Certification Paths

Pick your path. We'll handle the compliance.

Every course is structured around current BSIS requirements with clear next steps, certificate handling, and renewal reminders so you never miss a deadline.

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8-Hour Powers to Arrest (Pre-Assignment)
BSIS Module I.A — the 8-hour Pre-Assignment course California requires before you can be posted to a job. Online + in-person hybrid.
  • Module I.A · Powers to Arrest (4 hr online)
  • 4-hour in-person Skills session (facilitated)
  • SB 652-compliant single-provider format
  • Certificate of completion · same day
Required by BSIS before posting. Remaining 32 hours can follow within the first 6 months of employment.
$99both halves · all-in
Enroll
Full Bundle
40-Hour Hybrid Course (Complete Path)
For guards who want all 40 BSIS hours up front instead of stretching them across their first 6 months on the job.
  • 40 hours of BSIS-aligned training
  • Power to Arrest + WMD modules
  • Live Scan + BSIS submission help
  • Issued certificate on completion
Includes the in-person hours California requires under hybrid training rules.
$129full hybrid bundle
Enroll
For Active Guards
Guard Card Renewal & Annual Training
For licensed guards renewing before expiration. Continuing education hours, faster path.
  • 32 hours continuing education
  • Updated CA security law modules
  • Renewal-ready completion record
  • 60-day expiration reminders
California requires continuing education hours before each renewal cycle.
$79renewal bundle
Enroll
Time-Sensitive
Expired Guard Card Help
For guards whose registration has lapsed. We assess and route you to the fastest legal path.
  • Free 5-min eligibility check
  • Renewal vs. start-over decision
  • BSIS reactivation guidance
  • Priority enrollment slots
Final eligibility is determined by BSIS — we'll help you confirm before you pay.
From $79price varies by status
Check Status
Higher Pay
Armed Guard Path
Get qualified to carry a firearm on duty. Course + range + BSIS Firearms Permit support.
  • 14-hour BSIS firearms course
  • Live-fire range qualification
  • Written exam prep + practice tests
  • BSIS Firearms Permit submission
Requires an active California guard card before the firearms permit can be issued.
$398course + range bundle
Enroll
Add-on Permits
Baton, Firearms & Pepper Spray
Stack BSIS-approved permits onto your guard card to unlock more assignments and higher pay.
  • Baton permit · 8-hr course
  • Pepper spray (OC) permit · 2-hr
  • Exposed Firearm Permit · with range
  • Bundled discounts when combined
Each permit is its own BSIS credential and must be carried/renewed separately.
From $39per permit · bundles available
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Highest-Paying
Executive Protection · Career Upgrade
For licensed guards moving into corporate, EP, hospital, or specialty roles.
  • EP fundamentals coursework
  • Corporate security pathways
  • Supervisor + manager prep
  • Career placement guidance
Coursework is supplemental — placement and pay outcomes vary by employer.
$249career path course
Enroll

Start with your guard card. Build a security career.

A clear progression most California guards can follow — from first guard card to higher-paying corporate, executive protection, and supervisor roles. Pay ranges are typical California ranges; actual pay varies by employer, geography, and experience.

1
New Guard
$18–22 / hr
2
Licensed
$20–25 / hr
3
Renewed + CE
$22–28 / hr
4
Armed Guard
$26–34 / hr
5
Supervisor
$32–42 / hr
6
Executive Protection
$45–80+ / hr
7
Corporate / Specialty
$70K–150K+ / yr
See the courses for each level
Built for Working People

Designed around the way California security guards actually work.

Every part of Online Guard Cards is built for clarity, compliance, and getting you back to (or upgrading) your job. We're not BSIS — we help you complete what BSIS requires.

California-focused training guidance
Every course, FAQ, and step is California-specific. We don't try to cover 50 states — we go deep on this one.
Built around BSIS requirements
Coursework maps to current California Bureau of Security & Investigative Services hour and topic requirements.
Secure checkout
PCI-compliant payment through Stripe. Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH, and major cards accepted.
Certificate tracking
Every certificate carries a serial number, signed compliance officer, and an employer-verifiable URL.
Renewal reminders
Email and text 60 days before expiration, with the right course and a discount already attached.
Mobile-friendly learning
Every module works on a phone. Most students finish on commute breaks and shift transitions.
Clear next steps
After every module you know exactly what's next — no buried buttons, no maze, no “contact your administrator.”
Live human support
Phone + chat support staffed by people who know the BSIS process — not a generic helpdesk.
Plain-English explanations
No regulatory word salad. We translate BSIS rules into the actual steps you have to take.
Compliance Statement
Online Guard Cards is a private California training provider operated by Whitestar Group (CA PPO 120101 · CA PI 24105). We are not BSIS or the State of California. Always verify final licensing requirements directly with the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
For Employers · PPOs · Corporate Security

One platform to certify, track, and renew your entire guard roster.

Bulk enrollment, centralized cert tracking, automated renewal reminders, and audit-ready reports. White-label your own branded training portal if you operate a PPO.

Companies On Platform
5
Active Guard Records
412+
Avg Onboarding
7 days
Audit-Ready
Yes
Talk to Partner Team See Admin Demo
Bulk seat enrollment
Add 50 guards in one CSV upload
Centralized cert tracking
Real-time roster status, all permits
Auto renewal reminders
Email + SMS, 60 days before expiry
White-label PPO option
Your domain, your brand, your pricing
Audit-ready reports
Export proof of training in 2 clicks
FAQ · AI-Aware

The questions California guards actually ask.

Plain-English answers — optimized for AI search, but written for working guards. Always verify final licensing details with BSIS.

How do I get a guard card in California?
Complete BSIS-required training (Power to Arrest + WMD/Terrorism Awareness), submit a Live Scan background check, then file your registration application with BSIS. Use the Guard Card Navigator above to confirm your exact path.
Do I need a new guard card or a renewal?
Never held a California security guard registration? You need a new guard card. Currently valid (or expired less than 3 years ago)? Most guards qualify for a renewal with continuing education hours.
What if my guard card is expired?
Less than 3 years? Most guards renew with continuing education. More than 3 years? You typically start over with new-guard training. Use the Expired Card Help product above for a free eligibility check.
What training do I need to become an armed guard?
An active California guard card plus a BSIS Firearms Permit. The permit requires a 14-hour course, a written exam, and a live-fire range qualification.
What is BSIS, exactly?
BSIS is the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Online Guard Cards is a private training provider that helps you complete BSIS-required steps. We are not BSIS or the State of California.
Do I need a Live Scan?
Yes. California requires a Live Scan fingerprint background check through DOJ + FBI before BSIS issues or renews your guard card.
What is Power to Arrest training?
A BSIS-required module covering when and how a private citizen may legally detain someone, the limits of guard authority, use-of-force basics, and reporting requirements. It's part of every California guard card.
What's the highest-paying security path?
Higher pay typically follows additional permits (firearms, baton, exposed firearm), specialty assignments (corporate, EP, hospital, casino), and supervisor / manager roles.
Still not sure?

Ask the AI Navigator anything.

Type your situation in plain English. We'll route you to the right course, the right BSIS step, and the right next move — in seconds.

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From first guard card to higher-paying security roles — in one place.

Whether you're new, renewing, expired, or upgrading — we'll point you to the right path and walk you through every step.

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