Do security guards in Canada have a code of conduct?

Yes. Provinces set codes of conduct in law, such as section 14 of British Columbia's Security Services Regulation and Ontario's Code of Conduct regulation (O. Reg. 363/07). Your employer may add its own rules.

Can a security guard accept gifts?

Follow your employer's gift policy. Never accept money or favours to skip duties or show favour; that can be a crime under section 426 of the Criminal Code.

What should I do if I see another guard break the rules?

Report it through the proper channel, usually your supervisor. Covering up misconduct makes you part of it.

Can guards post work videos on social media?

No. Work information is confidential. Posting incidents breaks privacy and confidentiality rules and can harm 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.

Professional Conduct and Ethics Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

What does professional ethics mean for a security guard?

Acting honestly, fairly and lawfully, even when no one is watching
Doing whatever the client asks
Following rules only when a supervisor is present
Being strict with people you do not like

Show answer

Answer: A. Acting honestly, fairly and lawfully, even when no one is watching

Ethics is about doing the right thing consistently, not only when you might be caught.

Question 2 of 25

Why does public trust matter so much in security work?

Clients do not care how guards behave
Trust only matters for police
Guards are trusted with access to property, information and people, so misconduct harms clients and the whole industry
Guards are elected by the public

Show answer

Answer: C. Guards are trusted with access to property, information and people, so misconduct harms clients and the whole industry

Guards hold keys, codes and private information. Every guard's conduct affects how people see security workers.

Question 3 of 25

Under section 14 of British Columbia's Security Services Regulation, security workers must act…

as police officers when needed
honestly and with integrity
only within business hours
in whatever way pleases the client

Show answer

Answer: B. honestly and with integrity

BC's code of conduct requires security workers to act honestly and with integrity.

Question 4 of 25

BC's code of conduct requires security workers to obey which laws?

All federal, provincial and municipal laws
Only the Security Services Act
Only laws about security work
Only laws the employer chooses

Show answer

Answer: A. All federal, provincial and municipal laws

Section 14 requires security workers to obey all federal, provincial and municipal laws.

Question 5 of 25

What does BC's code of conduct say about information a guard learns at work?

Sell it to the media
Share it freely with friends
Keep it confidential unless disclosure is required for the work or by law
Post it online if it is interesting

Show answer

Answer: C. Keep it confidential unless disclosure is required for the work or by law

BC requires security workers to respect privacy and keep work information confidential unless disclosure is required.

Question 6 of 25

What does BC's code of conduct say about alcohol and drugs?

It only applies to armed guards
Security workers must not be unfit for duty because of alcohol or drugs while working
One drink on a night shift is allowed
It only applies on weekends

Show answer

Answer: B. Security workers must not be unfit for duty because of alcohol or drugs while working

Being unfit for duty through alcohol or drug use while working breaks BC's code of conduct.

Question 7 of 25

Under BC's code of conduct, what is wrong with a false statement in a report?

Nothing, if it helps the client
It is only wrong if someone is arrested
It is only wrong if the statement is in court
Security workers must not wilfully or negligently make false statements or complaints

Show answer

Answer: D. Security workers must not wilfully or negligently make false statements or complaints

BC's code bans wilful or negligent false statements and false complaints.

Question 8 of 25

Under BC's code of conduct, what must a security worker never misrepresent?

The colour of their uniform
The weather
Their licence type, its conditions or their legal authority
Their favourite sports team

Show answer

Answer: C. Their licence type, its conditions or their legal authority

Claiming powers or a licence you do not have misleads the public and breaks the code.

Question 9 of 25

When the law requires it, BC's code of conduct says security workers must…

only speak to police through a lawyer
ask the client before answering police
cooperate with police
refuse to speak to police

Show answer

Answer: C. cooperate with police

Section 14 requires security workers to cooperate with police when the law requires it.

Question 10 of 25

What does BC's code of conduct say about force?

There is no rule about force
Force may be used whenever a rule is broken
Security workers must not use unnecessary force
Force is allowed to punish rude people

Show answer

Answer: C. Security workers must not use unnecessary force

BC's code bans unnecessary force. Any force must be lawful and reasonable.

Question 11 of 25

A co-worker asks you to sign them in for a shift they did not work. What should you do?

Do it if they promise to pay you back
Ignore the request but say nothing to anyone
Do it once as a favour
Refuse, because it is a false record, and report it as your policy requires

Show answer

Answer: D. Refuse, because it is a false record, and report it as your policy requires

Signing a false record is dishonest and helps another worker break the rules. BC's code also bans helping another licensee breach the law.

Question 12 of 25

Under section 130 of the Criminal Code, what is an offence?

Telling people you are a licensed guard
Wearing a security uniform
Carrying a notebook
Falsely claiming to be a peace officer or wearing a badge or uniform likely to make people think you are one

Show answer

Answer: D. Falsely claiming to be a peace officer or wearing a badge or uniform likely to make people think you are one

Personating a peace officer is an offence. Guards must make clear they are security, not police.

Question 13 of 25

Under section 426 of the Criminal Code (secret commissions), an employee commits an offence if they…

accept their normal pay
work overtime
corruptly accept a benefit for doing something, or showing favour, in their employer's business
take an unpaid lunch break

Show answer

Answer: C. corruptly accept a benefit for doing something, or showing favour, in their employer's business

Section 426 applies to agents and employees who corruptly accept benefits in relation to their principal's affairs. The maximum is 5 years in prison.

Question 14 of 25

A contractor offers a guard $50 to let their truck through the gate without the usual check. What should the guard do?

Accept it, since it is a small amount
Refuse and report the offer
Accept it and do the check anyway
Ask for more money

Show answer

Answer: B. Refuse and report the offer

Taking money to skip security duties is corrupt and can be a crime under section 426. Report the offer.

Question 15 of 25

A resident offers a guard a small holiday gift. What is the best approach?

Accept it and give that resident special treatment
Ask for cash instead
Accept anything, because it is a holiday
Follow your employer's gift policy, and if unsure, politely decline or ask a supervisor

Show answer

Answer: D. Follow your employer's gift policy, and if unsure, politely decline or ask a supervisor

Gifts can create a sense of owing someone a favour. Your employer's policy decides what is acceptable.

Question 16 of 25

Which situation is a conflict of interest?

A guard greets a visitor
A guard writes a report at the end of a shift
A guard completes a patrol on time
A guard must decide whether to ticket a car that belongs to their close friend

Show answer

Answer: D. A guard must decide whether to ticket a car that belongs to their close friend

A conflict of interest is when personal interests could affect, or seem to affect, your duties. Tell your supervisor and let someone else decide.

Question 17 of 25

A guard feels too tired to stay alert on a night shift. What is the professional thing to do?

Tell the supervisor so the problem can be solved, and never sleep on post
Take a short nap at the desk
Leave early without telling anyone
Ask a visitor to watch the desk

Show answer

Answer: A. Tell the supervisor so the problem can be solved, and never sleep on post

Being alert is the core of the job. If you cannot stay fit for duty, tell your supervisor.

Question 18 of 25

Under British Columbia's rules, what counts as carrying your security licence?

Knowing your licence number
Leaving it at the office
Having a photo of it on your phone
Carrying the physical licence card; a photo of it does not count

Show answer

Answer: D. Carrying the physical licence card; a photo of it does not count

BC requires security workers to carry their valid physical licence while working.

Question 19 of 25

Under British Columbia's rules, what must a security worker do when someone asks to see their licence?

Show it only to the client
Refuse unless the person is police
Show only the back of the card
Show it, except in a few roles such as armoured car guard or door security at a liquor establishment

Show answer

Answer: D. Show it, except in a few roles such as armoured car guard or door security at a liquor establishment

BC security workers must show their licence to anyone who asks, with limited exceptions.

Question 20 of 25

Under British Columbia's rules, which of these must a security worker report?

A change of favourite shift
Criminal charges and convictions
A holiday trip
A new phone model

Show answer

Answer: B. Criminal charges and convictions

BC security workers must report charges, convictions, address changes, legal name changes and becoming a peace officer.

Question 21 of 25

Under Alberta's Security Programs policy, how soon must a licensee report a Criminal Code charge to the Registrar?

At the next licence renewal
Within 24 hours
Only if convicted
Within 30 days

Show answer

Answer: B. Within 24 hours

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

Question 22 of 25

A guard films an incident at work and wants to post it on social media. What should the guard do?

Post it if faces are blurred
Post it after the shift ends
Not post it; it breaches confidentiality and privacy and may harm an investigation
Post it on a private account only

Show answer

Answer: C. Not post it; it breaches confidentiality and privacy and may harm an investigation

Work information belongs to the client and the people involved. Posting it breaks confidentiality and can hurt an investigation.

Question 23 of 25

A guard notices a mistake in their notebook entry the next day. What is the honest way to fix it?

Tear out the page
Use correction fluid
Draw a single line through it, initial it and add the correction, so the original can still be read
Rewrite the whole notebook

Show answer

Answer: C. Draw a single line through it, initial it and add the correction, so the original can still be read

Corrections must be open and traceable. Removing pages or hiding errors makes notes look dishonest.

Question 24 of 25

Which question is a good test when facing an ethical decision?

Will anyone find out?
Would I be comfortable if this action appeared in my report or in the news?
Will this save me time?
Does a friend want me to do it?

Show answer

Answer: B. Would I be comfortable if this action appeared in my report or in the news?

If you would not want others to see what you did, it is probably the wrong choice.

Question 25 of 25

A guard sees a co-worker taking items from the client's storeroom. What should the guard do?

Ask for a share
Say nothing to protect the co-worker
Confront the co-worker in front of customers
Report it to a supervisor as policy requires

Show answer

Answer: D. Report it to a supervisor as policy requires

Covering up misconduct makes you part of it. Report it through the proper channel.

Professional Conduct and Ethics Course 2026

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