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In Quebec, you cannot work as a security guard without a licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator. This licence costs money up front, then every year, and it can be lost for very simple reasons: a forgotten payment, a form sent too late. Here is what it costs in 2026 and how to keep it valid.

For the eligibility conditions, the documents and the application steps, see our complete guide to the BSP licence. This article focuses on the money and the deadline.

How much does the BSP licence cost?

Here are the fees published by the BSP for an agent licence, in effect in 2026.

The security check and the security monitoring are billed only once, even if you hold several agent licences. Security monitoring covers the checks that the Sûreté du Québec can carry out on an ongoing basis while the licence is in effect.

Do the fees change every year?

Yes. The BSP states that its fees are indexed automatically on January 1 of each year, based on the increase in the general Consumer Price Index. The amounts above are those for 2026. Check the BSP page before paying in 2027 or later.

The fees for the licence, the security check and the security monitoring are not refundable. A refusal or a withdrawal does not get you your money back.

How much does the licence cost over 5 years?

The licence is valid for 5 years, and the annual fees are due on each anniversary date of the licence. Using the 2026 rates, without taking indexation into account, here is the result:

• First application: $69.50 + $119.00 = $188.50
• Annual fees on the 4 anniversary dates (2^nd to 5^th year): 4 × ($69.50 + $18.00) = 4 × $87.50 = $350.00
• Total for the first 5 years: $188.50 + $350.00 = $538.50, or about $108 a year

After 5 years, the renewal costs $188.50 again (at the 2026 rate). Add a copy of the licence if needed ($31.25 + taxes) if you lose your card.

This calculation is an estimate based on the rates published by the BSP in 2026. The actual amount will be a little higher: the fees are indexed every January 1.

Who pays: the guard or the agency?

The BSP does not say who must pay. It only states that the licence remains yours even if your employer paid its costs. Who pays is a question to ask when you are hired, and to get in writing if the agency commits to paying.

How do you pay the BSP fees?

The BSP accepts debit cards, credit or prepaid cards, cash, cheques and postal or bank money orders. Interac e-Transfer is no longer accepted. The details, and the change in how the Public Register displays a licence during a renewal, are explained in our article on payment and the register.

How do you renew a security guard licence?

The BSP sends you the renewal form during the 5^th year of the licence. According to its frequently asked questions, this form, along with the required documents and payments, must be returned no later than 45 days before the expiry date. Otherwise, you have to submit a complete new application.

1. Note the expiry date shown on your licence.
2. Count back 45 days: that is your real deadline.
3. Fill out the form as soon as you receive it, with the requested documents.
4. Pay the renewal fees by an accepted method.
5. Keep proof of mailing and of payment.

At renewal, the BSP sends your file to the Sûreté du Québec again for a check (section 27 of the Private Security Act). The $119.00 security check is paid again.

What can make you lose your licence?

Under section 30 of the Private Security Act, the BSP may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the licence of an agent who:

• no longer meets the conditions for the issue of the licence
• does not pay the annual fees
• holds a job that is incompatible with their private security activity (the Act mentions a job in a police force in particular)
• has been found guilty of an offence under the Act or its regulations
• has contravened the standards of conduct set by regulation

The most needless case is a forgotten payment. According to the BSP's frequently asked questions, without payment on the anniversary date, the licence is suspended, then revoked after the time limit stated in the notice of suspension. During the suspension, you cannot carry on any security activity.

Section 24 of the Act also requires the licence holder to notify the BSP without delay of any change that could affect the validity of the licence. A criminal charge or conviction is one of them. This topic is covered in detail in our article on criminal records and the licence.

What should you do if you move or lose your card?

The BSP writes to you for the renewal and for the annual fees. With an outdated address, you may never receive the form. The BSP asks to be notified of any change and of any new employer. If you are unsure how to update your contact information, call it at 514 748-7480 or 1 877 748-7483.

If your licence is lost or stolen, fill out the replacement request form. The fee is $31.25 plus taxes.

What about while you wait for the regular licence?

A temporary licence of no more than 120 days allows you, among other things, to work during your training, under supervision. Its fees and limits are explained in our article on the temporary licence. Just starting out? Also read how to become a security guard.

Frequently asked questions

Does the BSP refund the fees if my application is refused?

No. The BSP states that the fees for the licence, the security check and the security monitoring are not refundable.

What happens if I send my renewal less than 45 days before the expiry date?

The BSP requires the form no later than 45 days before the expiry date. After that deadline, you have to submit a complete new application. Contact the BSP as soon as possible to find out what to do.

Can I work if my licence is suspended for unpaid fees?

No. A suspended licence does not allow you to carry on any activity. Pay the fees right away, before the suspension leads to a revocation.

Sources

• BSP: Droits payables – Agent (rates, indexation, refunds, payment methods)
• BSP: Foire aux questions (renewal, annual fees, suspension, lost licence)
• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act (sections 24, 27 and 30)

The hourly rate is not the whole pay. The Decree respecting security guards also provides for hourly premiums that are added to the minimum rate of $20.60 (Class A, since June 28, 2026). Under the Decree, more than one premium can apply at the same time. Yet many guards miss out on a premium because a training course has expired, because a certificate was never given to the employer or simply because they do not know the premium exists. Here is the full list, the exact conditions and how to check your pay.

What are all the premiums in the security guards' decree?

The premiums are defined in section 1.01 of the Decree and their amounts are set in the table in section 4.07. These amounts are minimums. They are the same from June 28, 2026 to July 4, 2027 (and, except for P-13, since August 2, 2023).

Premium P-5 no longer exists: its paragraph is repealed and its row is marked "revoked" in the table. Premium P-13 is inactive as long as no public health emergency is declared.

What is the night premium for a security guard?

Premium P-11 is $1.00 an hour, only for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. On a shift from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., four hours qualify. It does not depend on any training. The details (meals, overtime, safety) are in our article on the night security guard.

Which premiums depend on training that is still valid?

Four premiums stop as soon as the training passes its time limit. This is where the most dollars are lost.

• P-3 (crisis management): 16 hours minimum, taken less than 2 years ago
• P-4 (first aid, CPR, AED): 16 hours minimum, taken less than 3 years ago
• P-8 (use of force): 20 hours minimum, taken less than 2 years ago
• P-12 (customer service): 4 hours minimum, taken less than 2 years ago

In each case, the Decree requires a certificate issued by the instructor. Keep a copy and give one to your employer. Note the expiry date too: the day after the time limit, the premium no longer applies. On our site, registered guards get a reminder before their training expires. Create my profile

Premium P-3 and the hospital setting are explained in detail in our article on the hospital security guard.

Can the Decree's premiums be combined?

Yes. A Class A guard who works nights in a hospital, with up-to-date crisis management, first aid and customer service training, earns at least:

Over a 40-hour week worked entirely at night, the $4.10 in premiums comes to $164 more. If the crisis management training expires, the same guard loses $2.00 an hour, or $80 a week. Other combined profiles are compared in our article on the best-paid security guards.

Are premiums increased for overtime?

Only in part. Under section 3.04, overtime hours are paid with a 50% increase on the wage actually paid, excluding hourly premiums, except premiums P-4 and P-12, which are included in the calculation. The other premiums stay at the same amount, with no increase.

For the guard in the example: (20.60 + 0.60 + 0.50) × 1.5 = $32.55, plus P-3 and P-11 with no increase ($3.00), for $35.55 per overtime hour. The calculation of the regular workweek is presented in our article on the security guards' decree explained.

Who pays for the training that qualifies for a premium?

As a general rule, any training or renewal required by the employer or the client is at the employer's expense (wages as if at work, registration and other reasonable costs). Section 4.07 does provide two exceptions: training that allows the guard to qualify for work that gives the right to a premium, and training used to obtain or renew the agent licence. Training that opens the door to a premium can therefore remain at your expense, even when it is requested. Before you register, ask in writing who pays.

How do you check your premiums on your pay slip?

Section 4.06 requires the employer to give you, with your wages, a pay slip that lets you check the calculation. It must show in particular:

• the work period covered by the payment
• the number of hours paid at the regular rate
• the number of overtime hours and the increase applied
• the nature and amount of the premiums paid
• the wage rate, the gross wages and the net wages

Compare your night hours, your assignments and the dates of your certificates with each premium line. If a premium is missing, talk to your employer first, certificate in hand.

How do you claim an unpaid premium?

The Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree) oversees the application of the Decree. An employee can file a complaint with it, including through its online form. Complaints are confidential (section 24 of the Act respecting collective agreement decrees). Keep your pay slips, your schedules and your training certificates: they are your evidence.

Is there an evening or weekend premium?

No. The Decree provides no evening or weekend premium. Only the hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. qualify for the night premium. An employer can offer more, but nothing requires it. The full picture of pay is on our security guard salary page.

Frequently asked questions

Is a security guard entitled to the P-11 premium?

Yes. In Quebec, a guard employed by a security agency is entitled to the P-11 premium of $1.00 an hour for each hour worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., under section 4.07 of the Decree. It does not depend on any training and is added to the base rate and to the other premiums. Hours worked outside that window do not qualify.

What is the P-12 premium for a security guard?

In Quebec, the P-12 premium is $0.50 an hour, under the Decree. It is paid to a guard who has taken, within the last 2 years, customer service training of at least 4 hours, given by the A.P.A.S. or a school recognized by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP). Under section 3.04, it is included in the overtime calculation.

Does my first aid premium stop if my training is more than 3 years old?

Yes. Premium P-4 requires training taken within the last 3 years. Once that time limit has passed, you have to renew it to get the $0.60 an hour back.

Can I receive premium P-3 outside a hospital?

Yes, if the client requires the crisis management training. The Decree then provides that the premium is also paid to the guard who works in another sector.

Can my employer pay me more than the Decree's premiums?

Yes. The rate and the premiums in section 4.07 are minimums. The employer cannot pay less, but can pay more.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01 (definition of the premiums), 3.04, 4.06 and 4.07 (LégisQuébec)
• Act respecting collective agreement decrees, section 24 (LégisQuébec)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: formulaire de plainte

The Decree respecting security guards sets the minimum wage of security agency guards in Quebec, whether the guard is unionized or not. Since June 28, 2026, a Class A guard cannot be paid less than $20.60 an hour. Here is what section 4.07 of the Decree says, what the increase changes on your pay and what to do if your employer does not apply it.

What is the minimum hourly rate for a security guard in 2026?

Since June 28, 2026, the minimum rate is $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 an hour in Class B. Before that date, it was $20.09 and $20.34. The table in section 4.07 of the Decree gives every step since 2023, including the last increase already scheduled for 2027.

The percentages are our own calculation based on the Class A rate, rounded to one decimal.

How much is the June 28, 2026 increase worth?

In Class A, the rate goes from $20.09 to $20.60, which is $0.51 more an hour, an increase of about 2.5%. It is the largest annual increase in the table since 2023. In Class B, the gap is the same: from $20.34 to $20.85.

Over a regular 40-hour week, $0.51 an hour adds up to $20.40 more gross per week. Over a full year of 2,080 hours, that comes to about $1,060 more gross.

What is the difference between Class A, Class A on call and Class B?

Section 1.01 of the Decree defines the classes of employees:

• Class A: the employee who performs security work without a higher class applying to them. This is the basic guard.
• Class A on call: the same work, but without a fixed work schedule. The table in section 4.07 does not give this class a separate rate. The employee is entitled to the Class A rate.
• Class B: the employee responsible for directing or supervising one or more Class A or Class B employees. The rate is $0.25 an hour higher than the Class A rate.

A Class B employee who directs or supervises Class B employees receives another $0.25 an hour more than the Class B rate, under section 4.07. That minimum is therefore $21.10 since June 28, 2026, then $21.60 as of July 4, 2027.

Does the increase apply automatically?

Yes. You do not have to ask for anything. Under section 11 of the Act respecting collective agreement decrees, the provisions of a decree are public policy. Section 12 adds that it is forbidden to pay a wage lower than the one the decree sets, and that the employee is entitled to it despite any agreement to the contrary. A contract signed at $20.09 an hour therefore does not allow the employer to keep that rate after June 28, 2026.

The Decree's rates are minimums. Section 13 of the same Act allows a more advantageous contract. If you were already earning more than $20.60, the employer is not required to give you a raise, unless your contract or a collective agreement provides for it. The hourly premiums did not change on June 28, 2026, and they are still added to the base rate. Our guide to the Decree's premiums lists them in detail.

How does this rate compare with the general minimum wage?

According to the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board), the general minimum wage in Quebec has been $16.60 an hour since May 1, 2026. The minimum for a Class A guard is $4.00 an hour higher, or about 24%.

How much does a guard earn at the minimum over a year?

At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, or 2,080 hours, a Class A guard paid the minimum earns $42,848 gross a year. This calculation counts neither premiums nor overtime. Hours worked in 2026 before June 28 were paid at the $20.09 rate, so the actual gross for the 2026 calendar year will be a little lower. To find out what is left after deductions, see our article on a security guard's net pay in 2026.

How do you check your pay and claim back pay?

On your pay stub, first check the base hourly rate for hours worked from June 28, 2026. It must be at least $20.60 in Class A or $20.85 in Class B. Then check that the premiums you are entitled to do appear on top of it.

If the rate is too low, the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree) sees that the Decree is applied. It can claim the difference from the employer on behalf of employees, and the Act also allows it to recover an amount equal to 20% of that difference (section 22 of the Act). Complaints are confidential. Do not wait: under section 28, the civil action is prescribed by one year from each due date. Keep your pay stubs and write down your hours. The committee's role is explained in our article on the security guards' decree.

When is the next increase?

On July 4, 2027, the minimum rate will rise to $21.10 in Class A and $21.35 in Class B. That is the last column of the table in section 4.07. No increase is listed there after that date. Our article on security guard pay in 2027 presents this change and what could follow.

Until then, it is mostly the premiums that make pay vary from one post to another. Our comparison of the best-paid security guards shows how high they can go.

Frequently asked questions

What will the pay increase be for a security guard in Quebec in 2026?

In Quebec, the 2026 increase is $0.51 an hour, or about 2.5%, according to the table in section 4.07 of the Decree. It has been in effect since June 28, 2026: the minimum rate went from $20.09 to $20.60 in Class A and from $20.34 to $20.85 in Class B. Over 2,080 hours, that comes to about $1,060 more gross a year.

What increase is scheduled for security guards in 2026?

In Quebec, the Decree respecting security guards provides for 2026 an increase of $0.51 an hour in the minimum rate of agency guards, applied on June 28, 2026. The minimum is $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B. The hourly premiums did not change. The following increase, of $0.50 an hour, is scheduled for July 4, 2027.

Can a beginner guard be paid less than $20.60?

No. The table in section 4.07 provides no reduced rate for beginners or employees on probation. The Class A minimum applies from the first hour.

My employer forgot the increase on a few pays. What should I do?

First ask your employer for the correction in writing. If the employer refuses, contact the Comité paritaire, which can claim the back pay for you. Act within the year that follows each pay in question.

Did the premiums go up on June 28, 2026?

No. According to the table in section 4.07, the hourly premiums are the same as in 2025, for example $1.00 an hour for the P-11 night premium. Only the base rates for Class A and Class B changed.

What is the minimum wage for a security guard in Quebec?

In Quebec, the minimum wage of a security agency guard is $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B since June 28, 2026, under section 4.07 of the Decree. The general minimum wage is $16.60 an hour, according to the CNESST. The comparison is in the section "How does this rate compare with the general minimum wage?".

What is the pay scale for security guards in 2026?

In Quebec, the table in section 4.07 of the Decree has set, since June 28, 2026, a minimum rate of $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B. Under the same section, a Class B employee who directs Class B employees receives $0.25 more, or $21.10. A Class A on call employee is entitled to the Class A rate, and the table provides no reduced rate for beginners or employees on probation.

What is a security guard's total pay in 2026?

In Quebec, an agency guard's pay starts from the Decree minimum, $20.60 an hour in Class A since June 28, 2026, or $42,848 gross a year at 40 hours a week. The hourly premiums are added to the base rate, for example $1.00 an hour for the P-11 night premium. See the Decree's premiums and net pay in 2026.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01 and 4.07 (up to date as of June 1, 2026)
• LégisQuébec: Act respecting collective agreement decrees, sections 11, 12, 13, 22 and 28 (up to date as of August 12, 2026)
• CNESST: Salaire minimum au Québec

The incident report is the most important document a security guard produces during a shift. Well written, it protects the guard, the client and the employer. Badly written, it turns against them. Here is what it is for, the rules for writing it, an incident report template to fill in and a complete sample occurrence report.

What is a security guard's incident report for?

The report sets down the facts while they are fresh. It can then be read by many people, often months later:

• the employer and the client, who decide on the follow-up (corrective measures, changes to post orders)
• the police, if a complaint is filed or a suspect is handed over to officers
• the insurer, in the event of property damage or an injury to a visitor
• the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board), if a worker (you or a co-worker) was injured
• a court, where you might have to testify relying on what you wrote.

A clear and precise report is often worth more than a good recollection: the report is what will be reread, not your memory.

What is the difference between the logbook (post log) and the incident report?

Every client and every agency has its own forms and instructions. Always follow those of your post. This guide gives the general method.

How do you write a good incident report? The golden rules

1. Observed facts, not opinions

Write what you saw, heard and smelled. "The man was staggering, speaking loudly and smelled of alcohol" is a fact. "The man was drunk" is a conclusion. The reader will draw the conclusion on their own.

2. Who, what, where, when, how

Every report must answer these questions. For people: the name if known, otherwise a description (approximate age, height, clothing, distinguishing marks). For the place: the exact spot ("east door of the lobby, near the elevators"), not just "at the building".

3. Precise times

Note the time of each step: start of the event, call to 911 or to the supervisor, arrival of emergency services, end. Check against a reliable clock (phone, camera system).

4. Spoken words in quotation marks, word for word

If someone threatens or insults, quote exactly, even if it is crude. "He said to me: 'I'm going to come back and deal with you'" is much more useful than "he made threats".

5. Write right away

Jot down the key points in a notebook during the event, then write the report as soon as possible, before the end of the shift. Details fade quickly.

6. Never change it afterward

A report that has been handed in is not corrected by erasing. If you learn a new fact or spot an error, write a dated and signed supplement that refers to the original report. A report that has been touched up loses its credibility.

7. Stay within your role

Describe your own actions honestly, including any physical contact. If you had to intervene, see our article on citizen's arrest by a security guard to know the limits.

Which words should you avoid in an occurrence report?

Incident report template to fill in

This template can be copied into a document or a notebook. It does not replace your agency's form, if there is one.

Sample completed incident report

Entirely fictitious example, created to illustrate the method. The names, places and numbers are made up.

Account:

• 11:41 p.m. – While on my round, I see on camera 3 a man sitting on the floor near the lobby elevators. I go to the scene.
• 11:43 p.m. – The man's eyes are half closed, his breath smells of alcohol, an open bottle of beer is beside him. I introduce myself as a security guard and ask him whether he lives in the building. He answers: "I'm looking for my buddy, he lives on the eighth." He cannot give a name or a unit number.
• 11:46 p.m. – I ask him to stand up. He tries twice and falls back to a sitting position. He says: "My head hurts." I see no blood and no visible injury.
• 11:47 p.m. – I call 911 (person unable to stand, complains of pain in the head). Then I notify my supervisor by phone.
• 11:52 p.m. – The tenant of unit 1204 enters the lobby. She says she does not know the man.
• 12:03 a.m. – Paramedics arrive. I summarize for them what I observed.
• 12:18 a.m. – The man is taken away by ambulance. Two police officers arrive afterward. I give my name and the report number. Police event number noted.
• 12:27 a.m. – The lobby is cleaned. The bottle is thrown out. End of the event. The footage from cameras 3 and 4 (11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) is flagged to the client for preservation.

Guard's actions: no physical contact. Distance kept, calm tone.
Recommended follow-up: check the closing of the secondary entrance door, found unlocked at 11:55 p.m.
Written on Sunday at 12:50 a.m., signed: A. Exemple.

No sentence says "he was drunk" or "he was a homeless person". The report describes, it does not judge.

What should I do if I am injured during my shift?

A work injury calls for two written records: your usual incident report and the steps with the CNESST. According to the CNESST:

1. Notify your employer quickly, yourself or through another person.
2. Have the event entered in the employer's register of accidents, incidents and first aid.
3. See a health professional of your choice. That person fills out the medical certificate needed for the claim. If you cannot work that same day, the employer pays 100% of the wages for that day.
4. If you cannot come back the next day, give the certificate to your employer.
5. You have 6 months from the date of the accident to file your Worker's Claim (Réclamation du travailleur) with the CNESST (two years for an injury caused by sexual violence).

In your report, describe precisely the injury, the part of the body affected, how it happened and the names of the witnesses: these details will be used for the claim.

Who can read my report and how long should it be kept?

An incident report almost always contains personal information: names, descriptions, state of health, camera footage. In Quebec, the private-sector law, modernized by Law 25, makes every business responsible for the personal information it holds. A loss or an unauthorized disclosure of that information is a "confidentiality incident", which the business must record in a register and, if it presents a risk of serious injury, report to the Commission d'accès à l'information and to the persons concerned.

For the guard, in practice this means:

• hand in the report through the channel set by the agency, and to no one else
• do not photograph the report or the camera screens with your personal phone
• never post an incident on social media, even without a name
• leave to the employer the decisions on how long to keep it and on disclosure to third parties.

Retention periods vary by agency and client. No single period applies to all reports. If in doubt, ask for your employer's policy.

Where can you learn to write reports?

For the basics of the trade, see the mandatory security guard training. For the rest of the path, see how to become a security guard in Quebec, the steps for the agent licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, and the security guard job postings.

Frequently asked questions

How do you write a security guard report?

A security guard report is written with observed facts, not opinions. It answers who, what, where, when and how, gives the precise time of each step and quotes spoken words in quotation marks, word for word. Write it as soon as possible, before the end of the shift, and never change it afterward: a new fact goes in a dated and signed supplement. In Quebec, every agency and every client has its own forms and instructions, so follow those of your post.

How do you write an incident report, with an example?

Start from the template to fill in on this page: report number, guard, site, date, times, exact location, type of incident, people involved and witnesses. Then write the account in chronological order, one time per fact, as in the completed sample above (an intoxicated person in a lobby, from 11:41 p.m. to 12:27 a.m.). End with your actions, the recommended follow-up, then the date, the time of writing and your signature. This template is meant for security guards in Quebec and does not replace your agency's form, if there is one.

Can I write my report by hand?

Yes, if your agency accepts it. Write legibly, in ink, without correction fluid: strike through the error with a single line, so that it stays readable, and initial it.

My supervisor is asking me to change my report. What should I do?

You can add a dated supplement to clarify or correct a fact. Do not remove a fact you really observed and do not add anything you did not see.

Do I have to write a report if nothing serious happened?

Follow the post orders. In general, an unusual event (forced door, person refused entry, near miss) deserves at least one line in the log, and a report if it could have consequences.

Sources

• CNESST – What should you do if you have a work accident?
• CNESST – Formulaire Réclamation du travailleur
• Commission d'accès à l'information – Incidents de confidentialité et mesures de sécurité
• Commission d'accès à l'information – Responsabilité des entreprises

A good security guard resume can be read in thirty seconds. An agency recruiter is looking for a few specific answers: do you have a valid licence, which training is up to date, when are you available and can you get to a remote site? Here is what to include, a complete template, a short cover letter and the most common interview questions.

What should you put on a security guard resume?

Put the information that decides the hiring at the very top, even before your experience.

The BSP licence

In Quebec, you cannot work as a security guard without an agent licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, in security guarding in most cases. The licence is issued for 5 years. Write its number and its expiry date: the employer can check in real time in the BSP public register. If your application is being processed, say so clearly ("application filed in September 2026"). Everything about the process: getting and renewing your BSP licence.

Training, with dates

List each training course with the date you passed it. Several give the right to an hourly premium under the Decree respecting security guards, but only if they are still valid. A visible date shows the agency that you qualify for premiums from day one.

The amount of each premium is detailed in our article on the Decree's premiums. To find out where to take these courses: security guard training.

Availability, transportation and languages

• Availability: day, evening, night, weekend, statutory holidays, replacements on short notice. Be honest: a schedule promised and then refused does more harm than limited availability stated up front.
• Transportation: driver's licence (Class 5) and car. Many industrial sites and construction sites are not served by public transit at night, and some patrol positions require driving.
• Languages: French, English, others. In a hospital, a shopping centre or an event, one more language is a real asset.

Concrete skills

Avoid "sense of responsibility" on its own. Name what you know how to do:

• security rounds (with or without an electronic checkpoint system)
• writing incident reports and keeping the logbook
• access control: cards, visitor log, deliveries
• fire and intrusion alarm panel, alarm response
• camera monitoring
• first aid and calling emergency services
• verbal de-escalation of an agitated person.

How do you write a security guard resume with no experience?

For a first job, rely on transferable experience. A cashier handles unhappy customers and money. A restaurant employee works evenings, under pressure, following procedures. A day camp counsellor looks after the safety of a group. A former member of the military, a cadet or an event volunteer is used to discipline and instructions. Describe these tasks with action verbs: "I handled", "I wrote", "I checked". The practicum hours of your training count too.

What does a security guard resume template look like?

Here is a fictional example to adapt. One page is enough.

Fictional example: the name and the licence number are made up.

Which mistakes should you avoid on a security guard resume?

• Forgetting the licence or leaving out its expiry date.
• Listing training without dates: the agency cannot know whether it is still valid.
• Spelling mistakes: the job requires writing reports. A clean resume proves you can do it.
• An unprofessional email address or a full voicemail box.
• Too long: past one page, the recruiter loses interest.
• Exaggerating: references will be called and the licence will be checked.

What should you put in a security guard cover letter?

A security guard cover letter fits in a few lines: the position you want, your licence, one quality backed by a fact, and your availability. Example:

What are the common security guard interview questions?

Security guard interview questions mostly test your judgment. Answer with a real example: the situation, what you did, the result.

1. "What do you do if a person refuses to leave the premises?" Show that you talk first, calmly, that you apply the client's instructions, that you call your supervisor or the police if needed, and that you write a report. Avoid bringing up physical intervention first.
2. "Describe a conflict you defused." Take an example from your previous job, even outside security.
3. "How do you write an incident report?" Facts, not opinions: who, what, where, when, what you did, with the exact times.
4. "What do you do if the alarm goes off during your round?" Follow the site procedure, check the area without putting yourself in danger, call emergency services or the monitoring centre, record the event.
5. "How do you stay alert at night?" Talk about your sleep habits, regular rounds and your experience with night schedules.
6. "What is your availability?" A clear and honest answer is better than an "any time" you will not live up to.

Bring your licence: the BSP states that an agent must identify themselves on request by showing it. Bring your training certificates too.

Where should you send your resume?

Check security guard job postings, and the Government of Canada's Job Bank. You can also create your free guard profile on our site: agencies see your licence, your training and your availability, and you get a reminder before your training expires.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply before I have received my BSP licence?

Yes, but you will not be able to work as a guard before you hold the licence. State on the resume that the application has been filed and on what date.

Should you attach a photo to your resume?

No. In Quebec, a photo is not customary on a resume, and it gives the recruiter nothing.

Should I list expired training?

Yes, if it shows experience, but with its date. Better yet, renew it: the Decree's premium applies only to valid training.

How do you apply to become a security guard?

In Quebec, you apply to an agency with a one-page resume that puts the BSP licence number, the training with its dates and your availability at the top. The postings are in security guard job postings and on the Government of Canada's Job Bank. You can also create your free guard profile, which agencies consult.

Sources

• Foire aux questions: licence term, showing the licence, register of licence holders (BSP)
• Formations requises (BSP)
• Decree respecting security guards, section 4.07 (LégisQuébec)
• Guichet-Emplois (Government of Canada)

Looking for security guard training in Montreal? It is the city in Quebec with the widest choice, in the public network as well as the private sector. You still have to choose a course that really leads to the licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, at the right price and on a schedule that suits you. Here is how to go about it, step by step.

The content of the training (the three modules, the list of recognized private schools) is explained on our page security guard training in detail. This article covers what is specific to Montreal.

What training do you need to be a security guard in Montreal?

The rule is the same everywhere in Quebec: to get a security guarding licence, the BSP requires at least 70 hours of classes. The BSP states that this training is taken in a school service centre that offers the private security guarding program, or in another training program recognized by the Minister and included in its list.

In Montreal, you will come across two formats in the public network:

• the basic training required for the licence, of at least 70 hours
• the Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage" (program 4239), which is much longer: 390 hours, or about three months. It also exists in English (Private Security Guarding, program 4739).

The AEP covers much more than the minimum: surveillance, access control, emergency response, first aid and a workplace integration component. If you simply want your licence as quickly as possible, ask the centre which of the two formats it offers and whether the certificate it issues is the one the BSP accepts.

Where can you take a security guard course in Montreal?

According to Inforoute FPT, at least two school service centres on the island of Montreal offer the AEP Sécurité privée – Gardiennage:

Sessions do not all start at the same time and are not offered every month. The simplest way: search for program 4239 on Inforoute FPT or on Admission FP, which show the open groups, with the start date, the schedule and the registration deadline.

There are also several private schools in Montreal. Some are recognized by the BSP, others no longer are, and training is accepted only if it was taken after the date of its recognition. We do not recommend any school: simply check the exact name of yours in the official list "Autres formations en gardiennage acceptées par le BSP" before you pay.

How long does the training last, and can you take it in the evening?

The length depends on the format: 70 hours at a minimum for the basic training, 390 hours for the AEP. Schedules, for their part, vary by centre and by session. In the public network, there are daytime groups, Monday to Friday, and evening groups for people who already work. Weekend formats are rarer. If that is your only option, ask the centre directly.

A BSP temporary licence can allow you to work during a work-study training program. It lasts no more than 120 days.

How much does security guard training cost in Montreal?

The cost varies by centre, by format and by your situation (some groups in the public network are funded, others are offered by the business services department at a fixed rate). Always ask:

• whether the materials and first aid are included in the price
• whether there are registration or exam fees on top
• whether the centre has places funded by Services Québec.

Do not forget the fees for the licence itself, which are added to those of the course. They are indexed every year: see BSP licence and renewal fees.

Is there free security guard training?

Yes, in some cases. If you are unemployed, Services Québec can pay for your training through the Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre, its workforce training measure. According to Québec.ca, this measure can:

• pay an allowance of about $400 a week during qualifying training (such as an AEP)
• reimburse certain costs: childcare, transportation, training fees, lodging.

To be eligible, you must in particular be 16 or over, have left full-time school at least 24 months ago and show that the lack of training keeps you from finding a job. The decision is up to Services Québec: apply before you register, online or at a Services Québec office in your neighbourhood.

Some agencies also train their new guards at their own expense. The Decree respecting security guards does not require them to: it is a hiring condition to negotiate.

What should you do after the training?

1. Keep your certificate. It proves to the BSP that you have the required training.
2. Apply for your licence online, by mail or in person. The BSP has its offices in Montreal, on boulevard Crémazie Est. All the details: the steps for the BSP licence.
3. Look for a job during the security check. Montreal has positions in office towers, hospitals, shopping centres, events and transportation. See finding a security guard job.

Which additional training is useful in Montreal?

• First aid, CPR and AED (16 h): already included in the basic training, but you have to redo it every 3 years to keep the premium provided for in the Decree.
• Crisis management: requested in hospitals and health institutions, of which Montreal has many, where it gives the right to a premium.
• Customer service: a short course that also gives the right to an hourly premium.
• English: in many positions downtown, in hotels or at events, the employer asks that you be able to serve the public in both languages. Adult education centres and government-offered language courses are one avenue.

The premiums and the validity period of each training course are in the table on our security guard training page. For the full path, from zero to your first shift: become a security guard.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take security guard training online?

Only in part, depending on the school. First aid and emergency procedures require practice in class. Check how much of the course is given online and that the certificate will be accepted by the BSP.

Can you take the course in English in Montreal?

Yes. The AEP exists in English (Private Security Guarding, program 4739). Search for this program number on Inforoute FPT to see which centres offer it.

Do you need a high school diploma?

Not necessarily. For the AEP, you need at least Secondary 3 (or to have passed the general development test) and to meet one other condition, for example being 18 years old. For the licence, the BSP requires that you be 18 and have the right to work in Canada.

How long is it from the start of the course to the first job?

Count the length of the course, then the BSP processing time, which varies. The temporary licence can shorten the wait in some cases.

Sources

• BSP: Formations requises
• BSP: Autres formations en gardiennage acceptées
• Inforoute FPT: AEP Sécurité privée – Gardiennage (4239)
• Admission FP: AEP 4239
• Québec.ca: Suivre une formation avec une aide financière (Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre)
• Decree respecting security guards, section 4.07 (LégisQuébec)

A citizen's arrest is the only power of arrest a security guard has in Quebec. A guard is not a police officer: a guard arrests someone on exactly the same footing as any other citizen, under section 494 of the Criminal Code. Here is what this power allows, what it does not allow, and the risks a guard faces by going beyond its limits.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, consult a lawyer or your agency's written directives.

Does a security guard have a power of arrest?

Yes, but no more than any other citizen. The licence issued by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, authorizes you to work in the trade. It gives no police power. The BSP security guard licence does not make you a peace officer. Your power to arrest someone comes entirely from section 494 of the Criminal Code, which provides for two situations.

1. Anyone (s. 494(1))

Anyone may arrest without a warrant:

• a person they find committing an indictable offence
• a person who, they believe on reasonable grounds, has committed a criminal offence and is escaping from persons who have lawful authority to arrest that person (for example, police officers in pursuit).

2. The owner and the persons the owner authorizes (s. 494(2))

This is the provision that concerns guards most directly. The owner of property, the person in lawful possession of it, and the persons they authorize may arrest without a warrant someone they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property. A guard posted in a store, a shopping centre or an office building usually acts in this capacity, as a person authorized by the client.

What is the "reasonable time" added to the Criminal Code?

Before the reform, the owner in practice had to arrest the person in the act. The law adopted in 2012 (S.C. 2012, c. 9) relaxed the rule: the arrest can also be made within a reasonable time after the offence, on one condition: the guard must believe on reasonable grounds that an arrest by a peace officer is not feasible in the circumstances.

In concrete terms, if a shoplifter identified on camera comes back the next day, the new rule may apply, but only if you cannot reasonably call the police instead. The Code does not define a specific length of time. It is a matter of judgment, which calls for caution.

What must the guard do after a citizen's arrest?

Section 494(3) is clear: anyone who is not a peace officer and arrests a person without a warrant must deliver the person forthwith to a peace officer. In practice:

• call the police immediately
• keep the person under watch in a safe place until the police arrive
• do not question the person to get a confession, or hold them to "settle this" with the manager
• write down the facts (time, grounds, witnesses, actions taken) in a written report.

A citizen's arrest is not a prolonged detention: the guard cannot keep someone for hours, or release them in exchange for a payment or a promise.

Can a security guard use force?

Yes, to a limited extent. Section 494(4) specifies that a person who lawfully arrests under section 494 is considered to be authorized by law for the purposes of section 25. That section protects a person who, acting on reasonable grounds, uses the force necessary to do what the law authorizes them to do.

Three important limits:

• Only the force that is necessary. Section 26 makes a person criminally responsible for using excessive force, even if they were authorized to use some.
• No deadly force for a simple arrest. Under section 25(3), force intended to cause death or grievous bodily harm can be justified only if the person believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to protect themselves or someone else from death or grievous bodily harm.
• The rules on flight are not aimed at private guards. The exception in section 25(4), which in certain cases allows more serious force against a person who is fleeing, is addressed to peace officers and those lawfully assisting them, not to a security guard acting alone.

Self-defence (s. 34) also remains open to the guard as it is to everyone, if force is used against the guard and the guard's response is reasonable in the circumstances.

Can a security guard search someone?

The Criminal Code gives the security guard no general power of search. Section 494 speaks of arrest, not of search. A search carried out without consent could be considered an assault and expose the guard to charges or to a civil lawsuit.

What is generally accepted:

• asking the person to open their bag themselves or to show an object, without forcing them to
• checking bags at the entrance to a place where this is a known condition of entry (show, event), with the person remaining free to refuse and not go in
• removing a dangerous object that threatens immediate safety, to the extent necessary to protect yourself.

If the person refuses, the guard waits for the police. It is the police who will decide whether to search, under their own powers.

Can a security guard use handcuffs?

No law forbids a security guard from handcuffing a person who has been lawfully arrested, but handcuffs are a form of force. They must therefore follow the same rules: they must be necessary (real risk of flight, violent behaviour) and proportionate. Handcuffing by reflex a calm person who is waiting for the police can be judged excessive.

Several agencies forbid handcuffs or require recognized training before a guard carries them. Always follow your employer's policy and the training you received. To find out about the courses offered, see our page on security guard training and the mandatory courses.

What a security guard is NOT allowed to do

• present themselves as a police officer or let people believe they are one
• arrest someone on a mere suspicion, without having seen them commit the offence (except the escape situation provided for in s. 494(1)(b))
• arrest a person for an offence committed off the property they protect, by relying on s. 494(2)
• search a person by force or without their consent
• hold a person without calling the police, or demand a payment to release them
• use excessive force, humiliate or intimidate.

Does the Charter apply to a security guard?

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects against unreasonable search (s. 8) and arbitrary detention (s. 9), and gives a person who is arrested the right to be informed of the reasons and to retain counsel without delay (s. 10). But under its section 32, it applies first to Parliament, the legislatures and the government.

The question of whether a private guard who makes a citizen's arrest must respect these rights the way a police officer does has no simple settled answer: the answer may depend on the circumstances. The careful course of conduct is therefore the same in every case: tell the person clearly why they are being arrested, do not question them, and let the police inform them of their right to counsel on arrival.

What risks does a guard take by going beyond their powers?

• Criminal: an unlawful arrest or excessive force can lead to charges (assault, forcible confinement).
• Civil: the person can sue the guard and the agency for damages.
• Licence: the BSP requires licence holders to behave in a way that preserves the trust their duties require. A breach can lead to a complaint and to sanctions on the licence.
• Employment: a dismissal is possible if the agency's policy was not followed, which can hurt your security guard job search afterward.

What does the Private Security Act provide?

The Private Security Act governs how the licence is obtained and kept, and its regulation sets standards of conduct for licence holders. Among other things, the BSP points to the obligation to behave in a way that preserves public trust and, where applicable, to use one's weapon with prudence and discernment. These rules do not create a power of arrest. They are added to the Criminal Code and can be invoked against a guard who abuses their position. If you are starting out in the trade, our guide to becoming a security guard in Quebec explains the steps to get the licence.

Frequently asked questions

What is a citizen's arrest?

In Quebec, a citizen's arrest is the arrest without a warrant that anyone who is not a police officer may make on the conditions set out in section 494 of the Criminal Code. It is the only power of arrest a security guard has. The arrested person must be delivered forthwith to a peace officer. The conditions of the section are detailed in the next question.

What does section 494 of the Criminal Code say?

Section 494 of the Criminal Code allows anyone to arrest without a warrant a person they find committing an indictable offence, or a person who, they believe on reasonable grounds, has committed a criminal offence and is escaping from persons who have lawful authority to arrest that person (subsection 1). Subsection 2 allows the owner of property, the person in lawful possession of it and the persons they authorize to arrest without a warrant someone they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property, either at that time or within a reasonable time after the offence if they believe on reasonable grounds that an arrest by a peace officer is not feasible in the circumstances. Subsection 3 requires anyone who is not a peace officer to deliver the arrested person forthwith to a peace officer. In Quebec, a security guard's entire power of arrest rests on this section, and the force used must be limited to the force that is necessary (sections 25 and 26).

Can a security guard arrest someone in a store's parking lot?

Yes, if the parking lot is part of the property the client entrusted to the guard and the criminal offence was committed there or in relation to it. Off that property, the guard goes back to being an ordinary citizen subject to s. 494(1).

How long can a guard hold a person?

The time needed to hand them over to the police. The law requires that the person be delivered "forthwith" to a peace officer.

Can you refuse to open your bag for a security guard?

Yes. Without consent, the guard cannot search. The guard can, however, refuse access to a place where the check is a condition of entry, or call the police if there are grounds for arrest.

Does the guard have to read the arrested person their rights?

This is not clearly established for a private guard. It is prudent to state the reason for the arrest, not to question the person and to let the police inform them of their rights.

Sources

• Criminal Code, s. 494 (Justice Canada)
• Criminal Code, s. 25 (Justice Canada)
• Criminal Code, s. 26 (Justice Canada)
• Criminal Code, s. 34 (Justice Canada)
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ss. 8, 9, 10 and 32 (Justice Canada)
• Frequently asked questions, Bureau de la sécurité privée

In Quebec, the security guards' decree sets the minimum working conditions of security agency guards: pay, overtime, vacation, statutory holidays, uniform and notice. Whether you work for a large agency or a small company, these rules protect you. Here are its rules, section by section, in plain language.

What is the security guards' decree?

Its official name is the Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, chapter D-2, r. 1). It stems from the Act respecting collective agreement decrees, which allows the government to extend certain clauses of a collective agreement to all employers and all employees in a sector, unionized or not.

In practice, the Decree mostly takes up the "monetary" clauses: wages, leave, overtime. The goal is to keep working conditions from becoming a point of competition between agencies. In security, a first decree was adopted for the Quebec City region in 1980, then for the Montreal region in 1981. The two were merged in 1984.

The current Decree remains in force until July 4, 2027. After that, it renews automatically from year to year, unless one of the parties objects.

Who is covered by the Decree?

The Decree applies everywhere in Quebec. It covers security agencies and their employees, meaning the people who, on behalf of an agency, do guarding, surveillance or protection work: watching over people, property or premises, searching, patrolling, directing traffic, preventing shoplifting, fire or vandalism, and so on.

It distinguishes two main classes:

• Class A: the guard who does security work (there is also a Class A on call, with no fixed schedule)
• Class B: the person responsible for directing or supervising other guards.

Who is not covered?

The Decree excludes, among others:

• police officers and other peace officers
• investigation agents who do investigation work within the meaning of the Private Security Act
• employees of governments, municipalities and school service centres
• guards who do security work only for their own employer ("in-house" security, outside an agency)
• road traffic control workers, who have their own decree.

The Decree does not replace the licence: to work, you must first hold a security guard licence issued by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator.

What is the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité?

The Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (CPAS) is a self-funded non-profit organization that administers and enforces the Decree. "Paritaire" (parity) refers to its makeup: it brings together representatives of the employer and union parties that signed the agreement behind the Decree.

Its mandate includes:

• informing guards and employers of their rights and obligations
• receiving complaints and carrying out inspections, including at the employer's head office
• claiming from employers the amounts owed to employees
• defending employees before the courts and suing employers at fault.

Every employer subject to the Decree must also send it a monthly payroll report, which lets the committee check compliance.

What is the minimum hourly rate under the Decree?

The Decree sets minimum rates: the employer can pay more, never less.

Hourly premiums are added to this rate (night, firearm, health care setting, first aid and so on). We cover them in detail in our article on the premiums in the security guards' decree, and the history of the rates is in the security guard minimum rate in 2026.

How is a security guard's overtime paid?

The regular workweek is 40 hours. Beyond that, each hour is paid with a 50% increase (time and a half). A few useful details:

• The increase applies to the wage actually paid, but most hourly premiums are not part of it. Only some of them (including the customer service premium) are included in the calculation.
• Hours worked on top of your shift, when they are mandatory for more than 4 hours, also count as overtime.
• A permanent A-01 guard who works more than 6 days in a row is paid overtime starting on the 7^th day, even without having gone over 40 hours (the rule is different in the mining sector with lodging).
• Paid vacation days and paid statutory holidays count as days worked when calculating the 40 hours.

The employer can stagger the hours over a maximum of 4 weeks (the average must stay at 40 hours), but only on strict conditions: the agreement of the employees concerned, a benefit in exchange, a specific contract, a maximum duration of one year and written notice to the Comité paritaire at least 60 days before.

Call-back to work and meals

If the employer calls you in and you work fewer than 4 consecutive hours, you are entitled to at least 4 hours of pay. For meals, the Decree provides 30 paid minutes per 5-hour work period.

How many weeks of vacation does a security guard get?

The length of your vacation depends on your uninterrupted service with the same employer at the end of the reference year. The indemnity is 6% of gross earnings in every case.

Other rules to know: you have the right to know the date of your vacation at least 4 weeks in advance. The indemnity is paid in a single payment before you leave. Vacation cannot be carried over from one year to the next. On written request 30 days in advance, you can be paid for the weeks beyond the first 2.

What are the statutory holidays for security guards?

In addition to the National Holiday (June 24), the Decree provides 8 statutory general holidays: January 1, Good Friday, the Monday preceding May 25, July 1, Labour Day, Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day and December 25.

• Indemnity: 1/20 of the wages earned during the 4 complete weeks of pay before the holiday, premiums included, but without overtime.
• If you work that day: you receive your wages for the hours worked, plus the indemnity, or else a compensatory holiday of equivalent length.
• Condition: you must not have been absent without a valid reason on the working day before or after the holiday.

Working on a statutory holiday does not also give you the right to time and a half.

Who pays for a security guard's uniform?

The employer pays for the uniform and equipment it requires, except for socks, belts and ordinary shoes (required safety footwear is supplied). Each year, it must supply at least 4 shirts and 2 pairs of pants, and, if the work requires it, a winter coat with a hood as well as a raincoat and a rain hat. For permanent A-01 guards, the renewal is done with new clothing. No deduction from pay is allowed for the uniform.

What notice must the employer give?

Before ending your employment or laying you off for 6 months or more, the employer must give you written notice, as soon as you have 3 months of uninterrupted service:

Without sufficient notice, the employer must pay an equivalent indemnity. For a layoff of less than 6 months, notice of at least 1 week is required (with exceptions, such as the casual A-04 guard). The notice does not apply in a case of serious fault, in a case of superior force or at the end of a fixed-term contract. At the end of any employment, you can also require a work certificate, which cannot pass judgment on your work or your conduct.

How do you file a complaint with the Comité paritaire?

Do you think you are paid below the Decree's rate, or are not getting your overtime or your vacation indemnity? The process is simple:

• fill out the Comité paritaire's online complaint form
• you receive a confirmation letter in the days that follow
• an inspector reviews the file and contacts you.

Complaints are confidential (section 24 of the Act respecting collective agreement decrees) and the Act provides penalties against an employer who takes reprisals. You can also call the committee at 514-493-9105 or 1-800-361-5442. Keep your pay stubs and write down your hours: they are your best evidence.

For the full picture of pay in the trade, see our page on security guard salary and the Decree. Just starting out? Read how to become a security guard in Quebec.

Frequently asked questions

Which law governs security guards in Quebec?

In Quebec, two texts govern security guards. The Private Security Act regulates the occupation: it establishes the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), which issues the agent licence. The Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, chapter D-2, r. 1), which stems from the Act respecting collective agreement decrees, sets the minimum working conditions of security agency guards.

Does the Decree apply if I am not unionized?

Yes. It applies to all employees of security agencies in Quebec, unionized or not.

Can my employer pay me less than $20.60 an hour?

No, not a Class A guard since June 28, 2026. The rate will rise to $21.10 on July 4, 2027.

Am I entitled to time and a half after 8 hours in a day?

Not automatically: the calculation is based on the 40-hour week. Only mandatory hours added to a shift for more than 4 hours are treated as overtime.

Is an in-house security guard covered?

No. If you do security work only for your own employer (and not for an agency), the Decree does not apply. The general labour standards apply instead.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01, 2.01 to 2.03, 3.01 to 3.12, 4.07, 5.01 to 5.13, 6.01 to 6.06, 8.02 and 9.01 (up to date as of June 1, 2026)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: qui sommes-nous
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: salariés et plaintes

An outdoor festival, a show in an arena, a game on a Saturday night: every large gathering needs people at the entrance and in the crowd. Working as an event security guard attracts many students and people looking for shifts outside office hours. Before accepting a contract, though, you need to know what the law requires, which licence to hold and which pay rules apply. Here are the essentials, checked in the official texts.

What does a security guard do at an event?

The tasks vary with the site and the client, but the same main blocks almost always come up:

• Access control: checking tickets, wristbands or accreditations, guarding restricted areas (stage, backstage, dressing rooms, technical area) and directing people to the right gate.
• Bag checks: looking at the contents of bags at the entrance to spot items prohibited by the organizer.
• Crowd management: watching the density in front of the stage, keeping aisles and exits clear, spotting a crush before it gets out of hand.
• Prohibited items: applying the organizer's list (glass containers, alcohol brought in, dangerous objects, etc.) and calmly explaining the refusal.
• Intoxicated people or people in distress: spotting someone who is not doing well, directing them to first aid and calling emergency services if needed.
• Evacuation: knowing the exits, following the site's emergency plan and guiding the public if the event has to be interrupted (thunderstorm, alert, fire).

Within the meaning of the Decree respecting security guards, all these tasks fall under "security work": watching or protecting persons, property or premises, searching, directing traffic, preventing theft, fire and vandalism (section 1.01, paragraph 20).

Bag searches: only with consent

A security guard has no general power to search. At the entrance to an event, bag checks rest on consent: it is a condition of entry set by the organizer. The person can refuse. The guard can then refuse them access, but cannot search by force. We explain the limits of your powers (arrest, search, force) in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a security guard.

Do you need a BSP licence, even for a one-night contract?

Yes. The Private Security Act covers "security guarding", meaning watching or protecting persons, property or premises, mainly to prevent crime and maintain order (section 1). Any person who carries on that activity must hold an agent licence of the right class (section 16). The Act provides no exception for a short contract: a single night of paid security work requires a licence, issued by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator.

Only people who carry on these activities as volunteers are excluded from the Act (section 2, paragraph 8). A volunteer who helps greet people at a festival is therefore not covered. A paid guard is.

To get the regular licence, you must, among other things, be at least 18, have taken the training required by regulation, be of good moral character and have no criminal record related to the activity, unless pardoned (section 19). The regular licence is valid for five years (section 21). All the steps are detailed on our page how to get the BSP security guard licence.

The temporary licence for a special event

The Act also allows the BSP to issue a temporary licence for a maximum term of 120 days (section 22). The BSP specifies that it can be used, among other things, to supply temporary labour during a special event, such as sports or cultural activities. This licence comes with obligations: remaining under the responsibility of the employer for which it was issued, working under the supervision of a regular licence holder of the same class, and not using it for other purposes. The employer organizes this type of application. A guard who wants to make a career of it is better off getting the regular licence.

Does a bar doorman do private security within the meaning of the Act?

Watching the entrance of a bar and maintaining order there matches the definition of security guarding. Everything then depends on who employs you:

• Doorman supplied by a security agency: the doorman carries on a private security activity and must hold a security guarding agent licence, like any other guard (section 16).
• Doorman hired directly by the bar: the Act provides a special rule. When a person works exclusively for an employer whose business is not to offer security, the person must hold a licence only if security is their main activity (section 16, second paragraph).

The BSP illustrates this rule with a store that employs its own loss prevention officers: the store does not need an agency licence, but its officers must have a licence because their main task is security. By analogy, a doorman whose work consists mostly of watching the entrance and maintaining order should hold a licence, even if the bar pays them. A server who occasionally checks ID at the door is in a different situation. If in doubt, ask the BSP directly.

For a doorman hired directly by a bar, the security guards' Decree does not apply: it excludes employees who do security work exclusively for the needs of their own employer (section 2.03, paragraph 5). The general labour standards then apply.

Which rules of the Decree apply to event work?

If you work for a security agency, the Decree respecting security guards applies everywhere in Quebec (sections 2.01 and 2.02). Our guide to the security guards' Decree explained presents all the rules. Here are the ones that matter most for event work.

Most event guards are on call: the agency offers you shifts according to its clients' calendar. The 4-hour rule then applies: if you are called in for a game and sent home after two hours, you are entitled to 4 paid hours. Write down your arrival and departure times at every shift.

The Decree also provides premiums, including the P-4 premium for first aid training. The amounts are detailed in our article on the Decree's premiums.

What are the schedules like in event security?

Events take place when the public is free: evenings, nights, weekends and statutory holidays. Summer concentrates a large share of the outdoor festivals, while sports and indoor shows are spread over the whole year. A few realities to expect:

• Irregular shifts: setup before opening, late closing, crowd exit after the last show.
• Outdoor work: heat, rain, long hours on your feet. Stay hydrated and plan for suitable clothing.
• Reports: every incident (injury, removal, item seized) is documented. Our incident report template will help you write a clear report.

What training is useful for festival and event security?

The basic training required for the licence remains the way in. Beyond that, the most useful training in event work is first aid: people feeling unwell, heat, intoxication and minor injuries are part of daily life on a large site. The Decree recognizes first aid, CPR and AED training of at least 16 hours, given by an organization recognized by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) and taken within the last 3 years, for the P-4 premium (section 1.01).

How do you find event security contracts?

To work legally at a festival or an arena, you generally have to go through an agency that holds a security guarding agency licence: the Act requires every business that offers private security to hold one (section 4). A few leads:

• check that an agency holds a valid licence in the BSP's public register before you sign
• say clearly that you are available for on-call shifts, in the evening and on weekends
• highlight your licence, your first aid and your customer service experience in your security guard resume
• see our tips for finding a security guard job in Quebec.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work a single night as a security guard without a licence?

No, if you are paid. The Act requires an agent licence for any person who does security guarding, with no exception for short contracts. Only volunteers are excluded.

Can a guard search my bag at the entrance to a festival?

Only with your consent. If you refuse, the guard can refuse you entry, but cannot search your bag by force.

Does a bar doorman need a BSP licence?

Yes if the doorman is supplied by an agency. If hired directly by the bar, the doorman needs one when security is their main activity, which is generally the case for a doorman.

If my shift is cancelled when I arrive, am I paid?

If you work for an agency subject to the Decree and you reported at its request, you are entitled to an indemnity of 4 hours of wages (section 3.07).

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act, sections 1, 2, 4, 16, 19, 21 and 22
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01, 2.01 to 2.03 and 3.07
• Bureau de la sécurité privée: obtenir un permis temporaire d'agent
• Bureau de la sécurité privée: foire aux questions
• Justice Canada: Code criminel, section 494

You are registered for your security guarding course and an agency is ready to put you to work right away? That is what the BSP temporary licence is for: it lets a future security guard work during training, under supervision, while waiting for the regular licence. You still need to understand its limits. Here is how this temporary security guard licence works, how much it costs and how to move on to the real licence afterwards.

For the general conditions, the categories and the renewal every 5 years, see our complete guide to the BSP security guard licence. This article covers only the temporary licence tied to training.

What is the BSP temporary agent licence?

The Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, can issue a temporary agent licence in three situations: to take training (internship or work-study program), for the particular needs of an investigation (undercover agent or double agent) and to fill a labour need during a special event (cultural or sports activity, labour dispute, disaster, pandemic).

The case that matters to most new guards is the first one: working in security guarding while taking the required training. According to the BSP form, the term of a temporary licence cannot exceed 120 days.

This licence is not a regular licence "in the meantime". The BSP describes it as a licence issued for a specific and single mandate: you cannot change employers or jobs with it.

Internship or work-study program: what is the difference?

The form distinguishes two formulas tied to training:

• The internship (security guarding, locksmith work, investigation): you do an internship with an employer as part of your training. The employer undertakes to use your services only for that internship.
• The work-study program (ATE) (security guarding and locksmith work only): you work under supervision alongside your theory classes. The training must begin no later than 30 days after the licence is issued.

In security guarding, the ATE has a strict rule: the application can be made only once, and the licence is neither renewed nor reissued. The BSP considers that 120 days are enough to finish the 70 hours of training already started. To choose your course, see security guard training in detail or, if you are in the Montreal area, how to choose your security guard training in Montreal.

What are the conditions to get it?

The basic conditions are similar to those of the regular licence:

• be at least 18, with one exception: the BSP accepts a younger applicant only when the licence is requested for an internship as part of a training program
• be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or the holder of a right to work in Canada
• never have been found guilty of a criminal offence related to the activity concerned (unless pardoned) and be of good moral character. The BSP has your information checked by the Sûreté du Québec
• be in a physical and mental state compatible with the work. A medical certificate may be requested.

Who makes the application: you or the agency?

You do. Form 194.005 must be filled out and signed by the licence applicant. The agency still plays a mandatory role: it must fill out and sign an employer's declaration (Appendix 1 for an internship, Appendix 2 for the ATE) that you attach to your application. Give it to the agency before you start.

In this declaration, the employer undertakes that you will work under the active and continuous supervision of an agent who holds a regular licence of the same category, and to notify the BSP without delay if it stops using your services. For your part, you must remain under the responsibility of that employer at all times.

What documents do you have to provide?

1. Form 194.005, complete, dated and signed (or the interactive online form).
2. Proof of registration in a training program that leads to the regular licence. For the ATE, proof of registration and of payment that shows the start date.
3. The employer's declaration (Appendix 1 or 2). For the ATE in security guarding, also Appendix 2.1, a supplement signed by you.
4. A copy of both sides of two different pieces of identification: one for identity (the driver's licence first) and one for status in Canada.
5. Two identical passport-size colour photos (5 cm x 7 cm), taken within the last 6 months, one of them signed by a guarantor who has known you for at least 1 year (otherwise a commissioner for oaths, a notary or a lawyer).
6. Payment of the fees.

The BSP recommends applying online, which it presents as the fastest way. You need an email address and a payment card. Otherwise, the application is made by mail to 1611, boulevard Crémazie Est, bureau 500, in Montreal. The BSP does not publish a precise processing time, but it warns that an incomplete form leads to significant delays, or even to the application being returned.

How much does the temporary licence cost?

According to the form's payment sheet (rates in effect since January 1, 2026), you pay the fee for the category and the verification of conditions. These fees are never refundable, even if the application is refused.

The other fees (annual fees, renewal of the regular licence) are explained in our article on BSP licence fees and renewal.

What happens at the end of the 120 days?

The licence expires. If you have not obtained your regular licence, you must stop working: the BSP's FAQ points out that only the holder of a valid licence can practise, and an application being processed is not enough.

Some temporary licences can be renewed, provided the application is sent before the expiry and for the same reason. For the ATE in security guarding, that is not possible: you must have finished your training within the 120 days.

How do you move on to the regular licence?

Once the training is passed, the holder of a temporary training licence (internship or ATE) fills out form 194.008 – Conversion de permis – formation. The BSP must receive the application while the temporary licence is valid for you to get the conversion rate ($31.25 + taxes). The BSP does not specify the rate that applies after the expiry: if in doubt, call it at 514 748-7480.

What are the common mistakes?

• Starting to work before having the licence in hand. An application being processed gives no right to practise.
• Working alone. The licence requires the active and continuous supervision of an agent with a regular licence of the same category.
• Changing agencies or taking other contracts. The licence is tied to the employer and to the reason given in the application.
• Starting the training too late. For the ATE, it must begin within 30 days. Otherwise the BSP can revoke the licence.
• Sending the conversion too late. It must be received before the temporary licence expires.
• Forgetting an appendix or a signed photo. An incomplete application can be found inadmissible.

What are the Accès Agent portal and the public register for?

The BSP website gives access to the Accès Agent portal (accesagent.bspquebec.ca), the online space reserved for agents, separate from the Accès Agence portal intended for businesses.

The Register of licence holders, on the other hand, is public. You search it for an agent by licence number (with the spaces, for example "GAR 99999999") or by last name and first name, with the exact spelling. The status must be "valid": a suspended, revoked or expired licence means the person is not allowed to work. Check your own record there before your first shift, and know that your employer or a client can do it too.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a temporary licence?

In Quebec, you apply to the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP) for the temporary agent licence with form 194.005, filled out and signed by the applicant. You must attach proof of registration in the training, the employer's declaration, two pieces of identification, two photos and payment of the fees, $188.50 in security guarding in 2026. The BSP recommends applying online, which it presents as the fastest way. The licence lasts 120 days at most.

Is the temporary licence valid for more than 120 days?

No. The period requested cannot exceed 120 days. Some licences can be renewed before they expire, but not the ATE licence in security guarding.

Can I get a temporary licence if I am under 18?

Only for an internship as part of a training program that leads to the regular licence. In the other cases, you must be 18.

Is it the agency that pays and files the application?

The form is filled out and signed by the applicant. The agency provides its employer's declaration. The BSP does not specify who must pay: that is to be agreed with the employer.

How much does it cost to move on to the regular licence?

For a temporary training licence, $31.25 plus taxes, if the conversion application is received before the temporary licence expires.

Starting from scratch? First read how to become a security guard in Quebec.

Sources

• BSP: obtenir un permis temporaire d'agent
• BSP: formulaire 194.005, demande de permis temporaire d'agent (version 2026-08)
• BSP: faire une demande en ligne
• BSP: foire aux questions
• BSP: droits payables pour un agent
• BSP: consulter le Registre des titulaires de permis

Are you looking for security guard training in Laval, in Longueuil or elsewhere in the suburbs around Montreal? The public offer there is thinner than you might think: at the time of writing, the official vocational training directory lists no group in Laval, in the Laurentides or in Lanaudière, and only two school service centres in Montérégie. Here is what really exists, how to check it yourself and what to do next.

The content of the courses (modules, hours, additional training) is detailed on our page security guard training explained. Here, we focus on the regions around Montreal.

What training does the BSP require to work in security guarding?

Wherever you live, the rule of the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, does not change: you need at least 70 hours of training, divided into three modules:

• environment, function, legislation and standards of conduct (30 hours)
• emergency procedures (24 hours)
• workplace first aid recognized by the CNESST, Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board (16 hours).

The BSP specifies that this training is taken in a school service centre that offers the security guarding program, or in another training course that is recognized and appears on its list.

The public network also offers a more complete path: the Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage", program 4239, of 390 hours. The Inforoute FPT estimates it at about three months. The English version, Private Security Guarding (program 4739), also has 390 hours.

Where can you take security guard training in Longueuil and on the South Shore?

For anyone looking for security guard training in Longueuil or on the South Shore, the Inforoute FPT lists two school service centres in Montérégie for AEP 4239:

• CSS Marie-Victorin (Longueuil territory): its vocational training centre appears there with a group in recognition of acquired competencies (RAC), daytime, with continuous intake. The RAC is mainly for people who already have security experience and want their skills recognized, rather than for beginners.
• CSS des Hautes-Rivières (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu region): its vocational training centre lists an evening group there. The start date shown had passed when we checked. Ask the centre when the next group starts.

We found no group listed for the CSS des Patriotes or other South Shore centres. Sessions open according to demand.

What about Laval, the Laurentides and Lanaudière?

For security guard training in Laval, when we checked, the Inforoute FPT listed no AEP 4239 group at the CSS de Laval, nor in the school service centres of the Laurentides (Mille-Îles, Rivière-du-Nord) or Lanaudière (Affluents, Samares). For the 70-hour training, however, the site agentdesecurite.ca, to which the BSP refers, names the Centre de services scolaire de Laval and the CSS des Affluents. The dates shown when we checked on October 7, 2026 had passed: call the centre to find out when the next group starts. The realistic options:

• travel to Montreal, where two centres offer the AEP (see our article on security guard training in Montreal)
• keep an eye on the Inforoute FPT, which lists new groups with the schedule and the start date
• choose another training course recognized by the BSP, checking the exact name of the institution in the official list "Autres formations en gardiennage acceptées par le BSP". A training course counts there only if it was taken after the date of its recognition.

Which centres offer AEP 4239 around Montreal?

This table reflects the Inforoute FPT at the beginning of October 2026. Groups change often: always check the page for program 4239 before you decide.

How much does the training cost, and can it be paid for?

We found no published price on the official pages of the region's centres. Ask the centre directly, specifying whether materials, first aid and registration fees are included.

If you are unemployed, Services Québec can fund your training through the Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre (the workforce training measure). According to Québec.ca:

• you must be 16 or older, have left full-time school at least 24 months ago, and the lack of training must be a major obstacle to employment
• the assistance can reach $400 a week for qualifying training such as an AEP
• certain costs can be reimbursed: child care, transportation, training costs, accommodation.

Apply to Services Québec before you register. Do you live in Laval or Lanaudière and take the course in Montreal? Transportation costs are part of what can be reimbursed.

What should you do once the training is over?

1. Keep your attestation: it is the proof of training the BSP will ask you for.
2. Apply for your agent licence. All the steps, documents and timelines are on our page how to get the BSP licence.
3. Prepare your application with our security guard resume template.
4. Look for a position: shopping centres, warehouses, construction sites and health institutions hire in the suburbs. Our tips: finding a security guard job.

Frequently asked questions

Is the RAC at the CSS Marie-Victorin suitable for a beginner?

In general, no. Recognition of acquired competencies is meant to validate skills already gained at work. Without experience, aim for a regular training group, in Montreal or elsewhere.

Can I take the course in a region other than my own?

Yes. Nothing requires you to study in your own school service centre. Many Laval and North Shore residents take their course in Montreal.

Are the 70 hours enough for the licence?

Yes, if the three modules required by the BSP are passed. The 390-hour AEP goes further, but is not mandatory to get the licence.

Sources

• BSP: formations requises
• BSP: autres formations en gardiennage acceptées
• Inforoute FPT: AEP Sécurité privée – Gardiennage (4239), institutions
• Inforoute FPT: AEP Private Security Guarding (4739)
• Québec.ca: Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre

Are you looking for security guard training in Quebec City or in Lévis? In the Capitale-Nationale region, the public offer is more concentrated than in Montreal: only one school service centre currently lists the official program on the Inforoute de la formation professionnelle. Here is what you will find there, what it costs, how to get it funded and what to do once the course is over.

The detailed content of the training (the modules, the additional training courses and the Decree's premiums) is explained on our page all about security guard training in Quebec. Here, we stick to what is specific to the Quebec City and Lévis region.

What training does the BSP require to work as a security guard?

Whether you live in Charlesbourg, Sainte-Foy or Lévis, the rule does not change. For an agent licence in security guarding, the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, asks for at least 70 hours of classes, taken in a school service centre that offers the private security guarding program. These 70 hours are divided into three blocks:

• environment, function, legislation and standards of conduct: 30 hours
• emergency procedures: 24 hours
• workplace first aid recognized by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board): 16 hours.

The BSP also accepts certain other security guarding training, provided it has been recognized by the Minister and taken after the date of that recognition. Before paying a school, check its exact name in the BSP's official list.

There is a more complete version: the Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage", program 4239. It has 390 hours, or about three months full time.

Where can you take a security guard course in Quebec City?

According to the Inforoute FPT, consulted on October 2, 2026, the only organization in the Capitale-Nationale that offers AEP 4239 is the Centre de services scolaire des Découvreurs, through its Service aux entreprises des Découvreurs. Three groups are listed there:

The RAC group is for people who already have security experience: instead of redoing the whole course, you get what you already know recognized and take only what is missing.

And what about the other school service centres in the region, such as the CSS de la Capitale or the CSS des Premières-Seigneuries? On the date of our check, neither the Inforoute FPT nor the list of centres published on the information site about the security guarding program, to which the BSP refers, named them for this program. A course may still open during the year, however: redo the search for program 4239 before you decide.

Can you take the training in Lévis?

Not for now, at least in the public network. The Inforoute FPT listed no AEP 4239 group in Chaudière-Appalaches, and the CSS des Navigateurs (Lévis) does not appear either in the list of centres that offer the 70-hour training. For someone from Lévis, the closest public option therefore remains the CSS des Découvreurs, on the other side of the river.

This picture changes: a cohort can be added if the demand is there. A call to the business services of the CSS des Navigateurs will tell you whether it is planning a group.

How much does the training cost and how long does it last?

For the October 2026 group at the CSS des Découvreurs, the Inforoute FPT gives a cost of $105 taxes included, materials included. This amount holds for that specific group: for the other cohorts or for the RAC, the cost varies with the centre and the session. Always ask what is included (first aid, manuals, uniform) and whether there are separate registration fees.

As for length, count 70 hours for the minimum training required by the BSP and 390 hours for the AEP. At 30 hours a week, the October group runs over a little more than three months.

Add to your budget the BSP licence fees, which are indexed every year.

Can Services Québec pay for my training?

Yes, if you are eligible for the Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre (the workforce training measure). According to Québec.ca, it can:

• pay an allowance of $400 a week during qualifying training such as an AEP
• reimburse certain costs: training, transportation, child care, and accommodation if you have to travel to take the training.

Among other things, you must be at least 16, have stopped full-time studies at least 24 months ago and show that the lack of training is keeping you from finding a job. The application is made online or at the Services Québec office in your area, in Quebec City as in Lévis, and preferably before you register. For someone from Lévis, transportation to Quebec City is one of the costs you can ask to have reimbursed.

What should you do once the training is over?

1. Keep your attestation. It is the proof of training the BSP requires.
2. Apply for your licence. All the steps, documents and timelines are explained in our guide on how to get your BSP licence. Since the October group is offered as a work-study program, a temporary licence can sometimes let you work during the course.
3. Prepare your application. Use our security guard resume template as inspiration.
4. Apply for jobs. Hospitals, government buildings, campuses, shopping centres, construction sites and events: the region offers several settings. Our tips for finding a security guard job apply here too.

You can also train elsewhere. If no date suits you in Quebec City, compare with the offer described in our article on security guard training in Montreal, where several centres offer the program.

Frequently asked questions

What are the admission requirements for AEP 4239?

According to the Inforoute FPT, you must have at least the credits of the 3^rd year of secondary school (or the equivalent) in language of instruction, second language and mathematics, and meet one other condition: be 18 or older, have interrupted full-time studies at least 12 months ago, or already hold a secondary school or vocational diploma.

Is the course full? What can you do?

The October 2026 group was listed as full on October 2. Register early for the February 2027 group, and ask whether there is a waiting list.

I have already worked in security without recognized training. Do I have to redo everything?

Not necessarily. The recognition of acquired competencies process (RAC-SECUR) at the CSS des Découvreurs, with continuous intake, is meant to have the experience you have gained validated.

Sources

• BSP: formations requises
• BSP: autres formations en gardiennage acceptées
• Inforoute FPT: AEP Sécurité privée – Gardiennage (4239)
• Inforoute FPT: groups offered for AEP 4239
• Inforoute FPT: October 2026 group, CSS des Découvreurs
• Inforoute FPT: RAC-SECUR, CSS des Découvreurs
• Agentdesecurite.ca: centres offering the 70-hour training (site cited by the BSP)
• Québec.ca: Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre

A hospital security guard does not do the same job as a guard who watches a warehouse at night. In the emergency room, in the corridors or at the main entrance, the guard works alongside patients, worried families and care staff under pressure. It is a demanding setting, but also one of the few where the Decree provides a significant premium. Here is what a guard does in a health care setting, what training is asked for, how much the premium is worth and how to find a security job in a hospital.

What does a security guard do in a hospital?

The tasks vary from one institution to another, but the same main blocks almost always come up:

• Presence in the emergency room: this is often the most demanding post. The guard provides a visible presence, calms tensions in the waiting room and supports the staff when a situation gets out of hand.
• Interventions with an aggressive person: in many institutions, this is called a "Code White". The security team goes to the scene to help the care staff defuse the situation and, as a last resort, restrain the person safely.
• Access control: checking entrances, managing access cards, watching closed areas (pharmacy, operating rooms, secure units) and enforcing visiting hours.
• Escorts: walking a staff member to their car in the evening, escorting a patient or a visitor, accompanying transfers.
• Patient watch: staying with a patient at risk of running away or of aggressive behaviour, at the request of the care team.
• Rounds and alarms: patrols, response to fire and intrusion alarms, cameras, lost and found.

A patient who is detained or in police custody remains the responsibility of the police officers or correctional officers who accompany them. A private security guard is not a peace officer. The guard's powers are those of any citizen. We explain them in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a security guard.

Each intervention generally ends with a written report. If you are not comfortable with the exercise, our security guard incident report template will help you.

What training do you need to work in hospital security?

The basics are the same as everywhere else: you must hold a security guard licence issued by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, which means having passed the mandatory training. The whole path is explained on our security guard training page, and the licence steps on the BSP licence page.

In a health care setting, two additional training courses make a real difference, in the field and on the pay:

Crisis management training

The Decree specifically refers to crisis management training of at least 16 hours, given by a trainer recognized by the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), with an attestation issued at the end. It must have been taken within the last 2 years. It opens the door to the P-3 premium (see below).

And what about Oméga training, often mentioned in the health network? The Decree did recognize it, but only through a transitional provision: until August 2, 2025, the P-3 premium could also be paid to a guard who had taken the "OMEGA" or "ITCA" training between August 1, 2021 and August 2, 2023, in the institutions covered by that provision. That period is over. Today, the text of the Decree mentions only training recognized by the CPI. If an employer offers you another training course, ask in writing whether it gives entitlement to the premium.

First aid

First aid, CPR and AED training of at least 16 hours, given by an organization recognized by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) and taken within the last 3 years, gives entitlement to the P-4 premium. In a hospital, medical staff are on site, but the guard is often the first to arrive in a parking lot or an entrance.

What is the salary of a security guard in a hospital?

An agency guard is paid at least according to the Decree respecting security guards. For the current period, the minimum rate of a Class A employee is $20.60 an hour (details in our article on the minimum rate for security guards in 2026). The premiums are added to this rate, and they can be combined.

A Class A guard whose two training courses are up to date therefore earns at least $23.20 an hour ($20.60 + $2.00 + $0.60), before the other premiums, such as the night premium. The P-3 premium is not reserved for hospitals: the Decree also provides that it is paid to a guard in another sector when a client requires this training.

The trap is expiry. Crisis management training that is more than 2 years old no longer gives entitlement to the premium. Write down the date of your attestation and plan the renewal. All the premiums are presented in the Decree premiums that many guards do not claim and on our security guard salary page.

The amounts above are minimums. An employer can pay more.

Agency guard or hospital employee: what is the difference?

In a health institution, you can come across two types of guards:

• The agency guard: an employee of a security agency that has a contract with the institution. This is the guard the Decree covers, since it applies to security agencies and their employees. Minimum rate, premiums, overtime: everything can be checked in the Decree.
• The institution's employee: some CISSS and CIUSSS also hire their own security staff. Their conditions then depend on the institution and the applicable collective agreement, not on the Decree. Pay scales and premiums can therefore be different.

Before accepting a position, ask clearly who your employer will be. That is what determines which rules apply to your pay.

Is it dangerous to be a hospital security guard?

The main risk is aggression: patients in crisis, intoxicated people, visitors at the end of their rope. Most situations are resolved by talking, and that is precisely what crisis management training teaches. But injuries do happen.

The Act respecting occupational health and safety requires the employer to take measures to protect a worker exposed to a situation of physical or psychological violence in the workplace. It also recognizes the worker's right to refuse work if the worker has reasonable grounds to believe that the work exposes them to a danger to their health, safety or physical or mental well-being. That right has limits, however, in particular when the danger is normal in the kind of work performed: if in doubt, ask the CNESST.

If you are injured during an intervention, report it to your supervisor right away and record it in a report. That is what then makes a claim to the CNESST possible.

How do you find a security job in a hospital?

1. Get your BSP licence: no employer can assign you without a valid licence.
2. Take the crisis management training recognized by the CPI: it is often required for health care settings and gives entitlement to the P-3 premium.
3. Update your first aid: it is an asset and one more premium.
4. Aim for both ways in: the agencies that have contracts in the health network, and the job postings published directly by the CISSS and CIUSSS.
5. Adapt your resume: highlight customer service, conflict management and up-to-date training, with the dates. Our security guard resume template can serve as a starting point.

Current postings are gathered on our security guard jobs page.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Code White in a hospital?

In many institutions, Code White is the call made when a person becomes aggressive or violent. The response team, which often includes the security guards, goes to the scene to support the staff. Codes and procedures can vary from one institution to another.

Does Oméga training give entitlement to the P-3 premium?

Not anymore, according to the text of the Decree. It was recognized by a transitional provision that ended on August 2, 2025. The Decree now refers to training recognized by the Crisis Prevention Institute, of at least 16 hours, taken within the last 2 years.

Do you need special training to be a hospital security guard?

The BSP licence is legally enough to work as a guard. Crisis management training is not a condition of the licence, but it is often asked for by employers in health care settings and it gives entitlement to $2.00 more an hour.

Can you become a hospital security guard without a diploma?

Yes. The BSP licence does not require a high school diploma: you must be 18, take the recognized training of at least 70 hours and meet the good moral character requirements. Only the 390-hour AEP, offered by school service centres, asks for credits from the 3^rd year of secondary school (or passing the general development test). See how to become a security guard.

What is the night premium for a security guard?

The Decree provides $1.00 more an hour for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (P-11 premium). It is added to the P-3 and P-4 premiums: a Class A guard whose two training courses are up to date and who works nights therefore earns at least $24.20 an hour.

What will a security guard's salary be in 2027?

The Class A minimum rate rises to $21.10 an hour on July 4, 2027, according to the Decree. The premiums stay the same.

Can a security guard hold back a patient who wants to leave?

No, not on the guard's own authority. The guard is not a peace officer. Decisions that affect a patient's freedom are up to the care team and the applicable legal framework. The guard acts in support, following the institution's instructions.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards, section 1.01 (P-3 and P-4 premiums), rates and premiums, and 2023 transitional provisions, section 4 (LégisQuébec)
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail, sections 12, 13 and 51 (LégisQuébec)

Watching a warehouse at 3 a.m., doing rounds in an empty parking lot, staffing a factory gatehouse while everyone else sleeps: the shift of a night security guard is a job of its own. It comes with a premium set out in the Decree, precise rules on meals and overtime, and health and safety risks that are better known in advance. Here is what the official texts say.

What is the night premium for a security guard?

The Decree respecting security guards defines the P-11 premium as a benefit paid for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. (section 1.01). Its amount is set in section 4.07: $1.00 an hour, and that amount does not change from one year to the next in the table in force until 2027.

Three useful details:

• The premium applies to the hours worked in that window, not to the whole shift. A shift from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. therefore gives 4 hours of premium (from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.).
• It adds up with the other premiums: the Decree specifies that more than one premium can apply at the same time (first aid, customer service, health institution, etc.).
• The Decree provides no separate evening premium: before 10 p.m., there is no night premium.

For the full list, see our article on the premiums in the security guards' Decree.

How much does a night security guard earn?

The base wage is the same as on days. Only the premium changes. Since June 28, 2026, the Decree's minimum rate is $20.60 an hour for a Class A employee and $20.85 for Class B (section 4.07).

These are minimums: the employer can pay more. As of July 4, 2027, the rates rise to $21.10 (Class A) and $21.35 (Class B), and the night premium stays at $1.00. The rates are explained in detail on our page about security guard salary and the Decree.

Overtime at night

The regular workweek is 40 hours (section 3.01). Hours worked beyond that are overtime, as are hours added to a shift when they are mandatory for more than 4 hours (section 3.03). They are paid with a 50% increase (section 3.04).

The 50% increase is calculated on the wage without the hourly premiums, except the P-4 (first aid) and P-12 (customer service) premiums. The P-11 night premium is therefore not increased: on an overtime hour, it stays at $1.00.

For the weekly calculation, hours count in the day on which they are worked (section 3.01). The Decree also allows, under strict conditions, hours to be spread over a maximum of 4 weeks, with the employees' agreement and a notice to the parity committee at least 60 days before (section 3.01.1).

The meal during a night shift

Section 3.12 gives the right to a paid 30-minute meal period for each work period of 5 hours, whether or not the guard is authorized to leave the post. If the guard cannot leave the post, the guard eats on site, but is not paid an extra half-hour for it. The Decree contains no other rule on breaks.

To go further on the Decree's rules, read the security guards' Decree explained simply.

Is it hard to work nights as a security guard?

For many people, yes, at least at first. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS), night work disrupts the circadian rhythm, the 24-hour internal clock that manages sleep, digestion and body temperature. Daytime sleep is rarely as deep or as restful as night sleep, and constant fatigue is a common complaint.

The CCOHS also mentions digestive problems (heartburn, loss of appetite), effects on the heart and on family and social life. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified night work as "probably carcinogenic" (Group 2A), based on limited evidence in humans. It is not a certainty, but it is a reason to take your health seriously. If a problem lasts, talk to a health professional.

Practical tips from the CCOHS

• Sleep: sleep at regular hours, in a dark, quiet and comfortable room (good blinds, phone on "do not disturb"). Ask your family to respect those hours.
• Meals: eat light during the shift and have a moderate breakfast when you get home, so you are not woken up by hunger or heavy digestion.
• Snacks: drink plenty of water, choose crackers and fruit over soft drinks and candy. Cut down on salt, caffeine and alcohol. Avoid fatty foods at night.
• Medication: avoid excessive use of antacids, tranquilizers and sleeping pills.
• Fitness: stay in good physical shape and take your leisure time seriously.

The CCOHS also points out that the night shift is the one that leads to the most incidents, and that the risk increases with successive nights. Rest well between two shifts.

What must the employer do when the guard works alone at night?

The Act respecting occupational health and safety requires the employer to take the necessary measures to protect the worker's health, safety and physical and mental well-being (section 51). In particular, the employer must make sure the organization of the work is safe, and provide suitable lighting, drinking water, sanitary facilities and safe equipment in good condition. For their part, workers must take the necessary measures to protect their health and safety and take part in eliminating risks (section 49).

The Act contains no detailed rule specific to working alone. The CCOHS, which expressly names security guards among the people who work alone, recommends:

• a check-in procedure: a contact person (and a backup), calls or messages at set times, and a plan if the guard does not answer
• a charged phone within reach, or another means (radio, alert device, GPS) where cell coverage is doubtful
• an assessment of the site's risks and training for the guard and for the person who must respond.

How do you travel safely at night?

Rounds and trips between two sites are part of the shift. The CCOHS recommends that someone in the organization know the destination and the route, the expected arrival time, the return time, the means of transportation and a backup plan (bad weather, traffic). After a night shift, fatigue also plays a part on the road: if you are too exhausted to drive, it is better to stop than to risk an accident.

What should you do after an incident during the night?

At night, there are often fewer witnesses and less supervision: the written report becomes the memory of the event. Write down the facts as soon as possible, with the exact time, the place, the people present and what you did. The CCOHS also recommends reporting near misses where being alone made the situation worse. For the steps to follow, use our incident report template for security guards.

The Decree sets minimums. A collective agreement or your contract may provide for better. If you have a doubt about your pay, the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (CPAS) is the body responsible for enforcing the Decree.

Frequently asked questions

What is the salary of a night security guard?

In Quebec, the Decree's minimum rate is $20.60 an hour in Class A and $20.85 in Class B since June 28, 2026, the same as on days. The P-11 night premium adds $1.00 for each hour worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., which gives $21.60 and $21.85. These are minimums: the employer can pay more.

How do you become a night security guard?

In Quebec, the steps to become a security guard are on our page about how to become a security guard. For night work, the Decree provides the P-11 premium of $1.00 an hour for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Does the night premium apply to my whole shift?

No. The $1.00 P-11 premium covers only the hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Hours before 10 p.m. or after 6 a.m. are paid at the regular rate.

Is my night premium increased on overtime hours?

No. The 50% increase excludes the hourly premiums, except P-4 and P-12. The night premium stays at $1.00 an hour.

Am I entitled to a paid meal break at night?

Yes: 30 paid minutes per 5-hour work period, even if you cannot leave your post (section 3.12).

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01, 3.01, 3.01.1, 3.03, 3.04, 3.12 and 4.07 (LégisQuébec)
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail, sections 49 and 51 (LégisQuébec)
• Travail en rotation (CCOHS)
• Travail en isolement – Généralités (CCOHS)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité

You know you have to take security guard training to get your licence, but you are wondering what actually happens in class? This article describes the course content, how your learning is checked, the attestation handed out at the end and the admission requirements. The goal: to arrive at the first class knowing what to expect.

To find out where to take the training and which private schools are recognized, see our page security guard training explained. If you want to work during your courses, read our article on the BSP temporary licence during training.

What is security guard training like?

There are two formats in the public network, and both lead to the security guarding licence: the basic training of at least 70 hours, required by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, and the Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage", a 390-hour program. They do not unfold the same way.

The 70-hour training: three blocks

According to the BSP, the security guarding program of at least 70 hours is divided into three mandatory parts:

The description in the third column is drawn from the official titles. The detailed course outline varies from one institution to another. Ask for it before you register.

The 16 hours of first aid

The BSP specifies that the last block must be given by an organization recognized by the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST), Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board. The BSP also refers to the list of organizations recognized by the CNESST to find a course. If your institution does not include this part in its price, you may have to take it elsewhere. Check this when you register.

The 390-hour AEP: fifteen competencies

The AEP "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage" (program 4239) is much more detailed. According to the Inforoute de la formation professionnelle, it has fifteen competencies:

It includes the themes of the 70 hours (laws, emergencies, first aid), but also surveillance, access control, traffic, prevention, managing your own stress and safety, job searching and a 45-hour workplace integration competency.

What tests do you take to become a security guard?

Two things must be distinguished: the tests to get into a program, and the evaluations during the training.

Before: the AEP admission requirements

For AEP 4239, the Inforoute indicates that the candidate must meet two conditions:

1. A schooling condition, one of the following: having at least the credits of the 3^rd year of secondary school (or the equivalent) in language of instruction, second language and mathematics. Or holding an attestation of equivalence of level of schooling (AENS). Or passing the General Development Test (TDG).
2. A situation condition, one of the following: having interrupted full-time studies for at least twelve months. Or being 18 years old when starting the training. Or holding a Secondary School Diploma (DES) or a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP).

The TDG is therefore not mandatory for everyone. It is for those who do not have the required credits of the 3^rd year of secondary school. For the 70-hour training, the sources consulted do not mention an admission test. Check with the institution.

During: the evaluations

The official sources consulted do not describe in detail the form of the exams (written, practical, role play). The training ends with a certification: the BSP indicates that an attestation is issued after passing the 70-hour program, and the AEP leads to an Attestation of Vocational Studies. You therefore have to pass the program, not just attend it. Ask your institution how each module or competency is evaluated and what happens if you fail (retake, fees).

The BSP licence also has conditions other than training, such as the background check. They are explained in our guide to the BSP security guard licence.

What attestation do you receive at the end?

After the 70-hour training, the centre hands out a training attestation. It is the proof you will attach to your licence application. After program 4239, you obtain an Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP). In both cases, keep a copy. Keep your first aid card too: first aid has its own period of validity.

What is the best training to become a security guard?

It all depends on your situation. Here are the objective differences between the two public formats.

The short training suits anyone who wants their licence quickly. The AEP takes more time, but covers more of the job's tasks. We do not recommend any school in particular.

How long is the training to become a security guard?

At least 70 hours for the training required by the BSP (30 h + 24 h + 16 h), and 390 hours for the AEP, or about three months according to the Inforoute. The actual schedule (day, evening, part time) depends on each institution.

How do you pass your training?

• Ask for the course outline and how each part is evaluated as soon as you register.
• Review the laws: legislation is at the heart of the first module and of the AEP. Reading ahead about a guard's powers, for example citizen's arrest, helps you understand the material.
• Practise writing: a guard writes reports every day. Our incident report template gives an idea of the format expected in the field.
• Do not neglect first aid: it lasts 16 hours in the basic training and must be given by an organization recognized by the CNESST.
• Attend every session: check the institution's rules on absences.

Frequently asked questions

Does security guard training include an exam?

You have to pass the program to obtain the attestation. The official sources consulted do not specify the exact form of the evaluations. Each institution can explain it to you.

Do you have to take the General Development Test?

Only for the AEP, and only if you have neither the required credits of the 3^rd year of secondary school nor an AENS.

Can I take first aid elsewhere?

The BSP requires that the 16 hours of first aid be given by an organization recognized by the CNESST. Check with your centre whether it accepts a card obtained elsewhere.

Is first aid included in the AEP?

The AEP includes a 15-hour competency titled "Apply first aid techniques". Ask the centre whether it leads to a card recognized by the CNESST.

How does security guard training unfold?

In Quebec, the 70-hour training required by the BSP unfolds in three blocks: 30 hours on the industry, the role, legislation and standards of conduct, 24 hours on procedures in emergency situations and 16 hours of first aid. The centre then issues an attestation, to attach to the licence application. The 390-hour AEP has fifteen competencies, detailed in the section "What is security guard training like?".

Who can take security training?

In Quebec, for the 70-hour training, the sources consulted do not mention an admission test: ask the institution. For AEP 4239, the Inforoute requires a schooling condition (credits of the 3^rd year of secondary school, an AENS or the General Development Test) and a situation condition, for example being 18 years old when starting the training. The BSP licence has its own conditions, explained in our guide to the BSP security guard licence.

Sources

• Bureau de la sécurité privée: Formations requises
• Inforoute de la formation professionnelle et technique: AEP 4239 Sécurité privée – Gardiennage

The security guard salary in 2027 is already known, at least for its floor. The Decree respecting security guards provides for a last increase on July 4, 2027. That is also the date when the current Decree reaches its term. Here is what is written in black and white, what it adds up to over a full year and what could happen next.

What is a security guard's pay in 2027?

Under section 4.07 of the Decree, the minimum hourly rate rises, as of July 4, 2027, to:

• $21.10 an hour for a Class A guard (the one who does the security work)
• $21.35 an hour for a Class B guard (the one who directs or supervises other guards).

Until July 3, 2027, the June 28, 2026 rates apply: $20.60 in Class A and $20.85 in Class B. The hourly premiums, for their part, do not move in 2027. The Decree's table repeats the same amounts as the previous year (for example $1.00 an hour for the P-10 premium). The details of the premiums are in our article on the premiums in the security guards' decree.

These rates are minimums. Nothing prevents an agency from paying more, in particular to attract staff in a sector where demand is strong.

How much is that over a year?

For a full-time guard, gross annual pay can be estimated by multiplying the rate by 40 hours (the Decree's regular workweek) and by 52 weeks, or 2,080 hours. This calculation excludes premiums, overtime and the vacation indemnity.

Gross estimate, before taxes and deductions. A guard who works nights, in a health care setting or with up-to-date first aid training will earn more: premiums are added to the base rate.

What will the pay increase be for a security guard in Quebec in 2026 and 2027?

The current Decree set a series of annual increases in advance, the first on August 2, 2023. Putting them end to end shows that the increases were a little larger in 2026 than at the start of the period.

Over the whole period, the Class A rate goes from $19.34 to $21.10, which is $1.76 more an hour, or about 9.1% in four years. The percentages are rounded to one decimal and are our own calculation based on the Decree's rates.

For 2026, the increase took place on June 28, 2026, from $20.09 to $20.60 in Class A. Our article on the security guard minimum rate in 2026 presents the rates currently in effect.

What happens to the Decree after July 4, 2027?

Section 9.01 of the Decree specifies that it remains in force until July 4, 2027. After that, it renews automatically from year to year, unless one of the contracting parties (employer side or union side) opposes it by written notice to the Minister of Labour and to the other parties. This notice must be sent during the month of March 2027, or in March of a following year.

Two scenarios are therefore possible:

• Nobody opposes it: the Decree continues as is. Note that the table in section 4.07 stops at the July 4, 2027 column. Without an amendment, no new increase is scheduled after that date.
• A party opposes it or wants changes: the parties negotiate new conditions, which must then go through the official process for amending the Decree.

To date, no date for new rates after July 2027 is set in the Decree. Any future increase will have to be officially published before coming into force.

How is a collective agreement decree amended?

The Act respecting collective agreement decrees governs the procedure. In short:

• A party to the agreement sends an application to the Minister of Labour, with a copy of the agreement (ss. 3 and 4). For an amendment, these rules also apply (s. 6.1).
• The Minister has a notice of receipt of the application published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, with the draft decree. Any person may make an objection, in principle within 45 days of the publication of the notice in a newspaper (s. 5).
• At the end of that period, the Minister may recommend that the government adopt the amendment, checking in particular that it does not seriously harm employment or the businesses competing with those from outside Quebec (s. 6).
• The decree comes into force on the day of its publication in the Gazette officielle, or on a later date indicated in it (s. 7).

The government can also extend a decree at any time (s. 8). To follow what comes next, the Gazette officielle and the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree) are the two places to watch. To understand the committee's role and the Decree's other rules, see the security guards' decree explained.

What is the minimum wage in Quebec as of May 1, 2026?

According to the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board), the general minimum wage in Quebec is $16.60 an hour, in effect since May 1, 2026. The Decree therefore places security guards well above that floor:

The comparison with 2027 remains partial. The general minimum wage is revised by regulation, and the rate that will apply in 2027 is not yet known. For a full picture of pay, see our security guard salary in Quebec page.

Frequently asked questions

Does my employer have to give me a raise on July 4, 2027 if I already earn more than $21.10?

No. The Decree sets a minimum. If your rate is already above $21.10 (Class A) or $21.35 (Class B), the employer is not required to increase it, unless your contract or a collective agreement provides for it.

Do the premiums also go up in 2027?

No. According to the table in section 4.07, the hourly premiums on July 4, 2027 are identical to those of June 28, 2026. Only the base rates for Class A and Class B change.

Can the Decree disappear after July 2027?

It does not end automatically. It renews from year to year. A party can oppose it in March, and the government can amend or repeal it after consultation and publication of a notice, as the Act provides. No decision of this kind has been published to date.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards, sections 4.07 and 9.01 (LégisQuébec, up to date as of June 1, 2026)
• Act respecting collective agreement decrees, sections 2 to 8 (LégisQuébec)
• Salaire : salaire minimum au Québec (CNESST)
• Règlement sur les normes du travail, section 3 (LégisQuébec, up to date as of June 1, 2026)

Who is the highest-paid security guard in Quebec? In private security guarding, the answer can be read in the Decree respecting security guards. The minimum hourly rate is the same for all guards in the same class, but the premiums, which add up, can raise pay by several dollars an hour. Here are the situations that pay the most under the Decree, examples of combined rates and a few better-paid neighbouring occupations.

What is a security guard's pay in Quebec?

The Decree sets a minimum hourly rate based on the guard's class. Since June 28, 2026, it is $20.60 for Class A and $20.85 for Class B. An increase is already scheduled for July 4, 2027: $21.10 for Class A and $21.35 for Class B.

These are minimums. An agency can pay more. The details of the rates and their schedule are on our security guard salary and Decree page, and the article the security guards' decree explained presents how the rules work in general.

Who are the highest-paid security guards?

Under the Decree, the highest paid are guards who combine three things: a higher class, premiums tied to the work setting and up-to-date training. Under the Decree, more than one premium can apply at a time.

Supervisors (Class B)

A Class B employee is one who directs or supervises one or more guards. This employee receives $0.25 more an hour than Class A. When they direct or supervise Class B employees themselves, they receive another $0.25 an hour more than the Class B rate. The gap remains modest. It is mostly the premiums that make the difference.

The premiums that pay the most

Here are the Decree's hourly premiums, from highest to lowest, with their main condition. The amounts have been the same since 2023 and stay the same until 2027.

The Decree also provides a P-13 premium ($2.00 an hour since June 29, 2025), but it applies only when the government has declared a public health emergency throughout Quebec. It is therefore excluded from the examples below.

For the details of each premium and the trap of expired training, see our article on the premiums in the security guards' decree. The hospital setting, one of the best paying, is described in our article on hospital security guards.

How much can a guard earn by combining premiums?

The following table adds the minimum rate in effect since June 28, 2026 and the premiums that apply to each profile. These are minimums set out in the Decree, not actual observed wages.

In practice, the gap between a day post with no premium and a well-qualified night post is more than $4 an hour. Over a regular 40-hour week, $4.60 in premiums amounts to $184 more.

What is the night premium for a security guard?

The night premium (P-11) is $1.00 an hour. It applies to hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and only to those. On a shift from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., four hours give entitlement to it. It is added to the other premiums. However, the Decree provides no evening or weekend premium.

Is overtime paid at 150%?

Yes, but with a nuance. For calculation purposes, the regular workweek is 40 hours. Beyond that, the wage actually paid is increased by 50%. Hourly premiums are excluded from this increase, except the P-4 (first aid) and P-12 (customer service) premiums, which are included in the calculation.

Example, at the Decree minimum: the hospital night guard in the table above receives, for one hour of overtime, (20.60 + 0.60 + 0.50) × 1.5 = $32.55, plus the P-3 and P-11 premiums without the increase ($3.00), for a total of $35.55 an hour.

Which occupations close to security pay better?

Some neighbouring jobs fall outside the Decree and follow their own pay scales. The best documented is the correctional services officer, who supervises incarcerated persons in detention facilities. According to Québec.ca, the hourly wage for this occupation, calculated as an average from 2023 to 2025, ranges from $27.93 at the minimum to $48.08 at the maximum, with a median of $38.17.

This occupation requires a different path from the BSP security guard licence. For private security, the starting point remains our guide to becoming a security guard in Quebec.

Frequently asked questions

Can an agency pay less than the Decree?

No. The Decree's hourly rate and premiums are minimums. The employer must pay at least these amounts. It can pay more.

Do the premiums really add up?

Yes. The Decree states that more than one premium can be applicable at a time. An armed guard who works at night receives both the P-6 premium ($2.50) and the P-11 premium ($1.00).

Who pays for the training that gives entitlement to a premium?

As a general rule, training required by the employer or the client is at their expense. However, the Decree makes an exception for training that allows the guard to qualify for a premium or to obtain or renew their licence. That training is not necessarily paid for by the employer.

What is the best-paying post under the Decree?

No post is designated as such. The highest premium is the one for the car used as a shelter ($3.00), followed by armed work ($2.50). It is the combinations of premiums, night work and up-to-date training that give the best rates.

Which security job pays the most?

In Quebec, in private security guarding, the highest rate among the profiles calculated in this article is $25.20 an hour at the Decree minimum. Two profiles reach it, with up-to-date first aid and customer service training: the armed night guard and the Class B supervisor who directs Class B employees in a hospital at night. The correctional services officer, a neighbouring job that falls outside the Decree, has a median hourly wage of $38.17 according to Québec.ca, as an average from 2023 to 2025. This occupation requires a different path from the BSP security guard licence.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards (D-2, r. 1), sections 1.01, 3.01, 3.04 and 4.07, up to date as of June 1, 2026 (LégisQuébec)
• Agents et agentes de services correctionnels, hourly wage (Québec.ca)

The Decree rate is your gross pay. What lands in your account is lower: the pension plan, parental insurance, Employment Insurance, both income taxes and the parity committee levy come off first. Here is how to estimate a security guard's net pay in Quebec in 2026, step by step, with the official rates for the year.

What is a security guard's pay in Quebec?

The Decree respecting security guards sets a minimum for all security agencies. Since June 28, 2026, a Class A guard cannot be paid less than $20.60 an hour ($20.85 for Class B). The regular workweek is 40 hours. Beyond that, hours are paid at 150%. The details are on our security guard salary and Decree page.

Gross annual pay at the minimum rate

For a Class A guard working full time all year:

• 40 hours × 52 weeks = 2,080 hours
• 2,080 hours × $20.60 = $42,848 gross a year.

This calculation assumes 52 paid weeks (vacation included), with no overtime or premiums. It is a figure "over 12 months at the current rate". In reality, hours worked in 2026 before June 28 were paid at the previous rate of $20.09, so the actual gross for the 2026 calendar year will be a little lower.

What is a beginner security guard's pay?

The Decree has no beginner step. The $20.60 rate applies from the first hour to every Class A guard. An employer can pay more, never less. Premiums are added as soon as the situation gives entitlement to them (night, health care setting, first aid…), as explained in our guide to the premiums in the security guards' decree.

What deductions are taken off your pay in 2026?

On a salary of about $43,000, six deductions are mandatory. All the rates below come from Revenu Québec, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (CPAS), the parity committee that enforces the Decree.

QPP: 6.30% after the first $3,500

The 6.30% rate combines the base contribution (5.30%) and the first additional contribution (1%). The first $3,500 earned in the year is exempt. The maximum pensionable earnings are $74,600. The second additional contribution (4%, on the portion between $74,600 and $85,000) does not affect a guard at the Decree rate.

QPIP: 0.430%

The employee's QPIP premium went down in 2026. It is 0.430% of pay, up to maximum insurable earnings of $103,000.

Employment Insurance: 1.30%

Because Quebec has its own parental insurance plan, Quebec employees pay a reduced Employment Insurance rate: 1.30% in 2026, on a maximum of $68,900 in insurable earnings.

Quebec income tax

The first bracket, at 14%, covers taxable income up to $54,345. The basic personal amount is $18,952 in 2026. It gives a credit of 14% of that amount. An employee can also claim the "deduction for workers", capped at $1,450 in 2026.

Federal income tax and the Quebec abatement

Federally, the rate for the first bracket is 14% in 2026, up to $58,523. The basic personal amount is $16,452 (for net income up to $181,440) and the Canada employment amount is $1,501. Base contributions to the QPP, the QPIP and Employment Insurance also give a 14% credit. Finally, Quebec residents are entitled to the Quebec abatement: basic federal tax is reduced by 16.5%.

The parity committee levy: 0.30%

The levy regulation of the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (Règlement sur le prélèvement) requires the employee to pay 0.30% of gross pay to the CPAS. The employer withholds it on every pay and also pays 0.30% on its side. This deduction funds the enforcement of the Decree, presented in our article on the security guards' decree explained. The contribution of $0.20 an hour to the group RRSP, for its part, is paid by the employer and is not withheld from your pay.

What is a security guard's net pay in 2026?

Here are two rounded examples, calculated from the rates above. This is an estimate for a single person, with no other income, no children, no personal RRSP and no other deduction or credit. Refundable credits (solidarity tax credit, GST credit, etc.) are not counted.

At the minimum rate, the guard therefore keeps close to 79% of gross pay, or about $650 net per 40-hour week, or a little over $16 net an hour. With the P-11 night premium of $1.00 an hour (from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), annual net pay rises by about $1,400. The other premiums work the same way: the P-3 premium of $2.00 in a health care setting or the P-4 premium of $0.60 for first aid each leave about two thirds of their gross value once deductions are paid.

How the income tax was estimated: in Quebec, taxable income = gross pay minus the deduction for workers ($1,450) and the additional QPP contribution portion (1%). Tax at 14% minus the 14% credit on $18,952. Federally, tax at 14% on gross pay minus the additional QPP contribution, minus the credits at 14% (basic personal amount, Canada employment amount, base QPP, QPIP, Employment Insurance), then a 16.5% reduction. Your pay stub may differ: source deductions depend on your TP-1015.3 and TD1 forms, and the real balance is settled in your income tax return.

The official calculators

For a calculation based on your situation:

• the CRA's Payroll Deductions Online Calculator (federal income tax and Employment Insurance)
• WebRAS from Revenu Québec (Quebec income tax, QPP and QPIP. It replaced WinRAS in 2021)
• the disposable income calculator of the Ministère des Finances du Québec, which adds government assistance based on your family situation.

What will the pay increase be for a security guard in Quebec in 2026?

It has already happened. The Class A minimum rate went from $20.09 to $20.60 on June 28, 2026, an increase of $0.51 an hour, or about $1,060 gross a year at full time. The next increase is scheduled for July 4, 2027, to $21.10. For the dates and both classes, see our article on the security guard minimum rate in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is a security guard's net pay?

In Quebec, a security guard paid the Decree minimum rate keeps about $33,900 net a year, out of $42,848 gross, according to our estimate for a single person with no other income. That is close to 79% of gross pay, or about $650 net per 40-hour week. Six deductions account for the gap: QPP, QPIP, Employment Insurance, Quebec income tax, federal income tax and the parity committee levy.

Is the CPAS levy really withheld from my pay?

Yes. The parity committee's regulation provides that the employer collects, each pay period, the 0.30% owed by the employee and remits it to the CPAS with its monthly report.

Is overtime taxed more heavily?

No. Overtime is paid at 150% beyond 40 hours a week, and it is simply added to the year's income. In the examples above, each additional dollar stays in the first tax bracket (14% in Quebec and federally).

How much does a guard at the minimum rate earn net per week?

About $650 net for 40 hours at $20.60 ($824 gross), according to our estimate for a single person. The actual amount of each pay depends on your source deduction forms.

My employer pays $0.20 an hour into an RRSP: is that counted here?

No. This employer contribution to the group RRSP is not withheld from your pay. It was therefore not subtracted in the examples.

Sources

• Revenu Québec: principaux changements pour 2026 (tax brackets, basic personal amount, deduction for workers, QPP, QPIP)
• Canada Revenue Agency: Payroll Deductions Formulas (T4127), January 1, 2026 (Employment Insurance in Quebec, federal brackets, personal amounts, Quebec abatement)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: Règlement sur le prélèvement (administrative version, 2021)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: employeurs (group RRSP)
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01 and 4.07
• Canada.ca: calculateur en direct de retenues sur la paie
• Revenu Québec: WebRAS
• Ministère des Finances du Québec: calcul du revenu disponible

Every year, the transport of valuables attracts candidates looking for a security job that is a little different from security guarding. The armoured transport guard, also called a valuables transport agent, moves money and other valuable goods between businesses, institutions and processing centres, often armed. In Quebec, this trade has its own licence, its own training and federal rules on firearms. Here is what you need to know before looking for a job in the transport of valuables.

Does the transport of valuables have its own licence in Quebec?

Yes. Section 1 of the Private Security Act lists six private security activities: security guarding, investigation, locksmith work, electronic security systems, the transport of valuables and security consulting. Transport of valuables is therefore a separate activity, and the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, issues an agent licence for this category, alongside the security guarding one.

In concrete terms, a security guarding licence is not enough to transport valuables. You need the licence that matches the activity carried on. The general steps (application, fees, renewal) are explained on our BSP agent licence page.

What are the conditions for getting the licence?

Section 19 of the Act sets the same basic conditions for all classes of agent licence. The applicant must:

• have the training required by regulation for the activity concerned
• be of good moral character
• not have been found guilty of a criminal offence related to the activity, unless a pardon has been obtained
• be at least 18 years old.

Once issued, the agent licence is valid for 5 years (section 21). Fees and renewal are detailed in our article on BSP licence fees and renewal.

What training do you need to become an armoured transport guard?

The training has nothing to do with the 70 hours of security guarding. According to the BSP's required training page, a person who wants a transport of valuables licence must have passed a training course on the handling of firearms and the use of force, given by an instructor qualified by the École nationale de police du Québec (ENPQ).

The BSP also specifies that these instructors work with licensed transport agencies. In practice, you do not register for this training the way you would for a public course. You inquire with the agencies that transport valuables, which organize it for their candidates. The BSP does not publish a duration for this training.

Aiming for security guarding first? The 70-hour path is presented on our security guard training page.

Do you need a federal licence to carry a firearm?

Yes, and it is a separate step from the BSP licence. Firearms are a federal matter, under the Firearms Act and the Canadian Firearms Program, run by the RCMP. Two authorizations come into play:

1. The Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). To apply for it, the RCMP requires, among other things, that you have passed the mandatory safety courses. A person aged 18 or over applies as an adult. In Quebec, if the PAL covers restricted firearms, the RCMP asks you to attach form SQ-3007 from the Sûreté du Québec.
2. The authorization to carry. Section 20 of the Firearms Act allows an authorization to be issued to a licence holder to carry a restricted firearm or a handgun elsewhere than at the place where it is kept, in particular when the person needs it in connection with their lawful profession or occupation.

The precise conditions of the authorization to carry (who applies for it, for how long, on what conditions) are a federal matter and can change. Your future employer and the Canadian Firearms Program are the best sources for your situation.

Does the security guards' decree apply to the transport of valuables?

The Decree respecting security guards applies throughout Quebec (section 2.01) to security agencies and their employees (section 2.02). It defines security work broadly, including watching, guarding or protecting persons, property or premises. Section 2.03 lists the exclusions (peace officers, employees of governments and municipalities, work done exclusively for the needs of one's own employer, etc.). The transport of valuables is not named there.

The Decree provides a premium for armed work. The P-6 premium, paid to a guard working with a weapon (a firearm, according to the Decree's definition), is $2.50 an hour. It is added to the base hourly rate, which has been $20.60 for a Class A employee since June 28, 2026, and it can be combined with other premiums.

Whether or not the Decree covers your job depends on your employer and the exact nature of the work. If in doubt, the parity committee can settle the question. To understand all the premiums, read the Decree premiums many guards do not claim.

What does a valuables transport agent do day to day?

• Pickups and deliveries: collecting deposits from businesses and delivering money or other valuables along a planned route.
• ATM replenishment: taking part in filling and servicing automated teller machines.
• Escort and protection: covering the colleague who carries the valuables between the vehicle and the client, watching the surroundings.
• Driving: the work is often done in an armoured vehicle, as a team, with strict procedures.
• Paperwork: slips, signatures, reports. Our incident report template can help.

What are the risks of the job?

The armoured transport guard carries exactly what thieves are after. The risk of robbery is real, and that is why the training required by the BSP covers weapons and the use of force. More ordinary risks are added to that: handling bags and cash boxes, early-morning schedules, driving in the city and in winter, stress. Following procedures (never deviating from a security routine, staying in communication with the team) is the main protection. Before accepting a job, ask what ongoing training and what support after an incident the employer offers.

Frequently asked questions

Can you become an armoured transport guard at 18?

The Private Security Act requires a minimum age of 18 for an agent licence. You must also pass the training recognized by the ENPQ and obtain the federal authorizations for the firearm, which the employer assesses with you.

Does my security guarding licence allow me to transport valuables?

No. The transport of valuables is a separate activity in the Act, with its own training. You need the licence that matches this activity.

Where can you find a job in the transport of valuables?

Apply to the licensed transport agencies: the training goes through them. Also see our security guard job postings.

Sources

• Private Security Act (CQLR, c. S-3.5), sections 1, 19 and 21, LégisQuébec.
• Formations requises, Bureau de la sécurité privée.
• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), sections 1.01, 2.01 to 2.03 and 4.07, LégisQuébec (up to date as of June 1, 2026).
• Loi sur les armes à feu (L.C. 1995, ch. 39), section 20, Justice Canada.
• Présenter une demande de permis d'armes à feu, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

A mobile patrol security guard does not spend the shift in a guardhouse. The patroller drives from one site to the next, often alone and often at night. Mobile security patrol appeals to people who like to move and work on their own, but it comes with its own rules: driver's licence, use of the vehicle, allowances set out in the Decree, caution on alarm calls. Here is what you need to know before applying as a patrol security guard.

What does a mobile patrol security guard do?

The Decree respecting security guards expressly includes patrolling in a guard's duties. The functions listed in section 1.01 include "patrolling in a motor vehicle, on a bicycle, on foot or on horseback". In practice, the mobile patroller covers a route of several clients during the shift. Typical duties:

• Rounds of several sites: stores, warehouses, construction sites, office or residential buildings visited in turn, sometimes several times a night.
• Checking access points: doors, windows, gates and padlocks, outside and inside depending on the client's instructions.
• Opening and closing buildings: unlocking in the morning, locking up and arming the alarm system in the evening, making sure nobody is still inside.
• Alarm response: going to a site when the monitoring centre reports an intrusion alarm or another alarm, assessing the situation from outside and liaising with the monitoring centre, the client or emergency services.
• Reports: recording every visit, every anomaly and every intervention, often in a mobile app or by scanning checkpoints.

What driver's licence do you need for mobile patrol?

To drive an ordinary car in Quebec, the Class 5 licence applies. According to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), this class allows you to drive an automobile, meaning a vehicle with 2 axles and a net mass of less than 4,500 kg. Most patrol vehicles fall into this category, but check the class required if the employer uses a heavier vehicle.

The driver's licence is in addition to the agent licence issued by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator. It does not replace it. Employers generally ask for a clean driving record, because the patroller spends a good part of the shift on the road.

Does the Decree provide anything if I use my own car?

Yes, but read the sections carefully: the Decree provides two different measures.

The P-7 premium: the car used as a shelter

Section 1.01 of the Decree defines the P-7 premium as a benefit paid to a guard who needs a shelter and must use their automobile for that purpose. The amount is $3.00 an hour in the table of premiums. This premium therefore covers the situation where the car serves as a shelter during work. The definition does not mention driving from one site to another. Patrolling by car does not, on its own, give entitlement to the P-7 premium according to the wording of the definition.

The allowance of $0.50 per kilometre

Section 8.01 provides that an allowance of $0.50 per kilometre is paid for all kilometres travelled when the employee uses their vehicle as a shelter and, at the employer's request, uses it to make rounds, patrols or a motor vehicle service. The same section also provides $0.50 per kilometre for an employee who must take their automobile to get to a workplace located more than 40 km from the employer's office, during a strike, a lock-out, a special event or a contract of 60 days or less. The employer may then choose to provide the transportation itself.

The wording of section 8.01 links the two conditions with "and": vehicle used as a shelter and for rounds or patrols at the employer's request. If you are unsure about your situation, contact the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité, which is responsible for applying the Decree.

For all the premiums, see our article on the premiums in the security guards' decree.

What about insurance on my personal vehicle?

Using your own car for work can change the declared use of the vehicle. The rules vary from one insurer and one contract to another. Before accepting a patrol job with your car, call your insurer, describe the use precisely (rounds, kilometres per shift, vehicle parked on client sites) and ask for written confirmation that you are covered. Also ask the employer whether it provides a vehicle or insurance for this work.

Working alone and at night: what changes?

Mobile patrol is very often done at night. Hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. give entitlement to the P-11 premium of $1.00 an hour (s. 1.01 and table of premiums in the Decree). More than one premium can apply at a time. We cover this topic in our article on night-shift security guard work and the P-11 premium.

The patroller is also, most of the time, a lone worker. For working alone, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) recommends a risk assessment and a system of communication and regular check-ins with a designated person. Ask your employer how these check-ins are done during your shift.

What should you do when you arrive at an alarm?

The basic rule: do not intervene alone when facing danger. A security guard is not a police officer. A guard's powers are those of any citizen (see our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a security guard).

1. Before you arrive, tell the monitoring centre or your supervisor where you are.
2. Observe from outside, from a safe place, without going in.
3. If you see a forced door, a broken window, a suspicious person or smoke, call 911 and wait for the police or the firefighters.
4. Do not chase anyone and never enter alone a building where an intrusion is possible.
5. Write down the times, what you saw and the people you reached.

How do you write a patrol report?

The report is the record of your work for the employer and the client. It must be factual: date, time, place, what you observed, what you did, who you notified. Avoid opinions and assumptions. For a concrete example, see our incident report template for security guards.

What skills are employers looking for in a patroller?

• A valid agent licence and a driver's licence of the right class.
• Autonomy and good time management to keep up with a busy route.
• Judgment: knowing when to stop, step back and call for help.
• A good sense of direction and careful driving, by day and by night and in winter.
• Clear writing for reports and ease with mobile apps.

To highlight these strengths, see our security guard resume template.

Frequently asked questions

Does a patroller automatically receive the P-7 premium?

No. According to its definition, the P-7 premium ($3.00 an hour) is for a guard who needs a shelter and must use their automobile for that purpose. Patrolling by car is not enough, on its own, to meet this definition.

Does my employer have to pay me mileage?

The Decree provides $0.50 per kilometre in the specific situations of section 8.01 described above. Outside those situations, check your contract or your collective agreement, and the Comité paritaire if in doubt.

Can you be a patroller without a driver's licence?

For vehicle patrol, no. However, the Decree also mentions patrolling on foot and by bicycle. Some jobs doing rounds on a single site therefore do not require driving.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards (D-2, r. 1), s. 1.01, table of premiums and s. 8.01 – LégisQuébec
• Classes de permis de conduire – SAAQ
• Working Alone – Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité

A security guard assaulted at work has specific rights: they can file a complaint with the police, they are entitled to their employer's protection and, if injured, they can be compensated by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board). An assault on a security guard is not “a risk of the job” to be endured in silence. Here, step by step, is what the Criminal Code and Quebec's occupational health and safety laws provide, and the steps to take after the incident.

This article is for information purposes and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, consult a lawyer, your union or the CNESST directly.

What should you do right after an assault?

In the minutes that follow, the order of priorities is simple:

1. Get to safety. Move away from the attacker, ask for backup and do not stay alone at the scene if the danger persists.
2. Call 911 if there are injuries, a weapon or a continuing threat.
3. Notify your superior. The Act respecting industrial accidents and occupational diseases (AIAOD, known in French as the LATMP) requires an injured worker to inform their immediate superior, or another representative of the employer, before leaving the establishment if able to do so, or otherwise as soon as possible (s. 265). The notice can be simple: your name, the place and the circumstances, in ordinary words (s. 266).
4. See a doctor, even if the injury seems minor. The first health professional who takes charge of you must give you a medical certificate on the CNESST form (s. 199).
5. Write the report while the details are fresh: times, exact words, witnesses, cameras. Our incident report template for security guards gives the method.

Can you file a police complaint for assault?

Yes. Hitting, pushing or spitting on a guard is a criminal offence, the same as for anyone else. Under section 265 of the Criminal Code, a person commits an assault when they:

• intentionally apply force, directly or indirectly, to another person without that person's consent
• attempt or threaten to apply force, if they have the ability to carry out the threat or if the victim can reasonably believe so
• openly carry a weapon, or an imitation, while accosting or impeding someone.

Section 266 provides that assault can be prosecuted as an indictable offence, with a maximum of five years' imprisonment, or by summary conviction. Your role is to file the complaint, give your account and keep your evidence (report, photos of injuries, names of witnesses).

Does a guard have the right to defend themselves?

Yes. Self-defence under section 34 of the Criminal Code applies to everyone, security guards included. Three conditions must be met:

• you believe, on reasonable grounds, that force is being used or threatened against you or against another person
• you act for the purpose of defending yourself or protecting that person
• your act is reasonable in the circumstances.

To judge whether it was reasonable, the court considers, among other things, the nature of the threat and how imminent it was, the other means available, the presence of a weapon, the size and capabilities of the persons and, above all, the proportionality of the response. Defending yourself does not mean punishing: once the threat is removed, the force must stop. If you had to hold the attacker, the rules of arrest apply. See our article on citizen's arrest by a security guard.

What are the employer's obligations regarding violence?

Section 51 of the Act respecting occupational health and safety (AOHS, known in French as the LSST) requires the employer to take the necessary measures to protect the worker's health, safety and physical and mental well-being. Its paragraph 16 deals directly with violence: the employer must take measures to protect a worker exposed in the workplace to a situation of physical or psychological violence, including spousal, family or sexual violence.

For a security guard, this can mean clear instructions on when not to step in, a reliable means of communication, backup at high-risk posts, training and follow-up after an incident, especially at isolated posts such as night-shift security guard work. After an assault, ask your employer what will be changed to keep it from happening again.

How do you claim from the CNESST if the security guard is injured?

An assault suffered during work can be an industrial accident within the meaning of the AIAOD: a sudden and unforeseen event, arising out of or in the course of work, that results in an employment injury (s. 2). An injury that happens at the workplace while the worker is at work is even presumed to be an employment injury (s. 28).

Even if you return to work the next day, a claim can be filed within six months (s. 271), for example to have care paid for. Report every assault, even a minor one: if after-effects appear later, the file already exists.

How much does the CNESST pay during the work stoppage?

A worker who can no longer carry on their employment because of an employment injury is entitled to an income replacement indemnity (s. 44). It is equal to 90% of the weighted net income that the worker derives annually from their employment (s. 45). During the first 14 full days, it is the employer who pays 90% of net wages, on the usual payday, if you gave the employer the medical certificate (s. 60). To compare with your normal pay, see our page on a security guard's salary.

Is post-traumatic stress recognized by the CNESST?

Yes, the injury can be psychological. The Regulation respecting occupational diseases lists post-traumatic stress disorder among mental disorders, with one condition: having done work involving repeated or extreme exposure to serious injury, sexual violence, a threat of death or actual death (Division VII). When this condition is met on the day of the diagnosis, the worker is presumed to have an occupational disease (s. 29 AIAOD).

For an occupational disease, the six-month time limit starts on the date the worker learns they have it (s. 272).

What help is there for victims of crime?

The CAVAC network (crime victims assistance centres) offers free and confidential help, whether or not the victim has filed a complaint. They can be reached at 1-866-532-2822.

The IVAC, for its part, pays financial assistance to victims of criminal offences. When the assault gives rise to the application of the AIAOD, which is the case for an assault suffered at work, the victim must file their application with the CNESST (s. 68 of the Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery). If the CNESST declares you eligible, you cannot also receive IVAC financial assistance for the same event.

Can you refuse to go back to the same post?

The AOHS gives a worker the right to refuse to perform work if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the work exposes them to danger to their health, safety or physical or mental well-being (s. 12). They must notify their superior at once (s. 15). There are two limits (s. 13): refusal is not possible if it puts the life or safety of another person in immediate danger, or if the conditions of the work are normal for that kind of work. For a guard, the right of refusal therefore covers an abnormal danger, for example a post where threats from the same individual keep recurring with no protective measure at all.

After a work stoppage, a worker who is able again has the right to be reinstated by priority in their employment or in equivalent employment (s. 236 AIAOD). This right is exercised within one year after the start of the absence if the establishment has 20 workers or fewer, and within two years if it has more than 20 (s. 240). The employer cannot dismiss, suspend or penalize you because you were injured or because you exercised a right provided by the Act (s. 32).

Frequently asked questions

My employer tells me not to file a complaint so as not to displease the client. Is that allowed?

The decision to file a complaint with the police is yours: it is the victim who files it. The employer may have its internal procedures, but if you are injured, the industrial accidents Act forbids it from penalizing you because you exercised your rights (s. 32). If you are pressured, talk to a CAVAC or the CNESST.

How long do I have to claim from the CNESST?

Six months from the injury (ss. 270 and 271 AIAOD), or six months from the moment you learn you have an occupational disease (s. 272). The time limit is two years if the injury results from sexual violence.

Am I paid if I have to stop working?

Yes: the employer pays 90% of net wages during the first 14 full days, then the CNESST pays an indemnity of 90% of weighted net income if the stoppage continues and the claim is accepted.

Sources

• Criminal Code, section 265: assault (Justice Canada)
• Criminal Code, section 266: punishment (Justice Canada)
• Criminal Code, section 34: defence of person (Justice Canada)
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail, sections 12, 13, 15 and 51 (LégisQuébec)
• Loi sur les accidents du travail et les maladies professionnelles, sections 2, 28, 29, 32, 44, 45, 60, 199, 236, 240, 265 to 267 and 270 to 272 (LégisQuébec)
• Règlement sur les maladies professionnelles, Division VII (LégisQuébec)
• Loi visant à aider les personnes victimes d'infractions criminelles et à favoriser leur rétablissement, section 68 (LégisQuébec)
• Réseau des CAVAC

Have you arrived in Canada and are you looking for a first steady job? Many newcomers think of security guarding. You can be a security guard as an immigrant in Quebec without being a Canadian citizen, and even with a work permit. Here is what the law and the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, really require to become a security guard in Quebec when you come from elsewhere: status, identity documents, background, training, French and financial assistance.

For the general process, the fees and the renewal, also see our guide to the BSP security guard licence.

Do you have to be a Canadian citizen to be a security guard?

No. The Regulation under the Private Security Act requires that a person applying for an agent licence be in one of these three situations:

• Canadian citizenship
• permanent resident status
• a work permit issued by the competent Canadian immigration authority.

The BSP forms spell out the accepted cases: you can also check registered Indian status, a study permit that includes the right to work, or another valid right to work in Canada. For a work or study permit, the form asks for its expiry date.

The other conditions are the same for everyone. Under section 19 of the Private Security Act, you must be at least 18 years old, be of good moral character, have the training required by regulation and not have been found guilty of a criminal offence related to the activity in question, unless you have obtained a pardon.

What happens if my work permit expires?

A licence holder must notify the BSP without delay of any change that may affect the validity of the licence (section 24 of the Act). The BSP form expressly lists a change of status in Canada among these changes. If your work permit is about to expire, take care of renewing it with Immigration Canada ahead of time and inform the BSP of any change.

The BSP can check your information with the citizenship and immigration authorities: the form asks you to consent to this.

Which identity documents do you provide as an immigrant?

The application must include a copy of both sides of two different documents:

Your foreign passport can be used as an identity document. Any document written in a language other than French or English must come with a translation done by a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec.

You also need two passport-size photos. One must be signed by a guarantor who has known you personally for at least 1 year and who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, aged 18 or over. If you arrived recently and have not known anyone for a year, the form provides that a commissioner for oaths, a notary or a lawyer can act as your guarantor.

Does the BSP check my background abroad?

Yes, in the sense that the question covers your whole life. The Act speaks of an offence under the Criminal Code of which a person has been found guilty "in any place". The form asks whether you have been found guilty, in Canada or elsewhere, of a criminal offence without a pardon, and whether you are currently facing charges.

Answer honestly. The BSP explains in its frequently asked questions that it examines whether there is a link between the offence and the private security activity before deciding. The checks go through the Sûreté du Québec or other police forces. The BSP does not publish a list of foreign police documents to provide: if it needs something else, it will ask you for it.

Is my security training from abroad recognized?

The BSP does not automatically recognize training taken outside Canada. In security guarding, it requires at least 70 hours in a school service centre, or other training recognized by the Minister and taken after the date of its recognition. The 70 hours include three modules: environment, role, legislation and standards of conduct (30 h), emergency procedures (24 h) and first aid recognized by the CNESST, Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board (16 h).

Two other routes exist. If you hold a valid licence from another Canadian province, it could exempt you from proving the training. And if you believe you have equivalent knowledge and skills, you can ask the BSP for an equivalence analysis, based in particular on your related training and your experience. In security guarding, you need in all cases proof of 16-hour first aid training, issued by an organization recognized by the CNESST or equivalent.

Our page on the 70-hour security guard training explains where to take it and which questions to ask before you pay.

Do you have to speak French to get the licence?

Neither the Act nor the Regulation sets a language condition for the licence. The BSP forms let you choose French or English as your language of correspondence.

The training, though, is given in a specific language. In addition to the 70 hours, school service centres offer the 390-hour Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage": in French under number 4239, and in English under number 4739 ("Private Security Guarding"), according to Inforoute FPT. On the job, however, you will speak to the public, write reports and communicate with emergency services: good French remains a real asset for getting hired in Quebec.

How can you learn French for free?

The Quebec government offers, through Francisation Québec, free French courses to everyone aged 16 and over who lives in Quebec. There are part-time courses (6 to 20 hours a week, daytime, evening or weekend), online courses and even courses in the workplace.

For immigrants admitted to full-time courses, Québec.ca announces financial assistance:

• a participation allowance of $230 a week
• a reimbursement of childcare costs of up to $25 per day of training per child
• transportation assistance of $25 a week, for people who do not receive the $230 allowance because they already receive certain benefits.

Asylum seekers are not entitled to the $230 allowance. Neither are people who already receive certain benefits (employment insurance, social assistance), but they can apply for the transportation assistance, unless they take their courses remotely. The application for assistance is made at the start of the session, within 60 days at the latest.

Can Services Québec pay for my security guard training?

It is possible. With the Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre, its workforce training measure, Services Québec can fund training and reimburse certain costs (childcare, transportation, training). According to Québec.ca, you must in particular be 16 or over, have stopped full-time studies at least 24 months ago and show that the lack of training is a major obstacle to employment. Apply before you register, online or at a Services Québec office.

How do you land a first job in security?

1. Check your status first. Keep a copy of your work permit or your permanent resident card ready for the BSP application.
2. Think about the temporary licence. It lets you work under supervision during your training, for no more than 120 days. Read how the BSP temporary licence works.
3. Adapt your resume to Quebec. Highlight your licence number, your first aid training and your languages. Use our security guard resume template as a guide.
4. Check your record in the BSP register before your first shift: the status must be "valid".
5. Know your rights. The minimum rate is set by the Decree respecting security guards, no matter where you come from: see our page on a security guard's salary.

Frequently asked questions

Can you be a security guard with a work permit?

Yes. The Regulation accepts a work permit issued by the Canadian immigration authority, and the BSP also accepts a study permit that includes the right to work.

Can an asylum seeker get the BSP licence?

Only with a document that shows a valid right to work in Canada, such as a work permit. Without that document, the status condition is not met.

Does my security diploma from my home country count?

Not automatically. You have to take the 70-hour training or a recognized training program, unless you hold a valid licence from another Canadian province or obtain from the BSP an equivalence analysis of your knowledge and skills.

Can I take the training in English?

Yes, some centres offer the AEP in English (program 4739, 390 hours). The BSP also corresponds in English if you ask.

Coming from France or a country where people talk about CDD and CDI? Read CDD and CDI in Quebec: a security guard's employment statuses.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act (sections 19, 22 and 24)
• LégisQuébec: Regulation under the Private Security Act (section 12.1)
• BSP: formulaire 194.005 (version 2026-08), status, identity documents and background
• BSP: Foire aux questions
• BSP: Formations requises
• Inforoute FPT: AEP 4739, Private Security Guarding
• Québec.ca: Apprendre le français
• Québec.ca: Aide financière pour les cours de français à temps complet
• Québec.ca: Mesure de formation de la main-d'œuvre

Do you have a criminal record and want to become a security guard? A criminal record does not automatically close the door to a licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator. It all depends on the offence, its connection with the work in question and what has happened since (discharge, pardon). Here is what the law really says, what the BSP checks, why a BSP licence is refused and how a record suspension can change things.

This article is for information purposes and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact the BSP, a lawyer or a legal aid organization.

What does the Private Security Act say about a criminal record?

Section 19 of the Private Security Act lists the conditions for obtaining an agent licence. In addition to being 18 and having the required training, the person must:

• be of good moral character
• never have been convicted, in any place, of an offence under the Criminal Code (or an offence referred to in its section 183) having a connection with the activity for which the licence is applied for, unless a pardon has been obtained.

There are two ideas to remember. First, not just any conviction blocks the licence: it is a conviction connected with the activity (security guarding, investigation, locksmith work, etc.). Second, a pardon removes this obstacle in the eyes of the law. The Act gives no definition of “good moral character”: it is a criterion the BSP assesses case by case.

What does the BSP check, and how?

Under section 27 of the Act, at each licence application and each renewal, the BSP sends your information to the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), which checks good moral character and criminal history. The SQ then communicates the result to the BSP and gives its opinion.

The check does not stop when the licence is issued: the SQ can carry out checks at any time during the term of the licence. The BSP specifies that the annual fees include a portion for this “continuous security monitoring”. For the steps of the application itself, see our complete guide to the BSP security guard licence.

Which offences block the licence?

The BSP explains it in its frequently asked questions: if you were found guilty of a criminal offence and have not obtained a pardon, you must declare it on the form, and the SQ will inform the BSP in any case. The Bureau then analyzes whether there is a connection between that offence and the activity applied for. If it concludes that there is a connection, the application is refused.

The BSP does not publish a list of “connected” offences. The judgment is made case by case. It is understood, however, that the analysis looks at the nature of the work: a security guard protects persons, property and premises, which weighs in the assessment of offences involving violence, theft or fraud, for example. Without an established connection, a conviction does not by itself lead to a refusal, but the good moral character criterion is still examined.

Another point: under section 20, the BSP may refuse an application if, in the previous 5 years, you were refused a licence or your licence was suspended or revoked.

Does a discharge count?

Yes, for a certain time. The Criminal Code provides that a person who is discharged is deemed not to have been convicted. But the BSP specifies that a discharge is not the same as a pardon and that it must take it into account. It relies on section 6.1 of the Criminal Records Act, which sets the periods after which the record of a discharge can no longer be disclosed:

During these periods, the SQ also informs the BSP of the discharge. After that, the entry is removed from the RCMP's records.

What if I have charges pending?

The Act speaks of persons who have been “convicted”: a mere charge is not a conviction. However, a licence holder must notify the BSP without delay of any change that may affect the validity of the licence (section 24). The BSP explicitly gives as an example a charge or a guilty verdict for a criminal offence. Failing to declare it would be a mistake: the SQ can check at any time.

The BSP may suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a licence when the holder no longer meets the conditions (section 30). The Act is stricter in two cases: the BSP revokes the licence of an agent who is convicted of an offence connected with their activity or who is no longer of good moral character. The Act does not provide for an automatic suspension merely because a charge is laid. What the BSP will do depends on its analysis.

How do you contest a refusal or a revocation?

Before refusing, suspending or revoking a licence, the BSP must send you prior written notice and give you at least 10 days to present your observations (section 32), except in an emergency. Its decision must give reasons, and your employer is notified of it.

If the decision goes against you, you can contest it before the Tribunal administratif du Québec (section 37), in its economic affairs division. The proceeding must be filed within 30 days after notification of the decision (section 110 of the Act respecting administrative justice). In the case of a revocation, the licence must be returned to the BSP within 15 days of the decision.

Record suspension (pardon): what does it change?

A record suspension, still called a pardon, is granted by the Parole Board of Canada (PBC). It does not erase the record: it sets it apart, so that a search of the Canadian police database (CPIC) no longer shows a record. For the licence, this is decisive: section 19 excludes offences for which a pardon has been obtained. The BSP suggests, if the offence is likely to lead to a refusal, considering a licence application after the pardon is obtained.

When can you apply for it?

You must first have completed all your sentences: fines and surcharges paid, imprisonment and probation finished. Then a waiting period begins, which depends on the date of the first offence:

Some people may be ineligible, in particular for offences in Schedule 1 of the Criminal Records Act or more than three indictable offences each with a sentence of two years or more, when the first offence was committed on or after March 13, 2012. A discharge alone does not require a pardon.

How much does it cost?

The PBC application fee has been $50 since January 1, 2022. You also have to pay yourself for fingerprints, the copy of the criminal record, court documents and the local police records check. The PBC points out that you do not need a private company: going through one speeds nothing up and guarantees nothing.

Frequently asked questions

What criminal record can you have and still be a security guard?

In Quebec, a criminal record does not automatically close the door to the security guard licence. Under section 19 of the Private Security Act, you must be of good moral character and never have been convicted of a criminal offence having a connection with the activity concerned, unless a pardon has been obtained. The BSP analyzes each file and refuses the application if it concludes that there is a connection.

Does a criminal record always prevent you from being a security guard?

No. The BSP refuses when the offence has a connection with the activity applied for or when good moral character is not demonstrated. Each file is analyzed. If you are still in security guard training, check your situation before investing time and money.

Does the temporary licence avoid the check?

The BSP temporary licence (120 days at most) is still a licence issued by the BSP. Nothing in the sources consulted indicates that it escapes the conditions of the Act. It is better to settle the question of the record first.

Do I have to declare an offence for which I obtained a pardon?

The BSP asks you to declare the offences for which you have not obtained a pardon. A pardoned offence is not covered by section 19.

What should I do if my BSP licence is refused?

Present your observations as soon as you receive the prior notice, then, if need be, contest the decision before the Tribunal administratif du Québec within 30 days. If the obstacle is a conviction, a pardon application can open the way to a new licence application. As for the fees for the licence itself, see BSP licence fees and renewal.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act (sections 19, 20, 24, 27, 30, 32 to 37)
• LégisQuébec: Loi sur la justice administrative (section 110 and Schedule IV)
• BSP: foire aux questions (infractions criminelles et absolutions)
• BSP: obligations reliées au permis
• Justice Canada: Loi sur le casier judiciaire, section 6.1
• Justice Canada: Code criminel, section 730
• CLCC (Parole Board of Canada): qui peut demander une suspension du casier
• CLCC: fiche d'information sur la suspension du casier
• CLCC: mises à jour pour les demandeurs ($50 fee)

A loss prevention officer works where merchandise is within arm's reach: big-box stores, pharmacies, clothing boutiques, grocery stores. A mall security guard, for their part, watches over the corridors, the entrances and the parking lot. The two posts look alike, but the day-to-day is not the same, and the rules change depending on whether you are paid by an agency or by the store itself. Here is what you need to know about the licence, the Decree, shoplifting, cameras and the incident report.

This article is for information purposes and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, follow your employer's written directives or consult a lawyer.

What is the difference between a uniformed guard and a plainclothes officer?

In retail, there are two ways of working:

The uniformed guard reassures customers and discourages theft before it happens. The plainclothes officer, often called a loss prevention officer, blends in with customers to spot suspicious behaviour. In both cases, the power is the same: that of a citizen. Plain clothes give no extra power, and neither does the uniform.

Do you need a BSP licence when you work directly for the store?

Yes, in most cases. The Private Security Act defines security guarding as watching or protecting persons, property or premises “mainly to prevent crime” (s. 1). Section 16 requires the person who carries on this activity, as well as their immediate superior, to hold an agent licence.

The same section provides a nuance: when you work exclusively for an employer whose business is not private security, the licence is required only if security is your main activity.

The frequently asked questions of the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, give the example of a retail business that employs loss prevention officers: the business does not need an agency licence, since security is not its activity, but the officers in its service must hold an agent licence. The steps are detailed on our page on the BSP security guard licence.

Does the Decree apply if the store is the one paying you?

Generally not. The Decree respecting security guards covers “security agencies and their employees” (s. 2.02). Its section 2.03 excludes, among others, in paragraph 5, employees “who carry out security work exclusively for their employer’s own service or needs”.

• Agency guard placed in a store or a mall: the Decree applies, with its minimum rates and premiums. See our article on the security guards' Decree explained.
• Officer employed directly by the business for its own needs: the Decree does not apply. Pay is governed by the employment contract, a collective agreement if there is one, and labour standards.

Paragraph 7 of section 2.03 also excludes employees who work in the operations of a parking lot, unless they watch or protect persons, property or premises mainly to prevent theft, fire and vandalism.

Shoplifting: when can a security guard arrest someone?

A security guard has only the citizen's power of arrest, set out in section 494 of the Criminal Code. Subsection (2) is the one that counts in a store: the owner of property, or a person the owner authorizes, may arrest without warrant someone they find committing a criminal offence on or in relation to that property. The arrest can also be made within a reasonable time after the offence, if they believe on reasonable grounds that it is not feasible in the circumstances for a peace officer to make the arrest. Under subsection (3), the person arrested must be delivered “forthwith” to a peace officer.

In loss prevention, the cautious practice rests on continuous observation: having seen the person take the item, conceal it and go past the checkouts without paying, without having lost sight of them. A mere suspicion is not enough. The conditions, the use of force and handcuffs are explained in detail in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a security guard.

What should you not do when facing a shoplifter?

• Search by force. The Criminal Code gives the guard no general power to search. You can ask the person to return the item or open their bag, without forcing them to. If they refuse, you wait for the police.
• Chase into the parking lot or the street. A chase between cars endangers the guard, the suspect and the customers. It can also take you off the property you are protecting, while section 494(2) covers offences committed on or in relation to that property. It is better to note the description, the direction and the vehicle, then call the police.
• Hold the person to “settle it” with the manager, or release them in exchange for payment. Section 494(3) requires delivering them forthwith to a peace officer.
• Use more force than necessary, humiliate the person in front of customers or question them to obtain a confession.

Always follow your employer's written policy: many businesses forbid any physical contact and ask only that you observe, take notes and call the police.

Cameras and personal information: what are the rules?

Camera images that make it possible to identify someone are personal information. The Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) points out that personal information is information that makes it possible to identify a person, “directly or indirectly”, and that it is confidential.

The Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector governs the business that collects it:

• it must determine, before the collection, the purposes for which it collects this information (s. 4)
• it must collect only the information necessary for those purposes, by lawful means (s. 5)
• a person can ask the business to confirm the existence of information concerning them and to obtain a copy of it (s. 27).

For the guard, this translates into simple actions: look at the images for work only, never film them with your phone, do not publish them or show them to third parties, and hand over any copy according to the employer's procedure (to the police, for example, on request).

What should the incident report contain after a theft?

A shoplifting incident, an arrest or even a simple stop ends with a written report. It must be factual: date and time, exact location, description of the person, what you saw yourself (and what was reported to you, separately), the items involved, the actions taken, the time of the call to the police and the event number, the witnesses and the images kept. Our security guard incident report template gives you a ready-made structure.

What is the work like in a shopping mall?

In a mall, the guard is most often in uniform and covers a much larger territory than a single store:

• Patrol of the corridors, food courts, public washrooms, loading docks and emergency exits
• Parking lot: rounds on foot or by vehicle, vehicles left with the engine running, minor accidents, escorting employees to their car at closing
• First aid and alarms: people feeling unwell, falls, fire alarms, evacuation
• Lost children and vulnerable people: a disoriented senior, a person in crisis, a person experiencing homelessness who is looking for a warm place.

With a vulnerable person, you first ask whether they need help, you call emergency services if there is a risk to their health, and you apply the mall's rules with respect.

If the post interests you, see our listings and tips for finding a security guard job and our security guard resume template.

Frequently asked questions

What is the role of a loss prevention officer?

In Quebec, a loss prevention officer is a store's plainclothes officer, who observes discreetly and witnesses thefts. The officer's typical post is the sales floor or the camera room, and their reports cover theft reports, internal investigations and loss tracking. The officer has only a citizen's power of arrest, set out in section 494 of the Criminal Code.

Does a plainclothes loss prevention officer have more powers than a uniformed guard?

No. Both have the same power of arrest, that of any citizen under section 494 of the Criminal Code. Plain clothes only serve to observe without being noticed.

My employer is a store chain: am I entitled to the Decree's rates?

In general, no. Section 2.03, paragraph 5, of the Decree excludes employees who do security work exclusively for their employer's own needs. The Decree covers security agencies and their employees.

Can a customer be forced to open their bag at the store exit?

No. The guard can ask, but the person can refuse. A search carried out by force could be considered assault. If you saw a theft, the course to follow is a citizen's arrest and a call to the police, who will decide on the search.

Sources

• Private Security Act (CQLR, c. S-3.5), sections 1 and 16 – LégisQuébec
• Frequently asked questions – Bureau de la sécurité privée
• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), sections 2.02 and 2.03 – LégisQuébec
• Criminal Code, section 494 – Justice Canada
• Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels dans le secteur privé (CQLR, c. P-39.1), sections 4, 5 and 27 – LégisQuébec
• Qu'est-ce qu'un renseignement personnel? – Commission d'accès à l'information du Québec

Access control is one of a security guard's most common duties: greeting visitors, checking who comes in, keeping a visitor log, handing out badges and receiving deliveries. It is also a duty where the guard handles personal information every day, often without thinking about it. Here are the best practices and what Quebec law says, checked against the official texts.

What does access control involve?

Depending on the site (office tower, plant, warehouse, hospital, residence), the access control post generally covers:

• Reception: greeting, asking the reason for the visit and the person being visited, calling that person to confirm the appointment.
• Identity verification: looking at a piece of ID when the site's orders require it.
• The visitor log: recording arrival and departure, on paper or on screen.
• Access cards and badges: handing out a visitor badge, collecting it on departure, reporting any card that is lost or not returned.
• Deliveries: checking the delivery slip, directing the driver to the dock or to receiving, and not giving the driver access to areas that do not concern them.

Post orders come from the client (the owner or occupant of the premises) and from your agency. They are what sets the conditions of entry: who can pass, at what hours, with which ID. Follow them to the letter and ask for them in writing if they are vague.

What can the guard ask for, and what can the guard refuse?

The guard can ask a visitor to comply with the site's conditions of entry: identify themselves, sign the log, wear a badge, be escorted. If the person refuses, they do not come in. Refusing entry is not detaining someone. The guard has no power to hold a person because they refuse to identify themselves. The guard lets them leave, records the event and notifies the supervisor. The rare situations where a guard can arrest someone, and their limits, are explained in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a security guard.

Bag checks at the entrance follow the same logic of consent. We covered it in detail in our article on event security guards and bag searches.

However, the law limits what can be required in exchange for a service. Section 9 of the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector forbids refusing a good or a service because a person refuses to provide personal information, unless the collection is necessary to perform the contract, is authorized by law, or there are reasonable grounds to believe the request is not lawful. The Act adds: “In case of doubt, personal information is deemed to be non-necessary.” In other words, the client's order must itself be reasonable. It is not up to the guard to invent requirements.

What does the law say about personal information collected at reception?

A name, a signature, a plate number, a photo or a camera image are personal information. In Quebec, private businesses are subject to the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector (CQLR, c. P-39.1), modernized by the 2021 statute often called “Law 25”. Here are the rules that directly affect access control.

How long logs are kept and how they are destroyed is up to the business, not the guard: follow your client's procedure. If there is none, report it to your supervisor.

Can the guard photocopy or scan a piece of ID?

As a general rule, no. In its fact sheet for businesses, the Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) states that simply being shown a piece of ID is generally enough to identify a person or confirm their identity. Making a copy of it, “in any way whatsoever”, or writing down its numbers is ordinarily not necessary within the meaning of the law, barring exceptions, for example if another Act requires it.

The CAI also points out that the person's consent does not make it permissible to collect information that is not necessary. It gives the example of a business that wrote down the numbers of its customers' ID to check their age: it had to stop, since looking at the ID was enough. Finally, it stresses that some ID serves specific purposes: a driver's licence proves that you can drive, a health insurance card is for health care.

The right habit for a security guard presented with a piece of ID: look, compare the photo and the name, hand the card back. Do not keep it in exchange for a badge, and do not photograph it with your phone.

If your client requires a copy, ask on what basis. It is up to the business to justify the need for the collection, not you.

What are the rules for surveillance cameras?

For the CAI, the image of an identifiable person captured by a camera is personal information. Its practical advice on video surveillance (2019, document under revision) recommends, among other things:

• installing cameras only if the objective is legitimate, important, urgent and real, and if the invasion of privacy is proportionate
• notifying the public with clearly visible signs
• avoiding places where the expectation of privacy is very high, such as washrooms, locker rooms or fitting rooms
• locking the viewing room and limiting access to the people whose duties require it
• destroying the images as soon as they are no longer necessary. The CAI considers that keeping them for 30 days is a generally sufficient and recommended period.

For the guard at the monitoring post, this means: never film a screen with your phone, never show images to a third party without authorization, and record every request for access to the images.

Which habits should you adopt at the access control post?

1. Never as a favour. A “familiar” employee who forgot their card follows the same procedure as everyone else.
2. Watch for tailgating: a person who slips in behind an authorized employee. Step in politely and ask each person to present their card.
3. Collect the badges on departure and check that the log is closed for each visitor, which is useful in an evacuation.
4. Forgotten items: record them with the time and place, store them in a safe place, and do not search a forgotten bag beyond what the procedure provides. A suspicious package is reported, not handled.
5. Confidentiality: what you see in the log or on screen stays at the post. Do not comment on who visits whom.
6. Write everything down. Refused entry, lost card, incident: write a clear report, as shown in our incident report template for security guards.

Access control is also at the heart of work in health care settings, where entry rules change from unit to unit: see our article on working as a hospital security guard.

This article is for information purposes. It is not legal advice. If you have doubts about an order, speak to your employer or consult the Commission d'accès à l'information.

Frequently asked questions

Can a visitor refuse to sign the visitor log?

Yes. The guard cannot force them to or hold them. If signing is part of the site's conditions of entry, the guard can refuse them access, then record the event.

Can the guard keep my ID card during my visit?

The CAI states that being shown the ID is generally enough to confirm identity. Copying it or writing down its number is ordinarily not necessary, unless an Act requires it.

How long should camera images be kept?

The law requires information to be destroyed or anonymized once its purpose is achieved (s. 23). The CAI recommends 30 days as a generally sufficient period for video surveillance images.

Sources

• Loi sur la protection des renseignements personnels dans le secteur privé, CQLR, c. P-39.1, sections 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 23 (LégisQuébec)
• Entreprises : faites de bonnes affaires en ne collectant que ce qui est nécessaire (pièces d'identité), Commission d'accès à l'information
• Pièces d'identité, Commission d'accès à l'information
• La vidéosurveillance : conseils pratiques à l'intention des organismes publics et des entreprises (janvier 2019), Commission d'accès à l'information

Is your first day as a security guard coming up? Whether you are a new security guard fresh out of training or a beginner changing agencies, good preparation saves you a lot of missteps. Here is what to bring, how arrival at the site goes, which questions to ask the supervisor and how to check your first pay under the Decree.

What should you bring on your first day as a security guard?

The most important item is your BSP agent licence. The Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders carrying on a private security activity (s. 2) requires the guard to show the licence when a person asks the guard to identify themselves and to carry any prescribed identification. The Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, says so as well: the public can ask a guard to show their licence. Keep it on you for the whole shift.

Your checklist:

• ☐ your BSP agent licence (or temporary licence)
• ☐ a piece of photo ID
• ☐ a small notebook and two pens, to write down instructions, names and times
• ☐ a flashlight, especially for an evening or night shift
• ☐ clothing suited to the weather (warm layers, spare socks), if part of the post is outdoors
• ☐ comfortable shoes, if the employer does not require safety footwear
• ☐ a meal and snacks, with a bottle of water: many posts have no restaurant nearby
• ☐ your charged cellphone and its charger
• ☐ the exact address of the site, the name of the person to meet and the dispatcher's number.

Does your licence expire in less than a year? See the fees and renewal deadline for the BSP licence.

Who provides a new security guard's uniform?

For agency guards covered by the Decree, it is the employer. Under section 8.02 of the Decree respecting security guards, the employer pays for the uniform and equipment it asks you to wear, except socks, belts and footwear. If it requires safety footwear, it provides it. Each year, it provides at least 4 shirts and 2 pairs of pants and, if the duties call for it, a winter coat with a hood as well as a raincoat and a rain hat.

No deduction from your pay is allowed in connection with this uniform and equipment. At the end of employment, however, you will have to return every item provided. If the agency does not provide you with a uniform, the Decree provides for the P-9 premium of $0.15 an hour. The other premiums are explained in our article on the premiums in the security guards' Decree.

How does on-site training work?

Basic training taught you the trade. The first day is for learning this particular site. In general, an experienced guard or a supervisor goes with you. Expect to:

1. Read the post orders: what the client expects, authorized access, the rounds to do, what is forbidden.
2. Tour the premises: entrances, emergency exits, alarm panel, fire extinguishers, risk areas, spots where cell reception is poor.
3. Review the emergency procedures: fire, evacuation, alarm, injured person, intruder. Find out who to call and in what order.
4. Learn to keep the logbook: the book or app where rounds, visitors, keys and events are recorded.

Take notes. If an incident occurs, you will have to describe it factually: our security guard incident report template shows how.

Which questions should you ask your supervisor?

• My schedule: which shifts, which days, and how am I told about changes?
• My breaks and my meal: section 3.12 of the Decree provides for a 30-minute paid meal period for each 5-hour work period, whether or not you are allowed to leave your post. Ask how it is taken at this site.
• Who to call: supervisor, dispatcher, client contact, by night as well as by day.
• The written orders: where are they, and can I keep a copy or reread them at any time?
• The equipment: radio, keys, access cards, and who to hand them to at the end of the shift.

Will you be working nights? Our tips for coping well with night work as a security guard will help.

How do you check your first pay?

Since June 28, 2026, the Decree's minimum rate is $20.60 an hour for Class A and $20.85 for Class B (s. 4.07). The employer can pay more, never less. Applicable premiums are added to this rate.

Section 4.06 of the Decree requires the employer to give you, with your wages, a pay stub that lets you check the calculation. Among other things, it must show:

Write down your hours yourself every day: it is the best way to spot an error. To estimate what is left after taxes, see a security guard's net pay in 2026. If there is a problem, the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree) receives complaints, confidentially.

Which beginner mistakes should you avoid?

• Arriving exactly on time: allow 15 minutes to find the post and receive the handover.
• Improvising: when in doubt, follow the written order or call the supervisor.
• Forgetting the logbook: what is not written down did not happen.
• Spending the shift on your cellphone: the client notices everything.
• Overstepping your role: the guard must avoid any abuse of authority and must not use more force than necessary (s. 3 of the regulation respecting standards of conduct).
• Leaving your licence at home.

Is there a probation period and a notice of termination?

Yes. The Decree defines the “trial A-03 employee”: an employee who has not completed a trial period of 480 hours actually worked or 150 days (s. 1.01). It also sets the point from which notice applies. Section 3.08 requires the employer to give written notice before ending the employment or laying off for 6 months or more: 1 week with less than one year of continuous service, 2 weeks from 1 to 5 years, 4 weeks from 5 to 10 years and 8 weeks after 10 years. Under section 3.08.1, this notice does not apply to an employee who does not have 3 months of continuous service, nor in the case of a serious fault, a fortuitous event or the end of a fixed-term contract. The details are in our article on the security guards' Decree explained.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to show my licence if someone asks for it?

Yes. The regulation respecting standards of conduct requires the guard to show the licence when a person asks the guard to identify themselves.

Can my employer deduct the cost of the uniform from my pay?

No. Section 8.02 of the Decree forbids any deduction from wages in connection with the uniform and equipment provided.

Is my meal break paid?

Yes: 30 paid minutes per 5-hour work period, under section 3.12 of the Decree, even if you cannot leave your post.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 1.01, 3.08, 3.08.1, 3.12, 4.06, 4.07 and 8.02
• LégisQuébec: Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders carrying on a private security activity, sections 2 and 3
• Bureau de la sécurité privée: foire aux questions
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: salariés et plaintes

On your first day at a site, the radio can sound like another language: “Bravo Four, roger”, “code white in emergency”, “stand by”. This guide explains the security radio codes every guard should master: good habits for talking on the air, the radio alphabet, procedure words, 24-hour time, colour codes such as code white, and confidentiality. The basic rules come from circular RIC-22 (CIR-22 in French) from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), which describes general radiotelephone operating procedures.

How do you speak properly on the radio?

A portable radio lets only one person speak at a time. If two guards press at the same moment, nobody hears anything. The habits to adopt:

1. Listen before you press. RIC-22 asks the operator to listen to the channel long enough before transmitting, so as not to interfere with a communication in progress.
2. Press, wait one second, then speak. The first word is often cut off if you speak at the same moment you press the button.
3. Identify yourself. The set form is: the call sign of the person you are calling, then “this is” (“ici” in French), then your own. For example: “Central, this is Patrol 2”.
4. Be brief. Prepare your message before you press: who, what, where. The details will go in your incident report.
5. Confirm receipt. A simple “roger” saves the other person from repeating the message.
6. Speak calmly, at a normal pace, with your mouth a few centimetres from the microphone.

What is the radio alphabet?

The radio alphabet (often called the “NATO alphabet”) is used to spell a licence plate, a name or a room number without error. In Canada, ISED's RIC-22 calls it the phonetic alphabet of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Note the official spelling: Alfa and Juliett.

Not to be confused: for the Office québécois de la langue française, the “alphabet phonétique international” (International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA) is the system of symbols used to transcribe the sounds of languages, not the Alfa, Bravo, Charlie list.

Example: the plate “K4P” is said “Kilo, four, Papa”.

Which procedure words do you need to know?

RIC-22 defines precise procedure words. The table gives each one with the word from the French version in parentheses. Your employer may use variants. Learn the ones used at your site.

In the English version of RIC-22, you ask for a repetition with say again rather than repeat. Many Quebec teams simply say “répétez”. Follow the usage at your post.

Why use 24-hour time?

To avoid any confusion between morning and evening, especially during a night shift. RIC-22 expresses time in four digits: the first two for the hour since midnight, the last two for the minutes. So “0045” means 12:45 a.m. and “1345” means 13:45 (1:45 p.m.). Write your times this way in the logbook and in reports as well.

What do code white, code red and code blue mean?

Quebec health care institutions use colour codes to launch their emergency measures without alarming patients and visitors. The CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale and the CISSS des Laurentides each publish their own list of about a dozen codes. Here are the main codes of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal:

The lists look alike from one institution to another, but not always word for word: the CISSS des Laurentides, for example, describes code pink as a “pediatric emergency”, and its list includes code silver (armed person). Learn the list posted in your institution and the procedure to follow for each code. To learn more about this setting, read our article on working as a hospital security guard.

Are “10 codes” mandatory?

No. Codes like “10-4” do not appear in RIC-22, which favours plain-language words (“roger”, “affirmative”). They are not standardized: some agencies have a house list, others forbid them. Use them only if your employer gives you a written list, and ask for it as soon as you arrive, for example on an event contract where several teams share the airwaves.

What can you say on the air?

Assume that everyone can hear you: co-workers, clients standing near a radio, sometimes people listening to the frequency. RIC-22 points out that it is forbidden to divulge the content of intercepted radio communications, except where the law provides otherwise. In practice:

• no full name, date of birth or address on the air. Describe the person (clothing, location)
• no health information
• for a sensitive matter, ask for a phone call or a meeting in person
• no personal conversations or jokes on the work channel.

Frequently asked questions

What does “code white” mean?

In the Quebec health care institutions we consulted, code white signals a request for immediate help because a person is behaving aggressively in a way that poses a risk to that person or to others.

Should you say “Alpha” or “Alfa”?

The pronunciation is the same. The official spelling in the ITU alphabet, used by ISED, is “Alfa” and “Juliett”.

Are “roger” and “out” the same thing?

No. “Roger” (“reçu”) confirms that you received the message. “Out” (“terminé”) closes the conversation: no response is expected.

Sources

• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, CIR-22 — Procédures générales d'exploitation en radiotéléphonie (English version: RIC-22)
• Office québécois de la langue française, Vitrine linguistique, entry “alphabet phonétique international”
• CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Introduction aux mesures d'urgence (journée d'accueil)
• CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Codes de mesures d'urgence
• CISSS des Laurentides, Mesures d'urgence

Knowing how to handle an aggressive client is part of a security guard's daily life: at the entrance of a store, in a hospital emergency room, in a bar or at an event. De-escalation means bringing the tension down through words, posture and distance, before the situation tips over. Here is a simple method, based on the public advice of the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). It contains no physical control techniques: those belong to the training given by your agency.

This article is for information only. The written instructions of your agency and of your client (the site where you work) always take priority.

What is workplace violence, according to the CNESST?

The CNESST describes workplace violence as physical or psychological. It distinguishes internal violence (between staff members) from external violence, which comes from outside people: clients, patients, suppliers. The latter is what a guard most often experiences. The CNESST also lists risk factors that fit the trade closely: working with the public, handling money, working alone and establishments where alcohol is served.

The CCOHS says the same: violence includes threats, verbal abuse and intimidation, not only blows. An insult or a threat is already an incident, even if no one was touched.

What signs show that a client is about to become aggressive?

The CCOHS publishes a list of warning signs. Among the physical signs to watch for:

• pale or red face, sweating, trembling
• clenched jaws or fists
• exaggerated or abrupt gestures, repetitive movements (pacing)
• a voice that rises or changes tone, rapid breathing
• an angry or evasive look, contemptuous comments
• a person who invades your personal space.

A single sign means nothing. It is the build-up that should alert you. The earlier you step in, the better your chances of defusing the situation with words.

What posture and what distance should you adopt?

The CCOHS recommends a calm posture, standing at an angle rather than face to face, and keeping about one metre of personal space. In practice, for a guard:

• stand sideways, hands visible and open, at waist height
• always keep an exit behind you or to the side. Do not let yourself get stuck in a corner
• avoid crossed arms, a pointed finger, hands on your hips or on your equipment
• if the person moves forward, take a step back rather than "standing your ground".

How do you use your voice to calm the situation?

The CCOHS advice comes down to three words: speak slowly, quietly and confidently, and listen without interrupting. A low, steady voice prompts the other person to lower theirs. Use short sentences, call the person by name if you know it, and rephrase what they just said to show that you understood.

What should you say and what should you avoid in front of an aggressive client?

The idea: acknowledge the emotion without agreeing with the behaviour, and never turn the exchange into a power struggle.

Why offer the client choices?

The CCOHS advises being reassuring and pointing out the different choices available, by proposing specific and realistic solutions. A person who is cornered reacts more strongly. A person who has a way out can back down without losing face. For example:

• "You can wait here, or come back tomorrow morning when the service is open."
• "We can talk about it outside, or I can give you the customer service number."
• "You can leave by the front door or by the side door, whichever you prefer."

Offer only choices that you can actually deliver: a promise that is not kept sets the crisis off again.

When should you withdraw and call for backup or 911?

De-escalation has its limits. According to the CCOHS, if the situation gets worse, you should interrupt the exchange firmly but politely, say clearly that you will not accept being mistreated, and end the conversation. If the person refuses to leave, you move away and call security or the police. The CCOHS also says never to step into a fight without training, and to call the police as soon as a weapon is present.

1. Internal backup: as soon as the signs build up, notify a co-worker or your supervisor by radio, before things get out of hand.
2. Withdrawal: if you are alone facing several people or the threats become specific, move away and protect the public.
3. 911: weapon, blows, death threat or person in danger. Do not wait for permission.

Holding a person by force is another matter, governed by law: see the limits of a citizen's arrest by a security guard.

What should you do after the incident?

• Report: write it the same day, with the facts, the exact words and the witnesses. Our incident report template for security guards guides you step by step. The CCOHS stresses the importance of reporting any threatening interaction.
• Debriefing: go over the event with your supervisor or your co-workers: what worked, what could have been done differently.
• Psychological support: verbal aggression can leave a mark. Among support measures, the CNESST mentions peer support programs. Also ask whether your employer offers an employee assistance program (EAP).
• CNESST: if you are injured, physically or psychologically, report it to your employer and see a doctor. Your recourses are explained in our article security guard assaulted: your rights and recourses.

Frequently asked questions

Does a security guard have to put up with a client's insults?

No. The CNESST considers psychological violence to be workplace violence. You can end the exchange, call a supervisor and record the words in a report.

What distance should you keep from an aggressive client?

The CCOHS suggests about one metre of personal space, standing at an angle. Keep more distance if the person is very agitated, and always a clear exit.

Does de-escalation work every time?

No. It reduces the risks but does not eliminate them. If a weapon appears or blows are struck, your priority is to get to safety and call 911.

Sources

• CNESST, Violence en milieu de travail.
• CCOHS, Violence and Harassment in the Workplace – Dealing with Negative Interactions.
• CCOHS, Violence and Harassment in the Workplace – Warning Signs.
• CCOHS, Violence and Harassment in the Workplace.

You work for an agency and you wonder what a security guards' union is for, or how to go about unionizing? In Quebec, the trade has one particular feature: a decree already sets minimum conditions for all agency guards, unionized or not. This article explains, with the legal texts to back it up, how the decree and the union fit together, how unionization works and what it changes in concrete terms. It takes no side for or against: it is up to you to judge.

The Decree or the union: what applies to a security guard?

The Decree and the collective agreement are two separate tools.

• The Decree (Decree respecting security guards, CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1) stems from the Act respecting collective agreement decrees. Section 2 of that Act allows the government to order that a collective agreement binds all the employees and all the employers of a sector. The Decree therefore applies to all agency guards, whether they are members of a union or not. Its provisions are public policy (s. 11 of the Act) and it is forbidden to pay less than the wage it sets (s. 12).
• The collective agreement that comes with certification falls under the Labour Code. It is negotiated between an employer and the union certified to represent its employees, and it covers only the employees of that bargaining unit.

The two are layered: the collective agreement can grant more than the Decree, never less. Section 13 of the Act specifies that clauses providing for higher pay or more extensive benefits than the Decree are valid. For the details of the minimums (rates, overtime, vacation, notice), see our article the security guards' decree explained.

Who negotiates the security guards' decree?

The Decree rests on an agreement between "contracting parties". According to section 0.01 of the Decree, they are:

These are also the parties that can oppose the automatic renewal of the Decree. Section 9.01 provides that it remains in force until July 4, 2027, then renews from year to year, unless a contracting party sends a written notice of opposition in March. The Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree), for its part, administers the Decree and sees that it is respected. For what may come next for the rates, read security guard pay in 2027.

Being covered by the Decree does not make you a member of the signatory union. Joining a union and certification at your agency are separate matters, governed by the Labour Code.

How do you unionize as a security guard?

The starting point is section 3 of the Labour Code: every employee has the right to belong to the association of employees of their choice and to take part in its formation and its activities. To obtain the right to negotiate a collective agreement with the employer, the association must be certified by the Administrative Labour Tribunal (TAT).

1. Sign a membership form. To count as a member, the employee must be part of the unit concerned, have signed a dated membership form that has not been revoked, and have personally paid union dues of at least $2 in the 12 months before the petition (s. 36.1).
2. File the petition. The association files a petition for certification with the Tribunal, authorized by resolution and accompanied by the membership forms (s. 25). The employer must post the petition for at least 5 consecutive days, along with the list of the employees concerned.
3. Check representativeness. A labour relations officer checks the association's books and the list of employees (s. 28).

What majority is needed?

Section 21 grants certification to the association that groups the absolute majority of the employer's employees (or of the group concerned). Under section 28:

• more than 50% members: certification without a vote, if the employer and the association agree on the bargaining unit
• between 35% and 50% members: a vote by secret ballot is held, and the association is certified if it obtains the absolute majority of the votes of the employees in the unit
• disagreement on the unit: the employer must explain its reasons in writing and propose another unit. If it does not do so within 15 days, it is presumed to agree.

How much are union dues?

The amount is set by the association, not by law. Once the association is certified, section 47 of the Labour Code (often called the Rand formula) requires the employer to withhold the dues from the wages of members, and an equal amount from the wages of all the other employees in the bargaining unit, members or not. The employer remits these sums to the association every month.

Since 2026, the law distinguishes between main dues and optional dues. Some activities, such as advertising campaigns on partisan political subjects, must be funded only by the optional dues (s. 47.0.1).

The dues are added to the deductions already on your pay, including the Comité paritaire levy. To estimate the effect on your pay, see a security guard's net pay in 2026.

Can the employer punish a guard who wants to unionize?

No. The Labour Code provides several protections:

• the employer cannot seek to dominate, hinder or finance an association of employees (s. 12)
• no one can use intimidation or threats to induce someone to become a member, not to become one or to stop being one (s. 13)
• the employer cannot refuse to hire, threaten, penalize or take reprisals against a person who exercises a right provided for in the Code (s. 14), but it keeps the right to penalize for a good and sufficient cause that it must prove.

An employee who is dismissed, suspended, transferred or targeted by reprisals can file a complaint with the Administrative Labour Tribunal within 30 days (s. 16). If the employee establishes that they were exercising a right provided for in the Code, they benefit from a presumption: it is up to the employer to prove another good and sufficient cause (s. 17). The Tribunal can order reinstatement within 8 days and payment of the wages lost (s. 15).

Do unionized security guards have the right to strike?

Yes, under the general rules. A strike is prohibited as long as the association is not certified and has not acquired that right (s. 106). The right to strike is acquired 90 days after the notice to bargain is received, unless an agreement is reached or the parties choose arbitration (s. 58). A strike is prohibited during the term of a collective agreement (s. 107).

Essential services can be imposed: if a strike could endanger public health or safety, the Tribunal can order that they be maintained in a public service, or in an enterprise whose activities make it comparable to a public service (s. 111.0.17). The Tribunal decides, case by case. Since 2025, the Code also provides for "services ensuring the well-being of the population" (s. 111.22.3 and following).

What can a union do beyond the Decree?

The Decree sets a floor for the whole sector. A collective agreement can go further on matters specific to the agency or the site: rates above the minimum, seniority for schedules and assignments, a grievance procedure, group insurance, and so on. The Decree itself provides that a collective agreement can arrange certain things differently, such as the staggering of working hours (s. 3.01.1) or the start of the reference year for vacation (s. 5.01).

In return, the dues are mandatory for all the employees in the unit, and the agreement binds the whole group, including those who would have preferred other conditions. In a non-unionized agency, the Decree, the Act respecting labour standards and your individual contract are what apply. The Comité paritaire remains your recourse for compliance with the Decree. In a case of violence at work, also see your rights if you are assaulted at work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best union for security guards?

This site does not rank unions. In Quebec, the union party named in the Decree respecting security guards is the Syndicat des Métallos, section locale 8922 (FTQ), according to section 0.01 of the Decree. Every employee has the right to belong to the association of employees of their choice (s. 3 of the Labour Code). The Decree applies to all agency guards, whether they are members of a union or not.

Do I have to be unionized to be entitled to the Decree's rate?

No. The Decree binds all the employers and employees within its scope, unionized or not, and it is forbidden to pay less than the wage it sets.

How many co-workers does it take to unionize?

It takes the absolute majority of the employees in the bargaining unit. With 35% to 50% members, a vote is held and the association must obtain the absolute majority of the votes.

If I am not a member of the union, do I pay the dues?

Yes, if a union is certified for your unit: the employer withholds an amount equal to the dues from the wages of every employee in the unit, member or not (s. 47).

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact the Administrative Labour Tribunal or a lawyer.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Code du travail, ss. 3, 12 to 17, 21, 25, 28, 36.1, 47, 47.0.1, 58, 106, 107, 111.0.17 and 111.22.3
• LégisQuébec: Act respecting collective agreement decrees, ss. 2, 11, 12 and 13
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, ss. 0.01, 3.01.1, 5.01 and 9.01 (up to date as of June 1, 2026)

How many hours can an employer ask of you? When does overtime for a security guard start, and can you refuse it? Are 12-hour shifts allowed? In Quebec, the answer lies in two texts that add up: the Decree respecting security guards, enforced by the Comité paritaire, and the Act respecting labour standards (ALS), enforced by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board). Here are the rules, checked against the official sources.

What is the regular workweek of a security guard?

According to the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree), under sections 3.01, 3.03 and 3.04 of the Decree, the regular workweek is 40 hours for the purpose of calculating overtime. Each hour worked beyond 40 hours in the week is an overtime hour.

Watch out for one source of confusion: the CNESST page on the regular workweek shows 44 hours for watchmen employed by a security company. That figure comes from a specific rule in the Regulation respecting labour standards (s. 9) for watchmen employed by a security company. The general rule under the Act is 40 hours. The Decree, which covers the guards of security agencies, sets a more advantageous threshold of 40 hours, and that is the one that counts for you.

The CNESST also points out that the regular workweek is not a limit: it is used to know when the hour starts being paid at a higher rate, not to forbid work beyond it. The overtime rate (150%) is explained in our article on the security guards' decree explained simply.

Can the employer stagger the hours over several weeks?

Yes, but under strict conditions (section 3.01.1 of the Decree). According to the Comité paritaire's FAQ, the employer cannot pay you more than 40 hours a week at the regular rate, unless:

• you have agreed to the staggering of the hours of the contract you are assigned to
• the staggering is accepted by all the employees on the contract
• the employer grants you a benefit of another kind to make up for the loss of the overtime pay.

Section 3.01.1 of the Decree adds other conditions, including a written notice to the parity committee. If they are not all met, each hour beyond 40 in the week must be paid as overtime.

Are 12-hour shifts allowed?

Nothing in the sources consulted prohibits a 12-hour shift, which is very common in the trade. What counts is the total for the week. According to the Comité paritaire, working more than 12 hours on a shift does not automatically become overtime, except in the situation covered by the second paragraph of section 3.03 of the Decree. As a general rule, it is the threshold of 40 hours a week that triggers the higher rate.

Example: four 12-hour shifts in the same week make 48 hours, so 8 overtime hours, unless there is a valid staggering agreement.

The 12-hour shift does have a limit on the ALS side, however: beyond certain daily thresholds, you can refuse to continue (see below). For health and fatigue on long shifts, also read our article on working as a night-shift security guard.

Can you refuse overtime?

Yes. According to the CNESST, which applies section 59.0.1 of the Act respecting labour standards, an employee can refuse overtime when asked to work:

• more than 2 hours beyond their regular daily working hours
• or more than 14 hours per 24-hour period, whichever period is shorter
• more than 12 hours per 24-hour period, if their hours are flexible or non-continuous
• more than 50 hours a week, unless their hours are staggered

The threshold of 60 hours a week mentioned by the CNESST applies only to isolated areas and the James Bay territory.

In concrete terms, a guard whose regular shift is 12 hours and who is asked to "double" can refuse to stay beyond 14 hours of work in the same 24-hour period.

The exceptions to the right to refuse

According to the CNESST, you cannot refuse if doing so endangers the life, health or safety of other people, if there is a risk of serious destruction of property or another case of superior force, or if the refusal goes against your professional code of ethics. In security, this exception can come into play: a post that cannot be left unwatched in an emergency is not an ordinary case. Outside these situations, a refusal based on the Act must not earn you a penalty.

How far in advance must you know your schedule?

The CNESST specifies that an employee can refuse to work if the employer did not inform them of their schedule 5 days in advance. Exception: the employer can ask to extend the day on the day itself without this notice, and you cannot refuse for that reason alone. The thresholds seen above still apply, however. Note also: the Act sets aside this 5-day notice where "the nature of their duties requires the employee to remain available" (s. 59.0.1, par. 3). A guard on call will therefore find it harder to rely on this rule.

What is the minimum rest between two weeks?

According to the CNESST (sections 78 and 79 of the ALS), the worker must have a rest period of at least 32 consecutive hours each week. A run of 12-hour shifts seven days a week is therefore not allowed.

What does the Decree provide for recall and on-call work?

Recall to work: if the employer calls you in and you work fewer than 4 consecutive hours, the Decree guarantees you at least 4 paid hours (section 3.07). That is more than the 3-hour indemnity provided by the ALS for all employees.

Reporting to the office: if the employer requires you to stop by its offices before going to the site, you are paid from the time your presence there is required, according to the Comité paritaire. The Decree sets out the principle in section 3.06: an employee who is at the employer's disposal at the place of work and who has to wait to be given work is deemed to be at work.

On-call work: the Decree provides for a Class A on call, for guards without a set schedule. The Decree does not guarantee a minimum number of hours per week. For A-01 status, the Comité paritaire states that a guard who qualifies on October 31 must remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, up to 40 hours, otherwise the employer can withdraw that status during the year.

What are the rules at a glance?

These rules are minimums. A collective agreement or your contract can provide for better. If in doubt about your hours, keep your schedules and your pay stubs. If hours are imposed on you after an assault or an incident, see also your rights and the steps to take after an assault at work.

Frequently asked questions

Can my employer make me work 60 hours a week?

The employer can ask you to, but you can refuse the hours beyond 50 hours a week, unless your hours are staggered. And all hours beyond 40 are paid as overtime, unless there is a valid staggering.

Does a 12-hour shift entitle you to overtime?

Not in itself. It is the total of 40 hours in the week that counts, except for the situation covered by the second paragraph of section 3.03 of the Decree.

Who do I complain to if my overtime is not paid?

To the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité, which enforces the Decree. For a refusal of hours that was penalized or a rest period that was not respected, the CNESST receives labour standards complaints. See also the Decree's premiums that many guards do not claim.

What are a security guard's working hours?

In Quebec, the job comes with irregular schedules (evenings, nights, weekends, statutory holidays), as described in our guide to becoming a security guard. The 12-hour shift is very common in the trade, and nothing in the sources consulted prohibits it. According to the CNESST, an employee can refuse to work if the employer did not inform them of their schedule 5 days in advance, subject to the exceptions described in the section "How far in advance must you know your schedule?". Night work is described in the night-shift security guard.

What is the maximum working time for a security guard?

In Quebec, the regular 40-hour workweek is not a limit, according to the CNESST. Under section 59.0.1 of the Act respecting labour standards, an employee can refuse to work more than 2 hours beyond their regular daily working hours or more than 14 hours per 24-hour period, whichever period is shorter, more than 12 hours per 24-hour period if their hours are flexible or non-continuous, or more than 50 hours a week, unless their hours are staggered. The threshold of 60 hours a week applies only to isolated areas and the James Bay territory, and the right to refuse has the exceptions described in the section "Can you refuse overtime?". The employee is also entitled to a rest period of at least 32 consecutive hours each week, according to the CNESST (ALS, s. 78 and 79).

Sources

• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: salariés et FAQ (ss. 3.01, 3.01.1, 3.03, 3.04, 3.06, 3.12, A-01 status)
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards (s. 3.07 and Class A on call)
• CNESST: droit de refuser de faire des heures supplémentaires
• CNESST: semaine normale de travail
• CNESST: temps travaillé, pauses et repos hebdomadaire

A supervisor who belittles you in front of others on every shift, a co-worker who keeps making remarks of a sexual nature, a tenant or a client who insults you every evening at the same post: workplace harassment affects security guards too, and Quebec law gives them specific rights. This guide explains what psychological harassment is under the Act respecting labour standards, what your employer must do, how to file a complaint with the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) and how to keep useful records.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact the CNESST, your union or a lawyer.

What is psychological harassment under the law?

Section 81.18 of the Act respecting labour standards defines psychological harassment as vexatious behaviour in the form of repeated conduct, verbal comments, actions or gestures that are hostile or unwanted, that affect the person's dignity or psychological or physical integrity and that result in a harmful work environment.

Three important points:

• Sexual harassment is included. The Act specifies that psychological harassment includes verbal comments, actions or gestures of a sexual nature.
• A single act can be enough. A single serious incidence of such behaviour can also be harassment if it has that kind of effect and produces a lasting harmful effect.
• It does not matter where it comes from. The employer must prevent harassment "from any person" (s. 81.19): a superior, a co-worker, but also an outside person such as a client or a visitor.

A firm instruction, a negative evaluation or a disciplinary measure is not, in itself, harassment. What counts is the vexatious, hostile or unwanted nature of the behaviour and its effects on you.

What are the guard's rights and the employer's obligations?

Under section 81.19, every employee has a right to a work environment free from psychological harassment. The employer must take reasonable action to prevent harassment and, when such behaviour is brought to its attention, to put a stop to it.

The employer must also adopt and make available to its employees a policy for preventing psychological harassment and handling such situations. According to the same section, this policy must in particular provide for:

Ask your agency for a copy of this policy: it is often the first step recommended by the CNESST, which suggests following the procedure set out in it if the circumstances allow.

Agency guard assigned to a client's site: who is responsible?

Most guards work for an agency and are assigned to a client's site (shopping centre, office tower, hospital, construction site). The Decree respecting security guards defines the guard as a person who performs security work "on behalf of or through a security agency". The obligations of section 81.19 are aimed at the employer: in this case, your agency must take reasonable action to prevent the harassment and put a stop to it, even if it comes from an employee of the client or from a user of the site.

In concrete terms, if the harassment comes from someone at the client's site, report it first to your agency, in writing, following its policy. The Act does not specify which action the agency must choose. It requires "reasonable" action. To learn more about your status, read our article on the security guards' decree explained.

If a client becomes aggressive in the moment, the techniques in our guide to handling an aggressive client through de-escalation remain useful. But when the insults come back every week, it is no longer just a difficult intervention: it is a situation the employer must deal with.

How do you keep records of the harassment?

A complaint is won with facts. From the first incidents:

1. Keep a personal journal, at home and not on a device that belongs to the employer: date, time, place, exact words, gestures, people present, effect on you.
2. Write down the witnesses: co-workers on the shift, the client's employees, users. The CNESST states that the names of witnesses remain confidential during its investigation.
3. Keep what is in writing: emails, text messages, messages on the agency's apps, changed schedules, supervision notes.
4. Report in writing to the person designated in the policy and keep a copy of your report and of the answer.
5. See a doctor if your health is affected and keep the medical documents.

Incidents that happen while you are on duty can also be recorded in a report. Our incident report template for security guards helps you write precise, neutral facts.

How do you file a harassment complaint with the CNESST?

If the situation is not resolved with the employer, or if you cannot talk about it internally, you can file a harassment complaint with the CNESST. Section 123.6 allows an employee who believes they have been the victim of psychological harassment to file a written complaint with the Commission. A non-profit organization dedicated to the defence of employees' rights can also file it for you, with your written consent.

The deadline: two years. Under section 123.7, the complaint must be filed within two years of the last incidence of the behaviour. Do not wait all the same: memories and witnesses fade.

The steps described by the CNESST:

If the CNESST refuses to act on the complaint, you can, within 30 days of that decision, ask it in writing to refer the complaint to the Administrative Labour Tribunal (s. 123.9).

If the Tribunal finds that you were the victim of harassment and that the employer did not meet its obligations, it can in particular order (s. 123.15) your reinstatement, an indemnity up to a maximum equivalent to the wages lost, measures to put a stop to the harassment, punitive and moral damages, the funding of psychological support or the modification of your disciplinary record.

What if I am unionized?

Under section 81.20, these protections are part of every collective agreement. A unionized employee must exercise the recourses provided for in the agreement, to the extent that such a recourse exists, and the two-year deadline applies as well. Talk to your union representative first.

Can harassment be an employment injury?

Yes, in some cases. The CNESST states that if the harassment caused a psychological injury attested by a doctor, filing both a claim for an industrial accident and a harassment complaint can make it possible to be compensated. These are two separate procedures. The steps of the claim (notice to the employer, medical certificate) are described in our article on the rights of a security guard who is assaulted at work.

The CNESST also mentions that it is possible to report the situation to an inspector, confidentially or anonymously, if you cannot talk about it with your employer or if nothing has changed after your report.

Frequently asked questions

My supervisor yells at me once: is that harassment?

A single lapse generally is not, unless it is serious behaviour that produces a lasting harmful effect (s. 81.18). Write down the incident: if it happens again, it can become part of a pattern.

How much does a complaint to the CNESST cost?

Filing the complaint and mediation are offered at no cost, and if the case goes to the Tribunal, the CNESST can provide you with a lawyer at no cost. You can also hire your own lawyer, at your own expense.

Can my agency stop me from filing a complaint because the harasser works for the client?

No. The right to a work environment free from harassment covers harassment from any person, and it is your employer who must take reasonable action to put a stop to it. You can go to the CNESST within the two-year deadline.

Sources

• Loi sur les normes du travail (RLRQ, c. N-1.1), ss. 81.18, 81.19, 81.20, 123.6 to 123.10 and 123.15 – LégisQuébec
• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), s. 1.01 – LégisQuébec
• Complaint concerning psychological or sexual harassment – CNESST
• What to do if you think you are being harassed – CNESST
• Politique de prévention et de prise en charge du harcèlement psychologique – CNESST

Your agency loses the contract for the site where you work, and you are told about a layoff or an outright dismissal: what should you do? The dismissal of a security guard in Quebec is governed both by the Decree respecting security guards and by the Act respecting labour standards. Here, in plain language, is the difference between the situations, the notice you are entitled to, the papers to ask for and the possible recourses, with their deadlines.

This article is for information only and is not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board), the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree), your union or a lawyer.

Dismissal, layoff or end of contract: what is the difference?

• Dismissal: the employer ends your employment permanently, often for a reason related to you (conduct, performance).
• Layoff: the employer stops giving you work, in principle temporarily, for lack of work. You remain its employee.
• Loss of the client's contract: in private security, this is common. When a client changes agencies, your employer does not necessarily dismiss you. It can place you elsewhere, lay you off or end your employment. In the last two cases, the notice rules below apply.
• End of a fixed-term contract: if you were hired for a specific term or mandate that comes to an end, the Decree's notice does not apply (s. 3.08.1).

What notice is required for the dismissal or layoff of a security guard?

The Decree requires the employer to give written notice before ending your employment or laying you off for 6 months or more (s. 3.08). The length depends on your uninterrupted service: 1 week (less than one year), 2 weeks (1 to 5 years), 4 weeks (5 to 10 years) and 8 weeks (10 years or more). The full table is explained in our article the security guards' decree explained.

This notice is not owed if you have less than 3 months of uninterrupted service, if your fixed-term contract expires, if you committed a serious fault or in a case of superior force (s. 3.08.1). A notice of termination of employment given during a layoff is null, except for seasonal employment (s. 3.08).

For a layoff of less than 6 months, you must receive written notice of at least 1 week, except in circumstances beyond the employer's control. This notice is not owed to the casual employee A-04 or to a person who has less than 3 months of uninterrupted service (s. 3.11).

What happens if the employer gives no notice?

The employer must pay you a compensatory indemnity for the length of the missing notice (s. 3.09). It is equal to the weekly average of the wages received during your uninterrupted service, over no more than the 6 months before your departure.

The Act respecting labour standards provides the same lengths of notice (ss. 82 and 82.1). If the indemnity or your last pay does not arrive, see the section on the complaint to the Comité paritaire below.

Can I require a work certificate?

Yes. At the end of your contract, you can require a work certificate from the employer (s. 3.10 of the Decree). It states only the nature and length of your employment, the start and end dates, and the name and address of the employer. It cannot pass judgment on the quality of your work or your conduct. It is a useful document to prove your experience to another agency, on top of a good security guard resume.

What recourses are there if the dismissal is unfair?

Complaint for dismissal without good and sufficient cause

If you have 2 years of uninterrupted service in the same enterprise and believe you were dismissed without good and sufficient cause, you can file a written complaint with the CNESST within 45 days of your dismissal (s. 124 of the Act respecting labour standards). This recourse does not apply if another remedial procedure is provided elsewhere, for example in a collective agreement: a unionized guard then generally goes through a grievance. The CNESST can offer mediation and can require the employer to give the reasons for the dismissal in writing (s. 125).

Complaint for a prohibited practice

It is forbidden to dismiss, suspend, transfer or punish an employee because the employee exercised a right provided for by the Act respecting labour standards, because the employee gave information to the CNESST, or because the employee is pregnant, among other reasons (s. 122). This recourse does not require 2 years of service. The complaint is filed with the CNESST within 45 days of the practice complained of (s. 123). If you were the victim of an assault at work, our article on the rights of a security guard who is assaulted explains the steps involving the CNESST.

Complaint for unpaid wages or indemnity

For money owed under the Decree (wages, overtime, notice indemnity, the Decree's premiums), the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité is the body that sees that it is applied. It offers a complaint form on its website and answers at 514-493-9105 or 1-800-361-5442. Keep your pay stubs, your schedules and the notice of termination of employment.

Does the employer have to notify the BSP that my employment has ended?

Not in every case. The regulation requires the person for whom the holder of a temporary agent licence works to notify the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, when that person stops using the holder's services (s. 21 of the Regulation under the Private Security Act). For all its guards, the agency must also keep a register showing the date employment ended, kept for at least 2 years after that date (s. 25).

You are the holder of your agent licence: you keep it if you lose your job. Keep it valid and renew it on time. See what it costs and how not to lose your BSP licence. If you work with a temporary licence, check with the BSP before accepting a position at another agency.

What about employment insurance?

To apply for benefits, you need a Record of Employment. According to the Government of Canada, an employer who issues it electronically must generally do so within 5 calendar days after the end of the pay period in which the interruption of earnings occurred. Another deadline may apply to the paper record. A temporary layoff and a dismissal both give rise to a Record of Employment. Do not wait to file your application with Service Canada.

If your claim is refused or you cannot find your way through it, organizations can help. In Montreal, the Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal is a group that defends the rights of unemployed people: it gives information sessions on employment insurance and helps contest a decision. Its service line is 514-755-9240.

What should you do as soon as you are told?

1. Ask for the decision to be confirmed to you in writing, with the end date or the expected length of the layoff.
2. Calculate your uninterrupted service and the notice you are entitled to.
3. Require your work certificate and check your last pay.
4. Write down the date: the 45-day deadlines for complaints to the CNESST run out fast.
5. Keep your documents: contract, schedules, pay stubs, emails.

Frequently asked questions

My agency lost the contract: am I entitled to notice?

If the agency ends your employment or lays you off for 6 months or more and you have at least 3 months of uninterrupted service, yes: written notice or a compensatory indemnity (ss. 3.08 and 3.09 of the Decree). The loss of a contract is not in itself a serious fault on your part.

I have less than 2 years of seniority: do I have a recourse?

The recourse for dismissal without good and sufficient cause requires 2 years of uninterrupted service. But the complaint for a prohibited practice (ss. 122-123) and the claim for money through the Comité paritaire remain possible without that minimum.

Can the work certificate mention why I was dismissed?

No. Under section 3.10 of the Decree, it can mention neither the quality of your work nor your conduct.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, ss. 3.08 to 3.11
• LégisQuébec: Loi sur les normes du travail, ss. 82, 82.1, 83, 122, 123, 124 and 125
• LégisQuébec: Regulation under the Private Security Act, ss. 21 and 25
• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: file a complaint
• Canada.ca: Relevé d'emploi (RE)
• Mouvement Action-Chômage de Montréal

A parent in hospital, a sick child, a death in the family: life does not stop during your shifts. Sick leave and bereavement leave for a security guard are governed by two texts at once: the Decree respecting security guards and the Act respecting labour standards. In several cases, the Decree is even more generous than the Act. Here is, reason by reason, how many days you are entitled to, which ones are paid and what the employer can ask of you.

The Decree or the Act respecting labour standards: which one applies?

Both. The Act respecting labour standards is public policy: a clause of a decree that offers less than the Act is null (s. 93). Conversely, a decree can grant a condition that is "more advantageous" than the Act (s. 94). In practice, for each leave, you are entitled to the more favourable of the two rules.

Vacation and statutory holidays are explained in our article on the security guards' decree and your rights. Here, we cover social leave (Division 7.00 of the Decree) and the absences provided for by the Act.

How many sick days does a security guard have?

The Decree provides a real sick leave bank, but only for the permanent employee A-01 (the one who has completed the trial period and works an average of 30 hours a week).

• You accumulate 2% of your wages earned from November 1 to October 31, including the statutory holiday indemnity and the P-4 and P-12 premiums.
• The employer informs you of the amount accumulated no later than November 30.
• The following year, each day of absence for sickness or accident is paid out of that amount, from the first day, as long as the equivalent of a full day remains.
• The unused balance is paid to you no later than December 10 of the following year.

If you are not A-01, or if your bank is empty, the rules of the Act respecting labour standards apply: you can be absent for up to 26 weeks over 12 months for sickness, accident, organ donation, domestic violence or sexual violence (s. 79.1), and the first 2 days of absence in the year are paid, after 3 months of uninterrupted service (Decree, s. 7.01, par. 6). Note: these 2 paid days are shared with absences for family reasons, and for the A-01 employee they are taken from the 2% bank.

An injury or illness caused by work (an assault during a shift, for example) falls under the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board), not sick leave. See your rights if you are assaulted at work.

Can you be absent for a sick child or parent?

Yes. The Decree repeats the rule of the Act: 10 days a year for the care, health or education of your child (or your spouse's child), or because of the state of health of a relative or of a person for whom you act as a caregiver. The leave is taken in days, or in half-days if the employer consents. The first 2 days of the year are paid.

For a serious illness or accident of someone close to you, the Act respecting labour standards allows a longer absence, without pay: up to 16 weeks over 12 months, or 36 weeks in the case of a minor child (s. 79.8).

How many days for a death or a funeral?

For a death, the Decree grants more paid days than the Act, except for a son-in-law or daughter-in-law (1 day without pay in both texts). The paid days must be days you usually work, and they are not paid if they fall during your vacation or another leave under the Decree.

Notify your employer as soon as possible (Act, s. 80.2).

What leave is there for a wedding or a birth?

• Your wedding or civil union: 2 paid days under the Decree (the day itself and the day before or the day after), compared with only 1 under the Act. For the wedding of a child, a parent, a brother or a sister: the day itself, without pay. Notice of at least 1 week.
• Birth or adoption: 5 days, the first 2 of which are paid, and which can be split up. The Decree gives you 30 days after the child arrives to take them, while the Act gives only 15. The same leave applies to a termination of pregnancy from the 20^th week.

What about maternity, paternity or parental leave?

The Decree refers to the Act respecting labour standards for maternity leave (s. 7.09). The Act protects your job, for example with a paternity leave of no more than 5 continuous weeks, without pay (s. 81.2), with written notice of at least 3 weeks. Your income during these leaves comes from the Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP): see rqap.gouv.qc.ca for benefits and the application.

What notice and what supporting documents can the employer require?

• Sickness (A-01): the employer can require proof or a medical certificate before paying, but you can take 2 sick days a year of your choice without a certificate (Decree, s. 7.03).
• Sick leave under the Act: give notice as soon as possible. A document can be requested if the length or the repetition of the absences warrants it, but not for the first three absences of three consecutive days or less over a 12-month period (s. 79.2).
• Family reasons: a document can be required depending on the circumstances, but the Act prohibits requiring a medical certificate (s. 79.7). You must also limit the length of the leave by reasonable means.
• The day after New Year's Day or Christmas: if you were on the schedule and absent because of sickness, a medical certificate is required (Decree, s. 6.05).

Summary table

Your pay stub must show the running total of your sick leave percentage (Decree, s. 4.06). If it is missing, or if a paid leave is not paid, talk to the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree). To find out what your absences change on your cheque, see also a security guard's net pay in 2026 and the Decree's premiums.

Frequently asked questions

Is my sick leave paid if I work part time?

The 2% bank is reserved for the permanent employee A-01. If you are part time (A-02) or on trial, you are still entitled to the first 2 paid days of absence a year provided for by the Act, after 3 months of uninterrupted service.

How many days for the death of my mother?

The Decree grants you 5 paid days, including the day of the funeral, plus 1 day without pay and 1 more day without pay for the formalities related to the death.

Can my employer require a doctor's note for a sick child?

The employer can ask for a document that attests to the reason if the circumstances warrant it, but the Act respecting labour standards prohibits requiring a medical certificate for this leave (s. 79.7).

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards, CQLR c. D-2, r. 1 (ss. 4.06, 6.05, 7.01 to 7.04, 7.09), LégisQuébec, consulted on October 2, 2026.
• Loi sur les normes du travail, RLRQ c. N-1.1 (ss. 79.1, 79.2, 79.7, 79.8, 80 to 81.2.1, 93 and 94), LégisQuébec, consulted on October 2, 2026.
• Régime québécois d'assurance parentale.

Two practical rules have changed at the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator: how you pay your fees and what the Public Register shows during a renewal. Here is what you need to know, and what you need to do.

No more Interac e-Transfer

On its page on the fees payable by an agent, the BSP indicates that payments by Interac e-Transfer are no longer accepted. The BSP does not publish the exact date of this change on that page.

The accepted payment methods, according to the same page:

• debit card
• credit card or prepaid card
• cash
• cheque
• postal money order or bank money order

To pay online from your bank, the BSP asks you instead to add it as a payee with your financial institution, as you would for a bill.

In concrete terms, if you were in the habit of sending an Interac e-Transfer for your annual fees or your renewal, stop. A refused payment can delay your file. Add the BSP as a payee in your online banking service, or choose another method from the list above.

The amounts themselves did not change on this occasion. They are detailed in our article on licence fees and renewal.

Public Register: no more "Expired" status during renewal

In a notice dated July 8, 2025, published following the amendments to the Private Security Act made by Bill 85, the BSP announced a change to the Public Register. A licence's status no longer appears there as "Expired" as long as the BSP has not made its decision on its renewal.

The rule has applied since the summer of 2025. It is still not well known.

An employer or a client who consults the Register while your application is under review will no longer see an "expired" licence under your name. This avoids many misunderstandings at the time of a hiring or an assignment.

This change affects what the Register displays. It does not replace a renewal application sent on time.

Reminder: 45 days before the expiry date

The licence is valid for 5 years. The BSP sends the renewal form during the 5^th year, and it must be returned at least 45 days before the expiry date. Otherwise, you have to start a complete application over again.

What you need to do

• Note your licence's expiry date and count back 45 days to set your own deadline
• Fill out and return the renewal form as soon as you receive it
• Pay by an accepted method, never by Interac e-Transfer
• Keep proof of your mailing and your payment
• Check your status in the Public Register if an employer asks you the question

All the steps to get and keep your licence: the BSP licence guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pay for the BSP licence?

In Quebec, the BSP licence fees are paid by debit card, credit or prepaid card, cash, cheque, postal money order or bank money order, according to the BSP's page on the fees payable by an agent. Interac e-Transfer is no longer accepted. To pay online from your bank, add the BSP as a payee with your financial institution. The amounts are in our article on licence fees and renewal.

Sources

• BSP: droits payables pour un agent (payment methods)
• BSP: modifications à la LSP et allègements administratifs (PL 85), notice of July 8, 2025
• BSP: foire aux questions

On April 1, 2026, the Minister of Labour introduced Bill 27 in the National Assembly, titled Loi modifiant diverses dispositions concernant les décrets de convention collective et l'industrie de la construction (an Act to amend various provisions concerning collective agreement decrees and the construction industry). This text directly affected the decree system, the one that sets the minimum working conditions in private security. The National Assembly was dissolved before the general election of October 5, 2026, and this bill was not passed. Here is what it proposed and what that means for security guards.

A bill on decrees and construction

Bill 27 is a government public bill. It was introduced during the 2^nd session of the 43^rd Legislature, then reinstated in the 3^rd session on May 6, 2026, according to the National Assembly's record. It had two parts: collective agreement decrees, and the rules of the construction industry.

The Decree respecting security guards is a collective agreement decree. It extends to the whole industry the conditions negotiated between the employer and union parties. The Decree sets the minimum wage, overtime and vacation of guards. To learn more, see our article The security guards' decree explained.

What the bill would have changed for decrees

According to the Government of Quebec news release published on the day of introduction, the bill aimed to lighten administrative obligations and speed up certain processes. The main measures announced for decrees were the following:

• A review of the regulatory process, so that the working conditions agreed between the parties come into force more quickly
• The power, for the Minister, to recommend the repeal or amendment of a decree when the conditions that justified its extension are no longer met
• The automatic end of a decree when one of the parties sends a notice of non-renewal
• The removal of certain obligations imposed on parity committees, in order to reduce their expenses

The news release does not name the security guards' decree. However, these measures would have applied to all collective agreement decrees, and therefore also to the private security decree and its parity committee.

The last point is important for our industry. Today, section 9.01 of the Decree provides that it remains in force until July 4, 2027, then renews from year to year, unless a party objects by written notice. The bill would have made such a notice end the Decree automatically.

Dissolution ends the bill

The National Assembly was dissolved for the holding of the general election of October 5, 2026. The National Assembly's official glossary explains that with dissolution, the term of the Members ends and bills that have not yet been passed disappear.

Bill 27 was not passed before dissolution. It cannot become law as is. The election was held on October 5, 2026. The government that results from it will have to introduce a new bill if it wants to take up these measures, in whole or in part.

What stays in force for guards

For now, nothing changes. The current Decree continues to apply, with its renewal rules and its wage increases already scheduled. In particular, the minimum hourly rate will rise to $21.10 on July 4, 2027. The details of the rates are in our article Security guard salary in 2027.

We are following the work of the new legislature and will publish an update if a new bill affects decrees.

Update of October 7, 2026: the general election was held on October 5. As of that date, no new bill on decrees has been introduced.

Sources

• Assemblée nationale du Québec, Projet de loi n° 27, 43^rd Legislature
• Gouvernement du Québec, news release of April 1, 2026
• Assemblée nationale du Québec, Lexique : Dissolution
• Élections Québec, general election of October 5, 2026
• LégisQuébec, Decree respecting security guards, sections 4.07 and 9.01

"Your boss asks you to arrive before your shift. Will you be paid for that period?" That is the first question of the labour standards campaign launched by the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) on June 1, 2026. The answer is yes, and it closely concerns security guards, for whom shift handover, waiting for an assignment and required training are part of daily life.

What the CNESST points out

In its news release, the CNESST writes that all time worked must be paid. It gives a specific example: if the employer asks you to arrive 10 or 15 minutes early or to stay after the time set in the schedule, that time must be paid.

This rule comes from section 57 of the Act respecting labour standards. Under that section, an employee is deemed to be at work:

• while at the employer's disposal at the place of work and required to wait for work to be assigned
• during the breaks granted by the employer
• during travel required by the employer
• during any trial period or training required by the employer

What the security guards' decree says

Agency guards are also covered by the Decree respecting security guards. Its section 3.06 takes up the same idea: the employee is deemed to be at work while at the employer's disposal at the place of work and required to wait for work to be assigned.

The Decree goes further on two points:

• Meals: section 3.12 grants 30 paid minutes for each 5-hour work period, whether or not the guard is authorized to leave their post
• Training: section 4.07 provides that any training or renewal of training required by the employer or the client is at the employer's expense. These costs include the guard's pay as if they were at work, registration and other reasonable costs

Two exceptions to paid training: training that serves to qualify for a premium under the Decree, and training that allows you to obtain or renew your agent licence. For details on the premiums, see the Decree's premiums that many guards do not claim.

Three common situations

The handover briefing before the shift

Your supervisor requires you to be at the post 15 minutes before the hour to receive instructions from the outgoing guard. This time is requested by the employer. According to the CNESST, it must be paid, just like the rest of the shift.

Waiting for an assignment

You are called in to the agency's office and you wait to be sent to a site. You are at the employer's disposal and you are waiting for work: that is working time under section 57 of the Act and section 3.06 of the Decree. The Comité paritaire also specifies that a guard who must stop by the employer's offices before going to the site is paid from the time their presence is required there.

Training required by the client

A client imposes training on its procedures before you can work at its premises. This required training is paid and its costs are covered by the employer, under section 4.07 of the Decree.

These hours also count in the week's total. Beyond 40 hours, they are paid at time and a half. See our article on working hours and overtime.

How to claim this time

Each day, write down your actual arrival and departure times, and keep your pay stubs. If you work for a security agency, the complaint is made to the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité, the parity committee that enforces the Decree. It receives complaints confidentially. The steps to follow are explained in the security guards' decree explained simply. For labour standards questions that do not come under the Decree, the CNESST remains the place to start.

Sources

• CNESST: De nouvelles questions qui vous travaillent? Campagne sur les normes du travail (June 1, 2026)
• LégisQuébec: Act respecting labour standards, section 57 (up to date as of August 12, 2026)
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, sections 3.06, 3.12 and 4.07 (up to date as of June 1, 2026)
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité: salariés et plaintes

The BSP, or Bureau de la sécurité privée, is the body that regulates private security in Quebec. If you want to become a security guard, it issues your licence. The BSP does not set your pay and does not give your training. Here is what it does, what it does not do and how to reach it.

What is the BSP in Quebec?

The Bureau de la sécurité privée is established by the Private Security Act (section 39). The Act specifies that it is a legal person. According to the BSP, this Act came into force in its entirety on July 22, 2010.

Its mission, written in section 41 of the Act, is to see to the protection of the public. The BSP sums it up this way: granting qualified persons of integrity the privilege of carrying on private security activities in Quebec.

Which activities does the BSP regulate?

Section 1 of the Act names six private security activities:

1. Security guarding (watching or protecting persons, property or premises)
2. Investigation
3. Locksmith work
4. Electronic security systems (alarms, video surveillance, access control)
5. Transport of valuables
6. Security consulting

A security guard in the everyday sense works in security guarding. Peace officers, such as police officers, are not covered by the Act (section 2).

What are the BSP's powers?

The Act gives the BSP several specific roles:

• Issuing agency licences and agent licences (section 41)
• Seeing that the Act and its regulations are applied (section 41)
• Processing complaints against licence holders (section 41)
• Authorizing inspectors to verify that the Act is applied (section 69) and conducting investigations
• Keeping a register of licence holders up to date (section 76)
• Suspending, revoking or refusing to renew an agent licence, for example if the holder does not pay their annual fees or no longer meets the conditions (section 30)

For the licence conditions, documents and fees, see our BSP licence guide. To check whether a guard or an agency holds a valid licence, read how to consult the BSP register.

Who runs the BSP?

Under section 44 of the Act, the BSP is administered by a board of directors of 11 members:

• Four members appointed by the Minister, one of whom must come from the police community
• Seven members appointed by the representative private security associations recognized by the Minister

The BSP indicates that these associations represent, among others, security agencies, private investigators, locksmiths and armoured transport. Section 133 of the Act still names the Minister of Public Security. That department is now called the Ministère de la Sécurité intérieure, and this is the name the BSP uses.

What does the BSP not do?

Many guards turn to the BSP with questions that come under other bodies. This table helps you find the right door.

For pay, read our explanation of the security guards' decree. For training, see our page on security guard training.

How do you reach the BSP?

Here is the contact information published by the BSP:

• Address: 1611, boulevard Crémazie Est, bureau 500 (5th floor), Montréal (Québec) H2M 2P2
• Phone (Montreal): 514 748-7480
• Toll-free: 1 877 748-7483
• Email: info@bspquebec.ca

Service hours can change, for example during a temporary closure. Check them on bspquebec.ca before you go.

What online services does the BSP offer?

• Online application: according to the BSP, this is the fastest way to get the regular licence.
• Mon dossier (my file): lets the holder of a valid licence send their documents securely.
• Accès Agent: a portal reserved for agents, accessible from the BSP website.
• Accès Agence: used by agency licence holders, for example for the annual declaration or to file an insurance certificate.

If you are waiting for your regular licence, also read our article on the BSP temporary licence.

How do you file a complaint against a guard or an agency?

The BSP receives complaints about, among others, a business that offers private security activities without a valid licence, a person who works without a licence, an employer who hires unlicensed personnel or an agent who lacks professionalism. The complaint is made with the BSP form, sent to plaintes@bspquebec.ca or by mail to the Direction des enquêtes et inspections (the investigations and inspections branch), or by phone at 514 748-7480, option 2. Depending on the results of the investigation, the file can lead to penal proceedings or a disciplinary measure.

The Déclaration d'une insatisfaction (statement of dissatisfaction) is something else. It is used to report a problem with the services, tools or staff of the BSP itself. The signed form is sent to insatisfactions@bspquebec.ca or by mail. The BSP announces an acknowledgement of receipt within 2 business days and a follow-up within 30 business days.

Frequently asked questions

What is the mission of the Bureau de la sécurité privée?

In Quebec, the mission of the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP) is to see to the protection of the public, under section 41 of the Private Security Act. It issues agency licences and agent licences, sees that the Act and its regulations are applied, processes complaints against licence holders and keeps the register of licence holders up to date. It does not set guards' pay and does not give their training.

Can the BSP help me if my employer does not pay me the right wage?

No. The minimum wage of guards is set by decree, and enforcing it is the job of the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité. The BSP takes care of the licence.

Does the BSP give security guard training?

No. The required training is taken at a school service centre or a recognized school. The Act only provides that the BSP trains the representatives of agency licence holders (section 41).

Can the BSP take away my licence?

Yes. Section 30 allows it to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew an agent licence, in particular for unpaid annual fees or conditions that are no longer met.

Sources

• Private Security Act (CQLR, chapter S-3.5), LégisQuébec, sections 1, 2, 30, 39, 41, 44, 69, 76 and 133
• BSP, À propos du BSP
• BSP, Conseil d'administration
• BSP, Déposer une plainte
• BSP, Déclaration d'une insatisfaction
• BSP, Faire une demande en ligne
• BSP, Foire aux questions (contact information)

The BSP register, or Register of Licence Holders of the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator, lets you check in a few seconds whether a guard or an agency holds a valid licence. It is public, free and available online. Here is how to verify a BSP licence, what the register shows and what to do if there is a problem.

What is the BSP public register?

It is required by the Private Security Act. Under section 76, the Bureau must keep an up-to-date register of licence holders. Section 81 specifies that this register is public.

The BSP presents it as a tool to check, in real time, whether the guard or agency whose services you want to retain really does hold a valid licence.

Where can you find the BSP register?

The search is done at registre-public.bspquebec.ca. The BSP website also has an explanation page, "Consulter le Registre des titulaires de permis" (consult the Register of Licence Holders), which describes the search criteria and the statuses.

How do you search for an agent or agency licence?

The BSP indicates two ways to search:

In the search tool, the "Nom" (name) field is the only mandatory one. At least 3 letters are needed, unless you check the "Graphie exacte" (exact spelling) box, which limits the results to the exact spelling entered. The first name is used to narrow the search.

A "Recherche avancée" (advanced search) adds two filters: the employer and the licence category. The tool offers seven choices, the six licence categories in the Act and "Supérieur immédiat" (immediate superior):

• Security guarding
• Transport of valuables
• Investigation
• Locksmith work
• Electronic security systems
• Security consulting
• Immediate superior

Practical tip: if a search by name gives nothing, do it again with the licence number, which avoids spelling mistakes.

What do the register statuses mean?

To have the right to work, the licence must show the status valid. According to the BSP, if the register indicates "suspended", "revoked" or "expired", the licence is not valid.

While a renewal is under review, the status no longer shows "Expired" as long as the BSP has not made its decision. This change is explained in our article on payment and the register.

What do you see there, and what do you not see?

For an agent, section 78 of the Act provides that the register contains:

• the name of the holder and their licence number
• the name of their employer
• the licence category and its term
• their training
• the operative part of the decisions made regarding their licence

For an agency, section 77 adds the contact information of the head office and the establishments, as well as the name of the representative.

The register does not show everyone. Under section 81, the BSP can keep confidential the information of certain investigation agents or agents who transport valuables, if disclosing it could hinder their work and their safety. In practice, according to the BSP's frequently asked questions, all agents who transport valuables are exempt from appearing in the register, while investigation agents have to apply for it. Being absent from the register is not always proof of having no licence in those two categories.

Why verify a licence in the register?

• You are a guard: check your own record before an interview or as your renewal approaches. The employer's name must be up to date: section 79 requires you to inform the BSP of any change no later than 30 days after it.
• You are an agency: check that a candidate holds a valid licence in the right category before assigning them.
• You are a client: check that the agency you are hiring has a valid licence.

Looking for a position? See our security guard job postings. To get or renew your licence, follow the BSP licence guide.

What should you do if your licence does not appear or shows an error?

First do the search again with the licence number. If the problem persists, the BSP asks you to contact its information service at 514 748-7480 or 1 877 748-7483.

If you have just started with a temporary licence, read our article on the temporary licence. For the fees and the expiry date, see licence fees and renewal.

How do you report a person who works without a licence?

The BSP treats these cases as complaints, through the "Déposer une plainte" (file a complaint) page. There you can report a person who works without a valid licence, an agent whose behaviour is unprofessional or an employer who hires unauthorized personnel. The complaint is made with a form sent to plaintes@bspquebec.ca or by phone at 514 748-7480, option 2.

The "Déclaration d'une insatisfaction" (statement of dissatisfaction) page is for something else: complaining about a service, a tool or a staff member of the BSP itself. There, the BSP refers breaches of the Act to the complaints section.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a BSP licence is valid?

In Quebec, you check a BSP licence in the Register of Licence Holders of the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), which is public and free, at registre-public.bspquebec.ca. Search by licence number or by name. The licence is valid only if the status shown is "valid": according to the BSP, a "suspended", "revoked" or "expired" licence is not valid.

Is the BSP register free?

Yes. The register is public under section 81 of the Private Security Act, and the online search requires neither an account nor a payment.

Can I search with only a last name?

Yes. The name is the only mandatory field, with at least 3 letters, unless the "Graphie exacte" box is checked.

Does a "suspended" licence allow you to work?

No. According to the BSP, a suspended, revoked or expired licence is not valid. Only the "valid" status authorizes you to work.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Private Security Act (chapter S-3.5), sections 76 to 81
• BSP: consulter le Registre des titulaires de permis
• BSP: Registre public (search tool)
• BSP: déposer une plainte
• BSP: déclaration d'une insatisfaction

A traffic flagger directs traffic near a work site, an event or an obstruction on the road. Several security agencies also offer this service, and many guards wonder whether they can do it with their licence. It is a separate trade, with its own training, its own decree and its own minimum wage. And with winter coming, it is also one of the jobs most exposed to the cold. Here are the rules, taken from the official texts.

What training do you need to be a traffic flagger?

Training is mandatory. Section 10.3.2 of the Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction (Quebec's Safety Code for the construction industry) requires the employer to make sure that the traffic flagger knows their responsibilities, has taken training recognized by ASP Construction, and wears a high-visibility garment and the accessories set out in the road signage standards.

The course is simply called "Signaleur routier" (traffic flagger). Two organizations give it:

• ASP Construction, in class: 5 hours 30 minutes of training, plus a meal break. The organization specifies that the training is mandatory to work in the trade and that it must be renewed every 3 years
• AQTr (TransForm centre), online: 3 hours 30 minutes of class and a 45-minute exam, at $294 plus taxes in 2026. You need a computer, and the certification is valid for 3 years

For its part, the ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (Quebec's transport ministry) requires all flaggers who work on its network to be trained and to hold a flagger card.

Be careful not to confuse the two: a traffic flagger directs road users, while a work site signaller guides trucks and machinery inside the site. These are two separate training courses, and ASP Construction specifies that it is forbidden to do both jobs at the same time.

Do you also need the 30-hour construction course?

On a construction site, yes. Section 2.4.2 of the same Code requires the employer to make sure that the workers on the site have passed the course "Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction" (general health and safety on construction sites), which lasts 30 hours. The AQTr indicates that this course is required for traffic flaggers. Ask the employer what they require before you register.

Can a security guard do traffic control with their licence?

The security guard licence does not replace traffic flagger training. These are two different frameworks.

The Private Security Act defines security guarding as watching or protecting persons, property or premises, mainly to prevent crime and maintain order. It does not mention directing traffic. The Decree respecting security guards, for its part, expressly excludes employees who perform road traffic control work (section 2.03). These employees come under another text: the Décret sur le personnel de l'industrie de la signalisation routière du Québec (the decree for Quebec's road traffic control industry).

In practice, a guard who also wants to do traffic flagging must take the flagger training, and their pay for those hours follows the traffic control decree, not the security guards' decree. For the latter, see our page on security guard pay and premiums.

How much does a traffic flagger earn?

The road traffic control decree sets a minimum hourly rate of $24 since February 23, 2025. It adds a premium of $0.50 an hour for an employee who does traffic flagger work, which gives at least $24.50 an hour.

The decree does not cover everyone. It does not apply to employees of governments and municipalities, nor to employees who work only for a construction employer, nor to those who do traffic control for the needs of their own employer. Always ask who your employer will be and which text applies.

What equipment is mandatory?

According to the ASP Construction checklist, a traffic flagger must have at all times:

• a fluorescent yellow-green hard hat with a white retroreflective band
• a fluorescent yellow-green garment with retroreflective bands on the front, the back and the sides, compliant with the CSA Z96 standard
• safety footwear
• the flagger's sign, "Lentement" (slow) on one side and "Arrêt" (stop) on the other
• a means of communication, such as a radio, as soon as there is more than one flagger

In the dark or in low light, a red lighted baton can be added to the sign. The ministère des Transports also specifies that the place where the flagger stands must be lit at night so that they can be seen from far away. ASP suggests also having a whistle, a raincoat and highly visible gloves or mitts.

Where does the flagger stand, and from how far must they be seen?

The CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) recommends that the flagger stand upright, facing traffic, on the shoulder, about 7 metres behind the stop line sign, with a refuge area identified in advance. The flagger must not approach a vehicle or try to intercept it. If a driver goes through anyway, you note the plate and notify the police.

Drivers must be able to see the flagger from far enough away to stop. The minimum distance depends on the posted speed:

Another important rule: according to the CNESST and ASP Construction, for short-term and long-term work, the flagger must not direct traffic on roads where the posted speed is 70 km/h or more. A control gate, temporary traffic lights for road work or a detour is used instead. There are exceptions, for example for surveying or at an intersection already controlled by lights or a stop sign. The CNESST also points out that using a flagger should not be automatic.

Do drivers have to obey the flagger?

Yes. Section 311 of the Code de la sécurité routière (Quebec's Highway Safety Code) requires every person to obey the orders and signals of a flagger in charge of directing traffic during road work, exceptional events or sporting competitions, even if the signage indicates otherwise. The fine for a driver who disobeys is $300 to $600 (section 314.2). And in a work zone, the fine for speeding is doubled (section 516).

Working outdoors in winter: what the CNESST recommends

A flagger stays standing, often without moving, for hours. The CNESST names static posture among the risk factors in the cold: it does not produce heat. Its brochure Travailler au froid (working in the cold) gives useful benchmarks:

• Vigilance starts early. As soon as the temperature out of the wind drops below 5 °C, you have to be careful
• Wind changes everything. At -20 °C with a 30 km/h wind, the wind chill index is -33. Between -28 and -39, exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes
• Breaks in the warmth. The CNESST proposes a schedule that alternates between work and warming up, with 10-minute breaks in a heated place. For light work like a flagger's, it asks that the more protective level of its table be applied
• Layers rather than one big coat. An underlayer that wicks moisture away, insulating layers, a windproof and waterproof outer layer. Avoid cotton
• Head and feet. An insulating liner under the hard hat, and non-slip, waterproof and insulated footwear
• Drink something hot. Hot, sweet drinks or soup. Avoid coffee and alcohol
• Stay dry. Do not go back out into the cold with damp clothes

The employer also has a part to play: a heated shelter, windbreaks when possible, and a means of communication for a worker who is alone.

Recognizing frostbite or hypothermia

Frostbite shows as whitish or waxy skin and numbness. Do not rub the area, do not massage it and do not put it against a direct source of heat: warm it up gradually. Hypothermia, for its part, can occur even above the freezing point. The signs are shivering, clumsiness, difficulty speaking, confusion and drowsiness. The person generally does not realize it: watch one another among co-workers. It is a medical emergency.

Winter also brings earlier darkness, precipitation and slippery pavement. The Code de la sécurité routière requires drivers to slow down in these conditions (section 330), but the flagger does well to keep their refuge area clear and to check that their post is well lit before nightfall.

A high-risk trade

The CNESST recorded 215 employment injuries among traffic flaggers in 2022, including 18 linked to being struck by a vehicle or mobile equipment. The same year, 822 people were injured in a work zone or on the approach to one, 8 of whom died. Besides being struck, the CNESST names among the risks hypothermia, heat stroke and verbal or physical assaults. On that last point, our tips for defusing an aggressive person also apply at the side of the road.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a traffic flagger make?

In Quebec, the road traffic control decree sets a minimum hourly rate of $24 since February 23, 2025. A premium of $0.50 an hour is added for traffic flagger work, which gives at least $24.50 an hour. The decree does not apply to employees of governments and municipalities, nor to employees who work only for a construction employer, nor to those who do traffic control for the needs of their own employer.

How do you become a traffic flagger?

In Quebec, you must take the "Signaleur routier" training recognized by ASP Construction, required by section 10.3.2 of the Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction. ASP Construction gives it in class and specifies that it must be renewed every 3 years. The AQTr gives it online, and its certification is valid for 3 years. On a construction site, section 2.4.2 of the same Code also requires the 30-hour course "Santé et sécurité générale sur les chantiers de construction".

What is the difference between a work site signaller and a traffic flagger?

A traffic flagger directs road users, while a work site signaller guides trucks and machinery inside the site. In Quebec, these are two separate training courses. ASP Construction specifies that it is forbidden to do both jobs at the same time.

How much does traffic flagger training cost?

In Quebec, the AQTr online training costs $294 plus taxes in 2026, for 3 hours 30 minutes of class and a 45-minute exam. For the ASP Construction in-class training, ask the organization for the price.

Sources

• Code de sécurité pour les travaux de construction (CQLR, c. S-2.1, r. 4), sections 2.4.2 and 10.3.2, LégisQuébec.
• Formation « Signaleur routier » and checklist "Le signaleur routier", ASP Construction.
• Formation en ligne « Signaleur routier », AQTr TransForm centre.
• Contrôle de la circulation par un signaleur, ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable.
• Décret sur le personnel de l'industrie de la signalisation routière du Québec (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 16.1), sections 4, 5, 10, 11 and 38 to 40, LégisQuébec (up to date as of June 1, 2026).
• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), section 2.03, LégisQuébec.
• Private Security Act (CQLR, c. S-3.5), section 1, LégisQuébec.
• Code de la sécurité routière (CQLR, c. C-24.2), sections 311, 314.2, 330 and 516, LégisQuébec.
• Positionnement sécuritaire du signaleur routier, CNESST, 2025.
• Travailler au froid : prévenir et soigner les lésions dues au froid, CNESST, 4th edition, 2024.
• Signaleurs routiers, CNESST.
• CNESST news release of August 7, 2023 and news release of July 3, 2023 on the 2023-2026 action plan, Québec.ca.

A mine in Nunavik, a camp in the James Bay region, a generating station at the end of a 620 km road: working as a security guard in Northern Quebec attracts people who want to pile up hours and get a change of scenery. Job postings talk about rotations, lodging provided and "isolation premiums". What do the official texts really say? Here is what the law guarantees, what it does not, and the questions to ask before you board the plane.

Where does a security guard work in the North?

The Nord-du-Québec administrative region covers 706,950 km² of land, more than half of Quebec, for 47,541 inhabitants in 2025 according to the socioeconomic profile published by the government. It takes in Jamésie, the Cree territory of Eeyou Istchee and Nunavik. Work there is mostly on large isolated sites:

• mines. The February 2026 map from the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts counts 21 active mines in Quebec and 54 mining projects. Several are in the North or on the Côte-Nord: nickel in Nunavik, gold in the James Bay region, iron around Fermont and Schefferville, and several lithium projects in the James Bay region
• Hydro-Québec facilities. The La Grande complex, in the James Bay region, has 11 generating stations and 9 reservoirs and produces half of Quebec's electricity, according to Hydro-Québec. The road that leads to it, from Matagami to Radisson, is 620 km long
• construction sites and their camps, where workers are housed during their rotation.

The work resembles that of a large industrial site in the South: access control at the gatehouse, rounds, watching over the camp, enforcing the site's rules. The difference is the isolation, the cold and the schedule.

Do you need a BSP licence to work in the North?

Yes. The Private Security Act provides no exception for any territory. Its section 16 requires that a person who carries on a private security activity hold an agent licence, wherever they work in Quebec.

There is one nuance for "in-house" security. If you are employed directly by a business whose trade is not security, a mining company for example, the licence is required only if security is your main activity. For a full-time security guard position, that is the case. The steps are on our page about the licence from the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator.

Does the Decree apply in the North?

Yes. Under section 2.01 of the Decree respecting security guards, its scope of application covers all of Quebec. A guard placed by an agency on a site in the James Bay region or in Nunavik is entitled to the same minimum as in Montreal: $20.60 an hour for Class A since June 28, 2026, and $21.10 as of July 4, 2027.

Pay attention to who hires you. The Decree covers security agencies and their employees. It excludes employees who do security work exclusively for the needs of their own employer (section 2.03). In other words:

It is the first question to ask: "Who signs my paycheque?"

Is there an isolation premium?

Not in the Decree. It provides no northern premium and no isolation premium. Its section 4.15 even specifies that only the premiums it lists are premiums, and that any other additional remuneration is considered wages.

An agency can therefore pay more than the minimum to attract guards to the North, and several job postings promise it. But that extra comes from the employer, not from the law. It must be written in your contract. The Decree's premiums, for their part, apply as they do everywhere else:

• $1.00 an hour for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• $1.00 an hour if the client or the employer requires the ASP Construction attestation
• $0.60 an hour for a guard trained in first aid, CPR and AED use less than 3 years ago
• $3.00 an hour when your own car serves as your shelter.

The details of each one are in our article on the Decree's premiums.

How are long rotations paid?

In the North, people often work several weeks in a row, then go back south for a long leave. The Decree contains a single written rule for this case, in section 3.04. Normally, a permanent guard (category A-01 of the Decree) is paid time and a half starting on the 7^th consecutive day of work. But if the guard is assigned to a client in the mining sector with lodging, time and a half starts only on the 15^th consecutive day.

For the rest, the Decree's usual rules hold:

• the regular workweek is 40 hours (section 3.01)
• hours beyond that are paid with a 50% increase (sections 3.03 and 3.04)
• the employer can stagger the hours over several weeks, but only on strict conditions: agreement of the employees, a benefit in exchange, an average of 40 hours over a maximum of 4 weeks, and written notice to the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité (the parity committee that enforces the Decree) 60 days in advance (section 3.01.1).

If you are not covered by the Decree, the Regulation respecting labour standards applies, and it is less generous. It sets the regular workweek at 55 hours for an employee who works in an isolated area, meaning one that cannot be reached by a passable road and has no regular transport, and for an employee who carries out work on the James Bay territory. Overtime then starts only after 55 hours. If you are unsure which rule applies to you, ask the Comité paritaire or the CNESST (Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board) before you sign.

The Act respecting labour standards provides two protections. You can refuse to work more than 14 hours per 24-hour period (section 59.0.1). And the minimum weekly rest of 32 consecutive hours can be set aside only by a staggering of hours done according to the rules (sections 53 and 78). See also our article on a security guard's working hours.

Are travel, lodging and meals paid?

Travel. Section 57 of the Act respecting labour standards says an employee is deemed to be at work while travelling at the employer's request, and section 85.2 requires the employer to reimburse the reasonable expenses of a trip made at its request. However, we found no official text that settles the specific case of a charter flight to a camp. Have it written in your contract whether flight and waiting hours are paid, and at what rate.

Lodging and meals. The Regulation respecting occupational health and safety requires the employer to make a camp and eating facilities available to workers who carry out work in remote places with no possibility of lodging (section 158). And if the employer charges you, the amount is capped by regulation:

These amounts are those of the Regulation respecting labour standards (section 6), to which section 4.12 of the Decree refers. On most remote sites, lodging and meals are offered free of charge. Check anyway.

The uniform. It is at the employer's expense, including a winter coat with a hood when the nature of the duties requires it (section 8.02 of the Decree).

What is the effect on income tax?

Two tax rules come up often in camp conversations. Here is what Revenu Québec and the Canada Revenue Agency say.

Lodging and meals provided. They are not a taxable benefit if your duties require you to be away from your principal residence for at least 36 hours and you are at a special work site or in a remote location. For the special work site, the work must be temporary and your principal residence must remain available to you, without being rented out. Transportation provided between that residence and the work site follows the same logic.

The northern residents deduction. It requires having lived in a recognized northern or intermediate zone for at least six consecutive months. For a rotation worker who keeps a home in the South, it is not automatic. Revenu Québec warns that if your principal place of residence is outside the region, you may interrupt your period of residence every time you leave the region, depending on the frequency, the purpose and the length of the absences. The Canada Revenue Agency, for its part, provides for the case of a person who lives at a special work site located in a recognized zone for at least six consecutive months. Before counting on this deduction, check your situation with Revenu Québec, the CRA or a tax preparer.

What are the risks of working in an isolated setting?

• Working alone. When a worker performs a task alone in an isolated place where it is impossible to call for help, the employer must apply an effective method of surveillance, continuous or intermittent (section 322 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety). Ask which one: radio, calls at set times, a round by a co-worker
• The cold. If the temperature cannot be kept at a suitable level, a heated place must be made available to workers (section 116 of the same regulation). The CNESST's advice for working in the cold is summarized in our article on the traffic flagger and winter
• Emergency help. The employer must make sure at least one first aider is present at all times, along with an immediate means of communication with first aid services. The first aid regulation provides for higher requirements, including the presence of nursing staff, in certain workplaces located more than 30 minutes by road from an ambulance or medical service
• Alcohol and drugs. The Act respecting occupational health and safety forbids performing your work while impaired by alcohol or drugs, cannabis included (section 49.1). Clients often add their own rules. Hydro-Québec's supplier code of conduct, for example, requires that its suppliers' employees have no trace of alcohol or drugs in their system on its facilities and work sites, and provides for testing.

Isolation also weighs on morale: weeks away from family, 12-hour shifts, often at night. Our article on night work gives pointers for holding up.

Are there many security guard jobs in the North?

There are some, but the market is small. According to the Government of Canada's Job Bank, the median wage of security guards was $22.00 an hour in Nord-du-Québec and $22.64 on the Côte-Nord, compared with $21.56 for Quebec as a whole (data updated in November 2025). These are survey results, not legal rates. The same body rates the employment outlook as "very limited" on the Côte-Nord for 2025 to 2027. The gap with the South is therefore thinner than some job postings suggest: it is mostly the number of hours that makes the pay grow.

Several sites have agreements that favour local hiring. The 1995 Raglan Agreement, in Nunavik, for example guarantees a hiring preference to qualified Inuit workers, according to Natural Resources Canada.

What questions should you ask before accepting?

• Who is my employer: a security agency or the site operator?
• What is the hourly rate, and is the "northern" extra written in the contract?
• What is the rotation, and how many hours a day?
• From what point are hours paid at time and a half?
• Are travel hours paid? Who pays for transportation to the flight's departure point?
• Are lodging and meals free?
• What winter equipment is supplied?
• Will I work alone, and how am I monitored?
• What are the camp's rules on alcohol, drugs and testing?
• Is an ASP Construction attestation or special training required, and who pays for it?

To compare with other settings, see which security guards are the best paid and our page on salary and the Decree.

Sources

• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), sections 2.01 to 2.03, 3.01, 3.01.1, 3.03, 3.04, 4.07, 4.12, 4.15 and 8.02, LégisQuébec (up to date as of June 1, 2026).
• Private Security Act (CQLR, c. S-3.5), sections 1 and 16, LégisQuébec.
• Loi sur les normes du travail (RLRQ, c. N-1.1), sections 53, 57, 59.0.1, 78 and 85.2, LégisQuébec.
• Règlement sur les normes du travail (RLRQ, c. N-1.1, r. 3), sections 1, 6, 12 and 13, LégisQuébec (up to date as of June 1, 2026).
• Règlement sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13), sections 116, 158 and 322, LégisQuébec.
• Règlement sur les normes minimales de premiers secours et de premiers soins (RLRQ, c. A-3.001, r. 10), sections 3, 12, 20 and 21, LégisQuébec.
• Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (RLRQ, c. S-2.1), section 49.1, LégisQuébec.
• Avantages fournis à un employé travaillant sur un chantier particulier ou dans un endroit éloigné and Résident d'une région éloignée, Revenu Québec.
• Ligne 25500 : déductions pour les habitants de régions éloignées, Canada Revenue Agency.
• Portrait socioéconomique du Nord-du-Québec, Government of Quebec (data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec).
• Mines actives et projets miniers, map from the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts, February 2026.
• Aménagement Robert-Bourassa, Baie-James and Code de conduite des fournisseurs, Hydro-Québec.
• Salaires and perspectives d'emploi for security guards in Quebec, Job Bank, Government of Canada.
• Mine Raglan, Québec, Natural Resources Canada.

A reader wrote to us with his way of restraining a person who physically attacks a guard. The question behind his suggestion comes up often: how far can a security guard go when things turn violent? This article answers with the legal texts. You will not find any hold or technique here. You will find what the law allows, what it forbids and what you risk if you go too far.

This article grew out of a suggestion from a reader, Mr. G. Our thanks to him for taking the time to write. Have an idea? Send it from your profile.

Does a security guard have the right to use force?

Yes, but no more than any other citizen. Section 3 of the Private Security Act is clear: no provision of that Act may be construed as granting the status of peace officer to the holder of an agent licence. The uniform and the licence give you none of a police officer's powers.

Your rights come from the Criminal Code, which sets out four situations where a person may use force:

In all four cases, the same word returns: necessary, or reasonable. The law gives no list of permitted moves. It judges each situation afterwards, according to the circumstances.

How much force is allowed during an arrest?

Section 494 allows any person to arrest without warrant someone they find committing an indictable offence. It also allows the owner of property, and a person the owner authorizes, to arrest someone they find committing a criminal offence on that property. This is what covers the guard mandated by the client.

Section 25 adds that a person authorized by law to do something is justified, if they act on reasonable grounds, in using "as much force as is necessary for that purpose". The purpose is the arrest. Nothing more. Three limits follow at once:

• section 26 makes the person criminally responsible for any excess of force
• subsection 25(3) forbids force that is intended or likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm, unless it is necessary to protect yourself, or a person under your protection, from death or grievous bodily harm
• subsection 494(3) requires anyone other than a peace officer to deliver the arrested person to a peace officer "forthwith".

The conditions of the arrest itself are detailed in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a guard.

What does the law say about self-defence?

Section 34 of the Criminal Code sets three conditions, and all three must be met. A person is not guilty if:

• they believe on reasonable grounds that force is being used against them or another person, or that a threat of force is being made
• they act for the purpose of defending or protecting themselves or the other person
• the act committed is reasonable in the circumstances.

The third condition is where most defences fail. To decide it, the court must consider several factors, listed in subsection 34(2). Here are the main ones:

• the nature of the force or threat
• the extent to which the use of force was imminent, and whether there were other means available to respond
• the person's role in the incident
• whether any party used or threatened to use a weapon
• the size, age, gender and physical capabilities of the parties
• the nature and proportionality of the person's response.

Keep two expressions from that list. "Other means": if you could step back, close a door or wait for backup, the judge will know. "Proportionality": the response is measured against the threat, not against your anger. Defending yourself never means punishing. Our article on guards assaulted at work explains your recourse once the incident is over.

Can force be used to protect the client's property?

Section 35 provides for it, on strict conditions. It protects the person in peaceable possession of property, and also the person who is "acting under the authority of" that person. That is your case when the client entrusts you with guarding the premises. Someone must be entering without being entitled to, taking the property or damaging it, your act must be aimed at preventing that, and, once again, the act must be reasonable in the circumstances.

Section 27, for its part, allows as much force as is reasonably necessary to prevent an offence, but only if two conditions are met: the offence is one for which the person could be arrested without warrant, and it would be likely to cause immediate and serious injury to the person or property of anyone.

In plain terms: a stolen pack of gum does not justify taking someone to the ground. No property is worth a serious injury, yours or the other person's.

Why does this article show no restraint technique?

A hold read on a screen is dangerous. An arm lock followed by a takedown can injure a shoulder, an elbow or a head. It can also go wrong for you. Above all, no technique is "the right one" in advance: the law does not judge the move, it judges whether it was necessary and reasonable that day, with that person.

A physical intervention technique is learned with an instructor, by practising, and then relearned. That is not the role of an article. The Department of Justice Canada sums up the rule for any citizen making an arrest: avoid using force, if at all possible, and use it to the minimum possible otherwise.

The reader who wrote to us ended his message with the right principle: force is only for when it is necessary. That is exactly what the law says. Before it comes to that, there is your voice, distance and backup: see our article on de-escalation with an aggressive client.

What does a guard who goes too far risk?

Four things, which can add up.

A detail people forget: under subsection 265(3), a person who submits or does not resist by reason of "the exercise of authority" has not consented. A uniform alone does not obtain valid consent.

Handcuffs, baton, pepper spray: what is allowed?

• A spray designed to incapacitate a person (tear gas, Mace and similar products) is a prohibited weapon under the federal regulation on prohibited weapons. The same goes for a small electrical impulse device. Possessing a prohibited weapon without being authorized is an offence punishable by up to 5 years in prison (section 91 of the Criminal Code). We found no exception for security guards in the texts we consulted
• A firearm requires federal authorization. The Decree provides a premium of $2.50 an hour for a guard working with a firearm, and the training regulation requires, for the transport of valuables, training on the handling of firearms and the use of force provided by the École nationale de police du Québec or an instructor qualified by that school
• Handcuffs and batons: the Private Security Act allows the government to regulate the equipment of guards, but we found no Quebec regulation that does so. That silence is not permission. Handcuffing someone is using force, with all the limits described above. The Criminal Code also counts as a "weapon", for the offence of assault with a weapon, any thing used in binding or tying up a person against their will. As for the baton, the texts we read do not settle the question for every model.

When in doubt, the practical rule is simple: carry only the equipment your employer has issued to you in writing, and trained you to use.

What use-of-force training exists?

The mandatory 70-hour training has three modules according to the BSP: environment, functions, legislation and standards of conduct (30 hours), emergency procedures (24 hours) and first aid (16 hours). No module deals with the use of force as such.

The Decree, however, recognizes one specific training. The P-8 premium, of $2.00 an hour, is paid to a guard who works in the judicial or extra-judicial sector and who, during the 2 preceding years, underwent use-of-force training of at least 20 hours, given by an instructor recognized by the Association provinciale des agences de sécurité. It is also paid to a guard working in another sector when the customer requires that training.

Who pays for the course? The Decree puts training required by the employer or the customer at the employer's expense, unless its purpose is to qualify the guard for work that gives entitlement to a premium. Ask before you sign up. The details of the premiums are in our article on the Decree premiums.

What are the employer's obligations?

The Act respecting occupational health and safety requires the employer to take the measures to ensure the protection of a worker exposed to physical or psychological violence in the workplace (section 51, paragraph 16). The CNESST, Quebec's labour standards and workplace safety board, asks the employer among other things to define a procedure for safe intervention and to train workers on how to respond to a situation of violence.

Ask to see that procedure. It should say when to step in, when to step back and who to call.

The employer and the client also have a line not to cross. Under section 118 of the Private Security Act, any person who orders or advises, or who issues a directive or policy, causing an agent licence holder to violate a standard of conduct is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of $500 to $5,000. An instruction like "get him out by any means" does not cover you, and it exposes the person who gives it.

What should you remember before, during and after an intervention?

• Before: know your site's procedure, keep your distance and a calm voice, call for backup early
• During: force is the last resort, only what is needed, and it stops as soon as the threat stops
• After an arrest: call the police right away and hand the person over without delay
• Afterwards: write your incident report the same day, with the facts, times and witnesses, and report any injury to your employer.

This article is general information, not legal advice. If you are the subject of a complaint or a charge, consult a lawyer or your union before making a statement.

Frequently asked questions

What powers does a security guard have?

In Quebec, a security guard has the powers of a citizen, not those of a police officer. Section 3 of the Private Security Act states that no provision of that Act may be construed as granting the status of peace officer to the holder of an agent licence. A guard's rights come from the Criminal Code: making an arrest allowed by section 494, defending themselves or another person (section 34), protecting property in their care (section 35) and preventing a serious offence (section 27), always with force that is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances. The conditions of the arrest are in our article on citizen's arrest.

What is a security guard not allowed to do?

In Quebec, a security guard is not allowed to use greater force than is necessary. Section 26 of the Criminal Code makes the guard criminally responsible for any excess of force, and the regulation on standards of conduct forbids it as well (section 3). A guard is also not allowed to confine someone without lawful authority, or to keep an arrested person: subsection 494(3) requires the guard to deliver that person to a peace officer "forthwith". The full list, including searching by force and presenting yourself as a police officer, is in our article on citizen's arrest and the powers of a guard.

Sources

• Criminal Code (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46), Justice Canada: section 25, section 26, section 27, section 34, section 35, section 494, sections 265, 266, 267, 279, 2 (definition of "weapon"), 84 and 91 (Act current to September 21, 2026).
• Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted (SOR/98-462), schedule, Part 3, Justice Canada.
• What You Need to Know About Making a Citizen's Arrest, Department of Justice Canada.
• Private Security Act (CQLR, c. S-3.5), sections 3, 30, 73, 111 and 118, LégisQuébec (up to date as of August 12, 2026).
• Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders carrying on a private security activity (CQLR, c. S-3.5, r. 3), section 3, and Règlement sur la formation exigée pour l'obtention d'un permis d'agent (CQLR, c. S-3.5, r. 2), section 1, LégisQuébec.
• Decree respecting security guards (CQLR, c. D-2, r. 1), sections 1.01 and 4.07, LégisQuébec (up to date as of June 1, 2026).
• Civil Code of Québec, articles 1457 and 1463, and Act respecting occupational health and safety (CQLR, c. S-2.1), section 51, LégisQuébec.
• Required training and Lodging a complaint, Bureau de la sécurité privée.
• Violence en milieu de travail, CNESST.

How much does security guard training cost in Quebec? Depending on where you go, from $0 to about $600 for the course that leads to the licence. On October 7, 2026, we recorded the price shown by every public centre and every private school recognized by the Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP), Quebec's private security regulator. Here are the figures, as written on each institution's website.

No school paid to appear in this article. Schools are listed in alphabetical order and none is recommended. A price can change without notice: always confirm it with the school before you pay.

Before you compare prices: four traps

Two schools that show "$450" are not necessarily selling the same thing. Check these four points.

• 54 hours or 70 hours. The BSP requires at least 70 hours: 54 hours of security guarding and 16 hours of workplace first aid. Several schools sell the 54 hours alone. First aid is then paid separately.
• Taxes included or extra. A "plus tax" price costs about 15% more at checkout. Some public centres show a non-taxable price.
• The recognized format. The BSP list states, for each private school, whether the training is recognized in person, live online (synchronous) or online at your own pace (asynchronous). Before paying for an online course, check that this format is on the list for that school.
• The recognition date. Private training is accepted only if it was taken after the date it was recognized by the Minister.

The public network: from $0 to $600

School service centres give the short training required for the licence. The prices below come from each centre's website, unless stated otherwise. The site agent-de-securite.ca, to which the BSP refers, lists 17 centres, but several of its pages show past dates: we kept the centres whose price is published on their own website.

Two details. In Laval, on October 7, 2026, one group was full and another, from November 7 to December 12, 2026, still had places. At the CSS des Affluents and the CSS de Montréal, the last dates shown had passed (June 2026 and May 2026): call the centre to find out when the next group starts.

The 390-hour AEP: from $100 to $192 in French

The Attestation of Vocational Studies (AEP) "Sécurité privée – Gardiennage" (program 4239) lasts 390 hours, about three months. Funded by the government, it costs less than many short courses. Here are the costs shown by Inforoute FPT for the open groups.

The trade-off is time: three months full time, during the day. For the details of the program, read what to expect from the training.

Recognized private schools: from $345 to nearly $600

The BSP recognizes 16 private training programs in security guarding. Nine show a price on their website. The other seven show none, or their website was not responding on the day we checked.

At Montréal Élite Sécurité, the English page shows $435 plus tax instead, which comes to roughly the same total, and the last course dates shown were from 2025. At the Commissionnaires, a complete 74-hour package is also advertised at $500 plus tax, but no session was offered on the day we checked.

The real cost for 70 hours, taxes included

To compare like with like, here is what the complete 70-hour training costs, taxes included, where the website makes the calculation possible. When the price is "plus tax", we added the GST and the QST (14.975%). These totals are our calculations, not prices shown.

Schools that sell only the 54 hours are not in this table, because the price of first aid depends on the organization you choose. The Académie de sécurité du Québec and Mika Protection are not in it either: their websites do not specify everything the price includes.

What these figures show

• Public training can be free. Two school service centres show the 70-hour training at no charge. In Laval, one of the two groups shown was already full.
• Private schools range from $475 to $600 for complete training. The gap between schools is smaller than the gap between public and private.
• Private schools offer more schedules. Evenings, weekends and, in several schools, start dates almost every week: that is their main advantage for someone who already works.
• For seven schools out of sixteen, we found no price online. In that case, ask for the total price in writing before you sign up.

On top of the training comes the licence: $188.50 for a first application to the BSP. The details are in our article on licence fees.

Five questions to ask before you pay

• Does the price include the 16 hours of first aid recognized by the CNESST, Quebec's workplace safety board?
• Are taxes and course materials included?
• Is the format I am choosing (in class or online) the one the BSP recognizes for this school?
• What happens if I fail the exam or have to cancel?
• On what date will I receive the attestation required by the BSP?

Getting your training paid for

If you are unemployed, Services Québec may pay for the training and pay an allowance during the course, depending on your situation. Apply before you sign up. The conditions are explained on our page about security guard training.

Frequently asked questions

How much does security guard training cost?

In Quebec, from $0 to about $600 for the course that leads to the licence, according to the prices shown on October 7, 2026. Two school service centres showed the 70-hour training at no charge, and private schools ranged from $475 to $600 for complete training. The BSP licence is extra: $188.50 for a first application.

What is the best training to become a security guard?

We do not rank schools. In Quebec, any training from a school service centre or from a school on the BSP list, taken after its recognition date, leads to the same security guarding licence. To choose, compare the total price with taxes, whether first aid is included, the format the BSP recognizes and the schedule.

What is the cheapest security guard training?

On October 7, 2026, the 70-hour training was shown as free at the CSS de Laval and the CSS des Affluents. The 390-hour AEP cost from $100 to $192 in five school service centres.

Can you take security guard training online?

Yes, in some institutions, for the 54 hours of security guarding. The 16 hours of first aid include a practical part and are given in person. Check on the BSP list that the online format is recognized for the school you choose.

Does the cheapest training lead to the same licence?

Yes. Any training from a school service centre or from a school on the BSP list, taken after its recognition date, leads to the same security guarding licence.

Why do some schools not show their price?

We do not know. Some mainly train their own employees, others work by information request. The BSP does not set the price of training.

What do you pay in total for security guard training?

In Quebec, the complete 70-hour training costs from $0 to $600, taxes included, where the institution's website makes the calculation possible, according to our calculations from the prices shown on October 7, 2026. Several schools sell the 54 hours of security guarding alone, and the 16 hours of first aid are then paid separately. The totals by institution are in the section "The real cost for 70 hours, taxes included".

Is there free training to become a security guard?

Yes. In Quebec, the CSS de Laval and the CSS des Affluents showed the 70-hour training at no charge on October 7, 2026. In Laval, one of the two groups shown was full, and at Les Affluents the last date shown had passed: call the centre to find out about the next group. If you are unemployed, Services Québec may also pay for the training, depending on your situation.

Sources

All prices were recorded on October 7, 2026 on the following pages.

• Bureau de la sécurité privée: required training
• Bureau de la sécurité privée: other recognized security guarding training
• Bureau de la sécurité privée: fees payable
• agent-de-securite.ca: school service centres
• Inforoute FPT: program 4239 and its groups
• Inforoute FPT: program 4739
• IPIQ, CSS de Laval
• SAE des Affluents
• SAE Estrie
• CSS Marguerite-Bourgeoys
• CSS de Montréal
• Nova Formation, CSS Marie-Victorin
• CSS du Chemin-du-Roy
• Formation professionnelle de l'Outaouais
• Académie de sécurité du Québec
• Académie de sécurité I.G.S.
• Académie Perceptage
• Archer Guards
• Centre 2000 de formation professionnelle
• Commissionnaires du Québec
• Detekaction sécurité inc.
• Gardium sécurité inc.
• GardaWorld Campus
• Mika Protection
• Montréal Élite Sécurité
• Securitas Canada
• Académie XGuard

"CDD" and "CDI" are terms from French labour law. They are not used in Quebec, but both realities exist: the fixed-term contract and the contract for an indeterminate term. For a security guard, another label matters even more: the status given by the Decree respecting security guards, from A-01 to A-04. Here is how it all translates, and what each status changes for you.

This article answers a reader's question. Our thanks to him. Have a question? Write to us from your profile.

CDI and CDD: the Quebec equivalent

The Civil Code of Québec simply says that a contract of employment is "for a fixed term or an indeterminate term" (art. 2086).

In both cases, the minimum wage under the Decree is the same. The hourly rate depends on your class, not on the length of your contract.

What really matters: your status under the Decree

The Decree respecting security guards, which applies to the guards of security agencies, places each employee in one of four statuses (s. 1.01).

If you are looking for the closest equivalent: a regular A-01 guard resembles a full-time employee on a CDI, and a casual A-04 guard resembles an employee on a CDD. It is only a comparison. A part-time A-02 employee can also have a contract for an indeterminate term.

What about Class A, Class A on call and Class B?

The class is another label, which describes your work and sets your hourly rate.

• Class A: a guard who performs security work. Minimum rate of $20.60 an hour since June 28, 2026
• Class A on call: the same work, but without a fixed work schedule
• Class B: a guard entrusted with directing or supervising other guards. Minimum rate of $20.85 an hour since June 28, 2026

"On call" does not mean "fixed term". An on-call guard can have a contract with no end date: it is the schedule that is not fixed.

What the status changes in practice

For an employee who is not A-01, the rules of the Act respecting labour standards apply in case of illness, under section 7.02 of the Decree. The details are in our article on security guard leave.

The end of a fixed-term contract

This is the most important difference between the two types of contract.

• Contract for an indeterminate term. An employer who ends it must give written notice: 1 week with less than one year of continuous service, 2 weeks from 1 to 5 years, 4 weeks from 5 to 10 years and 8 weeks after 10 years (Decree, s. 3.08).
• Fixed-term contract. When the contract expires, no notice is required (Decree, s. 3.08.1). The employment ends on the planned date.

The notice also does not apply to an employee with less than 3 months of continuous service, to one who has committed a serious fault, or in the case of a fortuitous event.

Two rules protect an employee whose contracts follow one another:

• If you keep working for five days after the end date, without objection from the employer, the contract is renewed for an indeterminate term (Civil Code, art. 2090).
• Fixed-term contracts that succeed one another without a real interruption count toward your continuous service (Decree, s. 1.01). Continuous service gives the right to notice, and to the recourse against dismissal without good and sufficient cause after two years of what the Act respecting labour standards calls uninterrupted service (s. 124).

For the recourses, read dismissed or laid off: a security guard's recourses.

How to go from trial to regular status

The trial period is 480 hours actually worked or 150 days. Once the trial is over, you become A-01 if you have worked an average of 30 hours per week and are available up to 40 hours. Otherwise, you become A-02.

Shifts worked as a casual employee A-04 do not count toward obtaining another status.

How to find out your status

Look at your pay slip, which the Decree calls an earnings statement. The Decree requires the employer to show your status on it, A-01, A-02, A-03 or A-04 (s. 4.06). If it is not there, or if it seems wrong, ask the employer for an explanation. In case of disagreement, the Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité, the parity committee that enforces the Decree, can be reached at 514-493-9105 or 1-800-361-5442.

Frequently asked questions

Does the CDI exist in Quebec?

Yes, under the name contract for an indeterminate term. The Civil Code provides for both types of contract.

Is an on-call guard on a CDD?

Not necessarily. "On call" describes the schedule, which is not fixed. The contract itself can be for an indeterminate term.

Is a casual guard paid less?

Not on the hourly rate: the minimum rate and the premiums in the Decree apply to all employees, whatever their status. However, a casual employee does not get the benefits reserved for A-01 and A-02 employees, as the table above shows.

How long does the trial period last?

The Decree sets it at 480 hours actually worked or 150 days. Past that point, you are no longer a trial A-03 employee.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, ss. 1.01, 3.04, 3.08, 3.08.1, 3.11, 4.06, 4.07, 4.1.02, 4.1.05, 4.1.06, 5.02, 7.02 and 8.02
• LégisQuébec: Civil Code of Québec, arts. 2086 and 2090
• LégisQuébec: Act respecting labour standards, s. 124
• Comité paritaire des agents de sécurité

Many security guards look at corrections as the next career step. The pay is higher, the job is in the public service and security experience has its place there. In Quebec, two distinct jobs go by this name: the correctional services officer, at the provincial level, and the correctional officer, at the federal level. In both cases, it is the job many still call prison guard. The requirements, the training and the pay are not the same.

Provincial or federal: two employers, two jobs

The length of the sentence decides where a person is held, and therefore who your employer is.

The job page on Québec.ca still names the employer "ministère de la Sécurité publique". Recent government pages write "ministère de la Sécurité intérieure". It is the same detention network.

Correctional services officer at the provincial level

The work

According to Québec.ca, the correctional services officer works with people in custody while respecting their rights, maintains order and discipline, observes behaviour and passes observations on to other staff. Physical intervention may be required. The law also gives the officer a role of help and support toward social reintegration (Act respecting the Québec correctional system, s. 4).

The schedule is 40 hours a week.

Admission requirements

• Have completed two years of post-secondary studies that provide knowledge in helping relationships, social intervention, group facilitation, observation and interviewing
• Pass a medical examination in the year before the appointment
• Not have been found guilty of certain Criminal Code offences
• Meet the requirements of the employer's security investigation

Québec.ca specifies that missing years of schooling can be replaced by two years of experience relevant to the job. The department decides what is relevant. Describe your security guard experience in detail in your application: access control, interventions, reports, work in hospitals or with people in crisis.

Nine colleges offer training that leads to the job: the cégeps of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Lanaudière, Rimouski, Sept-Îles, Shawinigan and Sorel-Tracy, Cégep Garneau, Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy and Collège d'Alma.

Training on hiring

Successful candidates take a paid nine-week integration program: five weeks at the Centre de formation et de perfectionnement correctionnel, on the premises of the Leclerc detention facility in Laval, then four weeks in the detention facility of their region.

Salary and premiums

Québec.ca gives, as an indication, a scale of $54,038 to $74,096 a year, as of May 23, 2023. The scale published by the Secrétariat du Conseil du trésor prevails if it differs. Check the amount in force in the job posting when you apply.

Correctional officer at the federal level

The work

According to Correctional Service Canada, the Correctional Officer I maintains the security of a federal institution: patrols, inmate counts, escorts, cell searches, security checks, reports and first aid. The officer works shifts, weekends and statutory holidays, and may have to work overtime.

In women's institutions, including Joliette Institution, the equivalent position is called Primary Worker. It is classified CX-02 and adds case management to security.

The requirements

• A valid, unrestricted driver's licence. In Quebec, CSC requires Class 4A (emergency vehicle)
• A valid standard first aid and CPR Level C certificate, with defibrillator training
• A medical assessment by a physician designated by Health Canada: vision, hearing, physical capacity and history. The result is valid for one year
• A psychological assessment: a questionnaire, then an interview with a psychologist
• A Situational Judgement Test, which measures your reactions to typical work situations

The current posting asks for a secondary school diploma, or a passed equivalency test. No work experience is required. In Quebec, the position is French or bilingual. You must be able to carry a firearm and obtain enhanced reliability status. CSC reviews criminal records case by case, depending on the position, the date of the conviction and the circumstances.

The Correctional Training Program

No one works as a correctional officer without passing the Correctional Training Program (CTP). It has three stages.

During Stage 3, the recruit receives an allowance of $400 a week, up to $5,600 for the 14 weeks. Meals and lodging are provided. Current federal public servants are not eligible for this allowance.

CSC asks recruits to train at least five times a week, 40 minutes each time. By the end of the program, you must be able to run 5 km.

The job offer is conditional: it specifies the work location and holds only if Stage 3 is passed.

The salary

The Correctional Services group collective agreement sets the annual rates. Here are the most recent, in effect since June 1, 2025.

A correctional officer allowance of $243.99 every two weeks is added, since June 1, 2025. The normal work week is 40 hours. The agreement expired on May 31, 2026: these rates are the latest published.

What changes compared with security guard work

Status is the biggest difference. The correctional services officer has peace officer status in the detention facility and on its grounds, and with respect to the persons in the officer's custody outside it (Act respecting the Québec correctional system, s. 5). At the federal level, the Commissioner may designate staff members as peace officers (Corrections and Conditional Release Act, s. 10). The security guard has only the powers of any citizen, as explained in our article on citizen's arrest.

The environment is also harder. You work locked in, with people in custody, day and night, and physical intervention is part of the job. The medical and psychological assessments exist for that reason.

How to apply

• Provincial. Registration periods open from time to time. Watch the Quebec public service recruitment site and the job page on Québec.ca. Attach your diplomas and detail every job you have held
• Federal. Postings are published on GC Jobs. The current posting is open until December 31, 2026 and covers, in Quebec, Cowansville, Donnacona, Drummondville, Laval, Port-Cartier and Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines. CSC may offer a position outside your choices. Get your Class 4A licence and your first aid certificate in advance: those are two conditions you control

Nothing prevents you from applying to both.

Frequently asked questions

What is a correctional officer?

The person who guards people in custody and keeps the facility secure. In Quebec, the provincial position is called correctional services officer and the federal position, correctional officer. At the provincial level, the law gives the officer peace officer status. At the federal level, the Commissioner may grant it.

What is the role of a correctional officer?

The officer supervises people in custody, maintains order and discipline, carries out searches, escorts and reports, and responds to emergencies. At the provincial level, the law also asks the officer to help and support social reintegration (Act respecting the Québec correctional system, s. 4).

What is the salary of a correctional officer in Quebec?

At the provincial level, Québec.ca shows a scale of $54,038 to $74,096 a year for the correctional services officer, as of May 23, 2023, plus premiums. At the federal level, the CX-1 correctional officer earns $77,510 to $97,266 since June 1, 2025, plus an allowance of $243.99 every two weeks.

What training is required to become a correctional officer in Quebec?

Quebec asks for two years of post-secondary studies related to helping relationships or intervention, which relevant experience can replace, then gives a paid nine-week integration program. The federal service asks for a secondary school diploma and requires passing the Correctional Training Program: two online stages, then about 14 weeks in class with an allowance of $400 a week.

How do you become a correctional services officer?

You apply during a registration period, on the Quebec public service recruitment site. You must meet the education or experience requirements, pass a medical examination, not have been found guilty of certain Criminal Code offences and meet the requirements of the security investigation. The nine-week training follows hiring.

What is the mission of Quebec's correctional services?

Under section 3 of the Act respecting the Québec correctional system, the correctional services help inform the courts and take charge, in the community or in detention, of the persons entrusted to them, while fostering their social reintegration.

Can a security guard become a correctional officer?

Yes, if the guard meets the requirements of the position. The security guard licence gives no direct access, but security experience goes in the application, and the department judges whether it counts as relevant experience.

Can you become a correctional officer with a criminal record?

At the provincial level, you must not have been found guilty of certain Criminal Code offences, and you must meet the requirements of the security investigation. At the federal level, CSC reviews each record case by case. For the security guard licence, the rules are in our article on criminal records and the licence.

Sources

• Québec.ca: Agente ou agent des services correctionnels (in French)
• Québec.ca: Aperçu du milieu carcéral au Québec (in French)
• LégisQuébec: Act respecting the Québec correctional system, ss. 3, 4 and 5
• Correctional Service Canada: Correctional officer careers
• GC Jobs: "Become a Correctional Officer I" posting, process 2026-PEN-EA-NAT-201617
• Correctional Service Canada: Apply for a job at CSC
• Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat: Correctional Services (CX) collective agreement, Appendices A and H
• Justice Canada: Corrections and Conditional Release Act, s. 10
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, s. 4.07

A special constable is a peace officer whose powers stop at a specific place or mandate: a courthouse, the National Assembly, the Montréal metro. For a security guard, it is the next step up. The work is similar, but with real powers, a public employer and paid training. A high school diploma is enough to get into the courthouses.

The special constable according to the law

The Police Act devotes a few sections to the role.

• Mission: maintain peace, order and public security, prevent and repress crime and, depending on the deed of appointment, offences against laws or municipal by-laws (s. 105)
• Status: peace officer, within the limits set out in the deed of appointment (s. 106)
• Appointment: by the Minister. The deed specifies the powers, the conditions for exercising them, the territory and the term of the appointment. The constable takes an oath before a judge (s. 107)
• Identification: the constable wears a badge and carries the deed of appointment or an identification document, and shows it on request (s. 111)

A municipality may also authorize its mayor to appoint special constables in an emergency, for no more than seven days, or for no more than four months under a by-law approved by the Minister (s. 108).

Security guard, special constable, police officer

The security guard has only the powers of any citizen. They are explained in our article on citizen's arrest.

Where special constables work

Courthouses

This is the largest group. The Direction de la sécurité dans les palais de justice has about 400 special constables, in every courthouse in Quebec and at the itinerant court. The employer is the Ministère de la Sécurité intérieure, which job documents still call the Ministère de la Sécurité publique.

According to the department's leaflet, dated March 2026, the special constable:

• maintains peace, order and security through prevention, control, surveillance, escort and guard duties
• makes arrests and removes people from the premises
• carries out and coordinates evacuations
• acts as a first responder and gives first aid

The leaflet specifies that the person holding the job must be armed.

The National Assembly

The National Assembly hires its own special constables. Its job posting describes surveillance, escort, guard duties, access management, response to emergency calls and screening of mail and goods. Security is provided 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, with atypical schedules.

The Montréal metro and buses

Since 2021, the inspectors of the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) have been trained and sworn in as special constables. The STM has 164 of them, patrolling the metro and bus networks day and night.

According to the STM, they can arrest the perpetrator of an assault or another criminal act and hand the person over to police, intervene with a person in crisis and ticket vehicles blocking a reserved lane. They do not carry firearms: their equipment is a telescopic baton, for defensive use. They come under the authority of the Commissaire à la déontologie policière, the police ethics commissioner.

Becoming a special constable in a courthouse

The requirements

• Hold a high school diploma
• Have Canadian citizenship
• Pass a medical examination
• Be of good moral character and meet the requirements of the security investigation by the Sûreté du Québec
• Pass the qualifying training of the École nationale de police du Québec

No police technology diploma is required.

The selection process

The department describes it in seven steps.

The training

The qualifying training lasts nine weeks, at the École nationale de police du Québec, in Nicolet. It is paid at minimum wage. Meals and lodging are included, and lodging is mandatory from Monday to Friday. One week of training in a courthouse follows.

Salary and conditions

The March 2026 leaflet gives a scale of $49,070 to $67,270 a year, for 40 hours a week. The exact salary is set after the training. The job page on Québec.ca still shows the old scale, $46,190 to $63,305 as of April 1, 2022.

• Day work, 40 hours a week, on starting
• Possible premiums depending on the situation: retention and job stability, work organization, evening, tasks related to the custody of detainees
• 20 days of vacation after the first year
• Government pension plan (RREGOP) and group insurance
• Uniform supplied

For comparison: the minimum rate for a Class A security guard is $20.60 an hour under the Decree, or about $42,850 a year at 40 hours a week.

Outside the courthouses

• National Assembly. The posting requires a high school diploma, Canadian citizenship and, already completed, the basic training program for special constables or the basic training program in police patrolling of the École nationale de police du Québec. The job offered is casual
• STM. The corporation hires its own constables. The path includes training from the École nationale de police du Québec lasting 13 to 14 weeks depending on the source, a security investigation and an oath before a judge of the Court of Québec. The requirements of the position are in the job posting, when the STM publishes one

The STM job posting, consulted in October 2026, gives these hourly rates.

The annual amounts are our calculation: the hourly rate multiplied by 40 hours and by 52 weeks. The actual schedule depends on the collective agreement.

What your security guard experience is worth

The security guard licence gives no direct access to the position. Your experience counts elsewhere: in the review of the application and at the interview. Access control, screening, reports, handling agitated people, first aid: these are the tasks the postings describe.

Three conditions can be prepared in advance:

• Physical fitness. The essential physical abilities test is a step in the selection process
• Background. The department requires good moral character and a security investigation by the Sûreté du Québec
• Availability. The training is given in Nicolet, in residence from Monday to Friday for nine weeks

Another path in the public service: becoming a correctional officer.

Frequently asked questions

What is a special constable?

A peace officer appointed by the Minister for a specific mandate. The deed of appointment sets the powers, the territory and the term of the appointment, under sections 106 and 107 of the Police Act.

What is the difference between a special constable and a police officer?

Both are peace officers. The police officer is a member of a police force and exercises powers throughout that force's territory. The special constable exercises powers only within the limits of the deed of appointment: a courthouse, the National Assembly or the STM network, for example.

What is the salary of a special constable in Quebec?

In the courthouses, the department announces a scale of $49,070 to $67,270 a year for 40 hours a week, in its March 2026 leaflet. Premiums may be added depending on the situation.

What is the salary of an STM special constable?

According to the STM job posting consulted in October 2026, the rate is $31.16 an hour on hiring, $32.35 after 12 months and can reach $43.55 after 6 years of seniority. At 40 hours a week, that comes to about $64,800 a year at the start and about $90,600 at the top.

How do you become a special constable?

For the courthouses, you need a high school diploma and Canadian citizenship. You register for the department's selection process, which includes an online examination, an interview, a physical abilities test, a security investigation and medical tests. Successful candidates take nine weeks of training at the École nationale de police du Québec.

Is a special constable armed?

It depends on the employer. In the courthouses, the department writes that the person holding the job must be armed. At the STM, special constables do not carry firearms.

Sources

• LégisQuébec: Police Act, ss. 105 to 108 and 111
• Gouvernement du Québec: "Constable spécial" leaflet, Direction de la sécurité dans les palais de justice, March 2026 (in French)
• Québec.ca: Constable spéciale ou constable spécial (in French)
• École nationale de police du Québec: Sécurité des édifices gouvernementaux et Assemblée nationale (in French)
• National Assembly of Québec: special constable job posting (in French)
• STM: Special constables
• STM: special constable job posting, consulted in October 2026 (in French)
• École nationale de police du Québec: STM program, Sûreté et contrôle (in French)
• LégisQuébec: Decree respecting security guards, s. 4.07

Before you have said a word, the person in front of you has already read your posture, your hands and your eyes. Body language can calm a situation or make it worse: that is what the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says. Here is what official sources recommend for your own posture, how to read the signs in someone else, and what body language will never tell you.

This article answers a reader's suggestion. Our thanks to him. Have an idea? Write to us from your profile.

The posture that calms

CCOHS describes a calm body posture. It comes down to six points.

• A relaxed posture, without stiffness
• Hands relaxed, and visible
• An attentive expression: the person must see that you are listening
• The same height as the person. If the person is seated, sit, crouch or bend down, rather than standing over them
• About one metre of distance, or three feet of personal space
• At an angle, rather than directly face to face

Standing at an angle and keeping your distance serve you twice: they are less threatening for the other person, and they give you time to react.

The gestures that provoke

CCOHS names five gestures that can be perceived as a challenge. They are often reflexes: you do them without thinking, especially after hours on your feet.

The left column comes from CCOHS. The right column is our way of applying it, based on its advice on relaxed posture and relaxed hands.

Looking without staring

CCOHS gives two pieces of advice that seem to contradict each other: look at the person while they speak, without looking away, and do not stare. The difference lies in duration and intent. Looking at someone who is talking to you shows that you are listening. Staring in silence, without blinking, looks like a challenge.

Reading the signs in the other person

CCOHS publishes a list of physical signs that can signal rising tension. They fall into three families.

CCOHS asks that these signs be read in context, and that two things be watched above all: several signs at once, and a worsening over time. A person who has been pacing for ten minutes, whose voice is rising and who moves closer with every sentence tells you more than a single clenched fist.

When the signs add up, you move to de-escalation. It is explained step by step in our article on the aggressive client.

What body language does not tell you

CCOHS is clear: there is no typical profile. The signs indicate tension, not intent.

• A single sign proves nothing. A flushed face can come from the cold or from effort, trembling from a health problem, avoiding eye contact from embarrassment
• The CCOHS fact sheets do not talk about detecting a lie. Nowhere do they claim that a gesture reveals what a person is thinking or hiding
• The absence of signs guarantees nothing. A person can stay still and appear calm

Body language is for adjusting your vigilance and your distance. It never replaces the facts: what the person says, what the person does and what your instructions provide. In your report, write what you saw, such as "he was clenching his fists and raising his voice", and not your conclusion, such as "he was about to hit someone".

What the regulation requires of you

The Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders does not mention posture. Three of its rules nonetheless apply to the way you carry yourself.

• You must not be disrespectful or impolite toward a person (s. 1)
• You must not use threats, intimidation or harassment (s. 3)
• You must not present yourself as having the authority, status or powers of a peace officer (s. 6)

Planting yourself ten centimetres from someone to scare them, blocking their way with your arms crossed or looking them up and down in silence: these are gestures, not words, but they can earn you a complaint to the Bureau de la sécurité privée. A calm posture protects you there too.

Day to day, away from crises

Most of your exchanges are not conflicts. The same principles apply.

• At the reception desk. Look up and look at the person arriving. It is the first thing they notice
• With a person who is seated or in a wheelchair. Bring yourself to their height, as CCOHS recommends
• On patrol. A relaxed posture and free hands say that you are available. Hands on your equipment say the opposite
• At the end of a shift. Fatigue brings back crossed arms and hands on hips. That is the moment to think about it

The written instructions of your agency and your client always take priority over this advice.

Frequently asked questions

What posture should you adopt with an agitated person?

CCOHS recommends a relaxed posture, relaxed hands, an attentive expression, about one metre of distance and standing at an angle rather than face to face. If the person is seated, bring yourself to their height.

Should you look an angry person in the eye?

Yes while they speak, to show that you are listening. No if it turns into a stare: CCOHS lists it among the gestures that can be perceived as a challenge.

Why avoid crossing your arms?

CCOHS names crossed arms, hands on hips, a pointed finger and waving hands among the gestures that can be perceived as provoking. Keep your hands relaxed and visible instead.

Can you tell if someone is lying from their body language?

The CCOHS fact sheets do not claim so. They describe signs of tension, to be read in context, and point out that there is no typical profile. Rely on the facts and on your instructions.

Sources

• CCOHS: Violence and Harassment in the Workplace, Dealing with Negative Interactions
• CCOHS: Violence and Harassment in the Workplace, Warning Signs
• LégisQuébec: Regulation respecting standards of conduct of agent licence holders carrying on a private security activity, ss. 1, 3 and 6