How To Become a Security Guard

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Would you like to become a security guard in Canada? Do you need to earn an income and pay your bills? Do you need to know what training to take and how to improve your job skills? Do you need to get a criminal record check? Do you need help applying for a security licence? Well you have come to the right place! Our team of qualified professionals are here to help guide you from start to finish!

At SEGI, we do security and investigator training, screening and are a full suite security and investigations agency. Getting our Security Training Academy accredited to offer courses online was one of our first orders of business – this way we could take our training to the next level, offering both a classroom and online setting. Click VIEW COURSES to access course details – topics covered, learning outcomes, fees and how to sign up.

How do i get a job as a security guard?

No matter if you are applying for a licence in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario, you will be required to have a valid security licence in the province you work.

There are the basic steps to obtain your security licence:

Obtain a criminal record check (check your provincial requirements below)
Take the 40 hour Basic Security Training course online or in a classroom (make sure the training provider is accredited and listed on your provincial security licensing website)
Pass the government exam (online or in-person, depending on the provincial requirements)
Apply for a license in each province you wish to work (licensing requirements are different in each province). You must have a valid security licence to work in Canada.

What duties will I perform?

A good all-around Security Professional is expected, after suitable training, to perform a variety of duties which may include:

Observe, record, and report all activities.
Protect person, property and equipment with high ethical standards.
Display complete professionalism while on and off duty.
All door personnel are required to “meet and greet” persons to create a visual presence; clients may need to be escorted from one location to another.

What are the General Requirements?

Individuals must meet the following basic requirements:

at least 18 years of age (19 in BC)
a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to work in Canada (work permit or PR Card)
be competent and of good character
have no serious criminal record for which a pardon has not been granteh
have no outstanding criminal charges
not the subject of a criminal investigation
fluent in speaking English (be able to communicate effectively orally and written)
completion of mandatory basic security training program (40 hours) online or classroom

What are employers looking for (skills and qualities)?

To learn more about the mandatory training and topics covered, click on the links below:

To learn more about obtaining the mandatory security guard training and obtaining your security licence in your province, click on the link below:

British Columbia:

Complete the Basic Security Training (BST). This is a 40-hour course. Sting is an accredited Basic Security Training (BST) provider (#0113) in BC through the Justice Institute of BC. BUY COURSE
Once you have completed the BST training, you will have a provincial exam that consists of 100 multiple choice questions and that must be passed with 60% or better. The exam is done virtually online. Sting has a BST Exam Prep to help with your provincial exam.
Once you have completed the training and provincial exam, you may now apply for your Security License. You will need to be fingerprinted for a criminal record check and attach the Certificate of Completion from Sting along with your application. This can all be done online. Please click here to submit your application online.

Alberta:

Complete the Alberta Basic Security Training (ABST). This is a 40-hour course. Sting is an accredited provider of ABST in Alberta.
Once you have completed the training, you will have a provincial exam that must be passed with 80% or better. Sting has an ABST Exam Prep to help with your provincial exam.
Once you have completed the training and provincial exam, you may now apply for your Security License. You will need to be fingerprinted for a criminal record check and attach the Certificate of Completion from Sting along with your application. This call all be done online. Please click here to submit your application online.

Saskatchewan:

The first step is to check if you qualify to become a Security Guard. To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Be able to pass and submit a criminal record check
Next, you will need to obtain employment with a licensed security business. Unlike other provinces, in Saskatchewan you cannot apply for a Security Guard License without an employer.
Complete a Saskatchewan Justice Approved Security Guard Training Course through an approved course provider. Sting is approved for classroom and online training in Saskatchewan. You can register for our course online or in a classroom. Once you complete the course, we will send the Government of Saskatchewan proof of completion and they will book an exam close to your location.
Pass the exam. You must complete the exam and obtain at least 75% on the exam administered by the Registrar for Private Investigators and Security Guards. The exam consists of 55 multiple choice questions which you will have up to 60 minutes to complete.
Remember, in Saskatchewan your employer has to apply for your license for you. You and your employer must fill out the required forms. You can apply for a Temporary License while you are taking the course and then upgrade to a Full Unrestricted License once you complete the course and pass the exam. All forms can be found at the Saskatchewan website.
Return your application package with all the required documents to:

Safer Communities Enforcement Services
Private Investigators and Security Guards
Ministry of Justice
485 Maxwell Crescent
Regina, Saskatchewan S4N 5X9
Security Licenses are valid for one year so be sure to renew when necessary. Your license is also specific for your employer, so if you change jobs you will need to get your new employer to apply for you again.

Manitoba:

Register for and complete training with an approved training provider TrainMyGuard.com (Sting Executive Group International) is an approved training provider. The Manitoba Security Guard Training Program (MSGTP) course is available online, is broken down into 10 units and requires trainees to pass the government exam. Click here for more information about the MSGTP program.
Write and pass your Security Guard licensing exam. After completing the 40 hours of training you are eligible to write the licensing exam up to 3 times at a cost of $25 per exam. The first $25 fee is included in your course fee. If after 3 attempts you are not successful, you are required to take the training program again as required by Manitoba Justice.

Due to COVID-19, virtual exams are scheduled through eProctor Canada. There is an additional exam fee is $30 plus tax. Upon completion of the course, individuals must request to be added to the Virtual exam list. The student will then receive an email with instructions. The student is responsible to create an eProctor account, pay the fees and schedule an exam date. If you NO SHOW or do not pass with 75% or above, you will have to pay an additional $30 fee with eProctor Canada.

NOTE – All in-person Gov’t exams are suspended due to Covid-19. Exams will be conducted virtually online. Please contact us for further information.

DUE TO COVID-19 ALL CLASSROOM Exam Dates SUSPENDED by Manitoba Justice and held at:
Auditorium (Basement Level) of the Norquay Building, 401 York Street OR 12th Floor Boardroom, 405 Broadway, Manitoba. Please check the Manitoba Website for upcoming dates and times.
Complete the application for security license application.
Obtain your CHILD ABUSE REGISTRY CHECK (CARC) by going to 777 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N3. The fee is $15.00 and is payable when you apply. As it may take between 2 and 3 weeks for your CARC to be processed, it is strongly advised that you apply for this at your earliest opportunity.
Apply for your CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK (CRC) by going to the Winnipeg Police Headquarters at 245 Smith St, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1K1 or the Commissionaires at 290 Burnell St, Winnipeg, MB R3G 2A7. If you live in a rural area your local RCMP detachment can process your CRC. Fees starts at $30.00 depending on where you apply and if you require fingerprinting. You do not need a vulnerable sector search completed to work as a security guard. Wait times vary between 2 business days and 5 weeks for a regular CRC, and up to 6 months for finger printing depending on the agency.
Take your completed application form with a copy of your CARC, CRC, digital photo as per MB Justice requirements, $30 fee and certificate provided by your trainer to:

Manitoba Justice
155 Carlton Street, Suite 1800,
Winnipeg, MB R3C 5R9
Processing of your application may take as long as 2-3 weeks, so the earlier you apply the better. Ensure your application is complete as incomplete applications will be returned which may result in a delay of your license being issued. No security guards in Manitoba are eligible to start work unless they are in possession of a current and up to date Security Guard License.