Alberta Security Guard Licence: Training, Police Checks, $100 Fee and How to Apply
What the Government of Alberta requires for an individual security service worker licence: the approved training course and 80% exam, the three mandatory police searches from your local police, the $100 fee, and how to apply at a registry or by mail.
How do you get a security guard licence in Alberta?
Complete an approved basic security training course and score 80% or higher on the provincial exam, get a police information check (criminal record, vulnerable sector and local police database searches) from your local police service, then apply at a participating registry agent or by mail. The licence costs $100 and is valid for 2 years.
- $100 licence fee ($160 dual with investigator), plus $9 at a registry
- Valid for 2 years; renewal repeats the full application
- Must be over 18, eligible to work in Canada, fluent in English (CLB 5), with no criminal record
- Police check must come from your local police, list "security services", and be under 90 days old
- No online application: registry or mail only (fee can be paid online for mail-in)
The short answer
To work as a security guard in Alberta you need an individual security service worker licence from Security Programs, Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services, issued under the Security Services and Investigators Act. The licence costs $100 and is valid for 2 years. To qualify you must complete an approved basic security training course and score 80% or higher on the provincial final exam (or already hold a valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory), and you must get a police information check from your local police service that includes a criminal record check, a vulnerable sector search and a local police database search.
You apply in person at a registry agent that offers Security Programs services ($100 plus a $9 service charge) or by mail to Security Programs in Edmonton. There is no online application: alberta.ca offers online payment of the fee for mail-in applications, but applications themselves go in by registry or mail, and are not accepted by email. If approved, you get a temporary licence valid for 60 days, and your licence card is mailed to you.
Who needs a licence in Alberta
According to alberta.ca, you must be licensed to work in Alberta as a:
- security guard
- patrol dog handler
- alarm responder
- loss prevention worker
- body guard
The individual licence is portable: it stays valid if you change employers or work for more than one employer.
Eligibility
To apply for a licence you must:
- be over 18 years old
- be eligible to work in Canada
- be fluent in English, at a level 5 benchmark on the Canadian Language Benchmarks
- have no criminal record
- have no outstanding criminal charges
- not be the subject of a criminal investigation
If you are in Canada on a work or study permit, alberta.ca says to contact Security Programs for the application and renewal steps that apply to you.
Alberta security guard training
Alberta recognizes two approved basic courses:
- the Alberta Basic Security Training Course (ABST), or
- the Accredited Basic Security Training Course
Either one must be taken through an approved training provider. The Government of Alberta publishes the list of approved providers (last updated 6 October 2026 at the time of writing). It includes public colleges, private training centres and providers that deliver the ABST course online.
Course length: the Security Programs Policy Manual linked from alberta.ca (version 4.0, 2015) describes the basic course as the "40-hour Alberta Basic Security Training Course". The current licence page itself does not state a number of hours, so confirm the length with your training provider.
Exam: you must score 80% or higher on the provincial final exam. Once you pass, Security Programs emails your training certificate within one week of receiving your training report. For exam rewrites, or to ask whether you can challenge the exam, contact Security Programs.
Prior law enforcement training: if you have worked in law enforcement, contact Security Programs to find out whether your previous training counts as equivalent. You will need proof, such as a certificate or letter.
Training licence: if you are enrolled in an approved course, your employer can apply for a training licence for you. It lasts 30 days, converts to a standard licence once you pass the course and exam, and is not portable. The policy manual says training licensees must be directly supervised and may not carry handcuffs, batons or other equipment.
Baton and handcuffs
To carry a baton, alberta.ca says you need:
- your employer's approval to carry a baton
- an approved 40-hour baton use-of-force training course
- a copy of that training certificate submitted with your licence application
Baton training must be re-certified every 36 months.
The licence page does not mention handcuffs. The Security Programs Policy Manual (2015) says handcuffs may be used by any licensee except locksmith and automotive lock-bypass licensees, and that employers must make sure adequate training is provided.
The police check: what Alberta actually requires
This is the step people get wrong most often. alberta.ca says all three of these searches are mandatory, with no exceptions:
- criminal record check
- vulnerable sector search
- local police database search
The page tells you to get them through your local police service and to see your police service's website for how. When you apply for the police information check you must specify the employment type as "security services", whatever licence class you are applying for, and ask for a print or mail copy of the results to attach to your application. The results expire 90 days after they are issued, so time your police check so it is still current when you submit.
What this looks like in Alberta's two largest cities:
- Calgary: the Calgary Police Service charges $75 for a Police Information Check required for employment. See our Calgary page for how to apply and what ID you need.
- Edmonton: the Edmonton Police Service lists a "Security Guard/Locksmith/Private Investigator" check at $80, plus a $25 fingerprinting fee if fingerprints are needed for the vulnerable sector check. See our Edmonton page for details.
Outside those cities, use the RCMP detachment or municipal police service where you live.
How to apply for or renew your licence
Step 1. Get your police information check from your local police service, as described above.
Step 2. Fill out the Application for Individual Licence (form PS3723), linked from the alberta.ca licence page.
Step 3. Gather your documents. You need photocopies of:
- Canadian photo ID
- your approved training course certificate, or a copy of an active security licence from another Canadian province or territory
- your 40-hour baton use-of-force training certificate, if applicable
You also need a current police information and criminal record check and a dated passport-size colour photo (date-stamped by the photographer; it does not need to be signed on the back).
Step 4. Submit and pay in one of two ways:
| Method | What you pay | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| In person at a registry agent that offers Security Programs services | $100 security licence ($160 for a dual security and investigator licence) plus a $9 service charge | If approved, you get a temporary licence valid for 60 days |
| By mail to Security Programs, P.O. Box 1023 Station Main, Edmonton, AB T5J 2M1 | $100 ($160 dual) by certified cheque, money order or bank draft payable to the Government of Alberta, or paid online through Alberta eServices with the receipt mailed in | If approved, a temporary licence valid for 60 days is emailed to you |
Your licence card is then mailed to the address on your application. Give your employer a photocopy and carry the original while you are working. A lost or stolen licence must be reported to Security Programs within 24 hours.
Processing time: not published by the Government of Alberta.
Renewal: the licence lasts 2 years, and alberta.ca says renewal follows the same process as the initial application, so plan for a new police information check (it must be less than 90 days old) before your licence expires.
How Alberta differs from Ontario
If you have read our guide to Ontario security guard licensing, the main differences are:
| Alberta | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence fee | $100 ($160 dual with investigator) | $80 ($160 dual with private investigator) |
| Police check required | Criminal record check, vulnerable sector search and local police database search from your local police service, employment type "security services", less than 90 days old | Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, from an Ontario police service, the OPP, or a private business authorized to provide police record checks |
| Where you apply | Registry agent or by mail (online payment only) | Online or by mail through ServiceOntario |
Both provinces let you skip the local training and testing if you already hold a valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory. For an overview of the job across the country, see how to become a security guard in Canada.
Also need a criminal record check for something else?
To be clear: SafeHire cannot provide the police check for your Alberta security licence. Alberta requires a vulnerable sector search and a local police database search from your local police service, and no online provider can issue those.
If you separately need a standard name-based criminal record check, for example for a different job, a contract or a role that does not involve vulnerable people, you can order one from SafeHire at /online-check. It is a name and date of birth search of the RCMP's CPIC database conducted with a police service, costs $64.99, and requires no appointment. Check with whoever is asking that this type of check is what they need.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a security licence in Alberta?
$100 for a security service worker licence, or $160 for a dual security service and investigators licence. Applying at a registry agent adds a $9 service charge. You also pay your local police service for the police information check, and your training provider for the course; neither of those fees is set by the province.
How long is an Alberta security licence valid?
2 years. Renewal follows the same process as the original application.
Can I apply for an Alberta security licence online?
No. You apply in person at a participating registry agent or by mail. Alberta eServices lets you pay the fee online for a mail-in application, and you mail in the printed receipt. Applications are not accepted by email.
What is the pass mark for the Alberta security exam?
80% or higher on the provincial final exam.
Can I take the Alberta basic security training course online?
Yes. The Government of Alberta's list of approved training providers includes providers that deliver the Alberta Basic Security Training Course online, as well as colleges and private training centres that teach it in person.
Can I use an online criminal record check for my Alberta security licence?
No. Alberta requires a criminal record check, a vulnerable sector search and a local police database search, obtained through your local police service with the employment type set to "security services". An online name-based criminal record check does not include those searches.
How long is the police check good for?
The results expire 90 days after they are issued.
I am licensed in another province. Do I need to retrain?
alberta.ca says a valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory satisfies the training requirement. You still need the Alberta police check and the other application documents.
Can I work while I am still taking the course?
Only on a training licence, which your employer must apply for. It is valid for 30 days and is tied to that employer.
Sources
All checked 2026-10-17.
- Government of Alberta, Security service worker licence: https://www.alberta.ca/security-service-worker-licence
- Government of Alberta, Security licences from participating registries: https://www.alberta.ca/security-licences-registries
- Government of Alberta, Security Services and Investigators Act approved training courses (provider list dated 6 October 2026): https://open.alberta.ca/publications/security-services-and-investigators-act-approved-training-courses
- Government of Alberta, Security Programs Policy Manual v4.0 (2015), source for the 40-hour course length and handcuff policy: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/security-services-and-investigators-act-security-programs-policy-manual
- Calgary Police Service, Police Information Checks, cost and payment: https://www.calgarypolice.ca/services/police-information-checks/cost-and-payment.html
- Edmonton Police Service, PICS Fees: https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/CommunityPolicing/OperationalServices/PoliceInformationCheck/PICSFees
- Government of Ontario, Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals): https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence
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