How Do I Get a Security Licence in Alberta?
To get a security service worker licence in Alberta, you must be over 18, eligible to work in Canada, fluent in English at Canadian Language Benchmark level 5, and have no criminal record. Complete an approved course and score 80 or higher on the provincial exam. The fee is CAD 100 and the licence is valid for 2 years.
Who licenses security workers in Alberta?
Canada licenses security work province by province. In Alberta the regulator is Alberta Security Programs. Guards working for an agency or on their own account need a provincial licence in the province where they work.
Armed work is generally federally restricted and is not covered here.
What are the requirements?
The Alberta Government page for the security service worker licence sets the eligibility rules. You must be over 18, eligible to work in Canada, fluent in English at Canadian Language Benchmark level 5, and have no criminal record.
Complete an approved course and score 80 or higher on the provincial exam.
- Be over 18.
- Be eligible to work in Canada.
- Be fluent in English (Canadian Language Benchmark level 5).
- Have no criminal record.
- Complete an approved course and score 80 or higher on the provincial exam.
What does it cost?
The fee is CAD 100, in Canadian dollars, and the licence is valid for 2 years. A CAD 9 service charge applies only when you apply at a registry agent.
Course prices are set by the provider and vary, so check before you enrol.
How long does an application take?
This is not published on the pages checked, so check with Alberta Security Programs.
Because the exam needs a score of 80 or higher, allow time for study before you sit it.
How should you prepare for the exam?
The provincial exam needs a score of 80 or higher, so treat the approved course as preparation and take it seriously. Ask the course provider how it prepares students for the exam.
English matters in Alberta. The requirement is fluency at Canadian Language Benchmark level 5, so if English is not your first language, consider testing your level before you pay for the course.
Compare the provinces if you may move. Ontario licenses guards after 40 hours of basic training and a ministry test, and British Columbia has its own training route. Each province sets its own rules, so do not assume that one licence works everywhere.
Next, plan the money. The fee is CAD 100 for a licence valid for 2 years, which is CAD 50 a year. Compare the licence fee with the course price before you commit to either. If you apply at a registry agent, add the CAD 9 service charge. Course prices are set by providers and vary, so ask what the course includes and whether the exam sitting is part of the price. Ask also whether the course is approved for the provincial licence, because the requirement is an approved course and an unapproved one will not meet it.
Finally, keep track of the term. The licence is valid for 2 years. Put the date in your calendar when you receive the licence, and check the provincial page for the renewal steps well before it ends, so that you do not work with an expired licence.
How can a client check an Alberta licence?
Alberta provides Business Query and Licence Status, reached from the security, investigation and locksmith business resources page on alberta.ca. XGuard checks the licence against the provincial register before a professional can list.
XGuard is a marketplace, not a security company. It does not promise work or availability.
Related questions
What score do I need on the Alberta exam?
80 or higher.
How long does an Alberta security licence last?
2 years.
What English level does Alberta require?
Canadian Language Benchmark level 5.
What is the CAD 9 charge?
A service charge that applies only when you apply at a registry agent.
Last reviewed