SB 652 Guard Card Rules: What Changed in 2026

Last reviewed October 15, 2026 by Daryl Williams, Bentley Forbes Security Training Academy.

If you're applying for a California guard card in 2026, SB 652 changes how you should plan your 8-hour pre-licensing course. Since January 1, 2026, the Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force training has to come from a single course provider, and you have to finish it within six months before you submit your application to the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).

That sounds like a small tweak. In practice, it closes two gaps the old rule left open: stitching together certificates from different schools, and using an old certificate from a course taken long ago. This post walks through what the law says, what it means on a calendar, and what it did not change. For the full licensing process from start to finish, see our complete California guard card guide.

Key Takeaways

• Since January 1, 2026, a single course provider must administer and certify the entire 8-hour Power to Arrest and Use of Force course (BPC 7583.6(a)).
• You must finish that course within six months before you submit your BSIS application. Finish on March 3, and your application should go in by about September 3.
• SB 652 did not remove WMD training. The Legislature made WMD elective-only in 2021 (AB 229), and BSIS implemented it in its 2023 rulemaking.
• Total training stays the same: 8 hours before registration, 32 after, and 8 hours every year.
• Private patrol operators can still train their own employees and applicants.

What SB 652 Changed, in Brief

SB 652 added two conditions to the 8-hour course you take before you apply: a single course provider, and a six-month deadline. The bill, authored by Senator Richardson, became Chapter 94, Statutes of 2025, and was approved on July 30, 2025. It took effect January 1, 2026.

The amended law, Business and Professions Code section 7583.6(a), now says the Power to Arrest and Use of Force training "shall be administered and certified by a single course provider ... and shall be completed within six months preceding the date the application is submitted to the bureau" (SB 652 bill text).

BSIS's own alert on the change puts it this way: the training "must be instructed in its entirety and certified by one instructor" (BSIS SB 652 alert).

Before 2026	Since January 1, 2026 (SB 652)
Statute did not require a single course provider	A single course provider administers and certifies the whole 8 hours
Statute did not tie the course to a six-month window	Course must be finished within 6 months before you apply
Private patrol operators could train their own people	Still allowed

Notice the small difference in wording: the statute controls, and it says "single course provider," but the alert's "one instructor" reads stricter. If your school rotates instructors during the course, ask who signs the certificate and confirm with BSIS if you're unsure.

The Single-Provider Rule: Why Split Certificates No Longer Work

The single-provider rule means your whole 8-hour course needs to come from one course provider, on one certificate. The 8 hours break down into two parts: Power to Arrest (3 hours) and Appropriate Use of Force (5 hours), followed by an exam that requires a 100% score (BSIS guard training page).

In practice, that rules out splitting the course between schools. A 3-hour certificate from School A plus a 5-hour certificate from School B won't satisfy BSIS, even if the hours add up to eight.

The rule fits how the course is built. BSIS's regulation designates five use-of-force topics in the 8 hours as in-person: objectively reasonable force, use of force review and analysis, de-escalation, use of force scenario training, and active shooter (16 CCR § 643). Having one provider responsible for the whole package makes it easier to confirm those pieces were actually taught. For more on what can and can't be done online, read our online vs in-person guard card training.

The 6-Month Window: A Worked Date Example

You now have six months from the day you finish the 8-hour course to submit your BSIS application. The clock runs to the date you submit the application, not the date BSIS approves it (SB 652 bill text).

Here's how that looks on a calendar. Say you finish your course and pass the exam on March 3, 2026. Six months later is September 3, 2026. To stay inside the window, you'd want your application submitted by about September 3, and ideally well before that.

Why leave a buffer? Because the deadline is tied to your submission, and small delays add up. You'll need your Live Scan fingerprints done, your documents ready, and your BreEZe account set up (BSIS guard fact sheet). If you plan to apply the week you finish class, the six-month limit will never be an issue.

Don't confuse this with the other six-month clock. After you're registered, you still have 32 more hours to complete within six months of registration (BPC 7583.6). SB 652's window runs backward from your application date. The 32-hour window runs forward from your registration. Starting January 1, 2027, SB 1148 also lets you complete those 32 hours before your registration is issued, once you've passed the 8-hour course; the deadlines don't change (SB 1148). Our guard card training timeline maps both clocks side by side.

The Myth: Did SB 652 Remove WMD Training?

No. SB 652 did not change the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Terrorism Awareness course. Some online sources say it did, but that's a mix-up of two separate changes.

The Legislature made WMD elective-only by amending Business and Professions Code section 7583.7(a)(11) in AB 229 (Chapter 697, Statutes of 2021). BSIS implemented it in its 2023 rulemaking, moving the 4 WMD hours to the electives to make room for use-of-force content within the 8 hours (BSIS Final Statement of Reasons). The law now describes WMD and Terrorism Awareness as a topic that "may be an elective topic only" (BPC 7583.7).

Today, WMD & Terrorism Awareness is elective #27 of 27, worth 4 hours (BSIS guard training page). Some national guides still list it as required. If you see that, the guide is out of date. Our WMD and terrorism awareness explainer covers the full history.

What SB 652 Didn't Change

SB 652 left the total hours and the yearly training requirement alone. Here's what stays the same in 2026:

Requirement	Current rule	Source
Before registration	8 hours (Power to Arrest 3 + Use of Force 5), 100% exam score	BSIS
After registration	32 hours within 6 months; 16 of them within the first 30 days	BPC 7583.6(b)
Mandatory post-registration courses	Four 4-hour courses: Public Relations; Observation & Documentation; Communication and Its Significance; Liability/Legal Aspects	BSIS
Total initial training	40 hours (8 + 32)	BPC 7583.6
Annual training	8 hours every year, at least 2 on use of force	BPC 7583.6(e)

One thing that did change around the same time, but not because of SB 652, is the fee. For applications on or after October 1, 2025, the initial guard registration fee is $60, up from $55 (BSIS fee notice). Live Scan fees are extra and vary by site.

You may also have heard about SB 1203. Governor Newsom signed it on September 30, 2026 (Chapter 1016, Statutes of 2026). Starting January 1, 2029, it raises post-registration training to 42 hours and annual training to 12 hours, with employers paying. It does not change the 8-hour course or SB 652's rules (SB 1203). See our SB 1203 explainer for the details.

Checklist for Guard Card Applicants

Use this list to keep your 8-hour course valid under SB 652:

1. Take the full 8 hours at one school. Don't combine a Power to Arrest certificate from one place with Use of Force from another.
2. Check that the school is licensed. Look it up on the DCA License Search under the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.
3. Confirm the in-person parts are in person. A course sold as 100% online with no classroom time doesn't meet the requirement (BSIS Final Statement of Reasons).
4. Write down your completion date. Count six months forward and mark your submission deadline.
5. Get Live Scan and BreEZe ready early. Apply online through BreEZe, which the BSIS fact sheet notes can speed processing.
6. Retake the course if your certificate is too old. A certificate from more than six months before you apply won't count.

A Short Note for Employers

Private patrol operators can still train their own employees and applicants under SB 652 (SB 652 bill text). What's changed is the paperwork you should check on new hires. Look for one certificate covering all 8 hours from a single course provider, and a completion date within six months of the applicant's submission date.

This post explains the law in plain terms and isn't legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with BSIS before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did SB 652 take effect?

SB 652 took effect January 1, 2026. It was approved on July 30, 2025, as Chapter 94, Statutes of 2025 (SB 652 bill text; BSIS SB 652 alert).

Can I use a Power to Arrest certificate I earned in 2025?

Not anymore. The course must be finished within six months before you submit your application, so any course completed in 2025 is now more than six months old. Plan to retake the full 8-hour course from a single course provider, then apply soon after class.

Does the six-month window mean BSIS has to approve me within six months?

No. The window ends on the date you submit your application. BSIS processing time after that doesn't count against you. BSIS targets 60 days for initial applications; check current processing dates.

Did SB 652 change the 40-hour training requirement?

No. You still need 8 hours before registration and 32 hours within six months after, for 40 hours total, plus 8 hours of training every year (BPC 7583.6).

Can I take the 8-hour course fully online?

No. BSIS's regulation designates five use-of-force topics as in-person (16 CCR § 643), and BSIS rejected requests to allow the whole course online in its 2023 rulemaking (BSIS Final Statement of Reasons).

Take the Full 8-Hour Course From One Provider

SB 652 rewards simple planning: one school, one certificate, and an application submitted soon after class. Bentley Forbes Security Training Academy teaches the complete 8-hour Power to Arrest and Appropriate Use of Force course as a single course provider, so your certificate lines up with the 2026 rules. See the guard card training courses, call (818) 827-7142, or contact BFSTA to schedule your class.

Sources

• SB 652 bill text, Chapter 94, Statutes of 2025, California Legislative Information, approved July 30, 2025, retrieved 2026-10-15
• SB 1203, Chapter 1016, Statutes of 2026 and SB 1148, Chapter 1011, Statutes of 2026, California Legislative Information, retrieved 2026-10-15
• BSIS regulations, 16 CCR § 643, retrieved 2026-10-15
• SB 652 industry alert, BSIS, retrieved 2026-10-15
• Business and Professions Code 7583.6 and 7583.7, retrieved 2026-10-15
• Security Guard Training Requirements, BSIS, retrieved 2026-10-15
• Power to Arrest Final Statement of Reasons, BSIS, September 20, 2023, retrieved 2026-10-15
• Fee increase notice, BSIS, retrieved 2026-10-15
• Application processing timeframes, BSIS, retrieved 2026-10-15

Cover photo: Photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash .