Getting a security worker licence in BC
Security workers in British Columbia are licensed under the Security Services Act. Licences are issued by the Security Programs Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. A full security guard licence usually needs Basic Security Training (BST).
- Make sure you are at least 19, the minimum age to apply for a licence.
- Take the 40-hour BST theory course from the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), either in class or online and self-paced, or in class at an approved security training school.
- Pass the BST final exam with 70% or higher.
- Apply to the Security Programs Division. Since December 15, 2025, JIBC no longer issues BST certificates; the Division checks your completion with JIBC.
- Add any authorizations you need, such as restraints or dogs, once you have a valid licence.
There are other routes to a full security guard licence. A security worker licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario is accepted, and so is some experience as a Canadian police, correctional, sheriff, auxiliary, reserve or border services officer. A security guard licence under supervision does not need training first.
| Authorization | How to get it | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Restraints (for example handcuffs) | Advanced Security Training (AST), or qualifying law enforcement experience plus recent use-of-force training | AST every 3 years |
| Dog handling | Canine Security Validation through JIBC | Every year |
| Armoured car guard | An Authorization to Carry restricted firearms under the federal Firearms Act | As set under the Firearms Act |
The BST final exam
| Feature | BST final exam |
|---|---|
| Questions | 75 |
| Time limit | 90 minutes |
| Pass mark | 70% |
| Attempts | Maximum 2, then retake the theory course |
| Deadline | Within 6 months of finishing the theory course |
| Materials | Closed book: no notes, books, web browsers or AI tools |
| Where | JIBC New Westminster, or online with a remote proctor if you live outside the Lower Mainland |
The course covers professionalism and ethics, the laws that govern security work, report writing and personal safety. In-class students must attend all 40 hours to write the exam. Online students have up to eight weeks to finish the theory course.
For an in-person exam, bring your own laptop and charger (tablets do not work), your JIBC student ID and government photo ID, and arrive 30 minutes early. Online exams use remote proctoring: you must be alone, keep your full face on screen and show your room on camera.
Rules for licensed security workers
Licensed workers must follow BC's security laws, the code of conduct in the Security Services Regulation, and any conditions on their licence. Your licence lists the work you may do and whether you may use restraints or dogs.
Banned equipment
- No badges.
- No Sam Browne belt (a strap over the shoulder linked to the waist belt).
- No items designed to injure or control people, such as batons, pepper spray or tasers.
Your licence
- Carry your valid, physical licence whenever you do security work. A photo of it is not accepted.
- Show it to anyone who asks. Armoured car guards and liquor establishment door security are the only exceptions.
- Hand it over only to Special Provincial Constables working for the Registrar, or to police officers.
- Never work with an expired licence. Replace a lost or stolen licence right away.
- Report criminal charges, convictions, address changes, legal name changes, and becoming a peace officer.
After you report a charge or conviction, you may keep working unless the Security Programs Division tells you to stop.
Use of force
BC counts blocking someone's way, physically moving or restraining a person, using handcuffs and using a weapon as force. Record every use of force on SPD Form 0513 (Use of Force Incident Report) or an equivalent, and give it to your manager if you work for a security business.
You also need a security business licence to run a security business. If you are self-employed, you need both a worker licence and a business licence.
Private companies in BC follow the province's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) when they collect or use personal information, such as camera footage.
Study tips for the BST exam
- Memorize the BC numbers: age 19, 40 hours, 75 questions, 90 minutes, 70%, 2 attempts, 6 months and AST every 3 years.
- Know what counts as force in BC, because it is wider than many people think.
- Practise the Criminal Code arrest and force sections, which apply in every province.
- Write sample notebook entries and short reports. Clear, factual writing is part of the course.