BC Security Licence 2026: Requirements, Fees & How to Verify a Guard
BC Security Licence 2026: Requirements, Fees & How to Verify a Guard
Written by Paul Thandi, Operations Manager, On Guard Security Ltd. — 10+ years in BC security · Updated September 2026
Anyone paid to do security work in British Columbia needs a BC security licence issued under the provincial Security Services Act. That applies to site guards, mobile patrol officers and loss prevention staff. If you're a property manager, strata council or business owner, the licence also matters to you: it's the first thing to check before you let a security company put guards on your property. This guide covers what the licence is, who needs one, the official fees and term, and how to verify a guard or security company before you sign a contract.
A quick note on who we are: On Guard Security Ltd. is a security guard company in Surrey, BC. We don't issue licences or run licensing courses. If you're applying for your own licence, the official routes are the provincial Security Programs Division and Ministry-approved training providers such as the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC). If you're hiring security, the second half of this guide is written for you.
Key takeaways
Anyone paid to do security work in BC must hold a valid security worker licence before starting work. Working while an application is pending isn't allowed.
Applicants must be at least 19 and must pass criminal record, police information and correctional service checks.
Licence fees are set in regulation: $60, $120, $180 or $240 depending on how long the licence is valid. The maximum term is 3 years.
A business that uses unlicensed security workers faces fines of up to $50,000 for a first offence under the Act.
Anyone can check a licence online with the province's free licence verification tool. Do it before you hire.
A BC security licence is a provincial authorisation that allows a person to do a specific kind of security work in British Columbia. It's issued by the Registrar of Security Services under the Security Services Act. The Act sets two levels. Individuals doing the work hold a security worker licence. Companies that provide guards to clients hold a security business licence.
The licence isn't a single credential. The Security Services Regulation sets out a range of security worker licence classes, each tied to a specific kind of work. The ones property owners deal with most are:
Security guard: static site guarding, mobile patrol, access control, concierge security and loss prevention
Armoured car guard: cash and valuables transport
Private investigator: investigations and surveillance
Alarm and technical classes: alarm installation, monitoring and response; CCTV installation; locksmithing; electronic locking; security consulting
Several classes also have an "under supervision" version for people who are still gaining experience. For a business hiring guards, the class that matters is almost always security guard.
Anyone paid to do security work in British Columbia needs a valid security worker licence for that kind of work before they start. That includes contract guards supplied by a security company and, in most cases, security staff a business employs directly. The Act sets the basic eligibility rules. An applicant must:
Be at least 19 years old (a small number of technical classes, such as alarm monitoring, allow applicants from age 16)
Be ordinarily resident in Canada
Pass a criminal record check, police information check and correctional service information check
Meet the training requirement for the licence class
A criminal record doesn't automatically disqualify someone. The Registrar reviews each application and can refuse one based on charges or convictions. There are narrow exceptions too: the Registrar can decide that security duties which are only incidental to a person's main job don't need a licence. For anyone hired mainly to guard property, assume a licence is required.
For the security guard class, the process has three stages:
Training. Complete 40 hours of Basic Security Training (BST) through a Ministry-approved provider. At JIBC, BST is a theory course followed by a 75-question exam with a 70% pass mark. JIBC lists the combined theory, exam and admin fees at roughly $411.
Application and checks. Apply to the provincial Security Programs Division and complete the required criminal record, police information and correctional service checks.
Approval. The Registrar reviews the application. Processing times aren't fixed and depend on application volume. An applicant can't do security work until the licence is issued.
The Security Programs Division is the official source for current forms and instructions, and applicants should use it directly. The rest of this guide focuses on what the licence means for the businesses that hire guards.
BC security licence fees are set in section 16 of the Security Services Regulation and depend on how long the licence is valid. Section 6 sets the maximum term at 3 years. Supervised security guard licences are the exception, capped at 90 days.
Security worker licence valid for…
New licence fee
Renewal fee
90 days or less
$60
$60
More than 90 days, up to 1 year
$120
$60
More than 1 year, up to 2 years
$180
$120
More than 2 years, up to 3 years
$240
$180
These are the government fees only. Training, the required checks and any other costs are separate. The province advises applying for a renewal well before the current licence expires, so there's no gap when the guard can't legally work.
Key insight: A lapsed licence is the same as no licence. A guard with an expired licence can't legally work your site until it's renewed, so ask your provider how they track expiry dates.
If you manage a building, run a construction project or operate a business, the BC security licence is your first protection. It confirms that the person guarding your property has passed background checks and met a provincial training standard. The law also puts real weight on whoever engages the guard.
Under section 27 of the Security Services Act, a business without a security business licence must not employ or engage anyone to do security work unless that person holds a valid security worker licence for that work, or falls under a specific exemption. Section 45 sets the penalty for breaking that rule: a fine of up to $50,000 for a first offence and up to $100,000 for a subsequent offence, plus daily fines while the offence continues. Licensed security businesses face the same maximums for offences under the Act.
In practice there are two safe ways to staff security:
Hire a licensed security company. The company holds the business licence and is responsible for making sure every guard it sends is licensed, trained and insured.
Employ security staff directly. You then take on the job of confirming each person's licence, and of re-checking it when it comes up for renewal.
Most property managers and strata councils in the Lower Mainland choose the first option. The licensing, scheduling, supervision and WorkSafeBC obligations sit with the provider. If you're comparing providers, our guide to choosing a security company in Surrey covers what separates them.
You don't have to take a provider's word for it. British Columbia runs a free security licence status verification tool: enter a licence number and it tells you whether the licence is valid. Security business licences have their own check on the same site.
A simple check before any contract starts:
Ask the company for its security business licence number and check it.
Ask for the security worker licence numbers of the guards assigned to your site, and spot-check them.
Ask for WorkSafeBC clearance and a current certificate of liability insurance.
Re-check whenever a new guard is rotated onto your site.
Key insight: A provider that hesitates to share licence numbers is telling you something. Legitimate security companies expect this question and answer it the same day.
On Guard Security Ltd. has provided licensed security guards across Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, Langley, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley for more than 10 years. Our guards hold BC security worker licences and complete JIBC training. Every new hire then spends a week of one-on-one training with a senior officer before working independently. We're WorkSafeBC compliant, fully insured, and supported by a 24/7 operations line.
The properties we protect most often include:
Condos and strata buildings: front-desk and concierge security that handles visitors, deliveries and after-hours access
Buildings with fire-system outages: fire watch guards when an alarm or sprinkler system is down
Commercial, retail, industrial and event sites: static guards, mobile patrol and alarm response
We can share our business licence, guard licence numbers, WorkSafeBC clearance and insurance certificate as part of any proposal. To talk through your property's needs, call 778-990-5070 or request a free security consultation.
A BC security worker licence can be issued for up to 3 years, the maximum term set in the Security Services Regulation. The fee depends on the length: $60 for 90 days or less, up to $240 for a licence of more than two years. Supervised security guard licences are limited to 90 days.
How much does a security licence cost in BC?
The government fee for a new security worker licence is $60, $120, $180 or $240, depending on how long the licence is valid. Renewals cost $60 to $180. Training is separate: JIBC lists its Basic Security Training theory course and exam at roughly $411 combined.
Can someone work as a security guard while their licence is being processed?
No. The Security Services Act requires a valid security worker licence before anyone does security work. A guard with a pending application, or an expired licence, can't legally work a site until the licence is issued or renewed.
How do I check if a security guard is licensed in BC?
Use the province's free online security licence status verification tool. Enter the guard's licence number and it shows whether the licence is valid. Ask your security company for the licence numbers of the guards assigned to your site, and for its own business licence number.
Do in-house security staff need a licence in BC?
Generally, yes. A business that isn't a licensed security company must not employ anyone to do security work unless that person holds a valid security worker licence, or an exemption applies. The penalty is a fine of up to $50,000 for a first offence. Staff whose security duties are only incidental to another main job may be treated differently. The Registrar makes that decision.
How do I find a licensed security company in Surrey or Vancouver?
Check the company's business licence with the provincial verification tool, then compare training, supervision, reporting and local experience. On Guard Security Ltd. has served Surrey, Vancouver and the Lower Mainland for over 10 years with licensed, JIBC-trained guards. Call 778-990-5070 for a free consultation.
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