Becoming a security guard in Quebec
The full path, from training to your first shift, with the costs and the pitfalls to avoid.
Verified October 3, 2026.
The 5 steps to become a security guard
- Check that you are eligible. Age 18 or over, citizenship, permanent residence or a work permit, and the BSP's good moral character requirements. Licence requirements
- Take the recognized training. At least 70 hours, in three modules, including 16 hours of first aid. Compare training options
- Apply to the BSP for your licence. $188.50 for a first application, valid for 5 years. The fees in detail
- Prepare your resume and your profile. Licence number, training with dates, availability. Security guard resume template
- Find a job. Security agencies, hospitals, events, stores, patrol. Agencies hiring near you
What are the requirements to become a security guard?
The Private Security Act requires you to be at least 18, to meet the good moral character requirements and to have completed the training set by regulation. You must also be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or the holder of a work permit.
A criminal record does not always close the door: a conviction blocks the licence only if it is related to the work of a guard, and only if no pardon has been granted for it. Criminal record and licence: what blocks it. Are you arriving from another country? See becoming a security guard as an immigrant.
Can you become a security guard without a diploma?
Yes. The BSP licence does not require a high school diploma. Only the 390-hour Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP), offered by school service centres, requires credits from the 3rd year of secondary school or a pass on the General Development Test.
How long does the training take?
The minimum training required by the BSP is 70 hours: 30 hours on the industry, legislation and standards of conduct, 24 hours on emergency procedures and 16 hours of first aid recognized by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board). Many centres offer instead the more complete "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage" AEP: 390 hours, or about three months.
Where to take it: in Montreal, in Quebec City and Lévis, in Laval, Longueuil and the surrounding suburbs. What you learn there: how the training works.
How much does it cost to become a security guard?
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Training in the public network | Low, varies by centre |
| First licence application to the BSP | $188.50 |
| Annual licence fees | $87.50 per year |
Services Québec can pay for the training and provide financial assistance to eligible people. BSP fees are indexed every January 1 and are non-refundable.
Can you work during the training?
Yes, with a temporary BSP licence. It is valid for 120 days at most, for a single employer, and the guard must work under the supervision of a guard who holds a regular licence.
How much does a security guard earn when starting out?
A guard employed by an agency is paid under the Decree respecting security guards: at least $20.60 an hour in Class A since June 28, 2026, from the first day, and $21.10 as of July 4, 2027. Premiums are added, for example $1.00 an hour at night. The Decree covers security agencies and their employees. A guard hired directly by a hospital or a store falls under other rules. Salary and the Decree, net pay in 2026.
Where does a security guard work?
- In hospitals: emergency room, code whites, access control
- At events: festivals, shows, sports
- In stores and shopping centres: loss prevention
- On mobile patrol: rounds of several sites
- In the transport of valuables: a separate licence and firearms training
Before your first shift, read first day as a security guard: what to bring.
The occupation at a glance
There are about 32,000 security guards in Quebec. Their median wage is $22.00 an hour, and job prospects are rated "good" until 2029.
Frequently asked questions
How do you become a security guard in Quebec?
In Quebec, you become a security guard in five steps: check that you are eligible, take the recognized training of at least 70 hours, apply to the BSP for your licence, prepare your resume and find a job. You must be 18 and have the right to work in Canada. The first licence application costs $188.50 and the licence is valid for 5 years.
What diploma do you need to be a security guard?
In Quebec, the BSP licence does not require a high school diploma. You need recognized training of at least 70 hours. Many centres offer instead the more complete "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage" AEP: 390 hours, or about three months. The schools are on our security guard training page.
Is it possible to become a security guard without a diploma?
Yes, in Quebec, the BSP licence does not require a high school diploma. The case of the 390-hour AEP is explained above, in the section "Can you become a security guard without a diploma?".
Do you have to pass an exam to become a security guard?
Assessments take place during the training, which ends with an attestation. For the licence, the BSP mainly has your background checked by the Sûreté du Québec.
Does a security guard have powers of arrest?
Only those of any citizen, set out in section 494 of the Criminal Code. Citizen's arrest: a guard's powers.
What are the 5 qualities of a good security guard?
A sense of observation, calm under pressure, clear communication (spoken, on the radio and in writing, for reports), punctuality and honesty. Physical strength matters less than the ability to defuse a situation: see how to handle an aggressive client and how to write an incident report.
What are the downsides of working as a security guard?
Irregular schedules (evenings, nights, weekends, statutory holidays), long hours standing or alone, the risk of verbal or physical assault and a starting wage close to the Decree minimum. On the other hand, the training is short, jobs are easy to find and premiums are added to the base rate: see salary and premiums.
Who can hire a security guard?
Mostly security agencies, which must hold a BSP agency licence and place their guards with their clients. Hospitals, stores, public bodies and other businesses also hire their own guards. To work for an agency, you need your agent licence. Also check the agency's licence in the BSP register, and ask who your employer will be. The Decree does not apply to everyone.
How long does it take to become a security guard?
The time to complete the training (70 hours at minimum, or about three months for the AEP) and to obtain the BSP licence. The temporary licence lets you start working before the end.
How old do you have to be to work as a security guard?
In Quebec, you must be at least 18, under the Private Security Act. The other conditions are in our guide to the BSP licence.
Is it possible to become a security guard without training?
No. In Quebec, the Private Security Act requires the training set by regulation, which is at least 70 hours in security guarding according to the BSP. The temporary BSP licence lets you work during the training, for 120 days at most, for a single employer and under the supervision of a guard who holds a regular licence.
How can I become a security guard quickly?
In Quebec, of the two training programs that lead to the security guarding licence, the 70-hour one suits anyone who wants their licence as quickly as possible. On October 7, 2026, some school service centres showed it in 2 weeks of daytime classes, according to our price survey, and the actual schedule depends on each institution. With a temporary BSP licence, you can work during the training, under supervision, for 120 days at most and for a single employer.
What tests do you take to become a security guard?
In Quebec, the General Development Test (TDG) is used to enter the 390-hour AEP when you do not have the required credits of the 3rd year of secondary school, according to the Inforoute. For the 70-hour training, the sources consulted do not mention an admission test. The details are in what to expect from the training.