Security guard management software for Arizona security companies

Schedule guards across every Arizona site, prove they were on post, record patrols and incidents, and keep copies of their DPS security guard identification card on file, in one platform.

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What software do Arizona security companies use to manage guards?

Arizona security companies use security guard management software to schedule guards, verify they were on site, record patrols and incidents, and report to clients. ForceVera does this in one platform: shifts published to guards' phones, a geofenced time clock, QR patrol checkpoints, incident and daily reports, dispatch and a client portal. Guards can upload a photo of their DPS security guard identification card so a copy sits on their profile.

Arizona in numbers

How many security guards work in Arizona?

Arizona employed 29,820 security guards in May 2025, 9.21 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, at a mean wage of $19.69 an hour (US: $20.42). 338 security guard and patrol service locations employed 16,284 people in 2025.

29,820 guards2.3% of the 1,283,470 in the US (BLS, May 2025)
$19.69 an hourMean wage for security guards in Arizona (BLS, May 2025)
338 guard company locationsSecurity guard and patrol service worksites, 2025 average (BLS QCEW)
1,542.6 property crimes per 100,000Reported to the FBI for 2025, with 385.0 violent crimes per 100,000 (FBI estimates for the US: 1,534.8 and 327.6)

Security guards in Phoenix

ForceVera runs scheduling, a geofenced time clock, patrols and client reports for security companies in Phoenix, and anywhere else in Arizona. The metro area below is among the 20 with the most security guards in the US (BLS, May 2025).

Metro areaSecurity guardsPer 1,000 jobsMean wage
Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler23,1609.75$19.99
Licensing in Arizona

Who licenses security guards in Arizona

Regulator: Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS), Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing Unit.

Security guard registrationAnyone who works as a security guard in Arizona must be registered with AZDPS and work for a licensed security guard agency. Working without registration is a class 1 misdemeanor. Registrations from other states do not transfer. The registration certificate is valid for four years, and each registered guard gets an identification card.
Eligibility and fingerprintsApplicants must be at least 18 and a U.S. citizen or legal resident who is authorized to work in the U.S. Felony convictions, some misdemeanors in the past five years, and other conditions listed in A.R.S. 32-2622 disqualify an applicant. Every application needs fingerprints, a fingerprint affidavit and the fingerprint fee. DPS checks the fingerprints against Arizona and FBI records.
TrainingThe employing agency must give each guard 8 hours of pre-assignment training before the guard starts work. A DPS-certified instructor must teach it. Renewal applicants must complete 8 hours of refresher training within 90 days before they apply to renew. Armed guards need 16 hours of initial firearms training and 8 hours every year.

Overtime for security guards in Arizona

Arizona's overtime statute, A.R.S. 23-391, applies to employees of the state and its political subdivisions. Private security companies in Arizona pay overtime under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act: non-exempt employees get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The federal rule is weekly; it has no daily overtime trigger.

Estimate the overtime in a schedule with our free security guard overtime calculator, or work out headcount with the 24/7 coverage calculator.

How ForceVera helps

Run your Arizona guard operation in one platform

Registration cards on fileStore a photo of each guard's DPS identification card on their ForceVera profile so supervisors can find it quickly. DPS says the card, or a copy of it, is not proof that the registration is current, so check status on the DPS Public Services Portal. ForceVera does not verify registrations with DPS or track expiry dates.
Hours for payrollTimesheets show each guard's hours shift by shift and export to CSV or Excel for your payroll process. Client invoices apply a weekly overtime threshold only.
Schedules on every guard's phonePlan the week by site and guard, including recurring and overnight shifts, publish it to the guard app and send reminders before each shift.
Proof guards were on postGuards clock in and start breaks only inside the site's geofence with a PIN; leaving the site, going idle or clocking out off site is flagged.
Proof of patrolQR checkpoints scanned from the guard app, with missed and late tour alerts and time-stamped, located scans.
Reports clients trustIncident and daily activity reports with photos from the guard app, and branded daily reports emailed to clients.

ForceVera keeps records; it does not make a company compliant with state law. See all features or see pricing.

FAQ

Security companies in Arizona: questions, answered

Do unarmed security guards need to be registered in Arizona?

Yes. A person must be registered with the Arizona Department of Public Safety as a security guard and work for a licensed security guard agency. Working as a guard without registration is a class 1 misdemeanor.

How much training does an unarmed guard need in Arizona?

The agency must provide 8 hours of pre-assignment training, taught by a DPS-certified instructor, before the guard starts work. To renew, a guard must complete 8 hours of refresher training within 90 days before applying.

How long is an Arizona security guard registration valid?

Four years. DPS accepts renewal applications up to 180 days before the expiration date.

Can a guard use a registration from another state in Arizona?

No. DPS says security guard registrations do not transfer between states. The guard must meet Arizona's requirements before working here.

How can an employer check that a guard's registration is current?

Check the guard's status on the DPS Public Services Portal. DPS says a copy of the identification card, or the card itself, is not proof that the registration is valid.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page summarizes information published by Arizona state agencies and official sources as of October 2026. Rules change and exceptions apply, so check the official sources or ask an employment lawyer.

Official sources

Checked October 2026. Licensing and wage rules change, so confirm them with the agency before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Other states: California · Texas · Florida · New York · Illinois · Pennsylvania · Maryland · Virginia · Nevada · North Carolina · Ohio · Washington · all US states.

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