How tall must the word SECURITY be on the chest of a guard's outermost uniform piece?
Ontario Security Guard overview
Ontario Security Guard: Licence rules, uniforms and equipment
Carrying 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.
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Study reference: Ontario Security Guard Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The PSISA and ministry Code of Conduct — General rules and standards of practice, Uniforms; PSISA ss. 35–45; O. Reg. 362/07 and 366/07
All 20 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
How tall must the word SECURITY be on the chest of a guard's outermost uniform piece?
- At least 1.5 centimetres
- At least 10 centimetres
- At least 0.5 centimetres
- At least 5 centimetres
What must the ID tag on a guard's uniform show?
- The guard's name or licence number
- The client's name
- The guard's home address and phone number
- The guard's date of birth
What is the maximum fine for an individual convicted of an offence under the PSISA?
- $5,000
- $25,000
- $250,000
- $10,000
Which restraint is a security guard never allowed to use in Ontario?
- Holding a person's arm
- Cable ties or strip ties
- Employer-issued handcuffs
- Verbal direction to stay put
A guard tells a shoplifter, "I'm with the police, you have to come with me." What has the guard done?
- Made a lawful identification statement
- Acted within normal citizen's powers
- Used an acceptable de-escalation tactic
- Broken the rule against holding out as police
Besides a fine, what is the maximum jail term for an individual convicted under the PSISA?
- Five years
- Two years
- One year
- Six months
A member of the public asks a guard on duty to prove they are licensed. What must the guard do?
- Identify as a guard and show the licence
- Refuse, since only police can ask for proof
- Give the employer's phone number
- Show a company business card
Your licence has been revoked by the Registrar. What must you do with it?
- Return it to the Registrar immediately
- Destroy it yourself
- Give it to your employer
- Keep it until the appeal process has ended
A co-worker forgot their licence and asks to borrow yours for the shift. What is correct?
- You can if they are also licensed
- You can if your supervisor agrees
- You cannot lend your licence to anyone
- You can for a single shift only
What is the maximum fine for a security business entity convicted of a PSISA offence?
- $250,000
- $25,000
- $100,000
- $500,000
Which collared uniform shirt colour is NOT allowed for a security guard?
- Grey
- Navy blue
- White
- Light blue
In which case is the large SECURITY lettering on the back of the uniform NOT required?
- The outer piece is a rain jacket
- The guard works indoors only
- The guard works at night
- The outer piece is a blazer
Which uniform feature is banned because it resembles a police uniform?
- An identification name tag
- A police-style forage cap
- A company crest on the chest
- Reflective stripes on the trousers
A guard's outermost piece is a winter parka. What must appear on its back?
- Nothing, back lettering is optional
- The guard's licence number in large print
- SECURITY GUARD at least 1.5 cm high
- SECURITY in capitals at least 10 cm high
Your employer offers you a metal badge to wear on your belt. What does the PSISA say?
- It is allowed if it clearly says SECURITY on it
- It is allowed for supervisors only
- It is required on night shifts
- It is prohibited as a symbol of authority
When may a security guard use a baton on duty?
- Any time they feel threatened
- Only if employer-issued and for defence
- Only if they bought it themselves
- Only to make a lawful arrest
A plain-clothes loss prevention guard is working in a store. Do they have to carry their licence?
- Only if they make an arrest
- Yes, every working guard must carry it
- Only during the first year of licensing
- No, plain-clothes guards are exempt
Which guards are NOT required to wear a uniform under the PSISA?
- Guards working night shifts
- Bodyguards and loss prevention personnel
- Guards at private residential buildings
- Mobile patrol and alarm response guards
A guard buys a pair of handcuffs online to carry at work. Is this permitted?
- Yes, if the client approves
- Yes, if they are standard steel cuffs
- Yes, after a two-hour course
- No, handcuffs must be issued by the employer
Which job title is a licensed guard allowed to use under the PSISA?
- Private detective
- Security officer
- Security guard
- Law enforcement agent
Licence rules, uniforms and equipment: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
General rules and standards of practice
- Anyone acting as a guard must carry the licence, identify themselves as a security guard on request, and produce the licence on request. Applies to plain-clothes guards too (loss prevention, bodyguards).
- Uniform required, except for bodyguards and loss prevention (theft/sabotage prevention) work (s. 35(2)-(3)).
- No identification or symbol of authority other than the uniform, the licence and anything allowed by regulation; e.g. a metal badge is prohibited (s. 35(4)).
Return of licence, other duties, holding out as police
- A licence is Crown property; return it immediately if suspended or revoked, or if you stop meeting a s. 10 requirement.
- No one may lend a licence, let another person use it, display a fake/altered one, or display a suspended/revoked licence as valid (s. 38).
- A licensee must not falsely hold out as providing police services or duties (s. 39).
- Banned terms (s. 40): detective / private detective, law enforcement, police, officer (and variations). So "security officer" is not allowed.
Offences and penalties
- Offences include knowingly giving false information in an application, breaking a licence condition, or contravening the Act or regulations.
- Proceedings must start within one year after the Registrar learns of the facts (s. 43(2)).
- Individual: fine up to $25,000, imprisonment up to one year, or both. Business entity: fine up to $250,000.
- Code of conduct compliance is a condition of every licence (s. 53(2)).
Uniforms
- Employer's name, logo or crest on the chest of the outermost piece of the uniform.
- "SECURITY", "SÉCURITÉ", "SECURITY GUARD" or "AGENT DE SÉCURITÉ" on the chest: upper-case, at least 1.5 cm high, contrasting colour; placed 2 to 3 cm below the employer's name/logo where required.
- "SECURITY" or "SÉCURITÉ" on the back: upper-case, at least 10 cm high, contrasting colour — not required if the outermost piece is a collared shirt, sweater, blazer, sports jacket or suit jacket.
- ID tag with the guard's name or licence number on the chest of the outermost piece.
- No rank chevrons (exception: non-profit organization in existence before August 23, 2007).
- Collared shirt must not be black or navy blue.
- Trousers: no side stripes except reflective safety stripes.
- No police-style forage cap.
- Licensed employer must ensure its guards comply; the guard is also responsible for wearing the proper uniform (study guide).
Equipment
- Firearm only if authorized to carry under s. 20 of the federal Firearms Act.
- Baton only if issued by the licensed/registered employer, and for defensive purposes only; licensed employer must carry insurance for batons.
- Handcuffs only if issued by the employer.
- Cable ties or strip ties may NOT be used as restraints.
Study the Licence rules, uniforms and equipment rules as flashcards →
Other topics
- 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.
- 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.