Once you know a security guard career is for you and you’ve completed the first few steps to becoming a security guard, you’re ready for the most critical part: getting your security guard license.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to get your security guard license in Ontario, Canada, including:

• Prerequisites — what you need to do, be, and have to proceed with your license

• Taking the exam

• Getting your Ministry criminal background check

• Applying for your license

The licensing exam ensures high professionalism, integrity, and capability. It’s an honorable thing to attempt and pass, and it keeps the industry staffed with individuals that employers and the public can trust.

General Security Guard License Requirements

To get your security guard license in Ontario, you must be eligible to work in Canada. That, of course, means you also need to be 18 or older. You must also have a clean criminal record (as defined by Ontario’s regulations) without any of the offenses listed. Due to the nature of a security guard’s job in protecting the public - which requires earning their trust - certain criminal infractions disqualify an individual from working in this profession in Ontario.

Training and Education

All security guards in Ontario must take a certified training program before getting their license. This mandatory training ensures every security guard has a fundamental understanding of the job and what it takes to keep people, property, and places safe and secure. This training must come from a certified provider, including licensed agencies, certain employers, and vocational colleges. It’s important because it includes rigorous instruction to equip aspiring security guards with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform their duties effectively. The training curriculum covers legal and ethical responsibilities, effective communication, emergency response procedures, and other crises. The training ensures that every security guard can make informed decisions, act responsibly in the face of challenges, and uphold the public's safety and security.

Choosing the best training provider is equally crucial and can significantly impact your readiness for the licensing exam, as well as your effectiveness and professionalism on the job. A reputable training provider will enrich the learning experience with practical insights, real-world scenarios, and comprehensive support throughout the training process and job search.

Employers recognize the difference in quality among training programs and may prefer candidates who have completed their education through well-respected organizations. This can open doors to opportunities with equally reputable security firms that demand the highest standards of their guards. The choice of training provider is a decision that can influence not only your chances of passing the licensing exam but also the trajectory of your career in security.

Step 1: Training and Education

All security guards in Ontario must take a certified training program before getting their license. This mandatory training ensures every security guard has a fundamental understanding of the job and what it takes to keep people, property, and places safe and secure.

This training must come from a certified provider, including licensed agencies, certain employers, and vocational colleges. It’s important because it includes rigorous instruction to equip aspiring security guards with the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to perform their duties effectively. The training curriculumcovers a broad spectrum of topics like legal and ethical responsibilities, effective communication, emergency response procedures, and handling other crisis situations. The training ensures that every security guard can make informed decisions, act responsibly in the face of challenges, and uphold the safety and security of the public they serve.

Choosing the best training provider is equally crucial and can significantly impact your readiness for the licensing exam. Not to mention your effectiveness and professionalism on the job. A reputable training provider will enrich the learning experience with practical insights, real-world scenarios, and comprehensive support throughout the training process and job search.

Employers recognize the difference in quality among training programs and may prefer candidates who have completed their education through well-respected organizations. This can open doors to opportunities with equally reputable security firms that demand the highest standards of their guards. The choice of training provider is a decision that can influence not only your chances of passing the licensing exam but also the trajectory of your career in security.

Before taking your mandatory test, you need to get your background check.

Step 2: Background Check (AKA, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check or CRMJC)

Knowing how the background check process works is important, especially because it goes beyond the basic background check. It looks for past criminal activity and anything that’s pending or under investigation (like warrants or judicial orders). Because of the added risk and responsibility, security guards are held to a higher standard - as you would expect. You can get your criminal records checked up to six months before submitting your application, so it’s wise to schedule it as soon as you know your training completion date. Available online, the process is pretty simple to go through and results in an easily shareable - and easy to keep track of - digital copy. Your local police department can process background checks for less than $100.

How Does the Background Check Process Work?

The background check process is, luckily, straightforward and hassle-free. Let’s walk through the process.

Start Online Visit the official website of your local police department and find the section dedicated to background checks or criminal record checks. Each municipality in Ontario might have a slightly different procedure or portal, so ensure you're accessing the right resource.

Choose the Right Type of Background Check Select the Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC). This specific check is required for security guard licensing as it provides a comprehensive review of criminal records, including pending charges and judicial orders that may not appear in a basic criminal record check.

Complete the Application Form and Payment Fill out the application form with your details. A fee is associated with the CRJMC, typically less than $100. Payment methods vary by police department but often include credit/debit cards for online applications. Make sure you have a valid payment method ready, as well as documents including:

• Your photo ID

• Proof of address, like a utility bill, bank statement, or any official document showing your current address (some departments may require proof of address history for the past few years)

• Consent form

Submit and Wait Once you've completed the application and paid your fee, your background check will be processed. Processing times can vary, but most police departments aim to complete checks within a few weeks. You’ll receive a digital copy of your background check via email, or you may be instructed on how to access it through a secure portal.

Keep the digital copy safe after obtaining your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check. You will need to submit this along with other required documents when applying for your security guard license. Getting your background check done early ensures that you're one step closer to becoming a licensed security guard in Ontario, without any unnecessary delays.

Once you have your CRMJC, it’s time to take (and pass) the mandatory Ministry exam.

Step 3: Test (Security Guard License Exam)

After completing security guard training and getting your background check (CRMJC), you must take and pass the in-person exam. It’s available at locations far and wide, so it shouldn’t be an inconvenience—although it is something you need to plan for. Once you have completed training and have your CRMJC, you can easily book a security guard test online (schedule carefully - no cancellations).

You’re given 75 minutes to answer 60 multiple-choice questions. To pass, you need to score a 62% or higher. Before going into the exam, prepare yourself — both for the content of the test but also the mental pressure. Preparation tips include:

• Taking practice quizzes

• Reviewing notes

• Making flashcards

• Scoping out the venue

...and more - if anything makes you nervous, think of how to get more comfortable before the test.

Once you pass, you’ll be issued a TCN, or test completion number. You’ll need this to apply for the license.

Step 4: Apply (Security Guard Application Process)

Once you complete training, get your CRMJC, and pass the Ministry exam, you can submit your proof documents as part of your security guard license application.

To kick things off in the official Ministry process, your application collects all the identifying information the licensing team will need. It also provides your training, education, residency, and other relevant background information to make sure you’re eligible and correctly entered into the system. It can be submitted online or by mail. Online submissions are recommended for the most expedient processing.

One of the most critical pieces of information on your application is your TCN — test completion number, which you get from taking (and passing) the security guard license exam. You must also submit your clean Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRMJC), two government IDs, a passport-quality photo, and your payment. Most people use their driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, and/or citizenship card for identification, but there’s a long list of adequate documents. The cost of the license application is $80 plus applicable fees.

That’s it — just wait patiently while your application is processed and as long as you’ve followed this guide closely, you should be legally eligible to start working as a security guard in no time!

Congrats on Your New Career

Getting your security guard license is easy enough to make the profession accessible to anyone committed to their career and willing to invest in themselves. When the time comes, all it takes to get the actual license is to apply for the exam, pass it, and obtain your clear background check.

Then you’re ready to start earning a security guard salary and taking on the role you’ve worked diligently to achieve.

Don’t wait any longer to break into the security guard profession. It’s not only fulfilling and dynamic but also a smart choice for long-term career development. When you get your security guard license, you unlock the gates of opportunity in a growing profession that rewards hard work, dedication, and commitment to upholding integrity and protecting the public.