Ontario guide
How to Become a Security Guard in Ontario
A plain-language Ontario licensing path from eligibility and training through testing, application, and renewal.
Last reviewed: by Ontario editorial team.
Quick answer
To work as a security guard in Ontario, first confirm that you are eligible, complete approved basic training, pass the Ontario security guard test, and apply for an individual licence with the required documents and fee. Training or passing the test alone does not authorize you to work. You need a valid Ontario licence before doing paid security guard work in the province.
1. Check eligibility before paying for training
Ontario requires an individual applicant to be at least 18, legally entitled to work in Canada, and eligible under the province’s clean-criminal-record rules. The current application process also requires a valid Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. A past conviction does not always produce the same outcome: the listed offence, any pardon or record suspension, and the current regulation matter. Use Ontario’s official eligibility information rather than asking a course seller to make the licensing decision for you.
This guide is for Ontario. A licence, training certificate, or test process from another province may be treated differently, and Ontario has a specific process for applicants who already hold a valid equivalent out-of-province licence.
2. Complete Ontario basic training
New Ontario security guards must complete the prescribed security guard course. The official course is at least 40 hours when emergency first aid and CPR certification are included. A person who supplies an accepted, current first-aid/CPR certificate to the training provider may be able to opt out of that portion; the training syllabus describes 33.5 hours when the certification component is not included.
Training can be classroom-based or web-based, but online delivery must allow real-time interaction with an instructor. Providers set their own prices, so compare what is included, how instructor support works, and whether the provider is authorized to issue the Ontario training completion number needed for test booking.
3. Pass the ministry test
After training, the provider submits your completion information and gives you a training completion number. You need that number to register for the security guard test. Ontario currently describes the test as 60 multiple-choice questions with 75 minutes of writing time and a 62% cut score. The test is separate from private investigator testing.
Passing generates an Ontario testing completion number. Keep that number: it is part of the licence application. A practice score on this site is only a study result and does not replace the ministry test.
4. Prepare the licence application
The Ontario application currently asks for your testing completion number, an Ontario mailing address, a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check in its official format, a compliant photo, and two different valid government-issued identity documents. One document proves identity; the other proves entitlement to work in Canada. Names should match across the application, record check, and identification, or the appropriate name-change document is required.
Online applicants need an Ontario.ca Login and an original, unaltered digital PDF of the record check. Ontario states that a correctly completed online application can take up to 15 calendar days to process, while a correctly completed mail application can take up to 30 calendar days. Missing or inconsistent documents can extend that timeline.
5. Receive and maintain the licence
Approved applicants receive a digital licence. You must carry a digital or printed copy while working and be ready to show it on request. The expiry date is tied to your birthday; a first licence expires on the second birthday after issue, and a timely renewal normally moves the expiry two years forward.
Before committing money, verify the latest requirements on the official Ontario pages below. Fees, document rules, providers, and delivery options can change.
Practical next steps
- Read the official eligibility page and identify any document issue early.
- Compare approved training providers and first-aid arrangements.
- Complete training and confirm your training completion number.
- Review the Ontario exam format and use topic practice.
- Book and pass the ministry test.
- Assemble matching documents before starting the application.
Review Ontario training requirements
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