How Do I Get a Security Licence in BC?
In British Columbia (BC), the Security Programs Division licenses security workers. You need the Basic Security Training certificate from the Justice Institute of British Columbia or an approved school, or a licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario. New application fees are CAD 60 for 90 days, CAD 120 for 1 year, CAD 180 for 2 years and CAD 240 for 3 years.
Who licenses security workers in British Columbia?
Canada licenses security work province by province. In British Columbia the regulator is the Security Programs Division. 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 training do you need?
The training requirement is the Basic Security Training certificate from the Justice Institute of British Columbia or an approved school. As an alternative, a licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario can meet the requirement.
Certificates stopped being issued after 15 December 2025. For completions after that date, the Justice Institute verifies them, so check the provincial training page for the current process.
- Basic Security Training certificate from the Justice Institute of British Columbia or an approved school.
- Or a licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario.
What do the fees look like?
The provincial application page lists new application fees by licence term, in Canadian dollars. A 90-day licence costs CAD 60, a 1-year licence CAD 120, a 2-year licence CAD 180 and a 3-year licence CAD 240.
Renewal and change fees differ from the new application fees, so check the application page if you are renewing or changing a licence.
How long does an application take?
This is not published on the pages checked, so check with the Security Programs Division. Plan around that uncertainty and avoid committing to a start date.
Choosing the licence term is a trade-off. A longer term costs more up front, and CAD 240 for 3 years works out at CAD 80 a year, against CAD 120 for a single year.
What if you trained somewhere else?
The training requirement offers two routes. If you hold the Basic Security Training certificate, you meet it. If you hold a licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario, that can meet it as well.
If you completed Basic Security Training after 15 December 2025, the Justice Institute of British Columbia verifies the completion, because certificates stopped being issued after that date. Keep your records from the training provider.
The province lists renewal and change fees separately from the new application fees, so do not use the figures above if you are renewing.
Choose the term with care. A 90-day licence costs CAD 60, while the 3-year licence at CAD 240 costs CAD 80 a year. Remember that renewal and change fees differ from the new application fees, and check the page before paying. Finally, because the processing time is not published, do not plan a start date until the licence is issued, and confirm the fee against the provincial page on the day you apply.
If you hold a licence from another province, ask the Security Programs Division how it treats your licence before you apply, because the training page lists only Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. A licence from any other province is not listed there, so check before assuming it counts.
How can a client check a British Columbia licence?
The province runs a security licence status verification service on the justice.gov.bc.ca website. 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
How much is a security licence in British Columbia?
New application fees are CAD 60 for 90 days, CAD 120 for 1 year, CAD 180 for 2 years and CAD 240 for 3 years.
Does an Ontario licence meet BC's training requirement?
A licence from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba or Ontario can meet the training requirement, according to the provincial training page.
Are Basic Security Training certificates still issued?
No. They stopped being issued after 15 December 2025, and completions after that date are verified with the Justice Institute.
Is armed work covered?
No. Armed work is generally federally restricted and is not covered here.
Last reviewed