How to Get a Security Guard Licence in Manitoba

In Manitoba you cannot act as a security guard, or hold yourself out as one, unless you are licensed. An employer must not employ an unlicensed guard. Licensing is run by the Manitoba Justice Private Investigators and Security Guards Program, under The Private Investigators and Security Guards Act and Regulation, and it is an offence under s.37 to contravene the Act or Regulation. The Province of Manitoba frequently asked questions page and the Province of Manitoba how to apply page set out the training, checks, application, and working rules. The route is: meet the age and Manitoba residence requirements, complete the mandatory 40-hour training and pass the provincial exam, get the records checks and documents ready, and apply online. No processing-time figure is published; processing dates are posted on the program webpage, so do not rely on any timeline not stated there.

Step 1: Check you meet the eligibility rules

You must be at least 18 years of age to apply. No other eligibility bar is stated on the official pages; the checks process in Step 3 is what the pages state, and the Registrar considers convictions, pending charges, and Child Abuse Registry listing when deciding an application, as described in Step 5.

You must live in Manitoba. All applications must state an address for service within Manitoba, and applications without one are returned. Non-resident exceptions need Registrar approval. Notices and the licence go to the address for service, so use an address where you can receive mail. Proof of a Manitoba address may be requested, as set out in Step 4, and you must report an address change to the Registrar within 15 days, under s.19.1.

Step 2: Complete the 40-hour training and pass the provincial exam, or use another accepted route

Training is mandatory. You must complete the 40-hour Manitoba Security Guard Training Program (MSGTP), delivered by Manitoba Justice-approved trainers. Manitoba Justice does not deliver the training directly. The training program fee is not set by Manitoba Justice and varies between approved trainers, so confirm the price with your approved trainer before enrolling and do not rely on any course price stated elsewhere. A certificate is issued by an approved provider once the 40 hours are done and the final provincial exam is passed.

The final provincial exam is booked online through E-proctor Canada, only after finishing the 40 hours. The pass mark is 75% or higher. You have up to 3 attempts, and all 3 must be within 18 months of completing the training course. Failing all 3 means retaking the full training course before trying again. The exam fee is $30, paid to E-proctor when scheduling. There is zero tolerance for breach of exam conditions and integrity processes.

Two other routes may meet the training requirement:

• Training equivalency. If you moved from another Canadian province or territory with a regulated training standard, the Registrar may at their discretion recognize your training as equivalent. Contact the Program about this. Only Canadian training standards and experience are recognized for competency.
• Law enforcement, sheriff, and correctional experience. Law enforcement officers, sheriffs, and correctional officers previously employed may be eligible to challenge the final exam as proof of training, by Registrar approval.

A Manitoba licence is valid only in Manitoba. A licence from another province or territory is not valid in Manitoba and cannot be transferred; you must apply for a new Manitoba licence. If you hold a valid licence and training certificate from another province with a required training course, you might not need the Manitoba course: apply with all documents plus a copy of the valid licence and training certificate and a valid Manitoba address. Ontario holders may have a training completion number (TCN) accepted. The compliance team reviews the application, your other licence must be in good standing, and you must meet Manitoba eligibility.

Step 3: Get the records checks, ID, and photo ready

Get these documents ready before you apply, and check their dates. All uploads must be .jpeg files.

Criminal record check. You need criminal record check results dated within the previous 6 months, from the police agency for the jurisdiction where you reside. The check must include an RCMP National Repository and local police databases search. If it shows charges or convictions, a fingerprint-certified check with a transcript listing the charges or convictions, also dated within the previous 6 months, is required, and the application cannot be processed until the complete results arrive. Alternate providers are accepted only if RCMP-accredited and located in Manitoba.

Manitoba Child Abuse Registry check. You need Manitoba Child Abuse Registry check results dated within the previous 6 months, from the Manitoba Child Abuse Registry service. This check is not the same as a Vulnerable Sector Search; do not substitute one for the other.

Digital photograph. Your photograph must be a .jpeg file: passport-photo quality, recent within 6 months, a colour headshot, with no selfie, filters, or uniform, a white or light background, and a neutral expression. Glasses are acceptable if your eyes are visible, with no sunglasses. Head coverings are allowed only for daily religious or medical reasons.

Two pieces of government-issued ID, one from each list. The name on your application must match your legal name on your ID. ID must be in English or French, and you must upload the front and back, clear and readable.

• List 1, showing name, photo, date of birth, and signature: a valid Manitoba driver's licence; any valid passport; a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship card with photo; a provincial or territorial ID card; a Department of National Defence (DND) or Canadian Forces ID card; a Certificate of Indian Status Card; or a Refugee Protection Claimant Document with photo.
• List 2: a Canadian birth certificate; a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship; a Canadian Citizenship Card; a Canadian passport; a valid Permanent Resident Card; a valid work or study permit that allows security-guard employment (an expired permit needs the original plus a valid extension); a Certificate of Indian Status Card; a Certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad; a DND Services Card; or a DND Canadian Forces Card.

The following are not accepted as ID: a Manitoba health card, a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card, a firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or Possession Only Licence (POL), or your security guard or private investigator licence card.

Step 4: Put together your application package and submit it

Your application package includes:

• The completed Private Investigator/Security Guard Licence Application, using the online e-form on the program webpage
• Your criminal record check results, as described in Step 3
• Your Manitoba Child Abuse Registry check results, as described in Step 3
• Your digital photograph, as described in Step 3
• Your Manitoba Security Guard Training Program (MSGTP) certificate
• Two pieces of government-issued ID, one from each list, as described in Step 3
• A completed loss-prevention uniform exemption form, completed with your employer and uploaded with the application, if needed

Submit only one form, and only the applicant may submit it. Incomplete applications are returned. All uploads must be .jpeg files.

Your application must state an address for service within Manitoba. If proof of a Manitoba address is requested, provide two supporting documents dated within 90 days, one showing your physical address if you live in rural Manitoba, from: a bank statement or voided cheque; employment confirmation; a Manitoba Health Card; a mortgage or lease document; a personal income tax document; social assistance benefit confirmation; or a utility bill.

The individual security guard or private investigator licence fee is $30 annually, and the dual licence fee is $60 annually. A replacement licence card is $15. All fees are non-refundable. Pay the licensing fee in the online form by Visa, MasterCard, Visa Debit, or MasterCard Debit. Separately, payment instructions for licence-fee payment by phone (Visa/Mastercard, Visa Debit/Mastercard Debit; no personal cheques) come from program staff once the licence is ready to issue. Record-check costs are the applicant's. These figures plus the $30 exam fee are the only cost figures stated. No processing-time figure is published; processing dates are posted on the program webpage.

Step 5: After you apply, carry your licence and keep it current

After you apply, the compliance team may do background checks and an investigation. If approved, you get an email saying the licence has issued, and the card is mailed via Canada Post to the Manitoba address for service. You cannot work until you receive the physical licence card in the mail. If information is missing, you have 90 calendar days to respond or the application closes, and fees are non-refundable.

If approval is refused, you get a letter by email and mail with the reasons and an opportunity to be heard, with 2 weeks to reply. A criminal record does not necessarily prevent licensing; convictions and pending charges and Child Abuse Registry listing are considered by the Registrar, who decides. If you receive a denial letter, you have a chance to provide further information, and then a final decision is made.

Working rules. You must work for a business licensed to provide security guards or an employer registered as a security guard employer. You may work for more than one employer if each is licensed or registered. Always carry your licence while working and show it when asked.

A uniform is mandatory under s.33(1). The uniform must clearly identify you as a security guard, must not resemble a police or military uniform, and must carry the words "SECURITY GUARD" in clear letters on the chest of the torso and outer garments. The only uniform exemption is for Loss Prevention Officer duties, meaning duties to prevent or reduce retail theft loss. The exemption must be approved before it applies, is indicated on the back of the licence card, and at all other times the uniform rule applies.

Weapons and force are tightly limited. Batons, nightsticks, truncheons, and billy clubs should not be used or carried as weapons, because of Criminal Code risk. You may not carry firearms or restricted weapons of any type. Pepper (OC) spray is prohibited, as a prohibited weapon under the Criminal Code. Handcuffs are not specifically prohibited but are closely monitored by the employer; only minimum force for a lawful arrest is permitted, and other force is unjustified assault and may lead to a Criminal Code charge. Your arrest powers are the same as a private citizen under s.494 of the Criminal Code; you have no extra powers. You may not use the terms "officer", "private detective", "protection officer", or "law enforcement officer", and you may not carry a badge or shield. The Registrar-issued licence is the only allowed identification, although private investigators may also carry a business card with no reference to licensing under the Act.

Report to the Registrar within 15 days: a charge laid for a crime, a conviction, or an address change.

Renewal. The licence is valid for 1 year. Renew annually before expiry. You can renew up to 4 months early, and it is recommended to submit the renewal and payment at least 2 months before expiry. There is a 30-day grace period after expiry in which renewal is still possible. After 30 days, a new application is required, with new checks and a new photo. Criminal record and Child Abuse Registry checks and the photo are valid for 3 years from their result or provided date, not from the licence expiry date, and each must be updated every 3 years. A reminder letter is sent 60 days before the licence or record-check expiry. Letting a check or photo expire moves the licence to terminated status, and you cannot work until it is re-activated. Renewal uploads follow the same .jpeg and two-ID rules as the initial application, and a new loss-prevention exemption form is needed if you changed employer. Working with an expired, lapsed, or terminated licence is an offence.

A Manitoba licence is valid only in Manitoba, as noted in Step 2.

For questions, contact the Private Investigators and Security Guards Program by phone at 204-945-2825, by email at infopisg@gov.mb.ca, or by mail at Private Investigators & Security Guards Program, PO Box 20 Stn Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0C6. Phone messages are checked and usually returned within 1 to 2 business days; leave your name, phone number, and licence number. If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the police, then email the program with your licence number, full name, date of birth, and telephone number plus the police report number. Staff will contact you to pay the $15 replacement fee, and a new card will be mailed.

Related: how to get a security guard licence in Alberta ($100/2 years + 80% exam), how to get a security guard licence in British Columbia (BST + JIBC), and how to get a security guard licence in Ontario (40-hour course + exam), and Licensed Occupations in Manitoba (every verified licence and credential in Manitoba, with the regulator that issues it).

Sources

• Province of Manitoba, Frequently Asked Questions — Individuals — the licensing requirement and offence, the 18-years-of-age requirement, the 40-hour MSGTP and approved trainers, the 75% exam pass mark, 3 attempts within 18 months, and $30 exam fee, training equivalency and exam challenge routes, the $30 annual, $60 dual, and $15 replacement fees, Manitoba address and reporting rules, working and uniform rules, renewal and grace-period rules, and contact details.
• Province of Manitoba, How To Apply — the online application form and upload rules, the criminal record and Child Abuse Registry checks, the photograph requirements, the two ID lists and documents not accepted, the MSGTP certificate, the Manitoba address for service and proof-of-address documents, payment methods, what happens after applying, and out-of-province licence rules.