FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This page conains answers to fequently asked questions about our website, and the CA State Guard Card process. Please review this page to see if it answers any questions you may have:

Will the course work on my SmartPhone? Our courses are designed to work on all devices.

It works on Windows PCs, Macintosh Computes, IPads, Android Tablets, IPhones, and most Android Phonse With our system, you start on one device and then continue on another device at a later time. It allows you to work at your own pace, with the flexibility to use any device from any location, as long as you have Internet access.

  • Do I have to take the entire course all at once?  When taking a course,
    you can log in and log out as many times as you want. The course keeps track of where you are. Because the
    courses are online, they are convenient, and you can sign-up and take courses any time of day or night,
    24×7.

  • How long does it take to get my Guard Card? Once you have
    completed all three steps, the BSIS receives your application, reviews your background based on the
    fingerprint search, verifies your Training certificate information, and approves your application. According
    to the BSIS the process takes 8 weeks, however, about 60-70% of the time, it takes 2-3 weeks, and some
    people actually get it as fast as 6 days. In some cases, for a very few people, it can actually take longer
    than 60 days. Any time your application takes longer than 6 weeks, we recommend that you contact the BSIS
    directly at 800-952-5210 ext 3 to inquire.

    Note when the BSIS clears you, they put your guard card information into their database and it can be seen
    online on the CA State registration website using the license search feature. Once your name shows online, you
    can print the online information page and use it as a temporary guard card. After that, it takes about 10 days
    to receive the actual guard card in the mail.

  • How does the course system work?  Our online training system is set up
    with each course as a set of pages. Each course has a final exam at the end. Each page presents either text
    and images or a short movie clip. At the end of most pages there is a short quiz. The quizzes are made up of
    a few questions about the page text or the presented video. The quizzes are all multiple-choice or
    true-false. If you miss any questions on a quiz, you simply have to take over the missed question(s) as many
    times as needed to get the correct answer. Once you get all questions correct, you can move on to the next
    section in the course.

    Passing the Class: At the end of each course is a final exam. The
    final exam is a subset of the page quiz questions that you already answered. The final questions are also
    multiple-choice and true-false questions. It works the same way where if you miss any questions, you can
    retake only the missed questions until you get all the questions correct. You do not have to repeat any
    questions that you got correct, but you have to get every question correct before you can pass the course.

  • What if I have a criminal background? Having a felony or misdemeanor
    conviction does not automatically disqualify someone from getting a Guard Card. The BSIS considers your
    circumstances and “evidence of rehabilitation”, and treats every individual on a case by case basis. It is
    very important to be truthful on your State application. Only a major conviction will automatically
    disqualify you from being issued a guard card. The BSIS takes into account what the crime was, how long ago
    it was and many other factors when reviewing a potential guard’s background. Also know that if you receive a
    letter of denial of you guard card from the BSIS, you have the right to appeal that denial up to 3 times
    with no additional fees paid. The instructions and important timelines for appeal come with the denial
    letter.

  • What do I do after I finish the Guard Card Course?   Once you finish the
    8-Hour Guard Card Course you have completed Step 1 of 3. With our system, you can print your training
    certificates out right when you complete a course, and you can always log back in and access your
    certificates from any computer any time afterward. Next you have to complete Step 2 by getting fingerprinted
    at a LiveScan location (Click Here for LiveScan Location Finder), and then
    complete Step 3 by submitting your Online Security Guard Application to the CA State Bureau of Security and
    Investigative Services (BSIS). This information is described in detail, with links to all necessary items,
    on our How to Get a CA
    State Guard Card     page.     Note that there is a fee for each step. The Live Scan
    operators charge a fingerprinting fee, and the State BSIS charges a fee to submit the state Guard Card
    Application    , either online, or by mail.

  • How do I get started? Go to the
    Onlineguardcards.com home page, and
    click the Buy Now for the Guard Card Course (OGC-101) button. Follow the instructions to
    purchase your course or courses package. Once you complete the purchase, there will be a link to start your
    course(s). For all other courses and course packages, you can order them directly from either
    the Home Page or the Courses page.

  • What do I do with my other training certificates after I finish a
    course?      For all other certificates, other than the initial 8-hour Guard Card Course, you are
    required to print your certificates out and give them to you employer. You do not need to send them to the
    BSIS. The security employers are required to keep the training certificates for all of their employees on
    file at all times.

Is it better to take all 40 Hours before I start working?  It is only required for you to take the initial 8-hour
Guard Card Course (Power to Arrest and Weapons of Mass Destruction) before you can start working. However, all guards
still need to take the other 32-hours within the first 6 months of starting work and potential employers are more likely
to hire someone with all 40-hours completed than they are someone without.

That’s why we include the discounted course
packages for 40-hours, 32-hours and a few different 16 hour packages, to save you money.  The
packages save you money, and if you have the full 40-hours completed before you start working, you can put that on your
resume so potential employers will know you are serious about being a guard.