Licensing Process
The following is the process on how to get your security guard license in Ontario.
The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA) regulates the investigative services and private security industry. The Act and its regulations govern the way the private security and investigation industry operates in Ontario.
All security guards and private investigators must fulfil the mandatory requirements of the Training and Testing Regulation in order to be eligible to apply for a licence.
To obtain your Ontario Security Licence you must meet the licensing requirements as set by the PSISA and follow the licensing process. Generally, the process of obtaining your security guard licence in Ontario will take approximately two to three weeks to complete from start to finish.
A security guard license allows you to work in a job where you mainly protect persons or property.
This includes working as a:
1.Security guard
2.Concierge
3. Bodyguard
4. Bouncer
5. Or loss prevention employee
A valid license card is required to work as a security guard. Working without a valid license is a violation of the Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Act.
Step One: Ontario Licensing Requirements
The first step in the process of obtaining your security guard licence in Ontario is to make sure that you will be able to meet the requirements to obtain a licence. The requirements are as follows:
- Have completed the required training and testing.
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Possess a clean criminal record, according to the Clean Criminal Record Regulation
- Be legally entitled to work in Canada.
It should be noted that individuals who have been convicted of a Criminal Offence that is not on the list may still be eligible for a licence and should contact the Private Security and Investigative Services Branch (PSISB) to determine if there are any restrictions that should apply.
You can contact the PSISB by e-mail at [email protected]
To view the list of criminal offences that will prohibit you from obtaining license, click the link below.
Step Two: Complete Your Training Course
Online Security Guard Course
Once you have determined that you are eligible to apply for your Ontario Security Licence the next step is to register for and complete your Ministry Approved 40-hour training program. This program covers the material that you need to pass the ministry test you will be writing in step three.
First Aid and CPR Training
To be eligible for a security licence, you must have a valid First Aid and CPR certification.
The minimum accepted level of first aid training is Emergency Level First Aid and CPR/AED Level C (1 day in class training) or Standard Level First Aid (2 day training). The training cannot be offered online and must be completed in an in class setting.
First Aid training must be completed by a WSIB approved First Aid training provider found on this list. Click the clink below for all approved providers.
https://www.wsib.ca/en/providers-approved-deliver-emergency-and-standard-first-aid
Once registering for your Security Guard Training Program, If you currently posses a valid First Aid and CPR certificate, you are not required to retake the First Aid training component. If you do not posses a First Aid Certificate, ensure that you register for and obtain your First Aid certification.
At the completion of your course, your ministry approved training provider will provide you with your TCN (Training Completion Number) which you can use to book your test and complete step three of the licensing process.
Step Three: Book Your Exam
Exam Cost: $35.00 plus 13% HST for a total of $39.55
The third step of the process to obtain your security guard licence in Ontario is to use your TCN to book and write your test.
You may book and complete a test if you meet the following requirements:
- You have successfully completed the mandatory training with a training entity identified by the MCSCS.
- You have an Ontario testing completion number (TCN) from your training provider.
If you are attempting to obtain a dual security guard and private investigator licence, you must book, prepay, and then successfully complete both tests. You cannot complete multiple tests in one test session. Candidates pursuing a dual licence typically take the security guard test and private investigator test on different days.
You cannot cancel or reschedule a test appointment. Once booked, the appointment is final and the test fees are not refundable. Those unable to write due to name discrepancies or tardiness will also consume their test fee. Please see our cancellation policy for details.
Payment Details
Each test is CDN $35.00 plus 13% HST for a total of $39.55. The fee includes your test reservation, test administration, and test marking; it does not include the ServiceOntario licensing fee.
Regardless of your preferred booking option, each test is CDN $35.00 plus 13% HST for a total of $39.55. The fee includes sitting for the test and marking the test; it does not include the ServiceOntario licensing fee.
Testing Links
Acceptable Identification (ID)
To sign in for your test, you must produce original, valid, unexpired, government-issued (from any country) photo ID to commence sign-in procedures. The ID must match the name you used to book your test and the name used for your Ontario testing completion number (TCN).
Health cards and social insurance cards are not acceptable as valid ID for the private security test. Acceptable ID for sign-in includes, but is not limited to:
- Any valid driver’s licence
- Ontario enhanced driver’s licence
- Any valid passport
- Ontario Photo Card
- Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (card with photo)
- Permanent Resident Card (issued before February 4, 2012)
- Canadian Department of National Defence Identification Card
- Secure Certificate of Indian Status Card (issued on or after December 15, 2009, by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada)
- Certificate of Indian Status (laminated card issued by Indian & Northern Affairs Canada)
You will not be permitted to sit the test if you fail to produce acceptable ID upon arrival. Failure to produce acceptable ID will result in a test cancellation, and your test fee will be forfeited/lost.
All tests must be booked in advance, at least by 3:00pm on the day before the test. Walk-ins at the test centres whether for booking, inquiries, or taking the test are not permitted. Test centre invigilators do not have any cash on hand and cannot book test appointments.
Test Details
Both the security guard and private investigator tests are:
- Available to those who are 18 years of age or older and who have a clean criminal record.
- Completed after successfully finishing a relevant ministry-approved training course as per ministry requirements.
- Administered in a DriveTest Centre and proctored by invigilators to prevent misconduct.
- Booked in advance by the applicant (no walk-ins are permitted).
- Booked online or by phone at a cost of $35.00 plus 13% HST for a total of $39.55.
- Delivered in a paper-and-pencil, 60-question, multiple-choice format. Each question lists four possible answers, of which you must select only one (the best answer).
- Available in English and French.
- 90 minutes in duration, 75 minutes of which is the allotted test completion time.
Test Results
The passing mark for the security guard test is 62% (37/60) and, for the private investigator test, is 77% (46/60). If you pass, you can apply for the respective security guard or private investigator licence. If you fail, you can take the test again as many times as necessary, but you must pay the full test fee for each attempt.
Test results are available within two business days of completion.
Step Five: Apply For Your License
Application Cost: $80
The final step in the process is to apply for your licence by submitting your application to the Ministry.
You can apply for the license online through ServiceOntario or you can print out a hard copy application and send it in by mail.
A correctly completed online application can take up to 10 business days to be processed
The advantages of applying online are that you can check the status of your application in real time by logging into your account, and, online applicants can view a printable digital license as soon as their application is approved.
The printed digital license can be used for proof of licensing until the hard copy license card is received in the mail.
The digital licence includes a QR code which can be used to verify the information printed on the licence. You must replace the printed digital licence with your plastic licence card once it arrives by mail.
It can take up to 30 days to finish processing a correctly completed application.
Common Issues
- Incorrectly completed forms
- Missing information
For more details on the application process, click the link provided below:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-individuals#section-4
