Yes. Security guards need a licence in Victoria. Under the Private Security Act 2004 (Vic), anyone who works as a security guard or crowd controller must hold a private security individual operator licence. Any business that supplies security services must also hold a private security business licence. The Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) of Victoria Police issues both.
What the Law Requires: Individual Licences and Business Licences
Victoria regulates private security through two layers of licensing. The individual layer covers the person standing at the door or patrolling the site. The business layer covers the company that employs, rosters and supervises that person.
The rules changed materially in 2025. From 19 June 2025, all private security activities became licensed activities, and the old Class A and Class B split no longer applies. Registration holders had to apply for a licence by 19 June 2026 to keep working lawfully. Any guide, contract template or induction pack that still refers to "registered" Class B guards is out of date.
The Seven Licensed Security Activities and Their Sub-Activities
A licence lists the specific activities its holder may perform. An officer licensed for one activity cannot lawfully work in another. The seven private security activities are:
- 1Investigator
- 2Bodyguard
- 3Crowd controller
- 4Security guard
- 5Private security trainer
- 6Security equipment installer
- 7Security adviser
The security guard activity splits further into sub-activities:
- Unarmed guard
- Armed guard
- Cash-in-transit
- Control room operator
- Monitoring centre operator
- Guard with a dog
A client who needs a dog handler or an armed officer must confirm that the specific sub-activity appears on the licence, not just the general security guard activity.
Since August 2025, some activities appear in shortened form on licence cards and on the public register. A crowd controller, for example, may display as "Crowd Ctrl". The activities of security guard, bodyguard and investigator are not abbreviated.
Independent contractors need extra care. From 19 December 2025, a contractor with an ABN related to security work must hold both an individual operator licence and a business licence under section 15A of the Act. The requirement targets sham contracting, so a business that engages "self-employed" guards without both licences takes on real exposure.
Who Qualifies for a Licence and What Training Applies
LRD assesses every applicant. Eligibility requirements for an individual licence include:
- Being 18 years or older
- Holding Australian residency or a current visa with working rights
- Providing fingerprints and 100 points of certified identification
- Not being a prohibited person
- Being a fit and proper person
- Completing approved training from an approved registered training organisation
The core qualification for unarmed guarding and crowd control is the CPP20218 Certificate II in Security Operations. LRD recommends 130 hours of face-to-face training for it. Armed guard, cash-in-transit, and dog handler activities require a Certificate III, and entry to those courses is conditional.
A business licence applicant must demonstrate competency in management. That means either a CPP40719 Certificate IV in Security Management with 12 units or membership of an approved security industry organisation.
Renewal rules have also tightened. From 5 October 2026, an individual operator licence holder must complete an approved first aid course before applying to renew, and some holders must also complete a Victoria Police refresher course.
People considering a move into the industry can review the pathway through security careers in Victoria. Employers should also factor these renewal requirements into rostering and training budgets.
How to Check a Security Guard Licence in Victoria
Victoria Police publishes a public Register of Licence, Registration and Permit Holders. Checking it takes about two minutes and is one of the most reliable ways to confirm whether an officer or company is lawful to engage.
- 1Ask for the licence number and card: A licensed officer carries a plastic licence card showing the licence number and endorsed activities.
- 2Search the register: The register is searchable by name or licence number.
- 3Match the details: The entry shows the holder's name, licence type, licence number, authorised activities and expiry date. Confirm that the activities match the work you are paying for.
- 4Check the business, not only the guard: Search the company's business licence number as well as the individual's licence.
- 5Repeat the check regularly: The register states that employers and business operators are responsible for regularly checking that their employees are correctly licensed.
There are two important points when reading the result. A licence that is suspended, cancelled or expired without a renewal application does not appear on the register, so a missing entry is a red flag. In contrast, a holder who has lodged a renewal application stays current under section 36(4) of the Act until the Chief Commissioner decides. An apparently expired date with a pending renewal is therefore not automatically a problem. Interstate holders who applied through mutual recognition may also take several weeks to appear.
Labour Hire, Subcontracting and the Cost of Getting It Wrong
A private security licence does not replace a labour hire licence. The Labour Hire Authority states that companies supplying security guards or crowd controllers to host businesses or intermediaries are labour hire providers, and businesses must engage only licensed providers. A provider that supplies guards under the host's direction and invoices by the hour is the clearest example. A provider that delivers a defined security service on its own terms and with its own equipment generally is not.
Penalties under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic) for using or supplying unlicensed labour hire services may exceed $660,000 for a corporation and $160,000 for an individual. The definition of labour hire services was amended from 1 October 2026, so businesses should re-test existing arrangements against the new wording.
Subcontracting carries its own rules. Under the 2025 amendments, security providers must give notice to clients and obtain their consent when they bring in a subcontractor. Every subcontractor must also hold the correct private security licences and, where relevant, a labour hire licence. A head contractor that cannot identify the company behind the officer on its site has a compliance gap.
Employer and Site Obligations Under OHS Law
Licensing answers who may work as a guard. Workplace safety law answers how a site must treat that guard. The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) is the main OHS law in Victoria, and WorkSafe Victoria enforces it. Health under the Act includes psychological health.
Three duties matter most to a business that engages security:
- Employer duties: An employer must control hazards so far as is reasonably practicable. The duty extends to independent contractors and their employees.
- Duties of anyone with management or control of a workplace: A site owner or occupier who directs where and how officers work carries duties under the Act, even when the officers belong to another company.
- Duties to other people at the workplace: Visitors and members of the public affected by the work fall within the same framework.
In practice, the hazards that security work creates are predictable, and each has a standard control.
A client that gives the provider an accurate site induction, shares known hazards and records incidents is far better placed if WorkSafe Victoria makes enquiries.
Crowd Control and Event Considerations
Crowd control is a licensed activity in its own right. An officer with only a general guard endorsement should not perform crowd control. A venue that uses unendorsed staff at the door may breach the Act even when the officers are otherwise licensed.
Event organisers face a few decisions that venue operators on a fixed site do not.
- Numbers and roles: Venue licence conditions, council permits and police advice often shape how many crowd controllers an event needs. Confirm these requirements before booking.
- Interstate staff: Out-of-state officers need a Temporary Interstate Visitor Permit. LRD issues these only for special events of social, cultural, sporting, political or economic significance to Victoria. The permits cannot be renewed.
- Briefing and records: Brief every officer on entry rules, intoxicated person procedures and evacuation points. Keep a signed roster with licence numbers on site.
A function in Southbank or the Melbourne CBD carries the same licensing obligations as a major stadium event. Only the scale of the crowd differs. Organisers planning event security should apply the verification steps above to every officer on the roster.
Checklist for Hiring a Compliant Security Provider
Use this table as a procurement checklist before signing any security contract.
The final row deserves emphasis. The Labour Hire Authority publishes annual guidance on the cost of meeting minimum legal obligations to security workers. It warns that low contract prices can signal a heightened risk of non-compliance. A quote far below that benchmark can transfer legal and operational risk to the client.
Licensing and Verification at Metro Guards
Metro Guards is licensed by the Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD), Victoria Police. Every officer we deploy holds an individual operator licence, and we verify each officer against the public register. Clients can also run the same check using the licence information provided on our rosters.
We have supplied licensed officers across Victoria for 17 years. During that time, we have worked through major regulatory changes, including the move from registration to licensing in 2025.
Independent Standards Beyond the Licence
A licence sets the legal minimum. Metro Guards also maintains independent compliance and contractor management standards through relevant certifications and accreditation. These systems support documented procedures, staff training, contractor controls and consistent service delivery.
Review our compliance and accreditation information, or request a quote for licensed security guards in Melbourne for your site.
Request a Compliance-Ready Security Quote
A security quote should come with the licence information, insurance documentation and subcontractor details relevant to the service. As an ASIAL Gold Member, Metro Guards can provide supporting compliance documentation as part of the proposal process.
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