If you have a felony on your record and you're looking into security guard work in New York, you've probably run into two kinds of answers online: a vague "usually yes, it depends," or a scary list of "automatic disqualifiers" that no one bothers to cite. Neither one tells you what actually happens when the New York State Department of State reviews your application.
The truth sits in between, and it's grounded in a specific state law. This article walks through how that law works, what a Certificate of Relief or Certificate of Good Conduct actually does (and doesn't do), and what you can control right now while you sort out the parts of your case that need a lawyer, not a training school.
Key Takeaways
- New York does not automatically bar someone with a felony from becoming a licensed security guard — the Department of State reviews each case individually under Article 23-A of the Correction Law.
- A conviction can still lead to denial if it's directly related to security guard duties or if licensing the person would create an unreasonable risk to people or property.
- A Certificate of Relief from Disabilities (courts) or a Certificate of Good Conduct (Board of Parole) can serve as evidence of rehabilitation, but neither seals, erases, or guarantees approval of a conviction.
- Completing state-required security guard training doesn't guarantee licensure, but it's a necessary step you can complete while sorting out record-related questions with an attorney.
Can Felons Work as Security Guards in NY? Here's the Short Answer
No, a felony conviction does not automatically disqualify you from getting a New York security guard license. That's the part most articles get wrong by either overpromising or fear-mongering. New York State doesn't run licensing decisions off a checklist of banned crimes. Instead, it looks at the applicant as an individual — the conviction, the job duties, and the time that's passed since the offense.
That review happens at the state level. The New York State Department of State (DOS) is the agency that issues, denies, or revokes security guard licenses, and it's the only entity with the authority to make that call. A training school, including Star Security Training, cannot approve or deny your license, and no honest source should tell you otherwise.
What a training provider can do is make sure you're not sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what happens with your record before you get your coursework done. Training hours are required of every applicant, felony or not. Finishing them now means you're ready to submit a complete application the moment any legal questions about your record are resolved.
The rest of this article breaks down the actual legal test New York uses, what the rehabilitation certificates do, and what steps make sense before you apply.
Article 23-A: The Law That Actually Decides These Cases
The law governing this entire process is Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law. It applies to both employment and licensing decisions across the state, and it sets a case-by-case standard rather than a blanket ban. Security guard licensing regulations explicitly point back to Article 23-A as the standard DOS must apply when deciding whether to deny or revoke a license over a criminal conviction, according to state licensing regulations.
The Two-Part Test Explained
Under Article 23-A, a licensing agency cannot deny you a license just because you have a prior conviction. That's the baseline protection the law creates. Denial is only legally permitted if one of two conditions is met, according to guidance summarized by NYC's Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
Direct Relationship to the Job
The first condition is a direct relationship between your conviction and the specific duties of a security guard — things like protecting people, safeguarding property, or preventing unlawful activity. The state has to draw a real connection between what you were convicted of and what the job actually asks you to do. A conviction with no logical link to those duties doesn't meet this standard on its own.
Unreasonable Risk to Safety or Property
The second condition is broader: even without a direct job relationship, DOS can deny a license if it determines that licensing you would pose an unreasonable risk to property or to public safety. This is a judgment call the agency makes based on the specifics of your case, not a category the law spells out in advance.
The bottom line is that Article 23-A requires individualized review. There's no shortcut list of felonies that triggers automatic denial — the state has to apply this two-part test to your actual record.
Which Convictions Are Most Likely to Cause a Denial?
There's no official, published list of felonies that automatically disqualify someone from a New York security guard license. If you've seen a list like that online, treat it with skepticism — it's not how the law works, and it's not how DOS decisions get made.
What actually happens is a review of whether your specific conviction connects to the core duties of the job: protecting people, preventing unlawful activity, and safeguarding property. In one documented case, a DOS decision found that an applicant's registration was subject to denial because the conviction was directly related to those exact duties, according to the Department of State's own case record. That case illustrates the standard in action — not a category of crime that's automatically out, but a specific offense evaluated against specific job responsibilities.
This means two people with what looks like the same general type of conviction could get different outcomes, depending on the details of the offense, how much time has passed, and other factors the state considers under Article 23-A. It's decided applicant by applicant, not felony-category by felony-category. If you're trying to predict your own outcome, the honest answer is that no training school or general article can tell you — that determination belongs to DOS.
Certificate of Relief from Disabilities vs. Certificate of Good Conduct
New York offers two documents designed to help people with convictions show evidence of rehabilitation when applying for jobs or licenses. They're often confused with each other, and with things like record sealing or expungement, but they work differently.
| Certificate of Relief from Disabilities | Certificate of Good Conduct | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | The courts | NYS Board of Parole |
| Typical applicant | Generally for people with one felony conviction | Generally for people with two or more separate felony convictions |
| Purpose | Restores certain rights lost due to conviction; evidence of rehabilitation | Same purpose, used for more extensive records |
| Covers out-of-state convictions | Yes | Yes |
Certificate of Relief from Disabilities
This certificate is granted by the courts and is generally the path for someone with a single felony conviction. It restores certain civil rights and can be presented to an employer or licensing agency as documented evidence that you've been assessed as rehabilitated, per legal aid guidance on certificates of rehabilitation.
Certificate of Good Conduct
This one is issued by the New York State Board of Parole, and it's the certificate people with two or more separate felony convictions are generally directed toward, according to criminal defense resources on relief from civil disabilities. New York residents can apply for either certificate even if the underlying conviction happened out of state.
What a Certificate Does Not Do
Neither certificate is a pardon. Neither one seals, erases, or hides your conviction — it will still show up, and you may still be required to disclose it depending on how the application is worded. A certificate strengthens your case by demonstrating rehabilitation, but it doesn't override Article 23-A's two-part test. DOS can still deny a license if it finds a direct job relationship or an unreasonable risk, certificate or not.
Sealed Records, Disclosure, and Why You Shouldn't Guess
One of the most common points of confusion is mixing up sealing, expungement, and these certificates. They are not the same thing, and getting this wrong on an application can create bigger problems than the original conviction.
Start with this: New York does not offer expungement. It offers record sealing for certain eligible convictions, plus the two certificates described above. "Sealed" does not mean erased — it means access to the record is restricted, not that the conviction disappears from existence. Whether you need to disclose a sealed conviction on a specific application depends on the exact wording of the sealing order and the application itself.
This is precisely the kind of question where general information stops being useful and personal legal advice becomes necessary. Nobody outside of an attorney familiar with your case file, or the Department of State directly, should tell you whether your specific conviction is sealed, how it needs to be disclosed, or what your certificate eligibility looks like. If you're unsure, talk to an attorney or a reentry legal service before you fill out anything official.
What To Do Before You Apply for a NY Security Guard License
Get Clarity on Your Record First
Before you submit anything to DOS, get clear answers about your specific situation — sealing eligibility, certificate eligibility, and what you're required to disclose. An attorney or a reentry-focused legal service is the right resource for this, not a general search or a training school's FAQ page.
Complete Your Required Training
Regardless of where you land on the record question, New York requires all applicants to complete state-mandated security guard training hours. That requirement doesn't change based on your criminal history, and it's not wasted time or money — it's a fixed part of the licensing process everyone has to complete.
Submit Your Application to NYS DOS
Once your training is done and you've gotten clarity on any record-related questions, your application goes to the Department of State. DOS is the only entity that decides whether you get licensed. That decision rests on the Article 23-A standard described above, applied to your individual case.
Star Security Training provides the state-approved coursework required to reach that point. We don't make licensing decisions and we can't predict how DOS will rule on any individual's record — but we can make sure you've completed the training requirement correctly and are ready to apply as soon as your other questions are settled. If you're getting your paperwork in order and want to talk through the training side of the process, reach out to Star Security Training about our state-approved coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having a felony automatically disqualify you from a NY security guard license?
No. New York does not use a blanket ban based on felony status. The Department of State reviews each application individually under Article 23-A of the Correction Law, which asks whether the conviction directly relates to security guard duties or would create an unreasonable risk to safety or property. Some applicants with felonies are approved; some are denied. It depends on the specifics of the case, not the general category of "felony."
What is Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law?
Article 23-A is the state law that governs how licensing agencies and employers must treat applicants with criminal convictions. It prohibits automatic denial based solely on a prior conviction and instead requires a two-part test: denial is only permitted if there's a direct relationship between the conviction and the job's duties, or if licensing the person would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety or property.
What's the difference between a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and a Certificate of Good Conduct?
A Certificate of Relief from Disabilities is issued by the courts, generally for people with one felony conviction. A Certificate of Good Conduct is issued by the NYS Board of Parole, generally for people with two or more separate felony convictions. Both serve as evidence of rehabilitation for job and license applications, but neither is a pardon, and neither guarantees approval.
Does a sealed conviction need to be disclosed on a security guard license application?
It depends on the specific terms of the sealing order and the exact wording of the application, which is why this isn't a question with a one-size-fits-all answer. Guessing wrong can create real problems. If you have a sealed conviction, talk to an attorney about your disclosure obligations before you submit anything to the Department of State.
Is New York's expungement the same as sealing a record?
No, and this is a common point of confusion. New York does not offer expungement at all — it offers record sealing for certain eligible cases, along with the Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and Certificate of Good Conduct. Sealing restricts access to a record; it does not erase or destroy it. If you've heard the term "expungement" used about a New York case, double-check with an attorney what actually applies.
Will Star Security Training guarantee that I get licensed if I have a felony?
No, and no legitimate training provider can make that promise. Licensing decisions belong solely to the New York State Department of State, based on the Article 23-A standard. What we provide is the state-required training coursework you need to apply. Completing that training doesn't guarantee approval, but it does mean you're ready to submit your application as soon as any record-related questions are resolved.
Does NYC add extra security guard licensing rules on top of NY State's?
Security guard licensing in New York is administered at the state level through the Department of State, and Article 23-A applies statewide to how convictions are evaluated. If you're working with a specific employer or contract in New York City, ask them directly about any additional requirements they may have, since individual employers can set their own hiring standards on top of the state license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does having a felony automatically disqualify you from a NY security guard license?
No. New York does not use a blanket ban based on felony status. The Department of State reviews each application individually under Article 23-A of the Correction Law, which asks whether the conviction directly relates to security guard duties or would create an unreasonable risk to safety or property. Some applicants with felonies are approved; some are denied. It depends on the specifics of the case, not the general category of "felony."
What is Article 23-A of the New York Correction Law?
Article 23-A is the state law that governs how licensing agencies and employers must treat applicants with criminal convictions. It prohibits automatic denial based solely on a prior conviction and instead requires a two-part test: denial is only permitted if there's a direct relationship between the conviction and the job's duties, or if licensing the person would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety or property.
What's the difference between a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and a Certificate of Good Conduct?
A Certificate of Relief from Disabilities is issued by the courts, generally for people with one felony conviction. A Certificate of Good Conduct is issued by the NYS Board of Parole, generally for people with two or more separate felony convictions. Both serve as evidence of rehabilitation for job and license applications, but neither is a pardon, and neither guarantees approval.
Does a sealed conviction need to be disclosed on a security guard license application?
It depends on the specific terms of the sealing order and the exact wording of the application, which is why this isn't a question with a one-size-fits-all answer. Guessing wrong can create real problems. If you have a sealed conviction, talk to an attorney about your disclosure obligations before you submit anything to the Department of State.
Is New York's expungement the same as sealing a record?
No, and this is a common point of confusion. New York does not offer expungement at all — it offers record sealing for certain eligible cases, along with the Certificate of Relief from Disabilities and Certificate of Good Conduct. Sealing restricts access to a record; it does not erase or destroy it. If you've heard the term "expungement" used about a New York case, double-check with an attorney what actually applies.
Will Star Security Training guarantee that I get licensed if I have a felony?
No, and no legitimate training provider can make that promise. Licensing decisions belong solely to the New York State Department of State, based on the Article 23-A standard. What we provide is the state-required training coursework you need to apply. Completing that training doesn't guarantee approval, but it does mean you're ready to submit your application as soon as any record-related questions are resolved.
Does NYC add extra security guard licensing rules on top of NY State's?
Security guard licensing in New York is administered at the state level through the Department of State, and Article 23-A applies statewide to how convictions are evaluated. If you're working with a specific employer or contract in New York City, ask them directly about any additional requirements they may have, since individual employers can set their own hiring standards on top of the state license.