AZ DPS
Courteous Vigilance
AZ DPS Courses 
The mission of the Arizona Department of Public Safety is:
To provide public safety to the state of Arizona.
“Courteous Vigilance” is the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s motto and guiding principle, which reflects the pride of the Department. We provide quality, reliable and respectful service to the citizens of Arizona while being vigilant in the enforcement of the laws of the state.
Armed Security Guard [First Time]
16 hours
This lesson plan was developed by the DPS Security Guard Licensing Unit and is the only authorized training program for the purposes of licensing armed security guards. This 16-hour armed security guard lesson plan is a firearms safety course, designed to teach the novice armed security guard the basics of gun safety, marksmanship, maintenance and familiarization, as well as legal issues related to the use of deadly physical force. It is also intended to provide training on issues likely to be encountered by armed security guards while on duty.
This course is not designed to teach security guard fundamentals. It is mandatory that instructors spend at least 4 hours on the law and legal portion of this course. Instructors are required to thoroughly cover this topic.
Security guards carrying shotguns must be trained with these firearms. Completion of the appropriate NRA course (shotgun) by the individual security guard OR instruction conducted by a NRA firearms instructor certified in shotgun is acceptable. AZPOST firearms instructors may also teach these courses provided they have registered with the Licensing Unit.
Shotgun training will be a minimum of 8 hours in duration. The DPS initial 16 hour or 8 hour renewal class (as appropriate) will be taught PRIOR to shotgun training. Proprietary armed security guards must also comply with firearms training requirements (ARS 32-2606.3(a).
Armed Security Guard [Renewal]
8 hours
The DPS Security Guard Licensing Unit developed this lesson plan and is the only authorized continuing firearms training program for armed security guards. The emphasis of this course is firearms safety, legal issues related to the use of deadly physical force, the written test and qualification.
This course is not designed to teach security guard fundamentals, that training is provided during the initial and refresher 8-hour basic security guard class. It is mandatory that instructors spend at least 3 hours on the law and legal portion of this lesson plan. Instructors are required to thoroughly cover this topic.
For more information email us at: classinfo@firearmsafetynetwork.com
