Security industry licensing requirements vary for each State and Territory and you should familiarise yourself with the respective legislation and visit the State government licensing regulator website for your State or Territory below.

Companies providing security services must obtain a Master or Security Firm or Private Security Business Licence and employees undertaking security services must obtain an individual licence for that security industry sector. Self employed must hold a Master or Security Firm Licence and individual licence for that security industry sector.

There are a large number of security training courses to choose from, but in order to qualify for a licence you must have had completed the relevant course or courses approved by the licensing regulator in each State and Territory, or have other qualifications or experience recognised by an approved training provider. Evidence of your qualifications and experience must then be submitted with your licence application.

Click the links below for State and Territory security industry legislation and licensing regulators websites.

New South Wales

• Security Industry Act 1997
• Security Industry Regulation 2007

This legislation is administered by the Security Licensing and Enforcement Directorate (NSW Police)

• Firearms Act 1996 (NSW)
• Firearms Regulation 2006 (NSW)
• Weapons Prohibition Act 1998
• Weapons Prohibition Regulation 2009

This legislation is administered by the Firearms Registry (NSW Police)

Queensland

• Security Providers Act 1993
• Security Providers Regulation 2008
• Security Providers (Security Firm Code of Practice) Regulation 2008
• Security Providers (Crowd Control Code of Practice) Regulation 2008
• Security Providers (Security Officer- Licensed Premises – Code Of Practice) Regulation 2008

This legislation is administered by the QLD Department of Fair Trading

• Weapons Act 1990
• Weapons Categories Regulation 1997
• Weapons Regulation 1996

This legislation is administered by the Queensland Police

Victoria

• Private Security Act 2004
• Private Security Regulations 2005
• Firearms Act 1996
• Firearms Regulations 2008

This legislation is  administered by the Victoria Police Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD)

South Australia

• Security and Investigation Agents Act 1995
• Security and Investigation Agents Regulations 1996

This legislation is administered by the South Australian Office of Consumer and Business Affairs

• Firearms Act 1977
• Firearms Regulations 2008

This legislation is administered by the SA Police

Western Australia

• Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996 (WA)
• Security And Related Activities (Control) Regulations 1997 (WA)
• Firearms Act 1973
• Firearms Regulations 1974

This legislation is administered by the WA Police Licensing Services

Tasmania

• The Security and Investigations Agents Act 2002
• Security and Investigations Agents Regulations 2002

This legislation is administered by the Tasmanian Office of Consumer Affairs and Trading

• Firearms Act 1996
• Firearms Regulations 2006

This legislation is administered by the Tasmania Police

Australian Capital Territory

• Security Industry Act 2003
• Security Industry Regulations 2003

This legislation is administered by the ACT Office of Regulatory Services

• ACT Firearms Act 1996
• ACT Firearms Regulations 2008
• ACT Prohibited Weapons Act 1996

This legislation is administered by the Australian Federal Police

Northern Territory

• Private Security Act 2011
• Private Security (Crowd Controllers) Regulations (NT)
• Private Security (Security Firms) Regulations (NT)
• Private Security (Security Officers) Regulations (NT)
• Surveillance Devices Act 2007

This legislation is administered by the NT Department of Justice

• Firearms Act
• Firearms Regulations

This legislation is administered by the NT Police