Complete Armed Guard & Firearms Program - Certified In Under 30 Days
NJ SORA Classes · Newark, New Jersey
NJ SORA Training & Certification — New Applicants & Renewals
SORA is New Jersey's Security Officer Registration Act — the state law that makes registration, fingerprinting and training mandatory for every security guard in NJ. American Firearms Academy runs both the 24-hour first-time course and the 8-hour renewal in Newark, live-virtual or in the classroom.
★ 5,000+ Trained & Certified
★ Lifetime Job Placement
★ NRA Business Alliance
Talk To A Student Coordinator
Leave your details and we'll call you back with the next SORA class dates and what to bring.
"*" indicates required fields
5,000+
People Trained & Certified
80+
Years Combined Instructor Experience
24 hrs
State-Required First-Time Course
2 yrs
Your SORA Card Stays Valid
What Is A SORA License?
The Card That Makes You Hireable In New Jersey Security
The Security Officer Registration Act was enacted in 2007 and is regulated by the New Jersey State Police. It standardizes training for every contract security position in the state — security guards, bouncers, event staff.
Holding a valid SORA card is a legal requirement to work in any security-related field in New Jersey; working without one can cost you the job or bring criminal charges. Holding one tells an employer you are pre-screened, trained and job-ready on day one — and it opens the door to higher-paying posts and leadership roles.
Work armed or unarmed security anywhere in New Jersey.
Qualify for hotel, hospital, campus, retail, event and armored-transport posts.
Build the foundation for a law-enforcement or corporate security career.
Keep the card for two years, then renew in a single 8-hour day.
Get lifetime job-placement assistance from AFA after you certify.
SORA Classes In Newark
Two SORA Classes. Pick The One You Need.
First time applying, or renewing a card that is about to expire — both run every month, live-virtual or in-person.
First-Time Applicants
SORA Initial — Unarmed & Armed
24-Hour Course
Two Days
$175 non-refundable deposit reserves your seat
The full state-required course for anyone who has never held a SORA card. Your course fee includes NJSP registration fees, fingerprinting fees and the course fee.
The complete 24-hour curriculum required by the state.
We walk you through NJSP registration and your Application ID.
Fingerprint-based background check handled as part of the process.
Live-virtual or in-person classroom — your choice.
Renewing Your Card
SORA Renewal — Unarmed & Armed
8-Hour Course
One Day
One day, then your card is good for another two years
A SORA card is valid for two years. The renewal is a single eight-hour day — do it before the card lapses and you never come off the schedule.
Eight hours, one day, unarmed and armed guards alike.
Refreshes use of force, powers of arrest and emergency response.
Book it before your expiry date to avoid a gap in eligibility.
Same live-virtual or in-person choice as the initial class.
Inside The Course
What The 24-Hour SORA Course Covers
The state sets the curriculum. Our instructors — career law-enforcement and security professionals with over 80 years of combined experience — teach it against the job you are actually going to do.
NJ Attorney General Use-Of-Force Policy
The state's own use-of-force scale — when force is lawful, when it is not, and how to justify what you did.
Powers Of Arrest & Detention
What a security officer may and may not do, how to detain lawfully, and where your authority ends.
First Aid, CPR & Emergency Response
The medical and emergency protocols an officer is expected to run before responders arrive.
Fire Safety
Fire response, evacuation and the officer's role in a building emergency.
Terrorism Awareness
Recognizing and reporting suspicious activity on a post.
Cargo Theft
The specific threat picture for warehouse, logistics and armored-transport posts.
Report Writing
Writing the incident report that holds up — the skill employers judge you on fastest.
Ethics & Professional Conduct
De-escalation and the professional standard the state expects you to hold.
How It Works
Three Steps To Your SORA Card
New Jersey sets the sequence. We run you through all three — most people get stuck on step two.
Step 1
Enroll & Reserve Your Seat
Enroll in the class with a $175 non-refundable deposit. That payment secures your place — classes are capped so every student gets instructor time.
Step 2
Register With The NJ State Police
Register online with the New Jersey State Police at eapps.njsp.org. You will be issued an Application ID number — it is mandatory to begin the course, so do this as soon as you enroll.
Step 3
Train, Print & Get Certified
Sit the 24-hour course with a certified instructor and complete your fingerprint-based background check. Need an ORI number? We handle that too.
What Students Say
They Came For The Card. They Left With A Job.
Reviews published by our own students — reproduced word for word.
“Great customer service, very pleasant people that works there. I would definitely recommend everyone wanting to begin a career in security or just learn how to shoot”
Marilynn DeJesus
24-Hour SORA Class
“Amazing experience.. Jeremy and Serena are the sweetest and most helpful people in the security industry.. No one talks about how good the training is... But its great.. And YES.. They helped me land a job at a hotel..”
Roger Dazulme
SORA + Job Placement
“I would recommend American Firearms to anyone looking to get into security. Jeremy and Serena are really helpful during the whole process and quickly i got a great job through them. I made the right decision going to them!”
Corinne Frusciante
SORA + Job Placement
“Prices are fair. Classes are very informative, helpful, and small so that each student gets the most out of lesson and attention from the instructor. They are also helpful with finding work.”
Trumpet Welch
Class Size & Value
“My husband and I loved the training !!! We learned so much & we are very grateful to be working with the Armored Truck !!! Thank you American Firearms, God bless. They help you from beginning to end!!”
Shanell-Lynn Robertson
Armored Transport Post
“This class is awesome! I can't believe there is so much information on gun laws. I came here with zero knowledge and now I feel confident.”
Julio Rivea
Firearms Instruction
Why American Firearms Academy
The Only School Running Live-Virtual And In-Person At The Same Time
Every class we teach runs simultaneously in the Newark classroom and live online — so a shift, a commute or a childcare gap does not cost you a month waiting for the next cohort.
Live-virtual and in-person, simultaneously, for every class.
Small classes — every student gets instructor time.
Lifetime job-placement assistance after you certify.
Member of the NRA Business Alliance.
One building for the whole path — SORA, Phases 1–5, CCW and ORI numbers.
SORA Questions
New Jersey SORA, Answered
SORA is the Security Officer Registration Act — a New Jersey state law, enacted in 2007 and regulated by the New Jersey State Police, that requires every security guard in the state to be registered, fingerprinted and trained.
Reserve Your Seat
Start Your SORA Certification
Tell us whether you are applying for the first time or renewing, and a student coordinator will confirm your class date and everything you need to bring.
Prefer to talk? Call 973-230-3313.
American Firearms Academy · 879 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102