Do I need a licence to work as a mall security guard?

Yes. Security guard work needs a licence from the province where you work, such as Ontario's security guard licence or Alberta's security service worker licence. Alberta requires approved basic security training before it issues that licence. This course is background knowledge only and does not replace licence training.

Can mall security ban someone from the mall?

A mall is private property. Under trespass laws such as Ontario's Trespass to Property Act, the occupier, often through security, can tell a person they are not allowed on the premises. If the person refuses to leave, call police.

Are service animals allowed everywhere in a mall?

Service animals are welcome in the areas open to the public. Alberta lets qualified service dog teams go wherever the public may go, but not into areas like food preparation spaces. In Ontario, you may ask for documentation only when the animal is not easy to identify.

Can I give mall video to the police?

Federal privacy guidelines say video may be disclosed to police, for example after a car break-in. Follow your site's procedure and record what you released, to whom and when.

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.

Shopping Mall Security Course 2026

Question 1 of 25

You work as a licensed security guard at an Ontario mall. What must you do with your licence during a shift?

Keep it in the security office and show it once a year only
Show it only to police officers who ask you to see it
Leave it at home so it does not get lost or damaged
Carry it, on paper or digitally, and show it on request

Show answer

Answer: D. Carry it, on paper or digitally, and show it on request

Ontario says licence holders must carry a hard copy or digital licence at all times and be prepared to show it on request.

Question 2 of 25

A new mall guard wants a title that sounds official. Which title could lead to a fine in Ontario?

Security
Mall police
Mall security guard
Guest services and security

Show answer

Answer: B. Mall police

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

Question 3 of 25

A group of teenagers is sitting in the food court. How does Ontario's security guard guidance say guards must treat people?

Based on how they are dressed that day
Based on what other shoppers tell you
Equally and without discrimination
More strictly because they are young

Show answer

Answer: C. Equally and without discrimination

Ontario's study guide says guards must treat all persons equally and without discrimination, as the Human Rights Code and the Code of Conduct Regulation require.

Question 4 of 25

Under Ontario's Trespass to Property Act, who decides who is allowed on a mall's private premises?

Each store owner, for the whole of the mall property
The occupier, often through security it authorizes
The local city councillor for the area
Any shopper who is already inside the building

Show answer

Answer: B. The occupier, often through security it authorizes

The Act lets occupiers decide who is or is not allowed on their premises. Security guards often do this on the occupier's behalf.

Question 5 of 25

Mall management bans a person from the property. How can notice of the ban be given under Ontario's Trespass to Property Act?

Only by a notice in the newspaper
Verbally, in writing, or by signs
Only by a police officer in person
Only by a letter from a lawyer

Show answer

Answer: B. Verbally, in writing, or by signs

Notice under the Act can be given verbally, in writing, or by signs or markings.

Question 6 of 25

A person you have just asked to leave the mall for causing a disturbance refuses to go. What is this under Ontario's Trespass to Property Act?

Legal, until the person has been warned three times
An offence only if the person damages something first
Legal, because the mall is open to the public
An offence, because they refused to leave when asked

Show answer

Answer: D. An offence, because they refused to leave when asked

A person who refuses to leave when asked by the occupier or an authorized person may be guilty of trespass.

Question 7 of 25

An Ontario mall guard arrests a person under the Trespass to Property Act. What must the guard do next?

Take the person's photo for the ban list
Ban the person and then let them go
Hold the person until the mall closes
Contact the police as soon as possible

Show answer

Answer: D. Contact the police as soon as possible

A guard who arrests under the Act must contact the police as soon as possible.

Question 8 of 25

What does the Government of Alberta advise property owners to do about trespassers?

Remove them by force if they refuse to go
Call law enforcement to deal with them
Ignore them unless they damage property
Lock them in a room until they calm down

Show answer

Answer: B. Call law enforcement to deal with them

Alberta notes that owners can still be held criminally responsible for their actions and should call law enforcement to deal with trespassers.

Question 9 of 25

A guard authorized by the mall owner sees a person spray-painting the mall wall. Can the guard arrest the person at that moment under the Criminal Code?

Only if the person first refuses to give their name
No, only police officers may arrest for property damage
Yes, under section 494(2) of the Criminal Code
No, only the mall owner in person may make that arrest

Show answer

Answer: C. Yes, under section 494(2) of the Criminal Code

Section 494(2) lets the owner, a person in lawful possession of property, or a person they authorize arrest someone found committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property.

Question 10 of 25

You lawfully arrest a person for damaging mall property. What does section 494(3) of the Criminal Code require?

Take them to the mall manager to decide what happens
Release them once they agree to pay for the damage
Deliver them to a peace officer right away
Hold them in the security office until the next day

Show answer

Answer: C. Deliver them to a peace officer right away

Anyone other than a peace officer who arrests without a warrant must deliver the person to a peace officer forthwith.

Question 11 of 25

A group starts handing out flyers inside the mall without permission from management. What is the best approach?

Explain the mall's rules and ask them to stop or leave
Let them stay, since the mall is a public building
Take their flyers away and throw them in the garbage
Hold them in the security office until police arrive there

Show answer

Answer: A. Explain the mall's rules and ask them to stop or leave

The occupier of private premises decides who may be there and what they may do. Ask calmly, give notice, and call police if they refuse to leave.

Question 12 of 25

On patrol, you find a spilled drink on the food court floor. What does CCOHS advice support?

Note it in your log and report it at the end of shift
Leave it, since cleaning is not a security job
Mark the area and get it cleaned up right away
Put a napkin over it and keep walking your route

Show answer

Answer: C. Mark the area and get it cleaned up right away

CCOHS advises cleaning all spills immediately and marking spills and wet areas to prevent slips.

Question 13 of 25

According to CCOHS, what is the first and most important level of preventing slips and trips?

Good housekeeping
Posting more security staff
Closing wet areas for a day
Wearing heavy work boots

Show answer

Answer: A. Good housekeeping

CCOHS calls good housekeeping the first and most important level of preventing falls due to slips and trips.

Question 14 of 25

In an Ontario mall, a shopper's dog is not easy to identify as a service animal. What may you do?

Tell the shopper that dogs are never allowed inside the mall
Ask the shopper to explain their disability before entry
Ask the dog to perform a task to prove its special training
Ask for documentation from a regulated health professional

Show answer

Answer: D. Ask for documentation from a regulated health professional

Ontario's guidance says that if you cannot easily identify a service animal, you can ask for documentation from a regulated health professional.

Question 15 of 25

In Alberta, where may a qualified service dog team go in a shopping mall?

Any place where the public is allowed to go
Only into stores that post a service dog sign
Anywhere, including staff-only kitchen areas
Only into the main hallways, not into the stores

Show answer

Answer: A. Any place where the public is allowed to go

Alberta says qualified service dog teams may enter all places where the public is allowed, but not non-public areas such as food preparation areas.

Question 16 of 25

An Alberta food court tenant tells a person with a qualified service dog to sit only on the outside patio. Is this allowed?

No, a separate area cannot be set aside for them
Yes, if the patio is heated and has enough seats
Yes, if the person agrees to sit outside instead
No, but only because the patio is not fully covered

Show answer

Answer: A. No, a separate area cannot be set aside for them

Alberta says you cannot designate a specific area, such as an outside seating area, for people with service dogs.

Question 17 of 25

According to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, when should shoppers be told that a mall uses video cameras?

Only if a shopper asks to see the recordings
After an incident has been recorded on camera
Before they enter the area being watched
Once a year in the mall's annual report

Show answer

Answer: C. Before they enter the area being watched

The guidelines say to post a clear notice about the cameras before people enter the premises.

Question 18 of 25

Mall management wants a camera to cover the public washrooms after vandalism. What do the federal privacy guidelines say?

It is fine if the camera is clearly visible
Video surveillance there is inappropriate
It is fine during the hours the mall is closed
It is fine if only guards watch the video

Show answer

Answer: B. Video surveillance there is inappropriate

Cameras should not be aimed at areas where people have a heightened expectation of privacy, such as a public washroom.

Question 19 of 25

How long should a mall keep its video recordings, according to the Privacy Commissioner's guidelines?

For as long as the storage space allows
For exactly seven years in every single case
Only as long as needed for their purpose
Until the mall is sold to a new owner

Show answer

Answer: C. Only as long as needed for their purpose

Recordings should only be kept as long as necessary for the purpose of the surveillance, then destroyed securely.

Question 20 of 25

A shopper's car was broken into in the mall parking lot. Police ask for the video. What do the federal guidelines say?

Only a court may ever see it
It can be disclosed to police
Police need the shopper's consent
Video may never leave the mall

Show answer

Answer: B. It can be disclosed to police

Using the example of a broken-into car, the guidelines say the information can be disclosed to law enforcement. Follow your site's procedure for releasing video.

Question 21 of 25

Under Alberta's fire code (National Fire Code – 2023 Alberta Edition), when must supervisory staff be trained in the fire emergency procedures in the fire safety plan?

Before they take on fire safety duties
Only after the first real fire alarm
Only if the fire department asks for it
Within one year of starting fire safety work

Show answer

Answer: A. Before they take on fire safety duties

Article 2.8.1.2 of the code, as Lethbridge's fire safety plan package sets out, says supervisory staff must be trained in the fire emergency procedures before they are given any responsibility for fire safety.

Question 22 of 25

The mall fire alarm sounds. Which task is often assigned to security in a fire safety plan?

Lock all exits so nobody can re-enter the stores during it
Wait in the office for the fire department to phone
Check the panel for the alarm location and meet fire crews
Reset the alarm right away so the shoppers stay calm

Show answer

Answer: C. Check the panel for the alarm location and meet fire crews

Fire safety plan templates, such as Lethbridge's, assign staff to check the alarm panel for the alarm location, confirm 911 was called and meet fire crews.

Question 23 of 25

A shopper suddenly collapses and is not breathing normally. What does Heart & Stroke say bystanders should do?

Move them to the security office before calling for help
Sit them up and give them sips of water to drink
Wait a few minutes to see if they wake up on their own
Call 911, shout for an AED and start CPR right away

Show answer

Answer: D. Call 911, shout for an AED and start CPR right away

Heart & Stroke says to phone 911 and shout for an AED, start CPR right away, and use an AED as soon as one is available.

Question 24 of 25

A person finds their friend overdosing in a mall washroom but is afraid to call 911 because of drugs. Who does the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protect from simple possession charges?

Only health care workers who respond
Only a licensed security guard on duty
Only the person who is overdosing
The caller and the person overdosing

Show answer

Answer: D. The caller and the person overdosing

The Act protects anyone seeking emergency help during an overdose, including the person overdosing, from charges for simple drug possession.

Question 25 of 25

A parent says their teenager has not met them at the mall as planned, and they are worried for the teen's safety. When should police be called?

After 24 hours have passed with no contact
Only after the mall has closed for the night
Right away; there is no 24-hour wait
Only if the teen is under 12 years old

Show answer

Answer: C. Right away; there is no 24-hour wait

The RCMP says not to wait 24 hours. Contact police or 911 right away if you are worried about a person's safety.

Shopping Mall Security Course 2026

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