In California, both alarm companies and the employees that work for them are regulated and licensed by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services, a division of the Department of Consumer Affairs. There are two types of licenses an employee of such a company can have: an “Alarm Agent” license, and/or a firearm permit that is specific to alarm agents. (In addition, though not covered in this fact sheet, there is also an ownership and management license.) In this guide, we'll take you through the steps of obtaining and maintaining your California alarm company employee license.

Obtaining a License

In California, alarm companies are basically treated in a similar manner to private investigative firms or security firms: because the employees of such a business have potential access to sensitive information, and may in some circumstances carry firearms, the state monitors and regulates the business. The technical term for alarm company employees in California is “alarm agent.”

So, what is an alarm agent empowered to do? By law, an alarm agent “is employed by an alarm company operator to sell (at the buyer's home or business), install, monitor, maintain, service, or respond to alarm systems or to supervise such actions.” (Learn more about the position by accessing this Fact Sheet.) As a general note, all alarm agents must be at least 18 years of age. Here are the steps toward getting an alarm agent license:

• First, the application itself is not available publicly – it must be specifically requested by an alarm company operator through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. In other words, your boss will handle procurement of the actual application.

• You will have to undergo a criminal background check by both the federal Department of Justice and the FBI. Happily, both of these processes are handled through the Live Scan fingerprinting system. You can find out how to complete this process at this link, but the long and the short of it is this: you will pay a 49 dollar total fee to both the DOJ and FBI, allow your fingerprints to be taken, and then mail a completed Live Scan application form (which you will receive on site) to the proper California department. Contact Live Scan directly to begin the process.

• Take an eight-hour training course and subsequently pass a Power to Arrest examination. Alarm agents have the ability to perform arrests in the course of their duties. These courses and subsequent examinations are administered directly by alarm companies – in practice, this means that your new employer will likely guide you through this part of the process.

• Finally, once the above is complete, submit your application! There is a 17 dollar fee to be submitted along with the application, which your employer may or may not cover.

As mentioned above, some alarm agents carry a firearm. If your employer wishes, you can also include a firearms application along with your agent application, as both of these licenses are governed and granted by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. The fee for a firearms permit is 80 dollars. You can learn about the process and training required for this license at this link.

A brief note for out-of-state residents applying to be alarm agents: while the process is generally the same, instead of going to a Live Scan site directly, you may submit two fingerprint cards, along with your application and the above-described fees. Your background checks will then be performed while your application is being considered.

Maintaining a License

Once your license is granted, you will also be given a specific expiration date. At least three months prior to this expiration date, you should submit a license renewal application. If this application is received by the Bureau prior to expiration, the fee is only seven dollars, but if you apply for renewal post-expiration, the fee is 32 dollars. Happily, there are no required continuing education courses or additional examinations for renewal, though if you obtain a firearm license in the interim, you will need to report the information of that firearm license.