{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/9.1-140.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/9.1-140.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/9.1-140.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/9.1-140.html"}],"law_id":68663,"edition_id":1,"section_id":68663,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-140","catch_line":"Exceptions from article; training requirements for out-of-state central station dispatchers","history":"1976, c. 737, \u00a7 54-729.28; 1977, c. 376, \u00a7 54.1-1901; 1981, c. 538; 1983, c. 569; 1984, c. 375; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 578, \u00a7 9-183.2; 1994, cc. 45, 810; 1995, c. 79; 1996, cc. 541, 543, 576; 1997, cc. 80, 204; 2000, c. 26; 2001, cc. 388, 650, 821, 844; 2002, cc. 578, 597; 2003, c. 136; 2008, c. 638; 2009, c. 225; 2011, c. 263; 2013, c. 411; 2014, c. 214.","full_text":"The provisions of this article shall not apply to:\n\n1\n\nAn officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official duties;2\n\nA person, except a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138, engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual’s financial rating or a person engaged in the business of a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act;3\n\nAn attorney licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees;4\n\nThe legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property;5\n\nA person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer, or receiving compensation under the terms of a contract, express or implied, as a security officer, who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by § 9.1-101 and employed by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions;6\n\nAny person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or 56-353 while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department;7\n\nPersons who conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster;8\n\nAny natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9.1-139 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services business for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with the Department as required by this article;9\n\nPersons, sometimes known as “shoppers,” employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment;10\n\nLicensed or registered private investigators from other states entering Virginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or registration when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private investigators licensed and registered by the Commonwealth;11\n\nUnarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers’ affiliates, and other communications common carriers;12\n\nAn end user;13\n\nA material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment;14\n\nMembers of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public service companies;15\n\nAny professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees;16\n\nAny person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user;17\n\nAny certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness;18\n\nMembers of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy;19\n\nAn out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security services business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station dispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search;20\n\nAny person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i) exclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations;21\n\nAny person whose occupation is limited to the technical reconstruction of the cause of accidents involving motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100, regardless of whether the information resulting from the investigation is to be used before a court, board, officer, or investigative committee, and who is not otherwise a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138;22\n\nRetail merchants performing locksmith services, selling locks or engaged in key cutting activities conducted at the business location who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;23\n\nLaw-enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency service personnel, or other persons performing locksmith services in an emergency situation without compensation and who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;24\n\nMotor vehicle dealers as defined in § 46.2-1500 performing locksmith services who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;25\n\nTaxicab and towing businesses performing locksmith services that do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;26\n\nContractors licensed under Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 performing locksmith services when acting within the scope of such license who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;27\n\nAny contractor as defined in § 54.1-1100 (i) who is exempt from the licensure requirements of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1, (ii) where the total value referred to in a single contract or project is less than $1,000, (iii) when the performance of locksmith services is ancillary to the work performed by such contractor, and (iv) who does not represent himself to the general public as a locksmith;28\n\nAny individual, employed by a retail merchant that also holds a private security services business license as a locksmith, where such individual’s duties relating to such license are limited to key cutting and the key cutting is performed under the direct supervision of the licensee;29\n\nAny individual engaged in (i) computer or digital forensic services as defined in § 9.1-138 or in the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital or computer-based information, in order to obtain or furnish information for evidentiary purposes or to provide expert testimony before a court, or (ii) network or system vulnerability testing, including network scans and risk assessment and analysis of computers connected to a network;30\n\nEmployees and sales representatives of a retailer of electronic security equipment, provided such employees and sales representatives (i) sell electronic security equipment at a store location, online, or by telephone, but not at the end user’s premises; (ii) are not electronic security technicians; and (iii) do not have access to end user confidential information regarding the end user’s electronic security equipment; or31\n\nA certified public accountant authorized to practice in the Commonwealth under Chapter 44 (§ 54.1-4400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 or his employees.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":248542,"text":"The provisions of this article shall not apply to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":248543,"text":"An officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official duties;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":248544,"text":"A person, except a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138, engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual’s financial rating or a person engaged in the business of a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":248545,"text":"An attorney licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":248546,"text":"The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":248547,"text":"A person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer, or receiving compensation under the terms of a contract, express or implied, as a security officer, who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by § 9.1-101 and employed by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":248548,"text":"Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or 56-353 while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":248549,"text":"Persons who conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":248550,"text":"Any natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9.1-139 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services business for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with the Department as required by this article;","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":248551,"text":"Persons, sometimes known as “shoppers,” employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment;","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"10"},"10":{"id":248552,"text":"Licensed or registered private investigators from other states entering Virginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or registration when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private investigators licensed and registered by the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"10","prefix_anchor":"10","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"11"},"11":{"id":248553,"text":"Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers’ affiliates, and other communications common carriers;","type":"section","prefixes":["11"],"prefix":"11","entire_prefix":"11","prefix_anchor":"11","level":1,"prior_prefix":"10","next_prefix":"12"},"12":{"id":248554,"text":"An end user;","type":"section","prefixes":["12"],"prefix":"12","entire_prefix":"12","prefix_anchor":"12","level":1,"prior_prefix":"11","next_prefix":"13"},"13":{"id":248555,"text":"A material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment;","type":"section","prefixes":["13"],"prefix":"13","entire_prefix":"13","prefix_anchor":"13","level":1,"prior_prefix":"12","next_prefix":"14"},"14":{"id":248556,"text":"Members of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public service companies;","type":"section","prefixes":["14"],"prefix":"14","entire_prefix":"14","prefix_anchor":"14","level":1,"prior_prefix":"13","next_prefix":"15"},"15":{"id":248557,"text":"Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees;","type":"section","prefixes":["15"],"prefix":"15","entire_prefix":"15","prefix_anchor":"15","level":1,"prior_prefix":"14","next_prefix":"16"},"16":{"id":248558,"text":"Any person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user;","type":"section","prefixes":["16"],"prefix":"16","entire_prefix":"16","prefix_anchor":"16","level":1,"prior_prefix":"15","next_prefix":"17"},"17":{"id":248559,"text":"Any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness;","type":"section","prefixes":["17"],"prefix":"17","entire_prefix":"17","prefix_anchor":"17","level":1,"prior_prefix":"16","next_prefix":"18"},"18":{"id":248560,"text":"Members of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy;","type":"section","prefixes":["18"],"prefix":"18","entire_prefix":"18","prefix_anchor":"18","level":1,"prior_prefix":"17","next_prefix":"19"},"19":{"id":248561,"text":"An out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security services business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station dispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search;","type":"section","prefixes":["19"],"prefix":"19","entire_prefix":"19","prefix_anchor":"19","level":1,"prior_prefix":"18","next_prefix":"20"},"20":{"id":248562,"text":"Any person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i) exclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations;","type":"section","prefixes":["20"],"prefix":"20","entire_prefix":"20","prefix_anchor":"20","level":1,"prior_prefix":"19","next_prefix":"21"},"21":{"id":248563,"text":"Any person whose occupation is limited to the technical reconstruction of the cause of accidents involving motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100, regardless of whether the information resulting from the investigation is to be used before a court, board, officer, or investigative committee, and who is not otherwise a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138;","type":"section","prefixes":["21"],"prefix":"21","entire_prefix":"21","prefix_anchor":"21","level":1,"prior_prefix":"20","next_prefix":"22"},"22":{"id":248564,"text":"Retail merchants performing locksmith services, selling locks or engaged in key cutting activities conducted at the business location who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;","type":"section","prefixes":["22"],"prefix":"22","entire_prefix":"22","prefix_anchor":"22","level":1,"prior_prefix":"21","next_prefix":"23"},"23":{"id":248565,"text":"Law-enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency service personnel, or other persons performing locksmith services in an emergency situation without compensation and who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;","type":"section","prefixes":["23"],"prefix":"23","entire_prefix":"23","prefix_anchor":"23","level":1,"prior_prefix":"22","next_prefix":"24"},"24":{"id":248566,"text":"Motor vehicle dealers as defined in § 46.2-1500 performing locksmith services who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;","type":"section","prefixes":["24"],"prefix":"24","entire_prefix":"24","prefix_anchor":"24","level":1,"prior_prefix":"23","next_prefix":"25"},"25":{"id":248567,"text":"Taxicab and towing businesses performing locksmith services that do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;","type":"section","prefixes":["25"],"prefix":"25","entire_prefix":"25","prefix_anchor":"25","level":1,"prior_prefix":"24","next_prefix":"26"},"26":{"id":248568,"text":"Contractors licensed under Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1 performing locksmith services when acting within the scope of such license who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;","type":"section","prefixes":["26"],"prefix":"26","entire_prefix":"26","prefix_anchor":"26","level":1,"prior_prefix":"25","next_prefix":"27"},"27":{"id":248569,"text":"Any contractor as defined in § 54.1-1100 (i) who is exempt from the licensure requirements of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1, (ii) where the total value referred to in a single contract or project is less than $1,000, (iii) when the performance of locksmith services is ancillary to the work performed by such contractor, and (iv) who does not represent himself to the general public as a locksmith;","type":"section","prefixes":["27"],"prefix":"27","entire_prefix":"27","prefix_anchor":"27","level":1,"prior_prefix":"26","next_prefix":"28"},"28":{"id":248570,"text":"Any individual, employed by a retail merchant that also holds a private security services business license as a locksmith, where such individual’s duties relating to such license are limited to key cutting and the key cutting is performed under the direct supervision of the licensee;","type":"section","prefixes":["28"],"prefix":"28","entire_prefix":"28","prefix_anchor":"28","level":1,"prior_prefix":"27","next_prefix":"29"},"29":{"id":248571,"text":"Any individual engaged in (i) computer or digital forensic services as defined in § 9.1-138 or in the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital or computer-based information, in order to obtain or furnish information for evidentiary purposes or to provide expert testimony before a court, or (ii) network or system vulnerability testing, including network scans and risk assessment and analysis of computers connected to a network;","type":"section","prefixes":["29"],"prefix":"29","entire_prefix":"29","prefix_anchor":"29","level":1,"prior_prefix":"28","next_prefix":"30"},"30":{"id":248572,"text":"Employees and sales representatives of a retailer of electronic security equipment, provided such employees and sales representatives (i) sell electronic security equipment at a store location, online, or by telephone, but not at the end user’s premises; (ii) are not electronic security technicians; and (iii) do not have access to end user confidential information regarding the end user’s electronic security equipment; or","type":"section","prefixes":["30"],"prefix":"30","entire_prefix":"30","prefix_anchor":"30","level":1,"prior_prefix":"29","next_prefix":"31"},"31":{"id":248573,"text":"A certified public accountant authorized to practice in the Commonwealth under Chapter 44 (§ 54.1-4400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 or his employees.","type":"section","prefixes":["31"],"prefix":"31","entire_prefix":"31","prefix_anchor":"31","level":1,"prior_prefix":"30"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14163,"edition_id":1,"name":"Private Security Services Businesses","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:05","permalink":{"id":284871,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14163,"identifier":"4","token":"9.1\/1\/4","url":"\/9.1\/1\/4\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department of Criminal Justice Services","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12896,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":284489,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12897,"identifier":"1","token":"9.1\/1","url":"\/9.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12896,"edition_id":1,"name":"Commonwealth Public Safety","identifier":"9.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:59","permalink":{"id":284487,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12896,"identifier":"9.1","token":"9.1","url":"\/9.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":69682,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-138","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/9.1-138\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-138","metadata":false},{"id":63110,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-139","catch_line":"Licensing, certification, and registration required; qualifications; temporary licenses","url":"\/9.1-139\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-139","metadata":false},{"id":68663,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-140","catch_line":"Exceptions from article; training requirements for out-of-state central station dispatchers","url":"\/9.1-140\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140","metadata":false},{"id":55329,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-140.01","catch_line":"Exemption from training requirements; central station dispatchers employed by central stations certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory","url":"\/9.1-140.01\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140.01","metadata":false},{"id":78631,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-140.1","catch_line":"Registration; waiver of examination; locksmiths","url":"\/9.1-140.1\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140.1","metadata":false},{"id":80366,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-141","catch_line":"Powers of Board relating to private security services business","url":"\/9.1-141\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-141","metadata":false},{"id":75892,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-142","catch_line":"Powers of Department relating to private security services businesses","url":"\/9.1-142\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-142","metadata":false},{"id":68760,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-143","catch_line":"Private Security Services Advisory Board; membership","url":"\/9.1-143\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-143","metadata":false},{"id":79924,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-144","catch_line":"Insurance required","url":"\/9.1-144\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-144","metadata":false},{"id":59393,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-145","catch_line":"Fingerprints required; penalty","url":"\/9.1-145\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-145","metadata":false},{"id":71626,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-146","catch_line":"Limitation on powers of registered armed security officers","url":"\/9.1-146\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-146","metadata":false},{"id":63070,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-147","catch_line":"Unlawful conduct generally; penalty","url":"\/9.1-147\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-147","metadata":false},{"id":80236,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-148","catch_line":"Unlawful procurement of a license; penalty","url":"\/9.1-148\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-148","metadata":false},{"id":67420,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-149","catch_line":"Unlicensed activity prohibited; penalty","url":"\/9.1-149\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-149","metadata":false},{"id":60196,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-149.1","catch_line":"Unlawful advertisement for regulated services; notice; penalty","url":"\/9.1-149.1\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-149.1","metadata":false},{"id":78865,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-150","catch_line":"Monetary penalty","url":"\/9.1-150\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-150","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":63110,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-139","catch_line":"Licensing, certification, and registration required; qualifications; temporary licenses","url":"\/9.1-139\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-139","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":55329,"structure_id":14163,"section_number":"9.1-140.01","catch_line":"Exemption from training requirements; central station dispatchers employed by central stations certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory","url":"\/9.1-140.01\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/9.1-140\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1976. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 737 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1976 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 19 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1977, chapter 376; in 1981, chapter 538; in 1983, chapter 569; in 1984, chapter 375; in 1988, chapter 765; in 1992, chapter 578; in 1994, chapters 45<\/a> and 810<\/a>; in 1995, chapter 79<\/a>; in 1996, chapters 541<\/a>, 543<\/a>, and 576<\/a>; in 1997, chapters 80<\/a> and 204<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 26<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 388<\/a>, 650<\/a>, 821<\/a>, and 844<\/a>; in 2002, chapters 578<\/a> and 597<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 136<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 638<\/a>; in 2009, chapter 225<\/a>; in 2011, chapter 263<\/a>; in 2013, chapter 411<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 214<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"},{"id":84929,"section_number":"46.2-1500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1500\/"},{"id":85110,"section_number":"54.1-1100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-1100\/"},{"id":76379,"section_number":"54.1-400","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-400\/"},{"id":77707,"section_number":"54.1-4400","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-4400\/"},{"id":79077,"section_number":"56-353","catch_line":"Railroad company may appoint police agents","order_by":null,"url":"\/56-353\/"},{"id":73488,"section_number":"9.1-101","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-101\/"},{"id":69682,"section_number":"9.1-138","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-138\/"},{"id":63110,"section_number":"9.1-139","catch_line":"Licensing, certification, and registration required; qualifications; temporary licenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/9.1-139\/"}],"permalink":{"id":284881,"object_type":"law","relational_id":68663,"identifier":"9.1-140","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140","url":"\/9.1-140\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/9.1-140\/","token":"9.1\/1\/4\/9.1-140","dublin_core":{"Title":"Exceptions from article; training requirements for out-of-state central station dispatchers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 9.1-140","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The provisions of this article shall not apply to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> An officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official duties; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A person, except a private investigator<\/span> as defined in § 9.1-138<\/a>, engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual’s financial rating or a person engaged in the business of a consumer reporting agency as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> An attorney licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer, or receiving compensation under the terms of a contract<\/span>, express or implied, as a security officer, who is also a law<\/span>-enforcement officer<\/span> as defined by § 9.1-101<\/a> and employed<\/span> by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or 56-353<\/a> while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Persons who conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person<\/span> employed<\/span> by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Any natural person<\/span> otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9.1-139<\/a> who is employed<\/span> by a business that is not a private security services business<\/span> for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public<\/span> in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration<\/span> with the Department<\/span> as required by this article; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Persons, sometimes known as “shoppers,” employed<\/span> to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Licensed or registered private investigators<\/span> from other states entering Virginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or registration<\/span> when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private investigators<\/span> licensed and registered by the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

11.<\/span> Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers’ affiliates, and other communications common carriers; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

12.<\/span> An end user<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

13.<\/span> A material<\/span> supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

14.<\/span> Members of the security forces who are directly employed<\/span> by electric public service companies; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

15.<\/span> Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

16.<\/span> Any person who only performs telemarketing or schedules<\/span> appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment<\/span> purchased by an end user<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

17.<\/span> Any certified forensic scientist employed<\/span> as an expert witness<\/span> for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

18.<\/span> Members of the security forces who are directly employed<\/span> by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

19.<\/span> An out-of-state central station dispatcher<\/span> employed<\/span> by a private security services business<\/span> licensed by the Department<\/span> provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration<\/span>, or certification<\/span> as a central station dispatcher<\/span> issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

20.<\/span> Any person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i) exclusively contracts<\/span> directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

21.<\/span> Any person whose occupation is limited to the technical reconstruction of the cause of accidents involving motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100<\/a>, regardless of whether the information resulting from the investigation is to be used before a court<\/span>, board<\/span>, officer, or investigative committee, and who is not otherwise a private investigator<\/span> as defined in § 9.1-138<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

22.<\/span> Retail merchants performing locksmith services<\/span>, selling locks or engaged in key cutting<\/span> activities conducted at the business location who do not represent themselves to the general public<\/span> as locksmiths<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

23.<\/span> Law<\/span>-enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency service personnel, or other persons performing locksmith services<\/span> in an emergency situation without compensation and who do not represent themselves to the general public<\/span> as locksmiths<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

24.<\/span> Motor vehicle dealers as defined in § 46.2-1500<\/a> performing locksmith services<\/span> who do not represent themselves to the general public<\/span> as locksmiths<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

25.<\/span> Taxicab and towing businesses performing locksmith services<\/span> that do not represent themselves to the general public<\/span> as locksmiths<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

26.<\/span> Contractors licensed under Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1 performing locksmith services<\/span> when acting within the scope of such license who do not represent themselves to the general public<\/span> as locksmiths<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

27.<\/span> Any contractor as defined in § 54.1-1100<\/a> (i) who is exempt from the licensure requirements of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1, (ii) where the total value referred to in a single contract<\/span> or project is less than $1,000, (iii) when the performance of locksmith services<\/span> is ancillary to the work performed by such contractor, and (iv) who does not represent himself to the general public<\/span> as a locksmith; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

28.<\/span> Any individual, employed<\/span> by a retail merchant that also holds a private security services business<\/span> license as a locksmith, where such individual’s duties relating to such license are limited to key cutting<\/span> and the key cutting<\/span> is performed under the direct supervision of the licensee; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

29.<\/span> Any individual engaged in (i) computer or digital forensic services<\/span> as defined in § 9.1-138<\/a> or in the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital or computer-based information, in order<\/span> to obtain or furnish information for evidentiary purposes or to provide expert testimony<\/span> before a court<\/span>, or (ii) network or system vulnerability testing, including network scans and risk assessment and analysis of computers connected to a network; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

30.<\/span> Employees and sales representatives of a retailer of electronic security equipment<\/span>, provided such employees and sales representatives (i) sell electronic security equipment<\/span> at a store location, online, or by telephone, but not at the end user<\/span>’s premises; (ii) are not electronic security technicians<\/span>; and (iii) do not have access to end user<\/span> confidential information regarding the end user<\/span>’s electronic security equipment<\/span>; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

31.<\/span> A certified public accountant authorized to practice in the Commonwealth under Chapter 44 (§ 54.1-4400<\/a> et seq.) of Title 54.1 or his employees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXCEPTIONS FROM ARTICLE; TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR OUT-OF-STATE CENTRAL STATION\nDISPATCHERS (\u00a7 9.1-140)\n\nThe provisions of this article shall not apply to:\n\n1. An officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political\nsubdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official\nduties;\n\n2. A person, except a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138, engaged\nexclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an\nindividual’s financial rating or a person engaged in the business of a\nconsumer reporting agency as defined by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act;\n\n3. An attorney licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees;\n\n4. The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security\nagreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property;\n\n5. A person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer,\nor receiving compensation under the terms of a contract, express or implied, as\na security officer, who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by §\n9.1-101 and employed by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions;\n\n6. Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or 56-353 while engaged in the\nemployment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed\ntraining mandated by the Department;\n\n7. Persons who conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided\nas a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims\nadjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to\nconduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being\nprovided as a claims adjuster;\n\n8. Any natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to §\n9.1-139 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services\nbusiness for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee,\nhowever, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public\nin the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with the\nDepartment as required by this article;\n\n9. Persons, sometimes known as “shoppers,” employed to purchase\ngoods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the\nefficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business\nestablishment;\n\n10. Licensed or registered private investigators from other states entering\nVirginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or\nregistration when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private\ninvestigators licensed and registered by the Commonwealth;\n\n11. Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the\nregular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their\nemployers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment\nfurnished by their employers, their employers’ affiliates, and other\ncommunications common carriers;\n\n12. An end user;\n\n13. A material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold\nby an electronics security business and who does not provide installation,\nmonitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment;\n\n14. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public\nservice companies;\n\n15. Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4\n(§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his\nemployees;\n\n16. Any person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without\naccess to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by\nan end user;\n\n17. Any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the\npurpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness;\n\n18. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards\nengaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for\nthe United States Navy;\n\n19. An out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security\nservices business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and\nmaintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station\ndispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs\nthe monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory\nauthority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search;\n\n20. Any person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i)\nexclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to\nconduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such\nagency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background\ninvestigations;\n\n21. Any person whose occupation is limited to the technical reconstruction of\nthe cause of accidents involving motor vehicles as defined in § 46.2-100,\nregardless of whether the information resulting from the investigation is to be\nused before a court, board, officer, or investigative committee, and who is not\notherwise a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138;\n\n22. Retail merchants performing locksmith services, selling locks or engaged in\nkey cutting activities conducted at the business location who do not represent\nthemselves to the general public as locksmiths;\n\n23. Law-enforcement, fire, rescue, emergency service personnel, or other persons\nperforming locksmith services in an emergency situation without compensation and\nwho do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;\n\n24. Motor vehicle dealers as defined in § 46.2-1500 performing locksmith\nservices who do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;\n\n25. Taxicab and towing businesses performing locksmith services that do not\nrepresent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;\n\n26. Contractors licensed under Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title\n54.1 performing locksmith services when acting within the scope of such license\nwho do not represent themselves to the general public as locksmiths;\n\n27. Any contractor as defined in § 54.1-1100 (i) who is exempt from the\nlicensure requirements of Chapter 11 (§ 54.1-1100 et seq.) of Title 54.1,\n(ii) where the total value referred to in a single contract or project is less\nthan $1,000, (iii) when the performance of locksmith services is ancillary to\nthe work performed by such contractor, and (iv) who does not represent himself\nto the general public as a locksmith;\n\n28. Any individual, employed by a retail merchant that also holds a private\nsecurity services business license as a locksmith, where such individual’s\nduties relating to such license are limited to key cutting and the key cutting\nis performed under the direct supervision of the licensee;\n\n29. Any individual engaged in (i) computer or digital forensic services as\ndefined in § 9.1-138 or in the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital\nor computer-based information, in order to obtain or furnish information for\nevidentiary purposes or to provide expert testimony before a court, or (ii)\nnetwork or system vulnerability testing, including network scans and risk\nassessment and analysis of computers connected to a network;\n\n30. Employees and sales representatives of a retailer of electronic security\nequipment, provided such employees and sales representatives (i) sell electronic\nsecurity equipment at a store location, online, or by telephone, but not at the\nend user’s premises; (ii) are not electronic security technicians; and\n(iii) do not have access to end user confidential information regarding the end\nuser’s electronic security equipment; or\n\n31. A certified public accountant authorized to practice in the Commonwealth\nunder Chapter 44 (§ 54.1-4400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 or his employees.\n\nHISTORY: 1976, c. 737, \u00a7 54-729.28; 1977, c. 376, \u00a7 54.1-1901; 1981, c. 538;\n1983, c. 569; 1984, c. 375; 1988, c. 765; 1992, c. 578, \u00a7 9-183.2; 1994, cc.\n45, 810; 1995, c. 79; 1996, cc. 541, 543, 576; 1997, cc. 80, 204; 2000, c. 26;\n2001, cc. 388, 650, 821, 844; 2002, cc. 578, 597; 2003, c. 136; 2008, c. 638;\n2009, c. 225; 2011, c. 263; 2013, c. 411; 2014, c. 214.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}