West Virginia security guard software for scheduling, GPS clock-in and patrol records in the state.
For payroll, CGuardPro sends approved hours per officer to Gusto as time sheets split into regular and overtime hours under the federal weekly 40-hour rule; payroll itself is run in Gusto.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses security guard companies in West Virginia?
The Secretary of State’s Licensing Division, under W. Va. Code Chapter 30, Article 18.
Do individual security guards need a state license in West Virginia?
A person working on their own and under their own name needs an individual license. Employees of a licensed firm work under the firm’s license, and the firm supervises them and keeps their photo and fingerprints on file.
How much is the bond for a West Virginia security firm?
The Secretary of State’s instructions call for a $5,000 surety bond, or proof of liability insurance instead.
How long is a West Virginia security firm license valid?
Two years, renewable for two-year periods (W. Va. Code 30-18-9).
Can a West Virginia security firm subcontract to an unlicensed company?
No. Section 30-18-8(b) prohibits contracting or subcontracting with an unlicensed person, firm or agency.
See also our security guard license requirements by state and the license renewal checklist.