CCTV Monitoring Course for Security 2026
This course is for security guards and control room operators who watch CCTV cameras. It covers the privacy rules for video surveillance in Canada, how to monitor well, how to respond when you see an incident and how to save footage as evidence.
Quick answer
This free course has about 15 minutes of lessons and a 25-question test. Score 80% or more to download a certificate of completion (private, not accredited). Checked against official sources on October 11, 2026.
What you will learn
- Explain the main privacy rules for video surveillance by businesses in Canada
- Name places cameras must not watch and why audio is a legal risk
- Scan cameras in a planned way and focus on behaviour, not appearance
- Guide a response to an incident in progress
- Export and log footage so it can be used as evidence
Score 80% or more to download your certificate.
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Question 1 of 25
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Answer: D. Whether a less privacy-invasive option would meet its needs
The guidelines say to start by asking whether a less invasive alternative would work.
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Question 2 of 25
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Answer: D. Before they enter the area, with clear signs
Signs should be posted before people enter so they can choose whether to go in.
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Question 3 of 25
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Answer: A. A contact for questions or access requests
Privacy guidance says signs should give a contact person for questions.
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Question 4 of 25
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Answer: D. A public washroom
Cameras must not watch places where people expect more privacy, such as washrooms.
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Question 5 of 25
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Answer: B. Not aim it there, and report the setting so it can be fixed
Guidance says cameras should not be aimed into windows or other places with a higher expectation of privacy.
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Question 6 of 25
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Answer: C. Only when there is a specific need
Sound adds a much greater privacy intrusion and should not be recorded unless there is a specific need.
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Question 7 of 25
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Answer: A. Knowingly intercepting a private communication without consent is a Criminal Code offence
Section 184 makes it an offence to knowingly intercept a private communication without consent of someone in the conversation.
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Question 8 of 25
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Answer: D. Voyeurism under the Criminal Code
Section 162 of the Criminal Code makes this kind of secret observation or recording voyeurism.
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Question 9 of 25
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Answer: B. Only as long as needed for their purpose, as set in policy
Privacy guidance says recordings should be kept only as long as needed for the purpose.
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Question 10 of 25
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Answer: A. Securely, so no one can recover them
Organizations must make sure destruction is secure.
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Question 11 of 25
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Answer: D. A limited number of authorized people
Policies should name the people allowed to operate the system and view recordings.
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Question 12 of 25
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Answer: B. They have a right to their own images, with other people masked
People can access images of themselves, but others in the footage must be protected, for example by masking.
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Question 13 of 25
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Answer: B. Refuse, because cameras are only for the security purpose
Personal information collected by surveillance may be used only for its stated purpose.
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Question 14 of 25
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Answer: B. Scan them in a planned pattern and give priority to high-risk areas
A planned scan makes sure every view is checked and the riskiest areas get the most attention.
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Question 15 of 25
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Answer: D. A person walking along a row of parked cars and trying door handles
Watch for behaviour that does not fit, like testing locks or hiding items.
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Question 16 of 25
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Answer: B. What the person is doing, not how they look
Judging people by appearance is unfair and misses real threats. Focus on behaviour.
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Question 17 of 25
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Answer: C. Take your scheduled break or change tasks, as your site allows
Attention falls over long periods. Breaks and task changes help you stay alert.
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Question 18 of 25
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Answer: C. Keep the camera on the person, send help or call police, and note the time
The operator’s job is to keep eyes on the incident, get help moving and record what happens.
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Question 19 of 25
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Answer: D. The person’s description and direction of travel
Live updates on where the person is going help the guard and police without the guard chasing blind.
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Question 20 of 25
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Answer: D. Note the time difference in your report
Recording the difference lets others match the footage to real events.
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Question 21 of 25
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Answer: A. Export the original by the approved method, follow policy and log who received it
An unchanged export and a clear handover record protect the footage as evidence.
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Question 22 of 25
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Answer: A. A record of everyone who had the footage, from saving it until court
If no one can account for who had the copy, a court may not trust it.
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Question 23 of 25
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Answer: D. No, footage holds personal information and must stay within policy
Footage is personal information. Using it for anything outside its purpose breaks privacy rules and trust.
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Question 24 of 25
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Answer: D. Log it and report it to your supervisor or technician right away
A dead camera is a gap in coverage. It needs to be fixed and the area may need a patrol meanwhile.
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Question 25 of 25
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Answer: D. The time, camera number, what you saw and what action you took
Clear log entries let others find the footage and understand what happened.
Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.
What to know before the test
- Canada’s privacy commissioners say businesses should first ask whether a less privacy-invasive option would meet their needs before using video surveillance.
- Signs should tell people about video surveillance before they enter the area, and include a contact for questions or access requests.
- Cameras should not be aimed at places where people expect more privacy, such as washrooms or into windows, and sound should not be recorded unless there is a specific need.
- Knowingly intercepting a private communication without the consent of a person in the conversation is an offence under section 184 of the Criminal Code.
- Recordings should be kept only as long as needed for their purpose, destroyed securely and viewed only by authorized people. People have the right to see images of themselves.
Frequently asked questions
Can a business record sound on its security cameras?
Privacy guidance says sound should not be recorded unless there is a specific need. Recording private conversations without the consent of someone in them can also be a Criminal Code offence.
Can someone ask to see CCTV footage of themselves?
Yes. Privacy guidance says people have a right to access images of themselves. Other people in the footage should be masked or blurred first.
How long should CCTV footage be kept?
Only as long as it is needed for its purpose, as set in the organization’s policy. Footage linked to an incident is usually kept longer so police or insurers can use it.
Can I share a CCTV clip with friends or online?
No. Footage contains personal information. Share it only as your employer’s policy allows, such as with police for an investigation.
Is the certificate accredited or officially recognised?
No. It is a private certificate of completion for knowledge only. It is not recognised, accredited or approved by any government, licensing body, regulator or educational institution, and it does not replace the security licence training required in your province or territory.
Sources
- Guidelines for overt video surveillance in the private sector (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
- Guidance on covert video surveillance in the private sector (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
- Criminal Code, section 184 (interception of private communications)
- Criminal Code, section 162 (voyeurism)
- PIPEDA in brief (Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)