How to get a security worker licence in BC

Security guard work can be a first job, but in BC you can't start without a licence. You need a security worker licence to do security work in BC, and a licence from another province does not replace it (Government of BC). The province's Security Programs Division handles licences.

This guide covers the security guard licence. BC also licenses other security jobs, such as locksmiths, private investigators, and alarm installers.

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?

To get a security worker licence, you must (application process):

• be 19 or older
• be ordinarily resident in Canada
• be fluent in English for most licence types
• have the training needed for the licence
• give proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent residence, or your ability to work in Canada
• agree to a criminal record check and give fingerprints
• not be a member of a police force

English level. The province's licensing policy sets the minimum at Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for listening and speaking (licensing policies).

Work permits. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, you must show that you are legally allowed to do security work in Canada. Depending on your permit, the licence may limit the work you can do.

Step 1: Basic Security Training

For a full security guard licence, the usual route is the Basic Security Training (BST) course (training requirements). You can take it through the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) or an approved security training school.

From JIBC's BST page:

• The course is 40 hours. JIBC offers it online at your own pace, with 2 months to finish, or in person. In person, you must attend all 40 hours to write the exam.
• The exam is 75 questions in 90 minutes. You need 70% to pass.
• Exams are held at JIBC's New Westminster campus. Online exams are only for students who live outside the Lower Mainland.
• You must write the exam within 6 months of finishing the course.
• You need good spoken and written English.
• You can take BST before you turn 19, but you must be 19 to apply for the licence.

Cost at JIBC. JIBC lists the course at $343.77 and the exam at $64.14, plus a learner services fee of $3.26. Approved schools set their own prices, so ask them directly. JIBC's page also lists the approved schools and their phone numbers.

JIBC stopped issuing BST certificates after December 15, 2025. If you finished BST after that date, the province checks your completion with JIBC.

Other ways to qualify. Instead of BST, you can qualify for a full licence with JIBC's Gaming Security Officer training, past work in Canada as a police officer, correctional officer, sheriff, or border services officer, or a security worker licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, or Ontario (training requirements).

The "under supervision" licence

BC also has a security guard under supervision licence. You don't need training to get it. According to the province's licensing policies:

• It is issued to a person only once and lasts 90 days.
• It lets you work while you complete your Basic Security Training.
• A fully licensed guard must be readily available at every site where you work.
• The employer must tell its client that the service is given by someone under supervision.

Step 2: Fingerprints and documents

Fingerprints are required for every first-time application. Take the province's fingerprint instructions and confirmation slip to the police or accredited fingerprinting company that takes your fingerprints.

Have these ready (application process):

• consent to a criminal record check
• proof of your training or experience
• proof of citizenship, permanent residence, or ability to work in Canada
• a passport-quality photo
• valid government-issued photo ID
• your fingerprint confirmation slip
• a mental health condition form, if it applies to you

Step 3: Apply online and pay

You apply online through the province's Security Services Platform. The application uses your BC Services Card account to confirm who you are. You can still apply without one, but it may take longer (application process).

The fee for a new licence depends on how long you want it to last (application process):

Fees are non-refundable. You can pay by credit card, certified cheque, or money order made out to the Minister of Finance. Renewal fees are different and are listed on the Security Services Platform.

The province does not give a set processing time. Applications take longer when they are incomplete, when the fee is paid late, or when the Security Programs Division needs more information (Government of BC).

Once you have your licence

From the rules for licensed security workers:

• Carry the physical licence while you work. A photo of it is not enough.
• Never work with an expired licence.
• Replace a lost or stolen licence right away.
• You can't carry a badge, tasers, pepper spray, or batons.
• Report new criminal charges or convictions, and changes to your address or legal name.

To renew, use the Security Services Platform. If you renew without a BC Services Card account, you must give new fingerprints.

Who pays for the training?

BC's Employment Standards policy says training to get a licence you can use with many employers, such as a security guard licence, is not "work" (BC Employment Standards definitions). So an employer doesn't have to pay you for that time. If an employer offers to help with the cost, get the details in writing before you enrol.

Be careful with any "job offer" that says you must pay the employer for training before you can start. Take BST through JIBC or an approved school, and read our guide to job scams.

Next steps

• Add a useful certificate: First aid certificates for work in BC and Ontario
• Moving to Ontario? Read How to get a security guard licence in Ontario
• Know your rights: Your rights at work in BC
• Find entry-level jobs in Metro Vancouver