How armed security registration works in Georgia: state registration, GAPS fingerprinting, weapon qualification, and why registrations do not transfer between employers.
Category: Compliance · Published: 2026-06-22
Armed security work in Georgia carries stricter rules than unarmed. This guide explains how armed registration works, the GAPS fingerprint background check, and the rule that catches many agencies out: registrations are not transferable between employers.
Unlike unarmed guards, armed security officers must be registered with the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies and hold the appropriate weapon authorisation. The employer must justify the need for the officer to carry a weapon.
Registration involves submitting an application and fee to the board, plus a fingerprint background check processed through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS) via LiveScan.
Results are checked against Georgia Bureau of Investigation and FBI records as part of the registration process.
This is the key operational point. An armed guard's registration is tied to a specific employer. If a guard leaves Company A for Company B, the existing registration does not carry over — Company B must submit a brand-new application and fee and clear the background check again.
In other words, a card issued under a previous employer is not valid for a new one. Plan onboarding time and cost accordingly.
The holder of a weapon permit issued by the board must qualify annually with the weapon they carry or are assigned. Keeping registration and qualification current is the employer's responsibility.
Yes. Armed security officers must be registered with the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, in addition to completing basic training.
No. Registrations are non-transferable. The new employer must submit a fresh application, pay the fee, and clear a new fingerprint background check.
The Georgia Applicant Processing Service — the LiveScan fingerprinting service used to run the criminal background check for registration.
Annually, with the weapon they carry or are assigned, per the board's rules.
Pulcify turns the checks described above into an automated workflow: licence and vetting status tracked per operative, expiry alerts before anything lapses, and audit-ready evidence packs generated on demand.
Book a demo or see pricing — 14-day free trial, no credit card required.