How to Get a Security Guard Licence in Quebec

Security guard licensing in Quebec is run by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP) under the Private Security Act. This guide is about the regular agent licence in the security guarding class only. The route is eligibility, the 70-hour mandatory training, a BSP application with the documents set out below, and the fees on the BSP fee schedule.

Step 1: Check eligibility

To get a regular agent licence, you must be at least 18 years of age. You must have never been found guilty of a criminal offence related to the private security activity for which you are applying, unless you have obtained a pardon, and you must be of good moral character, meaning you conduct yourself in accordance with society's moral and social values. The BSP must send your personal information to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) so it can perform a security verification, and the BSP then determines whether you meet the judicial history and moral character criteria. These criteria must be met throughout the term of your licence, not only when you apply.

You must have Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or a work permit in Canada issued by the competent authority. You must ensure your work permit stays in force for the time you wish to carry on private security activities, and notify the BSP when your work permit is no longer valid. You must also be in a physical and mental condition such that you are able to carry on the private security activity applied for; only at the BSP's request may you be required to submit a medical certificate to confirm this.

Before applying, read the obligations associated with an agent licence. When you sign the application form, you declare that you are aware of your responsibilities and obligations if you are issued a licence. You can apply for a licence even if you are not currently employed in the private security industry, and your licence remains valid if you resign from a job, but you must inform the BSP of any change or new employment in private security.

Step 2: Complete the 70-hour mandatory training

When applying for a licence, depending on the licence class, you must demonstrate that you have successfully completed the mandatory training prescribed by regulation. For security guarding, the [Regulation respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities](https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/pdf/cr/S-3.5, R. 2 .pdf) requires at least 70 hours of course in a private security guarding program, for which a training certificate is issued by a school service centre or school board. The BSP states the same requirement: at least 70 hours of training in an institution from a school service centre or a school board that offers a program in private security guarding and delivers a training certificate.

The course includes three mandatory modules: Environment, functions, legislation and standards of conduct (30 hours), Emergency procedures (24 hours), and First aid in the workplace, recognized by CNESST (16 hours). The BSP points to agentdesecurite.ca for information about training and upcoming course dates at a school service centre or school board in your region.

If you see a course described as 54 hours, that figure is the 30 hours plus the 24 hours, without the 16-hour first aid module. It is not the full requirement on its own. The regulation total is 70 hours including first aid, so confirm that any course you take covers all three modules and leads to a training certificate, or that you hold the first aid training separately as the BSP requires.

Two other routes are stated on the BSP pages. First, the BSP accepts certain other security guarding training courses recognized by the ministre de la Sécurité intérieure, provided they are taken and successfully completed from the date on which they met all the recognition criteria. Second, if you have not completed the required training but think you have sufficient, relevant knowledge, you may request an evaluation of the equivalence of your knowledge and skills, providing proof such as diplomas, the nature and content of courses completed and the results obtained, internships and other training activities, and the nature and duration of your security experience. A résumé alone is not proof of experience; obtain proof of employment from your employers. For security guarding, proof of successful completion of a 16-hour workplace first aid course, issued by a CNESST-accredited body, is required for any equivalence request. Neither the BSP pages nor the training regulation states a separate licensing exam, question count, or pass mark; the training certificate is the gate.

Step 3: Apply to the BSP with the required documents

Apply for a regular agent licence on the BSP form provided for that purpose, with the following documents, as set out on the BSP regular licence page. To be processed, your application must be accompanied by all of them.

First, a copy of both sides of two different valid pieces of identification, meeting two conditions. Condition 1 is a piece of identification issued by the Government of Canada or a provincial or territorial government, or failing that by a foreign government, containing at least your name, date of birth, photo, and signature: a valid Canadian driver licence is preferred if you hold one, otherwise choose from the BSP's List 1, which includes a valid health insurance card, a valid passport, a certificate of Indian status, or any other valid government-issued piece of identification with your name, photo, signature, and date of birth. Condition 2 is a document evidencing Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or a work permit issued by the competent Canadian immigration authorities, chosen from the BSP's List 2 and different from the document chosen for Condition 1: a birth certificate from a Canadian province or territory, a valid Canadian passport, a Canadian citizenship certificate or citizenship card with photo, a certificate of Indian status, a permanent resident card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence, or a valid work permit in Canada. Any piece of identification must be in French or English; otherwise, also provide a translation into one of these official languages made by a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec.

Second, two identical colour passport-size (5 cm x 7 cm) photographs taken within six months before the application, facing front against a white background, showing your full face from the shoulders up, with your head uncovered, and dated on the back with a date stamp. The back of one photograph must be certified by your respondent. Hats and head coverings must not be worn unless worn daily for religious or medical reasons, and your full face must be clearly visible with no shadows cast on it. Choose your respondent carefully: the respondent must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 or over, have personally known you for at least one year, and be available for verification by the BSP. If you do not know anyone who meets all these criteria, the only person authorized to certify your photograph is a commissioner of oaths, notary, or lawyer. The respondent completes and signs the respondent declaration on the form and signs one of your photographs.

Third, documents demonstrating successful completion of the mandatory training or its equivalent, depending on the licence class requested, as set out in Step 2.

Do not carry out private security activities while your application is being processed. Only holders of a valid licence may do so, and working without one can lead to penal sanctions. Wait until you receive your licence.

Step 4: Pay the fees and keep the licence valid

For a new agent licence application, the BSP fee schedule lists a licence fee of $69.50 plus $119.00 to cover the cost of the security verification, $188.50 in total. Under no circumstances will the licence, security verification, or security monitoring fees be refunded. All fees are adjusted annually on January 1 in accordance with the rate of increase of the general Consumer Price Index for Canada, under the Regulation under the Private Security Act. Interac e-Transfers are no longer accepted by the BSP; the fee schedule encourages payment through the Agent Access Portal, or by adding the BSP as a payee through your financial institution. You must hold a licence in each class of private security activity you carry on, and licence fees must be paid for each class, although annual security verification and security monitoring fees are charged only once for all your agent licences.

A regular agent licence is valid for a period of 5 years. To maintain its validity, you must pay the annual fees within the timeframe indicated on the back of your licence and on the payment notice sent to you: a licence fee of $69.50 plus $18.00 for annual security monitoring, $87.50 in total. The BSP's questions page states the payment must be made every year, at the latest on the licence's issuance anniversary date, and that failure to pay results in suspension and possible revocation. Keep your contact information up to date so you receive communications about your licence.

For renewal, the BSP licence renewal page states that 90 days before expiry you will receive the documentation by mail and the personalized form to submit; the form is not available on the website. You must submit the form and required documents at least 45 days before your licence expires. Renewal carries the same fees as a new application: $69.50 plus $119.00. If you fail to submit the renewal application on time, you will be required to reapply for a new licence with all required documents and payments, the BSP cannot guarantee a licence will be issued before your current licence expires, and you may be required to cease your private security activities in the meantime. A licence copy, for example for a replacement, is $31.25 plus taxes.

Step 5: Know the temporary licence and self-employed rules

A temporary agent licence is a separate, limited route under the Private Security Act. The BSP may issue one for training purposes, for the special needs of an investigation, or for temporary labour on the occasion of a special event. The conditions are the same as for a regular licence: at least 18 years old, unless applying to receive training that may qualify you for a regular licence, for example during an internship; the same judicial history, status-in-Canada, and physical and mental condition requirements; and the same obligation to have read the obligations associated with the licence.

A temporary licence holder must also remain at all times under the responsibility of the person or business that hired them and for which the licence was issued, remain under the supervision of the holder of a valid regular agent licence of the same class, and not carry on a private security activity for any purpose other than the one for which the temporary licence was obtained. In the BSP's summary, a temporary licence does not allow you to engage in private security employment at your leisure: you cannot change employers or jobs, because the licence is issued for a specific and unique mandate.

For a traineeship in security guarding, locksmithing, or investigation, provide proof of registration for a training program that may qualify you for a regular licence, and have your employer complete and sign the Employer Declaration for a traineeship before starting your application. For a work-study program in security guarding or locksmithing, provide proof of registration and payment for the training, and the work-study Employer Declaration. A temporary work-study licence application for security guarding can be made only once by the applicant. In the work-study program, the student is under the constant supervision of a regular security guarding agent licence holder while carrying on security guarding activities. The licence is valid for 120 days, the maximum time allowed to successfully complete the training, and before it ends the applicant must have successfully completed the training and applied to convert the temporary licence into a regular one on form 194.008 – Temporary Licence Conversion – Training. Conversion carries only the licence copy fee of $31.25 plus taxes. For temporary labour for a special event, the employer must ensure the event is eligible and complete and sign the Employer Declaration for a special cultural or sporting event, or for a labour dispute, disaster, or pandemic, as applicable. A temporary licence is valid for a maximum of 120 days, and it may be renewed as long as you need it for the same reason, with the exception of the temporary licence for a work-study program and for special cultural or sporting events. If a temporary licence is renewed for the same purpose beyond 120 days, a printing fee applies for the licence copy, and a renewal extending validity beyond one year is subject to an annual fee.

If you are self-employed, the agent licence alone is not enough. Self-employed individuals must hold both an agency licence and an agent licence in the appropriate class, because they are subject to the Private Security Act both as agencies, offering private security services to the public, and as agents, carrying on the services they offer. The BSP's questions page states this also applies to a person operating as an individual entrepreneur or as a company with a sole shareholder or director, and to subcontractors of private security enterprises. You need an agent licence to carry out private security activities and an agency licence of the same category to offer private security services. See the BSP's Agency section for the agency licence obligations.

Related: how to get a security guard licence in Ontario, how to get a security guard licence in British Columbia, how to get a security guard licence in Alberta, how to get a security guard licence in Manitoba, how to get a security guard licence in Saskatchewan, how to get a security guard licence in New Brunswick, how to get a security guard licence in Nova Scotia, and how to start a security guard company in Canada.

Sources

• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Regular licence — age 18, 70-hour training and its three modules, work-study temporary licence of 120 days granted only once, judicial history and good moral character with Sûreté du Québec verification, citizenship, permanent resident, or work permit requirement, physical and mental condition and medical certificate on request, licence obligations, identification and photograph and respondent requirements, and the self-employed agency-plus-agent licence rule.
• [LégisQuébec, Regulation respecting the training required to obtain an agent licence to carry on private security activities (chapter S-3.5, r. 2)](https://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/pdf/cr/S-3.5, R. 2 .pdf) — at least 70 hours of course for security guarding with a training certificate from a school service centre or school board, training equivalence factors, recognized training under section 112.1 of the Private Security Act, and the exemption from training requirements for a person holding an agent licence issued elsewhere in Canada.
• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Obtaining a temporary agent licence — temporary licence cases of training, special needs of an investigation, and temporary labour for a special event; age, judicial history, status, and fitness conditions; temporary holder obligations including supervision and a single specific mandate; and the documents required for a traineeship, a work-study program, and a special event, including the Employer Declarations.
• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Forms — form 194.008 Temporary Licence Conversion – Training, the form for converting a temporary training licence into a regular agent licence.
• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Fee Schedule — Agent — new application $69.50 licence fee plus $119.00 security verification, annual fees $69.50 plus $18.00, renewal $69.50 plus $119.00, licence copy $31.25 plus taxes, annual January 1 indexation, fees charged once for security verification and monitoring across licences, and the non-refundable fees rule.
• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Licence Renewal — regular licence valid 5 years, documentation by mail 90 days before expiry, renewal application at least 45 days before expiry and the consequence of missing the deadline, temporary licence maximum 120 days with renewal exceptions for work-study and special cultural or sporting events, and the printing and annual fees on temporary licence renewal.
• Bureau de la sécurité privée, Find answers to your questions — another-province licence still requires a BSP licence with a possible training exemption and proof of similar first-aid training, applying without employment and informing the BSP of employment changes, no work while a regular application is being processed, the 120-day work-study temporary licence that cannot be renewed and converts on payment of the reprint fee only, the self-employed two-licence rule, declaring a criminal offence and the discharge declaration periods, and the 5-year licence with annual fees by the anniversary date.