Ontario security licence: how to get your security guard licence
How to get an Ontario security licence: approved basic training, the ministry test, the criminal record check and the ServiceOntario application, with fees, online options and renewal. Official Ontario sources.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
You need a valid security guard licence to work as a security guard in Ontario. ServiceOntario issues it for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, and you get it in a fixed order: finish approved basic training, pass the ministry test, then apply with a recent criminal record check, two pieces of government ID and a photo.
This guide puts those steps in order, shows what each one costs and what to bring, and lists the mistakes that get test bookings forfeited and applications sent back. Every fact links to the Ontario government page, or the page of the ministry's test delivery agent, that it comes from. When you are ready for the test itself, use our free practice tests, printable sheet and full-length mock exam linked below.
Step by step
Check that you are eligible
You must be 18 or older, legally entitled to work in Canada and have a clean criminal record, meaning no convictions for the offences listed in Regulation 37/08 unless you have a pardon or record suspension.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)Complete basic training
Take a course from a community college, career college, public university, licensed security agency or, for its own staff only, a registered employer. Security guard training is at least 40 hours and includes emergency first aid and CPR; you can skip that part with a valid certificate from a St. John Ambulance or WSIB-certified instructor. Web-based courses count if they allow real-time contact with an instructor.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic trainingGet your training completion number
When you finish the course, your training provider gives you a training completion number (TCN). You need it to register for the ministry test.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic trainingBook the ministry test
Book online at ontariosecuritytesting.com, or by phone, with your TCN and a credit card, no later than 3 p.m. the day before. Walk-ins are not allowed, and once booked a test cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Booking and payment optionsWrite the test and score 62% or more
The test has 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 75 minutes to answer within a two-hour appointment, and the cut score is 62 percent, about 38 correct.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard study guide, About the testCheck your result
The testing site says results are available within 2 business days of the exam date. You look them up on its results page with the number from your booking emails.
Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Home pageGet a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
Order a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC). It must be issued within six months of the day you submit your application, in its original format, with your name exactly as it appears on your ID.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)Apply to ServiceOntario
Apply online through Ontario.ca Login, which takes up to 15 calendar days for a complete application, or by mail with the official form and a bank draft, money order or certified cheque payable to the Minister of Finance, which takes up to 30 calendar days.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Who can get it
- Age 18 or older and legally entitled to work in Canada. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- A clean criminal record: no convictions for an offence listed in Regulation 37/08, unless a pardon or record suspension has been granted. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Basic training completed and the ministry test passed. If you hold a current, active security licence in good standing from another province, you do not need Ontario training and testing. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- A valid, full Emergency First Aid/CPR certificate before you book the test; interim certificates are not accepted. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Frequently asked questions
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic training course | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic training |
| Ministry test, each attempt | $35.00 plus 13% HST, $39.55 in total | Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Booking and payment options |
| Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
| Security guard licence, new or renewal | $80 (non-refundable) | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
| Dual licence (security guard and private investigator) | $160 | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Write the ministry test online or at select DriveTest centres across Ontario. You register and book through the ministry's testing website, ontariosecuritytesting.com, using the training completion number from your provider. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator testing
What to bring or have ready
- At a test centre: an original, valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID from any country, in the same name as your booking and TCN. Health cards and social insurance cards are not accepted, and food, drinks and aids of any kind are not allowed. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — What to expect in person
- For the online test: a desktop or laptop (no tablet or phone), a reliable high-speed connection, a webcam that can show the whole room, a microphone and speakers (no headphones), the exam browser installed beforehand, a private quiet room and government photo ID for sign-in. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Frequently asked questions
- For the licence application: your Ontario testing completion number, an Ontario mailing address, the original CRJMC, a photo that meets the photo rules, the front and back of two different valid government IDs (one proving identity, one proving you may work in Canada) and the fee. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
After you pass
No plastic card is issued. Your licence is digital: download or print it from Ontario.ca Login, carry a digital or printed copy whenever you work and show it on request. Tell the ministry when your name, address or contact details change, and within 5 days of any conviction for a listed offence. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Validity and renewal
A new licence expires on your second birthday after it is issued, and each renewal runs two more years, tied to your birthday. You can renew online or by mail up to 90 calendar days before expiry; the fee is $80. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Common mistakes
- Trying to book the test with an interim first aid certificate. You need a valid, full Emergency First Aid/CPR certificate to book. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Frequently asked questions
- Arriving late. It counts as a cancellation by you, and you lose the prepaid test fee. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — What to expect in person
- Showing up without acceptable ID. The test is cancelled and the fee is forfeited. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Cancellations and disruptions
- Sending a scanned or photocopied criminal record check, or one older than six months. Online applications need the original digital PDF and mail applications the original paper copy. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Names that do not match. The name on your CRJMC, your IDs and your application must be exactly the same. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Including a health card or SIN card. They are not accepted as ID, and an application that contains them is returned. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Ignoring a returned application. You have 90 calendar days to fix it; after that it closes, the fee is kept and you must apply and pay again. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Budgeting from the wrong fee. The ministry study guide page, last updated in 2021, still shows a $75.15 test fee; the booking page, where you actually pay, lists $39.55 with HST. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Booking and payment options
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- Ontario Security Guard practice tests360 original practice questions with explanations
- Security guard practice test (printable PDF)60 printable Ontario security guard test questions with an answer key: PSISA, trespass, arrest, use of force, reports and first aid. Print or save as a PDF.
- Ontario Security Guard study guideFree Ontario Security Guard study guide: 325 key points from the Ontario Security Guard Study Guide in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Ontario Security Guard Mock Exam 1 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Security Guard exam simulator60 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get an Ontario security licence: common questions
How do I get an Ontario security licence?
Finish basic training with an approved provider, use your training completion number to book and pass the ministry test, then apply to ServiceOntario with your testing completion number, a recent Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, two government IDs, a photo and the fee.
How much does an Ontario security licence cost?
The licence itself is $80 ($160 for a dual licence), paid to ServiceOntario and not refunded. Training, the ministry test and the criminal record check are paid separately; see the cost table above.
Can I get my Ontario security licence online?
Yes. You can apply through Ontario.ca Login, a complete application takes up to 15 calendar days and the licence arrives by email as a digital licence. Basic training and the ministry test can also be done online, as the steps above explain.
How many questions are on the Ontario security guard test?
Sixty multiple-choice questions, with 75 minutes to answer. The cut score is 62 percent.
What happens if I fail the test?
Book a new appointment, pay again and rewrite the whole test. There is no waiting period between attempts, and you are not told which questions you got wrong.
Does my training completion number expire?
No. The testing site says the TCN does not expire, so you can book the test at any time after your provider uploads your record.
Can I write the security guard test in French?
Yes. The test is offered in English and French, and candidates with reading, writing or vision limitations can ask for a verbal test at no extra fee. Translators and interpreters are not allowed in the room.
Keep practising
- Security guard practice test (printable PDF)60 printable Ontario security guard test questions with an answer key: PSISA, trespass, arrest, use of force, reports and first aid. Print or save as a PDF.
- Ontario Security Guard study guide
- Ontario Security Guard Mock Exam 1 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Security Guard Mock Exam 2 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Security Guard Practice Test 160 questions with explanations
- Ontario Security Guard Practice Test 260 questions with explanations
- Ontario Security Guard Practice Test 360 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- PSISA and getting licensedWho needs a security guard licence under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, the eligibility rules (age 18, clean criminal record, right to work, training and testing), licence types, term, fees, renewals and the Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check.
- Licence rules, uniforms and equipmentCarrying and producing your licence, the uniform rules (SECURITY lettering, ID tag, no chevrons, no black or navy collared shirts), banned words such as officer and police, equipment rules for batons, handcuffs and firearms, and the penalties for breaking the Act.
- Code of Conduct and public complaintsThe duties and prohibitions in the ministry Code of Conduct (O. Reg. 363/07), what counts as a breach, and how public complaints to the Registrar are filed, facilitated and resolved.
- Duties, access, crowd and traffic controlThe core role of a guard (observe, deter, record, report), access control and visitor logs, removal of materials, crowd control factors, traffic control on private property, shift handover and dealing with people under the influence of drugs.
- Patrols and surveillancePlanning a patrol, foot patrol, vehicle patrol and fixed surveillance, with the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the situational awareness skills the syllabus expects.
- Notebooks, reports and statementsKeeping a notebook, the who-what-when-where-why-how of reports, using notes in court, and how to take and correct a witness statement.
- Health and safety, WHMISWHMIS responsibilities and emergency steps for hazardous materials, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act duties of workers and the right to refuse unsafe work.
- Emergency response, fire and alarmsTypes of emergencies, a guard's role set by the employer or client, fire prevention checks, the main types of intrusion alarm, safe alarm response and duty of care at a crime scene.
- Emergency level first aidWhy emergency level first aid certification is required before the test, what the course covers, the goals of first aid and a guard's extra duties at a casualty scene.
- Canadian legal system and evidenceCriminal, provincial and municipal law, the courts, the six core steps for containing evidence and how to keep a chain of custody that will stand up in court.
- Trespass to Property ActOccupiers and their agents, the three ways to commit trespass, giving notice by voice, writing, signs or red and yellow markings, the $10,000 maximum fine and the power to arrest and hand over to police.
- Arrest powers and other lawsWhy guards have only citizen's powers, arrest under Criminal Code section 494 (indictable offences, property owners and their agents, fresh pursuit), delivering a prisoner to police, and privacy laws such as PIPEDA.
- Use of force theoryCriminal Code sections 25, 26, 27, 34 and 35, the National Use of Force Model, excited delirium and positional asphyxia, and restraint rules.
- Effective communication and 10 codesClear and concise communication, non-verbal cues, tone and volume, being assertive without being confrontational, and the APCO ten codes listed in the study guide.
- Sensitivity and human rightsRecognising your own biases, the Ontario Human Rights Code and Code of Conduct duty to treat everyone equally, and serving people with disabilities.