Rules for licensed security workers

Learn the laws and policies for licensed security workers and what happens if you violate them.

On this page

• Laws, policies and enforcement
• Allowed work
• Business
• Equipment
• Force
• Licence
• Reporting

Laws, policies, and enforcement

As a licensed security worker, you must follow:

• Security laws, including the code of conduct for security workers
• Licence conditions

The provincial government enforces these through:

• Inspections
• Complaints
• Investigations

What happens if you violate the laws and policies

Allowed work

Your licence shows what type of security work you are allowed to do. This includes

• The security professions you can work in
• Whether you have authorization to use dogs or restraints

Apply to change the type of security work you can do

Business

You cannot operate a security business without a security business licence.

If you are a self-employed contractor, you require both a security worker licence and a security business licence.

Equipment

While doing security work, you cannot:

• Carry a badge
• Wear an over-the-shoulder equipment belt linked to a waist belt (known as a Sam Browne belt)
• Carry or use items designed to injure or control people

For example, you cannot carry or use:

• Tasers
• Pepper spray
• Batons

Force

If you use force, you must keep a record of it. Complete SPD Form 0513: Use of Force Incident Report (PDF, 61 KB), or an equivalent document. If you work for a security business, give the completed form to your manager.

Force is an action taken by a security worker to make someone comply with their directions, or to control their actions. This might include:

• Blocking someone’s access to or from a location
• Actively moving or restraining a person
• Using handcuffs
• Using a weapon

Licence

Carrying your licence

You must carry your valid licence when you do security work. You cannot carry a photograph of the licence, it must be the physical copy.

Replace your licence immediately if it gets lost or stolen.

Working with an expired license is not permitted. Make sure you renew your licence before it expires.

Showing and giving your licence

When doing security work, you are required to show your licence to anyone who requests to see it (unless you are working as an armoured car guard or door security at a liquor establishment).

Only give your licence to:

• Special Provincial Constables under the authority of the Registrar of the Security Services Act
• Police officers

Do not give your licence to anyone else.

Reporting

Security workers must report:

• Charges 
• Convictions
• Address changes
• Legal name changes
• Becoming a peace officer

If you have reported any of the above, you may continue to do security work unless Security Programs Division (SPD) instructs you to stop.

Report changes, charges or convictions