Quebec Security Guard Study Guide 2026

Who needs a licence in Quebec

Quebec regulates private security under the Private Security Act (Loi sur la sécurité privée). The Act created the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), which issues licences to security agencies and to the people who do the work.

The Act defines security guarding as watching or protecting persons, property or premises, mainly to prevent crime and maintain order. Every person who does this work, and their immediate superior, must hold an agent licence of the right class. A person who works only for an employer whose business is not security needs a licence only if security is their main job.

Conditions for an agent licence

Be at least 18 years old.
Be of good moral character.
Have no criminal conviction related to private security work, unless you received a pardon.
Have the required training for the class of licence.
Hold Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status or a work permit.
Be in a physical and mental condition that lets you do the work. The BSP may ask for a medical certificate.

The BSP sends your information to the Sûreté du Québec, which gives its opinion on your background. The BSP then makes the final decision on your background and moral character.

The 70-hour guarding training

The training regulation asks for successful completion of a private security guarding program of at least 70 hours. A school service centre (centre de services scolaire) or school board gives the program and issues a training certificate (attestation de formation). Other courses recognized by the Minister of Public Security also count.

Module	Hours
Environment, functions, legislation and standards of conduct	30
Emergency procedures	24
Workplace first aid, recognized by the CNESST	16

Is there an exam?

The BSP does not publish a provincial licence exam. The legal test is that you successfully complete the program and send the certificate with your application. Each school sets its own evaluations, so ask your centre how it checks each module. This practice quiz helps you review what the program teaches.

Equivalence and other provinces

If you did not take the program, you can ask the BSP to evaluate whether your diplomas, courses and experience give you equivalent knowledge and skills.
An equivalence request still needs proof of a 16-hour workplace first aid course from a CNESST-accredited body.
Work experience must be shown with forms filled in by employers, not a résumé. The Parity Committee for security guards can confirm hours worked.
A valid agent licence from another Canadian province may exempt you from the training, but you still need a BSP licence to work in Quebec.

Temporary licences

Section 22 of the Act lets the BSP issue a temporary licence for a term of not more than 120 days. Temporary licences exist for training, for the special needs of an investigation, and for temporary work at a special event such as a festival, a labour dispute or a disaster.

Working while you train

If you want to work during the guarding training, you can apply for a temporary licence in a work-study program. You must show proof that you registered and paid for the training. For security guarding, this request can be made only once.

Work under the supervision of a person with a valid regular agent licence.
Stay under the responsibility of the business that hired you.
Use the licence only for the purpose it was issued for.
You cannot change employers or jobs with a temporary licence.
Finish the training before the licence ends and apply for a regular licence.

Keeping your licence

Topic	Quebec rule
Licence term	5 years
Annual fees	Pay before each anniversary date of issue, or the licence is suspended
Renewal documents	Mailed about 90 days before expiry; send them back at least 45 days before
Late renewal	Apply for a new licence; you may have to stop working meanwhile
Change that may affect the licence	Tell the BSP in writing, without delay
Change to register information	Tell the BSP within 30 days
Leaving the industry	Ask the BSP to cancel the licence and return it within 15 days

Your licence stays valid if you resign from a job, but you must tell the BSP about any change or new job in private security. You may not hold a job that is incompatible with your licence. If a police force hires you, you must tell the BSP, and your licence will be revoked.

Applications need two identical colour passport-size photos taken in the last six months. A respondent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 or older and has known you for at least a year certifies the back of one photo. A commissioner of oaths, notary or lawyer can do it instead.

Standards of conduct on the job

A Quebec regulation sets standards of conduct for agent licence holders. The Act also says that an agent licence does not make you a peace officer. Your arrest powers are the same as any private person's under section 494 of the Criminal Code.

Keep the public's trust: no offensive language, no discrimination and no working under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Present your licence when someone asks you to identify yourself.
Never use more force than necessary, make threats or hold a person who is not under arrest.
Give reasonable help to the BSP and to peace officers, and never hide evidence.
Never claim the authority or powers of a peace officer, and never overstate your training.
Avoid conflicts of interest and never accept money or favours you are not allowed to take.
Keep confidential what you learn at work, and never use it for your own benefit.

Study tips

Know who does what: the BSP issues licences, school service centres give the training, the Sûreté du Québec checks backgrounds and the CNESST recognizes first aid courses.
Learn the numbers: age 18, 70 hours (30, 24 and 16), a 5-year licence, temporary licences of up to 120 days, renewal at least 45 days before expiry and register changes within 30 days.
Remember that a work-study licence is available only once and requires supervision.
Use the Canada-wide practice sets to master arrest, use of force, notes and emergencies.

Key terms

The 16 words and rules to know for this test. Read the list or study them as flashcards: flip each card, then mark it "Know it" or "Still learning".

Private Security Act: The Quebec law (Loi sur la sécurité privée) that regulates private security and created the licensing bureau.
Bureau de la sécurité privée: The BSP, the Quebec body that issues licences to security agencies and to the people who do the work.
Security guarding: Watching or protecting persons, property or premises, mainly to prevent crime and keep order. Guards and their immediate superior need an agent licence.
Agent licence: The Quebec licence to do security work. You must be at least 18, of good moral character and have the required training.
Background check: The BSP sends your details to the Sûreté du Québec for its opinion, then makes the final decision on your moral character.
70-hour guarding program: The required training, given by a school service centre or school board, made up of modules of 30, 24 and 16 hours.
Attestation de formation: The training certificate issued when you pass the guarding program. You send it with your licence application.
CNESST first aid: The 16-hour workplace first aid module, which must be from a body recognized by the CNESST, even for an equivalence request.
Equivalence request: Asking the BSP to judge whether your diplomas, courses and experience equal the program. Experience is shown on employer forms.
Temporary licence: A licence under section 22 for no more than 120 days, for training, an investigation's special needs or a special event.
Work-study licence: A temporary licence to work while training. It can be requested only once, needs supervision and is tied to one employer.
Licence term: A Quebec agent licence lasts 5 years. Send renewal documents back at least 45 days before it expires.
Register changes: Tell the BSP within 30 days of a change to register information, and return your licence within 15 days if you leave the industry.
Not a peace officer: An agent licence gives no police powers. Guards may never claim the authority of a peace officer.
Section 494 Criminal Code: The private person's arrest power, which is the same arrest power a Quebec security guard holds.
Standards of conduct: A Quebec regulation's rules for licence holders, such as using no more force than necessary and keeping work information confidential.