Do I need a licence to work as a bodyguard in Canada?

In most cases, yes. Alberta lists body guard as a job that needs a security service worker licence and requires approved basic security training first, and Ontario's uniform rules cover licensed security guards hired as bodyguards. Get the licence your province requires. This course is background knowledge only and does not replace licence training.

Does this course teach close protection tactics?

No. It covers awareness only: the law, planning, privacy, threat reporting and travel safety. It does not teach physical skills, driving, restraint or weapons.

Can a bodyguard use force to protect a client?

Section 34 of the Criminal Code can apply to protecting another person, but only if you believe on reasonable grounds that force is being used or threatened and your act is reasonable in the circumstances. Moving the client away from danger is usually the better choice.

Who protects Canada's political leaders?

The RCMP's Protective Policing program protects the Prime Minister, the Governor General, Supreme Court judges, federal ministers and visiting heads of state. Private security does not replace this police role.

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 any licence, certification or training required by law.

Executive Protection Awareness Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

Who provides close protection for Canada's Prime Minister and Governor General?

A private security company chosen each year
The police service of the city they visit
The Canadian Armed Forces military police
The RCMP's Protective Policing program

Show answer

Answer: D. The RCMP's Protective Policing program

The RCMP's Protective Policing program and its Close Protection Units protect the Prime Minister, the Governor General, Supreme Court judges and federal ministers.

Question 2 of 25

A foreign head of state visits Canada. How does the RCMP describe the people it protects in this group?

Diplomatic guests of the province
Internationally Protected Persons
Honorary peace officers
Federal security clients

Show answer

Answer: B. Internationally Protected Persons

The RCMP protects Internationally Protected Persons, such as visiting foreign heads of state and heads of government.

Question 3 of 25

In Alberta, does a person working as a body guard need a licence?

Yes, body guard work needs a security service worker licence
Only if they also carry a baton or handcuffs on the job
Only if they work at night or at large public events
No, body guards are exempt from all security licensing rules

Show answer

Answer: A. Yes, body guard work needs a security service worker licence

Alberta lists body guard among the jobs that require a security service worker licence.

Question 4 of 25

In Ontario, which exemption applies to a licensed security guard who is hired as a bodyguard?

They do not have to show their licence when asked
They do not have to wear the security uniform
They do not have to follow the Code of Conduct
They do not have to carry their licence

Show answer

Answer: B. They do not have to wear the security uniform

Ontario exempts guards hired as bodyguards from the uniform requirements, but they must still carry their licence and show it on request.

Question 5 of 25

Which job title could get a licensed bodyguard in Ontario fined?

Executive protection agent
Close protection specialist
Licensed security guard
Special constable

Show answer

Answer: D. Special constable

Ontario licence holders can be fined for calling themselves a special constable, police, law enforcement, a detective or an officer.

Question 6 of 25

A bodyguard clips a police-style badge to their belt so crowds will move aside. Why is this a problem?

It can be the offence of personating a peace officer
It is fine, as long as the badge has no city's name on it
It is only a problem if they are working outside Canada
It is only a problem if they are not wearing a uniform

Show answer

Answer: A. It can be the offence of personating a peace officer

Section 130 of the Criminal Code makes it an offence to use a badge, uniform or equipment in a way likely to make people believe you are a peace officer.

Question 7 of 25

Can section 34 of the Criminal Code apply when you protect someone else from force, not only yourself?

No, it only ever covers force used against the person themselves
Yes, it covers force used or threatened against another person
Only if the other person is a close family member of theirs
Only if the other person is an on-duty police officer

Show answer

Answer: B. Yes, it covers force used or threatened against another person

Section 34(1) applies when a person believes on reasonable grounds that force is being used or threatened against them or another person.

Question 8 of 25

Besides reasonable belief and a protective purpose, what must also be true for section 34 to apply?

The act happened on private property only
The act was reasonable in the circumstances
The act was approved by the client beforehand
The act was done by a licensed security guard

Show answer

Answer: B. The act was reasonable in the circumstances

Section 34(1)(c) requires that the act committed was reasonable in the circumstances.

Question 9 of 25

Which factor does section 34(2) say a court considers when deciding if an act to protect someone was reasonable?

How much the guard was being paid for the job
Whether other ways to respond were available
Whether the guard had worked for the client before
How well known the protected person is

Show answer

Answer: B. Whether other ways to respond were available

The listed factors include how imminent the force was and whether other means were available to respond, as well as proportionality and any weapons.

Question 10 of 25

A bodyguard lawfully arrests a person who has just attacked their client. What must happen next?

The person is delivered to a peace officer right away
The person is held until the client decides what to do
The person is released as soon as the client is safe
The person is driven to the client's office to wait

Show answer

Answer: A. The person is delivered to a peace officer right away

Section 494(3) says anyone other than a peace officer who arrests without a warrant must deliver the person to a peace officer forthwith.

Question 11 of 25

Your client's travel schedule shows their name, hotel and movements. Under PIPEDA, is this personal information?

Yes, but only if it is stored on paper files
No, unless it also includes a health record
Yes, it is information about an identifiable person
No, because it is only about the client's business travel

Show answer

Answer: C. Yes, it is information about an identifiable person

Personal information is any factual or subjective information, recorded or not, about an identifiable individual.

Question 12 of 25

Which of PIPEDA's fair information principles is about protecting personal information from loss or theft?

Consent
Accountability
Openness
Safeguards

Show answer

Answer: D. Safeguards

The Safeguards principle requires security protections suited to how sensitive the information is.

Question 13 of 25

A friend asks which hotel your client is staying at. Which PIPEDA principle tells you not to share it?

Challenging compliance with the Act
Individual access to own information
Identifying purposes before collection
Limiting use, disclosure and retention

Show answer

Answer: D. Limiting use, disclosure and retention

Personal information should be used or disclosed only for the purpose it was collected for, unless the person consents or the law allows it.

Question 14 of 25

A caller says they are your client's new assistant and tells a made-up story to get tomorrow's schedule. What is this tactic called?

Pretexting
Spear phishing
Baiting
Quid pro quo

Show answer

Answer: A. Pretexting

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security describes pretexting as using a fabricated scenario or story to get information.

Question 15 of 25

A video call that looks like your client asks you to change the pickup to an unusual place. What does the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security advise?

Ignore all video calls from the client from now on
Follow it, since you can see and hear the client
Ask the caller a personal question and then follow it
Confirm it through a second, independent channel

Show answer

Answer: D. Confirm it through a second, independent channel

Audio or video alone is not proof of identity. Confirm sensitive or unusual requests through a second, independent form of communication.

Question 16 of 25

When does Get Cyber Safe suggest posting online about a trip?

Before you leave, so people can plan
At each stop, so friends can follow along
After you are back home
Only while you are at the airport

Show answer

Answer: C. After you are back home

Get Cyber Safe says to wait until you are back home to post about a trip, so you do not signal where you are or that your home is empty.

Question 17 of 25

Why should the team check a photo of the client before it is posted online?

Photos of people cannot legally be shared in Canada
Only professional photographers may post photos of clients
Photos posted online always lose their colour quality
Details like a street sign can reveal where the client is

Show answer

Answer: D. Details like a street sign can reveal where the client is

Get Cyber Safe warns that photos can give away locations, for example a photo taken next to a street sign.

Question 18 of 25

Which of these is listed in section 264 of the Criminal Code as conduct that can be criminal harassment?

Posting a public review of the client's company
Asking the client a question at a public event
Sending one polite letter to the client's office
Monitoring the person's location or movements

Show answer

Answer: D. Monitoring the person's location or movements

Section 264(2) lists monitoring a person's location, movements, actions or social interactions as conduct that can be criminal harassment.

Question 19 of 25

The same person waits outside your client's office every morning and watches them arrive. Which conduct in section 264 does this match?

Repeatedly phoning the person at their home late at night
Threatening to harm the person's family pet
Posting reviews of the person's company online
Besetting or watching the place where they work

Show answer

Answer: D. Besetting or watching the place where they work

Section 264(2)(c) covers besetting or watching the place where a person lives, works, carries on business or happens to be.

Question 20 of 25

Which of these is an offence of uttering threats under section 264.1 of the Criminal Code?

Writing that you disagree with the client's views
Threatening to burn down the client's house
Saying you will vote against the client's plan
Telling the client you will complain to the media

Show answer

Answer: B. Threatening to burn down the client's house

Section 264.1 makes it an offence to knowingly threaten to cause death or bodily harm, or to burn, destroy or damage property, or to harm someone's animal.

Question 21 of 25

A parcel for your client is addressed only to "President", has heavy tape and oily stains. What should you do?

Leave it, clear the room, close the door and call police
Shake it gently to hear whether anything inside is loose
Carry it outside and leave it on the sidewalk
Open it carefully in a quiet room away from other staff

Show answer

Answer: A. Leave it, clear the room, close the door and call police

National Defence guidance says not to handle, shake or smell suspicious mail, to leave it where it is, get everyone out, close the door, tell a supervisor and notify police.

Question 22 of 25

What is the highest risk level in the Government of Canada's travel advice and advisories?

Exercise a high degree of caution
Take normal security precautions
Avoid non-essential travel
Avoid all travel

Show answer

Answer: D. Avoid all travel

The four levels, from lowest to highest, are: take normal security precautions, exercise a high degree of caution, avoid non-essential travel, and avoid all travel.

Question 23 of 25

Your client plans a trip to a country rated "Exercise a high degree of caution". What does this level mean?

There are safety concerns, or the situation could change quickly
There are no safety concerns at all, so travel normally
Canadians who are already there must leave right away
The country is closed to all Canadian travellers until further notice

Show answer

Answer: A. There are safety concerns, or the situation could change quickly

This level means there are safety or security concerns or the situation could change quickly, so travellers should be very cautious and follow local authorities.

Question 24 of 25

What does the free Registration of Canadians Abroad service let the Government of Canada do?

Provide a police escort at your destination
Pay your medical bills if you get sick on the trip
Contact you if an emergency affects you abroad
Book safe hotels for registered travellers abroad

Show answer

Answer: C. Contact you if an emergency affects you abroad

Registration lets the government contact you in an emergency abroad, or about an emergency at home, and send safety updates.

Question 25 of 25

What does the Government of Canada's traveller's checklist suggest leaving with friends or family?

A copy of your itinerary and passport ID page
Your original passport, so it is kept safe at home
Your house keys, car keys and garage door opener
Your credit cards and the PINs for your bank cards

Show answer

Answer: A. A copy of your itinerary and passport ID page

The checklist suggests leaving a copy of your itinerary, the identification page of your passport and your insurance policy with friends or family.

Executive Protection Awareness Course 2026

Quick answer

What you will learn

What to know before the test

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Related tests