STM Special Constable: Requirements, Training and Salary
$31.16 an hour at hiring and $43.55 after 6 years (2025 rates). Experience required, Class 4A licence, 7-step selection and ENPQ training.
· By the Agent de sécurité Québec editorial team · Lire en français
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An STM special constable earns $31.16 an hour at hiring, according to job posting no. 34455 published on July 30, 2026 (2025 rate). That is about $65,000 a year. The rate rises to $43.55 after 6 years. The Société de transport de Montréal has 180 special constables, who patrol the metro and buses. The job requires 2 to 3 years of relevant experience, security included, then paid training from the École nationale de police du Québec. The other employers, the courthouses and the National Assembly, are covered in our article on becoming a special constable in Quebec.
What a special constable does at the STM
According to the STM, special constables are sworn peace officers who specialize in public transit security. They patrol the bus and metro networks every day. They enforce laws and by-laws and keep trips moving smoothly.
Job posting no. 34455 describes the patrol special constable position. The person:
- checks transit fares
- enforces laws and by-laws and responds to emergencies
- acts as a special constable within the powers and conditions set out in the deed of appointment
- does prevention and awareness work with customers and employees
- patrols the network, on buses or in the metro depending on the assignment, transit centres included
- may be called to testify in court or at inquiries
- writes reports and statements of offence
The STM also pairs an SPVM police officer with a special constable in the Équipe métro d'intervention et de concertation (ÉMIC). This team refers people with complex needs to the organizations that can help them.
Special constable, ambassador, fare inspector: who does what
The STM's security and fire safety division includes several jobs. Here are the figures the STM published as of November 6, 2026.
| Position | Headcount | Role according to the STM |
|---|---|---|
| Special constable | 180, including sergeants, lieutenants and captains | Sworn peace officer. Patrols, enforces laws and by-laws, responds to emergencies |
| Security ambassador | 25 | Blue and black uniform in the metro. Helps customers and reports situations that need a constable |
| Fare inspector | 14 | Green vest. Checks fares and can issue a statement of offence |
| Investigator | 3, plus an assistant investigator | Not specified |
The security ambassador job (no. 34475) is posted at $23.23 an hour, about $48,500 a year at 40 hours a week. For a security guard, it is another way into the STM.
Job requirements
The July 30, 2026 posting asks for:
- a high school diploma, a DEC or a bachelor's degree in a relevant field (police technology or management, law, criminology, industrial security…)
- 2 to 3 years of relevant experience, depending on education, in security, emergency services, the military, social intervention or a related field
- customer service experience
- written French and English, according to the STM's language standard
- a valid Quebec Class 5 driver's licence and a good driving record
- a Class 4A licence, already held or obtained before signing the contract
- the STM's medical requirements
- passing the ENPQ's ESAP physical abilities test
- passing the Sûreté du Québec level 2 security screening
Section 115 of the Police Act adds conditions that apply to all special constables: being a Canadian citizen, being of good moral character and not having been found guilty of a Criminal Code offence.
The selection process
The STM receives an average of 500 applications a year for this job. Fewer than 300 meet the basic requirements. The STM then describes these steps.
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Information session for candidates who meet the basic requirements |
| 2 | Judgement test, the first elimination round |
| 3 | Physical test |
| 4 | Role-play scenarios. Only 50% of candidates move on to the next step |
| 5 | Behavioural interview |
| 6 | Standard checks |
| 7 | Employment contract, on condition of passing the ENPQ training |
According to the STM, an application can be set aside at the slightest doubt. The process opened on July 30, 2026 will fill the cohort planned for March 2027. The application deadline is open.
The training
The École nationale de police du Québec (ENPQ) trains STM special constables, but the STM hires them. The initial training program was revised in 2021. It develops three skills:
- strategic patrol of an intervention sector
- intervention and communication during security and control activities
- intervention in emergencies
Passing leads to the diploma of the STM special constables' initial training program. Before working, the constable undergoes a security accreditation investigation and takes an oath before a judge of the Court of Québec (Police Act, s. 107).
The length of the training varies by source. The July 2026 job posting announces 15 weeks. The ENPQ page mentions 13 weeks, given on STM premises. The STM's FAQ mentions 14 weeks in Nicolet. For the March 2027 cohort, the job posting is the reference.
The salary
The rates in posting no. 34455 are the 2025 rates. The STM says the 2026 rates are still to come.
| When | Hourly rate | Per year, at 40 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| At hiring | $31.16 | About $65,000 |
| After 12 months | $32.35 | About $67,500 |
| After 6 years | $43.55 | About $90,900 |
The annual amounts are our calculation: the hourly rate multiplied by 40 hours and by 52.18 weeks. The posting does not state weekly hours. Shifts are day, evening or night, under the collective agreement.
The posting adds shift premiums, a defined benefit pension plan and free public transit on the STM network and its partners' networks.
For comparison, the minimum rate for a class A security guard has been $20.60 an hour since June 28, 2026, under section 4.07 of the decree. That is about $43,000 a year at 40 hours a week. Details are on our page on security guard pay.
What your security guard experience is worth
The posting lists security among relevant experience. Two or three years as a security guard can therefore meet the experience requirement, depending on your education. Customer service is also required. Access control or retail work provides it.
Three things to prepare in advance:
- The Class 4A licence. It is required before signing the contract. It is obtained from the SAAQ
- Physical fitness. The ENPQ's ESAP test is part of hiring
- English. The posting asks that you be able to intervene in English with customers
The BSP security guard licence gives no direct access to the job. It does not confer peace officer status either. A security guard's powers are explained in our article on citizen's arrest.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the salary of an STM special constable?
According to STM job posting no. 34455, published on July 30, 2026, the rate is $31.16 an hour at hiring, $32.35 after 12 months and $43.55 after 6 years. These are the 2025 rates. At 40 hours a week, that is about $65,000 a year at the start and about $90,900 at the top.
Can anyone become an STM special constable?
No. The STM receives an average of 500 applications a year and fewer than 300 meet the basic requirements. Candidates must then pass a judgement test, a physical test, role-play scenarios and an interview. Only half of candidates get past the role-play stage.
How long is STM special constable training?
The July 2026 job posting announces 15 weeks of training given by the École nationale de police du Québec. The ENPQ and the STM mention 13 and 14 weeks elsewhere. The job offer depends on passing this training.
Do you need police technology to be an STM special constable?
No. A high school diploma is enough, with 2 to 3 years of relevant experience depending on education. A relevant DEC or bachelor's degree, in police technology, law or criminology for example, is also accepted.
Do you need a Class 4A licence to be an STM special constable?
Yes. The posting asks you to hold a Class 4A licence or commit to obtaining it before signing the contract. You also need a valid Class 5 licence and a good driving record.
How many special constables does the STM have?
The STM has 180, including sergeants, lieutenants and captains, according to its page published on November 6, 2026. They work with 25 security ambassadors and 14 fare inspectors.
Can a security guard become an STM special constable?
Yes, if they meet the requirements. The posting counts security as relevant experience. The BSP licence does not replace any step, though: you must go through the full selection and pass the ENPQ training.
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Sources
- STM: Constable spécial(e) job posting, no. 34455, published July 30, 2026 (in French, consulted November 10, 2026)
- STM: security and fire safety jobs (in French, consulted November 10, 2026)
- STM: Des équipes pour assurer la sécurité, published November 6, 2026 (in French)
- École nationale de police du Québec: STM, Sûreté et contrôle, the program (in French)
- École nationale de police du Québec: STM, Sûreté et contrôle, how to apply (in French)
- LégisQuébec: Police Act, ss. 107 and 115
- LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, s. 4.07