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Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

Common Questions for Getting Started
Is Certification Required?
Oregon Revised Statutes 181.870 Definitions
As used in ORS 181.620, 181.870 to 181.887, 181.991 and 203.090:
(1) “Certification” means recognition by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training that a private security professional meets all of the qualifications listed in ORS 181.875.
(2) “Executive manager” means a person:
        (a) Who is authorized to act on behalf of a company or business in matters of licensure and
              certification;
        (b) Who is authorized to hire and terminate personnel;
        (c) Whose primary responsibility is the management of certified private security
              professionals; and
        (d) Who has final responsibility for a company’s or business’s compliance with ORS
              181.870 to 181.887.
(3) “Instructor” means any person who has been certified by the department as meeting the requirements to provide instruction to private security providers or applicants.
(4) “License” means recognition by the department that an executive manager or supervisory manager meets the requirements adopted by the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training as necessary to provide private security services.
(5) “Primary responsibility” means an activity that is fundamental to, and required or expected in, the regular course of employment and is not merely incidental to employment.
(6) “Private security professional” means an individual who performs, as the individual’s primary responsibility, private security services for consideration, regardless of whether the individual, while performing the private security services, is armed or unarmed or wears a uniform or plain clothes, and regardless of whether the individual is employed part-time or full-time to perform private security services.
(7) “Private security provider” means any individual who performs the functions of a private security professional, executive manager, supervisory manager or instructor.
(8) “Private security services” means the performance of at least one of the following activities:
        (a) Observing and reporting unlawful activity.
        (b) Preventing or detecting theft or misappropriation of goods, money or other items of
              value.
        (c) Protecting individuals or property, including but not limited to proprietary information,
              from harm or misappropriation.
        (d) Controlling access to premises being protected.
        (e) Securely moving prisoners.
        (f) Taking enforcement action by detaining persons or placing persons under arrest under
            ORS 133.225.
        (g) Providing canine services for guarding premises or for detecting unlawful devices or
             substances.
(9) “Supervisory manager” means an employee of or a person supervised by an executive manager who has as a primary responsibility the supervision of certified private security professionals. [1995 c.510 §1a; 1997 c.588 §1; 1997 c.853 §23; 1999 c.198 §1; 2001 c.498 §1; 2003 c.14 §84; 2003 c.546 §3; 2005 c.447 §1]

Additional Information
If you provide services as defined above, and your role does not fall under the exemptions listed in Oregon Administrative Rule Division 60, you do have to be certified and/or licensed to provide security services. Additionally, each individual that contracts security, even if he or she is the only employee, or any company that provides security for themselves, which we call ‘in house’ security, will have to be registered with us with the proper security certifications and licenses obtained. This applies to companies that have their own employees provide security to their business, including bouncers in bars, warehouses patrolling their own ground, among many others. To read more on how to register a company as a security provider, please go to the question, “How do I start a security business in Oregon?”

Starting a Business
How do I start a security business in Oregon?
To establish a company in Oregon, at least one person must be licensed to the level of Executive Manager (EM). The Executive Manager will be the individual responsible for the overall compliance of the company to the standards and regulations as outlined in Oregon Administrative Rule and Oregon Revised Statute. The role of an EM typically includes the hiring and firing of security personnel, issuing of temporary work permits to applicants, and assists in the correction of applicant paperwork where applicable.
Once a person is selected to fill the role of EM, he or she will need to submit to us an application, fees, and a written request to attend the next manager orientation class. These classes can be found under the PI and PS Training Calendar link. Once registered, the chosen EM would submit to us company letterhead identifying him or her self as the EM of the company, listing the Federal Tax ID (EIN) Number, and any employees that will be providing security services for the company. The EM applicant would attend class complete all application requirements. He/She will also need to ensure that each employee providing security is properly certified or licensed.


Working for Various Companies
I want to provide security services to various bars or other businesses, do I need to be certified?
Yes. Please see the section “Is Certification Required?” You will also need to establish yourself as your own company. Pleas see “How do I start a security business in Oregon” for further information.

Qualification of Certification
Do I qualify for certification or licensure as a private security provider?
Once you establish whether you need to be certified, the next step is to determine if you meet the minimum standards as defined in ORS 259-060-0020. You may also view criminal history disqualifiers by clicking this link: List of Disqualifiers.
 
If you fall within the disqualifying period on a listed charge, you are not eligible for application until that time period has surpassed or you succeeded in getting the record expunged. If you successfully expunged a record, you should have documentation for this. If you do not have documentation, or are unsure if you have completed the expungment process, please contact the court house where the conviction originated. If you are applying for armed provider, please review your expungment documentation to make sure there are not any restrictions on possessing or carrying a firearm.

What Paperwork is Required?
What paperwork, training, or fees do I need to take or submit to become certified?
Please see below on required training, fees, and paperwork. If you are applying for multiple certifications, please contact DPSST for the fees and paperwork needed. If you are looking to add, upgrade, or renew a certification, please see the link Renewals and Upgrades.
 
Unarmed Professional or Alarm Monitor
$115
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
12 hr basic training – please see List of Instructors.
PS-20 Temporary Work Permit – if you will be providing unarmed security services while waiting for your card.
 
Please note: If you came directly to this section, and are interested in contracting yourself out to various businesses, please see the additional requirements listed in the above section.
 
Armed/Unarmed Professional
$115
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
12 hr basic unarmed training – please see List of Instructors.
24 hr basic armed training – please see List of Instructors.
PS-20 Temporary Work Permit – if you will be providing unarmed security services while waiting for your card.
 
Please note: If you came directly to this section, and are interested in contracting yourself out to various businesses, please see the additional requirements listed in the above section.
 
Unarmed or Alarm Instructor
$140
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
12 hr basic training – please see List of Instructors.
5 hr instructor orientation – please see PI & PS Training Calendar.
Resume -showing you have 3 years prior experience in security, military police, or law enforcement AND a high school diploma or GED
 
 
Firearm Instructor
$140
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
12 hr basic training – please see List of Instructors.
5 hr instructor orientation – please see PI & PS Training Calendar.
Resume -showing you have 3 years prior experience in security, military police, or law enforcement AND a high school diploma or GED
Proof of current NRA, FLETC, or FBI firearm instructor certification
 
Supervisory Manager
$125
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
8 hr basic training – please see List of Instructors.
5 hr manager orientation – please see PI & PS Training Calendar.
PS-20 Temporary Work Permit – if providing manager duties while waiting for card.
 
Executive Manager
$300
PS-1 Basic Application
PS-4 Fingerprint Affidavit
1 fingerprint card
8 hr basic training – please see List of Instructors.
5 hr manager orientation – please see PI and PS Training Calendar.
PS-20 Temporary Work Permit – if providing manager duties while waiting for card.