Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon.gov Homepage

Instructor Information

DPSST certifies and monitors Private Security Instructors in Oregon, including Firearms Instructors, Unarmed Security Instructors, and Alarm Monitor Instructors. The Department trains these Instructors, supplies instructional curriculums and conducts Instructor audits to assure the proficiency of DPSST certified Private Security Instructors.
Please note, an individual may be approved for one certification type but denied other certification or license types if the individual does not meet the minimum standards for the specific certification or license type applied for. Prior to application, please review the minimum standards for the type of certification or license you would like to apply for. Minimum Standard requirements are listed on the Background Information page by type and are also available in Oregon Administrative Rule.

Private Security Instructor Requirements:

What are the minimum standards for a Firearms Instructor?

Firearms Instructors must be:

  • At least 21 years of age


Must have earned one of the following:

  • ​A high school ​diploma; a General Education Development (GED) certificate; or a two or ​four-year, post-secondary degree issued by an accredited degree-granting college or university.
​​Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320.

An app​licant for certification as an armed private security professional or firearms instructor must not:

  • Have been committed to the Mental Health and Development Disability Services Division under ORS 426.130, or similar order in another jurisdiction;

  • Have been found to be mentally ill and subject to an order under ORS 426.130 prohibiting the person from purchasing or possessing a firearm as a result of that mental illness;

  • Be prohibited under US Code Title 18, Section 922(g)(8) (relating to civil restraining orders including stalking or harassment) from possessing a firearm in interstate commerce; or

  • Be prohibited under any law of this state or any federal law from purchasing, owning or possessing a firearm.​

Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.


Proof of successful completion of a firearms instructor development course that consists of a minimum of 40 hours. The course must have been successfully completed within the five years prior to application. Proof of successful completion is required. Approved sources include:

  • The Handgun Instructor Development Course provided by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training;

  • The Washington Criminal Justice Training Center;

  • The National Rifle Association Law Enforcement Instructor Development School;

  • The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center;

  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation; or

  • A qualified firearms instructor certification course as determined by the Department.

Certified private security firearms instructors must complete the firearms instructor marksmanship qualification annually. Instructors must qualify on a target authorized by the Department, within three attempts in one day.​

​​

What are the minimum standards for an Unarmed Private Security Instructor?

Private Security Instructors must be:

  • At least 21 years of age; and

Must have earned one of the following:

A high school ​diploma; a General Education Development (GED) certificate; or a two or ​four-year, post-secondary degree issued by an accredited degree-granting college or university.

​​Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320.


Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.​


Complete application process, including training and fingerprinting

Provide a resume reflecting experience that equals a minimum of three years of full-time work experience providing private security services within the 10 years prior to application. The Department will also accept experience as a military police officer or a police officer toward satisfying the three years of work experience.​​

What are the minimum standards for an Alarm Monitor Private Security Instructor certification?

Private Security Instructors must be:

  • At least 21 years of age; and

Must have earned one of the following:

A high school ​diploma; a General Education Development (GED) certificate; or a two or ​four-year, post-secondary degree issued by an accredited degree-granting college or university.

​Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320​. 

Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.​​



First-time Private Security Instructor: Required Forms

First-time Private Security Instructor: Required Forms​

  • Applicants must complete an application packet containing:

    1. PS-1 (Application for Licensure or Certification of Private Security Services Provider);

    2. Proof of successful completion of a firearms instructor development course that consists of a minimum of 40 hours. The course must have been successfully completed within the five years prior to application.​

    3. Instructor applicants must submit proof demonstrating they meet the instructor prerequisites of a minimum of three years of work experience within ten years at the time of application for private security services, military police, or law enforcement fields.

    4. Form PS-6 (Affidavit of Instructor and Private Security Provider Testing Results) documenting completion of the training is required.​

    5. A completed fingerprint card. The Department will supply pre-printed FBI fingerprint cards. Proof of completing Fieldprint electronic fingerprints is also acceptable.

    6. Nonrefundable certification or licensure fees​​​​

​

Proof of successful completion of a firearms instructor development course that consists of a minimum of 40 hours. The course must have been successfully completed within the five years prior to application. Proof of successful completion is required. Approved sources include:

  • The Handgun Instructor Development Course provided by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training;

  • The Washington Criminal Justice Training Center;

  • The National Rifle Association Law Enforcement Instructor Development School;

  • The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center;

  • The Federal Bureau of Investigation; or

  • A qualified firearms instructor certification course as determined by the Department.

Certified private security firearms instructors must complete the firearms instructor marksmanship qualification annually. Instructors must qualify on a target authorized by the Department, within three attempts in one day.​


First-time Unarmed Private Security Instructor: Required Forms​

Applicants must complete an application packet containing:

  1. PS-1 (Application for Licensure or Certification of Private Security Services Provider);

  2. A completed fingerprint card. The Department will supply pre-printed FBI fingerprint cards.  Proof of completing Fieldprint electronic fingerprints is also acceptable.

  3. Form PS-6 (Affidavit of Instructor and Private Security Provider Testing Results) documenting completion of the training is required

  4. If currently employed, a completed Form PS-20 (Private Security Services Provider Temporary Work Permit).

  5. Nonrefundable certification or licensure fees​​

First-time Alarm Monitor Private Security Instructor: Required Forms

The application packet must be completed in its entirety and must include;

  1. PS-1 (Application for Licensure or Certification of Private Security Services Provider);

  2. A completed fingerprint card. The Department will supply pre-printed FBI fingerprint cards.  Proof of completing Fieldprint electronic fingerprints is also acceptable.

  3. Form PS-6 (Affidavit of Instructor and Private Security Provider Testing Results) documenting completion of the training is required.

  4. Instructor applicants must submit proof demonstrating they meet the instructor prerequisites of a minimum of three years of work experience within ten years at the time of application for private security services, military police, or law enforcement fields.

  5. Nonrefundable certification or licensure fees 

Once the application packet has been processed by DPSST, you will need to attend a scheduled Instructor class, pass the assessment and the exam, and submit the certificates of completion.​​


Renewing Private Security Instructor: Required Forms

An application packet for renewing certification or licensure as a private security Instructor must be completed in its entirety and must include:

  1. A completed Form PS-21;

  2. A Form PS-8 (Continuing Education Form);

  3. Annual Firearms Instructor Marksmanship Qualification includes an annual firearms marksmanship requalification.

  4. Nonrefundable renewal certification or licensure fees; and

  5. Successfully complete the firearms private security instructor course, written exam, and marksmanship qualifications, put on by DPSST.

Optional: If you would like to have your contact information published on the private security website on the Instructor List, please include the Instructor List Request Form with your application to renew even if you were previously on the Instructor List.

Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320.

Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.

​Applicants must achieve a score of 100 percent on all examinations and assessments with remediation in accordance with OAR 259-060-0135​.

Renewal application documents may be received by the Department up to 180 days prior to the expiration date of the certification or licensure. This allows time for processing of the forms and background check.
A late submission penalty will be assessed if reapplying after the expiration date of the certification or licensure.​​​


An application packet for renewing an instructor certification must be completed in its entirety and must include:

  1. A completed Form PS-21;

  2. A Completed Form PS-8 w/ proof of continuing education;

  3. Nonrefundable renewal certification fee;

  4. A certificate of completion for the unarmed instructor online course; and

  5. Have successfully completed either of the following unarmed training requirements at least once within three years prior to submission of an application for unarmed instructor renewal

    • Participation in the instructor demonstration component of the unarmed private security instructor development course; or

    • the unarmed private security instructor development course in its entirety.

Optional: If you would like to have your contact information published on the private security website on the Instructor List, please include the Instructor List Request Form with your application to renew even if you were previously on the Instructor List.

Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320.

Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.​

Unarmed Instructor Online Renewal Course

Updated Guidelines for Unarmed Certified Instructor Demonstrations

Video Submission Cover Sheet​

Workday Registration Instructions for Online Training​

Instructions for Printing Certificate in Workday​


Currently certified unarmed private security instructors who are also certified as an unarmed private security professional are exempt from the required unarmed private security professional renewal training if they have documented a minimum of 28 hours delivering any combination of the unarmed basic course or the unarmed renewal course during the current certification period. The Professional Training Exemption Form​ must be submitted with the application for renewal of the unarmed professional certification in the place of the Form PS-6 for the unarmed renewal course.​


Renewal application documents may be received by the Department up to 180 days prior to the expiration date of the certification or licensure. This allows time for processing of the forms and background check.
A late submission penalty will be assessed if reapplying after the expiration date of the certification or licensure.​​

How do I renew my Instructor certification?

An application packet for renewing certification or licensure as a private security Instructor must be completed in its entirety and must include:

  1. A completed Form PS-21;

  2. A Form PS-8 (Continuing Education Form);

  3. Nonrefundable renewal certification or licensure fees; and

  4. Complete the required 1 day Alarm Monitor Professional Instructor online course, provided by DPSST via WebEx.

Optional: If you would like to have your contact information published on the private security website on the Instructor List, please include the Instructor List Request Form with your application to renew even if you were previously on the Instructor List.

Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check, department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0320.

Please review the Background Check Information page to review mandatory and discretionary disqualifiers prior to applying for certification or licensure.​

Currently certified alarm monitor private security instructors who are also certified as an alarm monitor private security professional are exempt from the required alarm monitor private security professional renewal training if they have documented a minimum of 24 hours delivering any combination of the alarm monitor basic course or the alarm monitor renewal course during the current certification period. The Professional Training Exemption Form​ must be submitted with the application for alarm monitor professional renewal in the place of the Form PS-6 for the alarm monitor renewal course.​

Renewal application documents may be received by the Department up to 180 days prior to the expiration date of the certification or licensure. This allows time for processing of the forms and background check.
A late submission penalty will be assessed if reapplying after the expiration date of the certification or licensure.​​


Useful Instructor Information:

Certification and Licensing Fees
Training Requirements & Remediation Standards
Instructor Resources
Training/Upcoming Courses
Curriculum