Security guard management software for Pennsylvania security companies

Schedule guards across every Pennsylvania site, prove they were on post, record patrols and incidents, and keep copies of armed guards' Act 235 cards on file, in one platform.

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What software do Pennsylvania security companies use to manage guards?

Pennsylvania 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. Armed guards can upload a photo of their Act 235 card so a copy sits on their profile.

Pennsylvania in numbers

How many security guards work in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania employed 43,610 security guards in May 2025, 7.19 for every 1,000 jobs in the state, at a mean wage of $19.32 an hour (US: $20.42). 477 security guard and patrol service locations employed 27,538 people in 2025.

43,610 guards3.4% of the 1,283,470 in the US (BLS, May 2025)
$19.32 an hourMean wage for security guards in Pennsylvania (BLS, May 2025)
477 guard company locationsSecurity guard and patrol service worksites, 2025 average (BLS QCEW)
1,360.2 property crimes per 100,000Reported to the FBI for 2025, with 229.3 violent crimes per 100,000 (FBI estimates for the US: 1,534.8 and 327.6)

Security guards in Philadelphia

ForceVera runs scheduling, a geofenced time clock, patrols and client reports for security companies in Philadelphia, and anywhere else in Pennsylvania. 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
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington25,4608.79$20.28
Licensing in Pennsylvania

Who licenses security guards in Pennsylvania

Regulator: Pennsylvania State Police, Lethal Weapons Certification Unit, which certifies privately employed agents who carry a lethal weapon on the job (Act 235); on the official pages we checked, there is no state license for unarmed guards.

Act 235 certification (armed agents only)Needed by privately employed agents who carry a lethal weapon, such as a firearm, on the job in Pennsylvania, wherever they or their employer are based. The State Police say carrying a firearm for work in Pennsylvania without Act 235 certification is a chargeable offense. An Act 235 card is not a license to carry.
EligibilityAt least 18. Pass a physical exam by a Pennsylvania-licensed physician, meet the vision standard, and pass a psychological exam by a Pennsylvania-licensed psychologist. Get fingerprinted at an approved IdentoGO location. Applicants must have no conviction of a first-degree misdemeanor or higher, no active protection-from-abuse orders, and no prior involuntary mental health commitments.
Training and renewalAfter State Police approval, the applicant trains at an Act 235 certified school. The approval to attend is valid for 6 months. Passing scores are 70% on the academic module and 75% on the firearms module. Certification is valid for 5 years. Renewal opens 6 months before expiration. Agents certified with a firearm need 8 hours of classroom and range training to renew. Agents with other lethal weapons need a 3-hour program. An expired certification cannot be renewed; the holder must apply again.

Overtime for security guards in Pennsylvania

Yes. Pennsylvania has its own overtime rule under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, enforced by the Department of Labor & Industry. Most employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for all hours over 40 in a workweek (34 Pa. Code § 231.41). L&I says that when state and federal rules differ, the more restrictive one applies. The state minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Hospitals and care facilities may use an '8 and 80' overtime period by agreement with employees.

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 Pennsylvania guard operation in one platform

Act 235 cards on fileForceVera stores a photo of each armed guard's Act 235 card on their profile. It does not check certification with the State Police or track the 5-year expiration date. An expired card cannot be renewed, so set your own reminders well inside the 6-month renewal window.
Weekly hours for Pennsylvania overtimePennsylvania overtime is based on hours over 40 in a workweek. ForceVera timesheets show each guard's hours shift by shift and export to CSV or Excel for payroll review. 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 Pennsylvania: questions, answered

Does Pennsylvania license unarmed security guards?

On the official pages we checked, Pennsylvania has no state license for unarmed security guards. The state program, Act 235, certifies privately employed agents who carry a lethal weapon, such as a firearm, on the job.

Who certifies armed security guards in Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania State Police, through its Lethal Weapons Certification Unit, under the Lethal Weapons Training Act (Act 235 of 1974).

What does Act 235 certification require?

Applicants must be at least 18 and pass physical, vision and psychological exams. They must be fingerprinted and have no disqualifying convictions or orders. They must then complete training at an Act 235 certified school, scoring 70% on the academic module and 75% on the firearms module.

How long does Act 235 certification last?

Five years. You can renew within 6 months before expiration. Firearm agents need 8 hours of renewal training. An expired certification cannot be renewed.

Does Pennsylvania have its own overtime law?

Yes. Under the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, most employees get at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The Department of Labor & Industry enforces it.

Is this legal advice?

No. This page summarizes information published by Pennsylvania 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 · Maryland · Virginia · Arizona · Nevada · North Carolina · Ohio · Washington · all US states.

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