How to get a security guard licence in Ontario
Steps to a security guard licence in Ontario: 40 hours of basic training with first aid, the provincial test, age and record checks, the $80 fee, and renewal.
- Applies to: Ontario
Security guard work can be a first job, and Ontario sets out clear steps to get started. You need a valid licence to work as a security guard in Ontario (Ontario). There are three main steps: training, a test, and the application.
We checked these facts on October 12, 2026. Fees and rules change, so follow the links to the official pages before you apply.
Can you apply?
You must (Ontario):
- be 18 or older
- be legally entitled to work in Canada
- have a clean criminal record. This means you have not been convicted of an offence listed in Ontario's clean criminal record regulation, or you received a pardon or record suspension for it.
- have a valid Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, issued within 6 months of your application
You can request the Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check from an Ontario municipal or First Nations police service, the Ontario Provincial Police, or a private business authorized to do police record checks. It must be in the original, unaltered format you received, and the name on it must match your ID exactly (Ontario).
Step 1: Basic training (40 hours)
Security guard basic training must be at least 40 hours long. It includes certification in emergency first aid and CPR (basic training).
- Already have first aid? You can skip the first aid and CPR part if you give the trainer a valid certificate from a St. John Ambulance or WSIB-certified instructor.
- Course fees are set by each training provider, not by the province. Ontario publishes a list of providers on the basic training page. Compare a few before you pay.
- Training completion number. When you finish, your provider gives you this number. You need it to book the test.
A note on first aid names. On June 22, 2026, the WSIB renamed its workplace first aid courses. Emergency First Aid is now called Basic First Aid, and the WSIB says the two are the same level (WSIB). Our first aid guide explains the change.
Step 2: The provincial test
After training, you take the security guard test (testing):
- You need your training completion number to register.
- You book online through the testing website linked from the Ontario testing page. The fee, languages, and test rules are shown there when you book.
- You can take the test online or at select DriveTest centres.
- The test has 60 multiple-choice questions, and you have 75 minutes.
- For accessibility questions, the Ontario page lists [email protected] and 1-866-248-2555.
To prepare, read Ontario's security guard study guide and review your course notes.
Step 3: Apply for your licence
Have these ready (Ontario):
- your Ontario testing completion number
- your Ontario mailing address
- your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, in its official format
- a photo that meets the rules: 50 mm by 70 mm, under 950 KB, a plain white background, taken in the last 6 months, and not a selfie
- copies of the front and back of two different valid government-issued IDs. One proves who you are. The other proves you can work in Canada.
Fee. A security guard licence costs $80. A licence for both security guard and private investigator work costs $160. Payments are non-refundable.
How to apply:
| Online | By mail | |
|---|---|---|
| What you need | An Ontario.ca Login and the original digital PDF of your criminal record check | The paper application form and the original paper record check |
| Processing time | Up to 15 calendar days | Up to 30 calendar days |
If you apply by mail, pay by bank draft, money order, or certified cheque made out to the Minister of Finance.
If your application is returned to you, you have 90 calendar days to respond. After that, it is closed and your payment is kept.
Your licence
- Digital only. Ontario no longer issues physical licence cards. You get your licence by email. Carry a digital or printed copy while you work.
- When it expires. Your licence expires two birthdays after the day it is issued.
- Renewing. You can renew up to 90 calendar days before it expires. The new expiry date is 2 years later, linked to your birthday.
Licensed in another province?
If you hold a valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory, you don't need Ontario's training or test. Ontario processes complete applications within 10 business days. If it hasn't decided by then, you are deemed certified for 6 months, so you can work while the review continues (Ontario).
Questions?
Contact Ontario's private security licensing team (Ontario):
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-866-767-7454 (toll-free) or 416-212-1650 (GTA)
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Watch out for scams
A real employer won't ask you to pay them before you can start. Take your training with a provider on Ontario's list, and pay the licence fee only through Ontario's official application. Read our guide to job scams to learn the warning signs.
Next steps
- Get your first aid sorted: First aid certificates for work in BC and Ontario
- Moving to BC? Read How to get a security worker licence in BC
- Know your rights: Your rights at work in Ontario
- Find entry-level jobs in the Greater Toronto Area
Sources
Rules and wages change. These are the official sources we checked.