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Alberta Security Guard Test (ABST) Practice 2026

Practise for the provincial exam that follows the Alberta Basic Security Training (ABST) course. You need 80% to pass. Practice test 1 covers Alberta's own licensing rules and trespass laws, and the other sets cover arrest, use of force, notes, emergencies and other topics taught across Canada.

Read before you practiseStart with the Alberta Security Guard Study Guide (ABST): plain-language notes, diagrams and the numbers to remember.

  1. Question 1 of 25

    Which Alberta law requires security guards to be licensed?
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    Answer: A. Security Services and Investigators Act

    Alberta licenses security service workers under the Security Services and Investigators Act. The other names are laws in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

  2. Question 2 of 25

    Which office issues security service worker licences in Alberta?
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    Answer: B. Security Programs, under Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services

    Security Programs administers licensing for security workers, investigators and locksmiths. You can apply at a participating registry agent or by mail.

  3. Question 3 of 25

    What score must you get on Alberta's provincial basic security training exam?
    Show answer

    Answer: D. 80% or higher

    Alberta requires a score of 80% or higher on the provincial final exam after an approved basic security course.

  4. Question 4 of 25

    Which basic courses are approved for an Alberta security service worker licence?
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    Answer: C. The Alberta Basic Security Training course or an accredited basic security training course

    You must take the Alberta Basic Security Training course or an accredited version through an approved training provider, then pass the provincial exam.

  5. Question 5 of 25

    What level of English is required for an Alberta security service worker licence?
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    Answer: A. Canadian Language Benchmark level 5

    Applicants must be fluent in English at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5.

  6. Question 6 of 25

    Which three record searches are mandatory for an Alberta security licence application?
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    Answer: D. A criminal record check, a vulnerable sector search and a local police database search

    All three searches are required with no exceptions, and the request must list the employment type as security services.

  7. Question 7 of 25

    Under Alberta's Security Programs policy, what information is a member of the public entitled to get from a licensee who is asked?
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    Answer: C. The licensee's name, licence number and employer's name

    Licensees must show proof of licensing when asked, unless that would threaten their safety or stop them doing their duties. The public may have the name, licence number and employer.

  8. Question 8 of 25

    How long is an Alberta security service worker licence valid?
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    Answer: A. 2 years

    The licence is valid for 2 years. Renewal follows the same process as the first application.

  9. Question 9 of 25

    What must an Alberta security guard carry while working?
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    Answer: C. The original licence card

    Carry the original licence card while working and give your employer a photocopy. A badge is not legal identification in Alberta.

  10. Question 10 of 25

    Your Alberta security licence card is lost or stolen. How soon must you report it to Security Programs?
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    Answer: D. Within 24 hours

    Lost or stolen licences must be reported to Security Programs within 24 hours.

  11. Question 11 of 25

    What does an Alberta security guard need before carrying a baton on duty?
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    Answer: B. Employer approval and an approved 40-hour baton use-of-force course

    Alberta requires employer approval and an approved 40-hour baton use-of-force training course. The certificate is sent with the licence application.

  12. Question 12 of 25

    How often must Alberta baton use-of-force training be re-certified?
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    Answer: A. Every 36 months

    Baton training must be re-certified every 36 months.

  13. Question 13 of 25

    In Alberta, how long is a security training licence valid?
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    Answer: D. 30 days

    A training licence lasts 30 days, is applied for by the employer, is not portable, and becomes a standard licence after you finish the course and pass the exam.

  14. Question 14 of 25

    Under Alberta's Security Programs policy, what is true for a guard working on a training licence?
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    Answer: D. They may not carry handcuffs or batons and may not drive company vehicles

    Training licensees may not carry handcuffs, batons or other equipment, may not drive company vehicles, and must be supervised at all times.

  15. Question 15 of 25

    Under Alberta's Security Programs policy, who must supervise a guard working on a training licence?
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    Answer: B. A licensee with at least 2 years of experience, directly and at all times

    Training licensees must be directly supervised at all times by a licensee with at least 2 years of experience.

  16. Question 16 of 25

    Under Alberta's Trespass to Premises Act, where must signs be posted to give notice not to trespass on a building?
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    Answer: B. At each entrance normally used to enter the premises

    Section 2 allows notice orally, in writing, or by signs at each entrance normally used. When signs are posted that way, people are deemed to have notice.

  17. Question 17 of 25

    Under the Trespass to Premises Act, a guard authorized by the owner apprehends a trespasser. What must the guard do next?
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    Answer: C. Deliver the person to a peace officer as soon as practicable

    Section 5 lets the owner or an authorized representative apprehend a trespasser without a warrant, but anyone who is not a peace officer must deliver the person to a peace officer as soon as practicable.

  18. Question 18 of 25

    Under the Trespass to Premises Act, what is the maximum fine for a person's first trespass offence?
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    Answer: C. $10,000, with up to 6 months in jail as well or instead

    Since the 2019 changes, a first offence can bring a fine of up to $10,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both. A later offence on the same premises can reach $25,000, and corporations can be fined up to $200,000.

  19. Question 19 of 25

    Which law mainly governs how private businesses in Alberta, including security companies, handle personal information such as CCTV images?
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    Answer: C. Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)

    Alberta's PIPA is considered substantially similar to the federal PIPEDA, so it covers most private-sector activity inside Alberta.

  20. Question 20 of 25

    Under Alberta's Petty Trespass Act, on which land is entry prohibited without permission even when no sign is posted?
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    Answer: B. A lawn or garden

    Section 2.2 lists land where entry is prohibited without notice, including lawns and gardens, land used for crops, animals or bees, and land that is fenced or enclosed to keep people out.

  21. Question 21 of 25

    Under the Petty Trespass Act, what must a person do when the owner or occupier tells them to leave the land?
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    Answer: D. Leave immediately

    Section 2(1)(b) makes it an offence to fail to leave land immediately after being directed to by the owner or occupier.

  22. Question 22 of 25

    Under the Petty Trespass Act, using an apparent path to reach the door of a building for a lawful purpose is…
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    Answer: C. presumed not to be a trespass

    Section 2(4) presumes that lawful access to a building's door by an apparent access route is not a trespass, so a visitor walking to the front door is not trespassing.

  23. Question 23 of 25

    According to Alberta's Security Programs Policy Manual, what must a licensee do before making an arrest?
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    Answer: D. Verbally identify themselves as security

    Licensees must say they are security before an arrest. The licence card is shown afterwards if the person asks. Arrest powers come from section 494 of the Criminal Code.

  24. Question 24 of 25

    Under Alberta policy, which incident must an individual licensee report to the Registrar on an Incident Report?
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Using a baton or other weapon

    Weapon use, serious injury or death, and patrol dog bites must be reported. Handcuffing without incident only needs an internal company record.

  25. Question 25 of 25

    Under Alberta's Security Programs policy, a licensee is charged with a Criminal Code offence. How soon must they report it to the Registrar?
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Within 24 hours

    Criminal charges and convictions must be reported within 24 hours. Other changes, such as a new address or name, must be reported within 30 days.

What to know before the test

  • You must finish an approved basic security course (the Alberta Basic Security Training course or an accredited version) and score 80% or higher on the provincial exam.
  • The exam is supervised by a proctor approved by the province. Proctors may not work for the training provider, and anyone caught cheating is not eligible for a licence.
  • Applicants must be at least 18, eligible to work in Canada, and fluent in English at Canadian Language Benchmark level 5.
  • You need three police checks: a criminal record check, a vulnerable sector search and a local police database search. They expire 90 days after they are issued.
  • A security service worker licence is valid for 2 years. Carry the original card while working, and report a lost or stolen card within 24 hours.
  • To carry a baton you need employer approval and an approved 40-hour baton use-of-force course, re-certified every 36 months.
  • A valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory can meet Alberta's training requirement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the pass mark for the Alberta security guard exam?

You need 80% or higher on the provincial final exam. Your training certificate is emailed to you after Security Programs receives your training report.

How many questions are on the ABST exam?

Alberta's public licensing pages give the 80% pass mark but not the number of questions or a time limit. The mock exam here uses 50 questions with the 80% pass line, so treat its length as practice, not as the official format.

Can I rewrite the ABST exam if I fail?

Yes. Under the province's published exam process, you arrange a rewrite through your training provider within two years of starting your course. If your provider cannot schedule you, contact Security Programs.

Can I work as a guard before I pass the exam?

Only on a training licence. Your employer must apply for it, it lasts 30 days, and you must be directly supervised by a licensee with at least 2 years of experience. Training licensees may not carry handcuffs or batons.

I have a security licence from another province. Do I need to take ABST?

No. A valid licence from another Canadian province or territory meets the training requirement, but you still apply to Security Programs for an Alberta licence and meet the other conditions.

Where do I apply for an Alberta security licence?

At a registry agent that offers Security Programs services, or by mail to Security Programs in Edmonton. Applications cannot be sent by email.

Sources

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