How Do I Get a Security Guard Permit in Quebec?

Canada regulates security work province by province. In Quebec the regulator is the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP). Guards in Quebec need an agent permit (permis d'agent) from the BSP.

Armed work is generally federally restricted and is not covered here. If a client asks for armed security in Quebec, treat that as a separate legal question and check with the BSP before you accept anything.

The BSP page for the regular permit sets the conditions. You must be 18 or over, and you must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or the holder of a work permit.

You must also complete at least 70 hours of recognised guard training at a school service centre. Other training recognised by the ministry is also accepted, and the BSP assesses any equivalence you claim, so ask the BSP before you rely on a course taken elsewhere.

• Be 18 or over.
• Be a citizen, a permanent resident or a work permit holder.
• Complete at least 70 hours of recognised guard training at a school service centre, or other ministry-recognised training that the BSP accepts.
• Undergo the BSP security check that comes with the application (CAD 119.00).

The BSP page on fees payable by agents lists the amounts in Canadian dollars. A new application costs CAD 69.50, plus CAD 119.00 for the security check. After that the BSP charges an annual fee of CAD 69.50 plus CAD 18.00.

The fees are indexed every 1 January and the pages carry no year, so confirm the current amounts on the BSP page on the day you apply. Training is priced by the school, not by the BSP, so ask the school service centre for its own price before you enrol.

The processing time is not published on the pages checked, so check with the BSP. Do not plan a first shift until the permit is issued.

The total validity of the permit also varies, so check the BSP. Because there is an annual fee, put a reminder in your calendar each year and read the BSP page well before the date, so that you never work with a lapsed permit.

Start with the training, because the permit requires it before you apply. The requirement is at least 70 hours of recognised guard training at a school service centre. Ask the school how the course is scheduled, whether it runs in the evening or at the weekend, and whether it is recognised for the agent permit. If you trained outside Quebec, ask the BSP whether it will accept your course as an equivalent before you pay for a second one.

Next, check your status. The permit is open to citizens, permanent residents and work permit holders who are 18 or over. If you hold a work permit, ask the BSP what happens to your agent permit if the work permit expires.

Then plan the money. The first year costs CAD 69.50 for the application and CAD 119.00 for the security check, and each later year costs CAD 69.50 plus CAD 18.00. These figures are indexed every 1 January, so they can change.

Finally, keep your permit number handy. Clients and agencies can check permits in the BSP public register, and XGuard checks the permit against the provincial register before a professional can list.

The BSP publishes a public register at registre-public.bspquebec.ca where a permit can be looked up. Ask the professional for the permit number and check it before the job starts.

XGuard is a marketplace, not a security company. It does not issue permits and it does not promise work or availability.