- The CLEET Phase I/II unarmed security guard exam (test code 5101) costs $50 per attempt.
- The initial unarmed license application through CLEET's Thentia portal is a separate $50 fee.
- Required training totals 40 hours: 20 hours Phase I plus 20 hours Phase II.
- Renewal every three years costs $50 plus 8 continuing-education hours; late renewal adds a $25 fee.
The $50 CLEET Exam Fee: What It Covers
The official Oklahoma Unarmed Security Guard test - Phase I and II, test code 5101 - is administered through the Oklahoma CareerTech Testing Center Health and Professional Certification network on behalf of the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). Under the current testing table, the exam consists of 50 questions with a 75-minute time limit and a 70% passing score requirement. Each attempt costs $50, paid directly to the testing center when you schedule your session.
This fee is per attempt, not per person. If you fail and need to retest, you pay the $50 fee again for each subsequent sitting. That single detail is why understanding the exam format and content areas before you sit down matters more than most candidates realize - every retake is another $50 out of pocket. For a full breakdown of what's tested, see the OK-SG Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All Content Areas.
Initial Unarmed License Application Cost
Passing the exam is only half the process. Oklahoma law separates "passing the test" from "holding a license," and CLEET charges a distinct fee for each step. The initial unarmed security guard license application costs $50, submitted through CLEET's Thentia online licensing portal.
This means a candidate's baseline out-of-pocket cost - before training, before travel, before any retest - is at minimum $100: $50 for the exam attempt and $50 for the license application. Passing the test does not automatically issue the license; you must still complete the Thentia application with the required background, fingerprint, lawful-status, and employment or financial-security documentation, and be at least 18 years old. If you're unsure whether you meet the underlying eligibility criteria, review the OK-SG Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify guide before you pay any fees.
Key Takeaway
Budget for two separate $50 payments minimum - the exam fee and the license application fee - since neither one substitutes for the other.
Phase I and Phase II Training Costs
Before you can sit for the 5101 exam, you need to complete the standard required training: Phase I at 20 hours plus Phase II at 20 hours, for a total of 40 hours of instruction. Training is delivered by CLEET-approved providers, and course pricing varies depending on the school, format, and whether the course is delivered in-person or online.
Because provider pricing isn't standardized by CLEET the way the exam and license fees are, the honest answer is that your training cost will depend entirely on which approved provider you choose. What is standardized is the documentation requirement: if you complete an online training course, you must satisfy the certificate and originating-email documentation checks described in the testing supplement before the testing center will let you sit for the exam. Missing that paperwork on test day can cost you the appointment - and potentially another scheduling fee - even if you were otherwise ready.
What Phase I and Phase II Actually Cover
The 40-hour training curriculum is built to prepare candidates for the scope of the licensing exam, which draws from the legal, procedural, and practical knowledge an unarmed guard needs on the job.
- Legal authority and limitations of unarmed security personnel
- Report writing, observation, and documentation standards
- Emergency response, patrol procedures, and access control
- Professional conduct and the boundaries of a guard's authority versus law enforcement
Because the training hours and the exam content are closely linked, it's worth pairing your coursework with focused review rather than treating them as separate boxes to check. The OK-SG Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt walks through how to convert your 40 hours of training into exam-ready recall instead of just attendance credit.
Retest Fees and the Three-Day Rule
If you don't pass on your first try, CLEET's testing supplement sets clear rules about how - and how soon - you can try again:
- The minimum retest interval is three days from your previous attempt.
- Each retest requires paying the $50 exam fee again.
- After three unsuccessful attempts, you must complete retraining before testing again.
- Once retraining is complete, the supplement allows two additional attempts.
Do the math on a worst-case scenario: three failed attempts at $50 each is $150 before you've even reached the mandatory retraining requirement - and that's before factoring in the cost of the retraining itself. This is the single biggest reason cost-conscious candidates treat first-attempt preparation as a financial decision, not just an academic one. If you want a realistic read on how tough the test actually is before you schedule, the How Hard Is the OK-SG Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article and the OK-SG Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows breakdown are both worth reading first.
Renewal Fees Every Three Years
An Oklahoma unarmed security guard license is valid for three years, which means the cost of certification isn't a one-time event - it recurs on a predictable schedule. Renewal requires:
- 8 approved continuing-education hours completed before renewal
- The $50 renewal fee paid through the Thentia portal
- Supporting employment or bond/insurance documentation
If you miss your renewal window, CLEET's posted late fee is an additional $25 on top of the standard $50 renewal fee. Building the continuing-education hours and renewal deadline into your calendar now - rather than scrambling three years from now - is the cheapest way to avoid that penalty. For scheduling context on testing windows and deadlines in general, see OK-SG Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Total Cost Breakdown Table
Here's a consolidated view of every fee a candidate can expect to encounter, based directly on the CLEET fee schedule:
| Cost Item | Amount | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I/II Exam Fee (test code 5101) | $50 | Per testing attempt |
| Retest Fee | $50 | Each additional attempt after a fail, minimum 3-day wait |
| Initial Unarmed License Application | $50 | One-time, via Thentia portal, after passing |
| License Renewal (every 3 years) | $50 | Requires 8 CE hours plus documentation |
| Late Renewal Fee | $25 | If renewal is submitted past the deadline |
| Phase I + Phase II Training (40 hours) | Varies by approved provider | Required before exam eligibility |
Key Takeaway
The guaranteed CLEET-mandated costs alone - one exam attempt plus one license application - total $100. Every additional retest adds $50, and renewal every three years adds another $50 (or $75 if late).
Other Costs Candidates Forget About
Beyond the exam and license fees, a handful of associated costs and requirements can catch candidates off guard:
- Fingerprinting and background check processing - required as part of the Thentia licensing application, alongside lawful-status and employment or financial-security documentation.
- Travel to an approved testing center - since the exam is computer-delivered and closed-book at approved sites only, not remote.
- Approved testing accommodations - candidates who need accommodations must arrange them with the testing center in advance and follow the supplement's documentation requirements; last-minute requests can delay scheduling.
- Government-issued photo ID and training-completion documentation - not a monetary cost, but showing up without acceptable ID or documentation can mean forfeiting your $50 exam fee for that sitting.
None of these carry a standardized statewide fee the way the exam and license do, but they're real logistical costs that affect your total time and money investment. If you're still deciding whether the whole process is worth pursuing given these costs, the Is the OK-SG Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article weighs the investment against the career outcomes, and the OK-SG Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis covers what licensed guards can expect to earn once certified.
How to Avoid Paying Twice
Since every failed attempt costs $50 and forces a minimum three-day wait, the single most cost-effective thing you can do is pass on your first try. That doesn't require a generic study plan - it requires aligning your remaining prep time with the specific content the 5101 exam draws from.
Review Phase I Material
- Revisit legal authority, limitations, and professional conduct topics from your 20-hour Phase I training
- Use practice questions to check recall, not just re-read notes
Review Phase II Material
- Focus on patrol procedures, report writing, and emergency response from Phase II
- Time yourself answering 50-question sets in under 75 minutes
Full Simulation and Documentation Check
- Take a full-length practice run under exam-like time pressure
- Confirm your ID and training-completion documentation are in order before scheduling
Running through realistic practice questions before you schedule your official attempt at the testing center is the cheapest insurance against paying another $50. You can start building that familiarity with the exam's question style on the OK-SG practice test platform, which mirrors the 50-question, 70%-passing format you'll face on test day. For a condensed, last-minute review, the OK-SG Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts is built for a quick pass the night before your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exam fee itself is $50 per attempt. Add the separate $50 initial license application fee, and the guaranteed minimum cost to become licensed is $100, not counting training or any retests.
Yes. Each attempt at the Phase I/II exam requires its own $50 payment, and you must wait a minimum of three days between attempts. After three failed attempts, retraining is required before two more attempts are permitted.
No, they are separate charges. The $50 exam fee covers your testing attempt at an approved center; the $50 license application fee covers processing your unarmed license through CLEET's Thentia portal after you pass.
Renewal every three years costs $50, plus you must complete 8 approved continuing-education hours and submit supporting employment or bond/insurance documentation. Renewing late adds a posted $25 late fee.
No. Completing an online training course satisfies the training-hour requirement, but the exam itself is still computer-delivered and closed-book at an approved testing center. Online-course graduates also need to satisfy specific certificate and originating-email documentation checks before testing.