There is no “D10K license” issued in Alaska. No state statute, administrative regulation, or Department of Public Safety program uses that designation, and the term does not appear in any official licensing material. If you encountered it from a third-party source, the credential you are almost certainly looking for is an Alaska security guard license, governed by AS 18.65.400–18.65.490 and 13 AAC 60. That program covers both unarmed and armed guards and is issued by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
What the Alaska Security Guard License Actually Is
Anyone working as a security guard or for a security guard agency in Alaska must hold a license from the Commissioner of Public Safety before starting work. The license comes in two forms: a standard unarmed license, and an armed security guard license for those who will carry a firearm on duty. Armed guards perform the same core work — patrolling property, responding to incidents, maintaining order — with the added authority and responsibility of being armed.
One boundary worth clearing up: Alaska does not issue a state-level private investigator license. Some municipalities, including Anchorage, require a local private detective agency license, but that is an entirely separate credential. If private investigation is what you were after, the security guard license will not get you there.
Who Qualifies
To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old. You cannot have a felony conviction or any condition that bars you from possessing a firearm, and armed applicants must specifically affirm they have never been disqualified from firearm possession, including as a condition of probation or parole.1Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.085 – Armed Security Guard License You must also affirm that you are not addicted to or dependent on alcohol, narcotics, or other drugs, and that you do not have a mental health condition impairing your memory, reason, judgment, or perception.2Alaska Rules. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.060 – Application for Security Guard License The application itself asks for your arrest and conviction history and, if applicable, your military discharge record.
Training You Have to Complete
Training is split into what you do before the job and what you do after you start.
Unarmed Guards
You need at least eight hours of general pre-assignment training on the duties and responsibilities of a security guard before you receive a temporary permit or submit your application. Within 180 days of starting work, you must complete 40 hours of in-service training.3Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.110 – Training Required
Armed Guards
On top of that, armed applicants complete at least eight hours of pre-assignment firearms training covering state and federal legal compliance, handling techniques, and safety and maintenance. You must also demonstrate competence with the specific firearm you intend to carry on the job. The training has to come from an instructor certified by a federal, military, state, county, or municipal law enforcement agency, or from a security guard agency employee holding certification from a nationally recognized organization.3Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.110 – Training Required
How to Apply
Applications go to the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s Permits and Licensing Unit. The department’s form collects your personal information, five years of residence and employment history, and three character references. Your signature must be notarized.2Alaska Rules. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.060 – Application for Security Guard License
With the form, submit:
- A frontal-view photo from the waist up, taken within 30 days of submission, in a size and condition compatible with the department’s identification equipment.
- Two sets of classifiable fingerprints.
- Documentation showing you carry the required bonding or insurance.
- A non-refundable $50 application fee, plus fingerprint processing fees under 13 AAC 68.900.
Armed applicants also attach proof of their eight hours of firearms training and documentation of their competence demonstration with the firearm they will carry.1Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.085 – Armed Security Guard License
Renewal and Keeping the License
The license is valid for two years and can be renewed for additional two-year terms. The renewal fee is $50.4Justia. Alaska Code 18.65.430 – Duration of License
Armed guards have an extra requirement at renewal: you must submit proof that you passed an annual practice firing review showing continued competence with your firearm, and you must reaffirm that nothing has happened since your last renewal to disqualify you from possessing a firearm.5Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.080 – Security Guard License Renewal Applications Let the annual firing review lapse and your armed license is subject to revocation; you would be limited to unarmed work until you requalify and complete reinstatement.1Legal Information Institute. Alaska Code 13 AAC 60.085 – Armed Security Guard License