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Alberta security (ABST): 50 practice questions

Real test: 60 questions, 60 minutes, pass 48/60 (80%). Answer key on the last page. From canadianlicensetest.com · independent study aid, not an official test.

1. A worker has a piece of glass stuck deep in his forearm and it is bleeding. What is the correct first aid?
1. A. Leave the glass in, press around it and get medical help
2. B. Pull the glass out quickly, then bandage the cut
3. C. Push the glass further in to stop the bleeding
4. D. Pour rubbing alcohol on the wound to clean it
2. What is the offence of mischief under Criminal Code s.430 when it endangers life?
1. A. An indictable offence with up to life in prison
2. B. A summary offence with only a small fine
3. C. A provincial offence under trespass law
4. D. No offence at all if no one is hurt
3. The syllabus asks trainers to explain the difference between case law and which other kind of law?
1. A. Company policy and procedures
2. B. Statute law passed by legislatures
3. C. Post orders for a specific site
4. D. Union bylaws and agreements
4. An Alberta guard finds a backpack taped under a stairwell during a search. What should the guard do?
1. A. Open it carefully to look inside
2. B. Carry it outside to a safe open area
3. C. Leave it alone, move away and report where it is
4. D. Cover it with a coat so no one sees it
5. According to the SSIA Policy Manual, can an Alberta security company set stricter arrest rules than the Criminal Code allows?
1. A. Yes, businesses may adopt more restrictive internal arrest policies
2. B. No, companies must allow every arrest the law permits
3. C. No, only the Registrar can set arrest rules
4. D. Yes, but only for guards on night shifts
6. A report says: 'A witness told the writer that the male took a wallet.' The guard did not see the theft. Why is this wording good?
1. A. It separates what someone else reported from what the guard saw
2. B. It hides who the witness was, to protect their privacy
3. C. It makes the guard look more certain of the facts
4. D. It avoids naming the time the theft took place
7. You monitor cameras for three sites from a remote control room and see someone breaking a window at one site. Which surveillance limit from the study guide applies?
1. A. You must drive to the site and arrest the person yourself
2. B. Your response may be limited to calling police or site staff
3. C. You cannot record anything you see on camera
4. D. You have no duty to act on what you see
8. Under Alberta's SSIA s.40, which title may a licensee NOT use?
1. A. Security guard
2. B. Security agent
3. C. Loss prevention worker
4. D. Security officer
9. Within what time must an Alberta individual licensee report to the Registrar that they were arrested or charged with a Criminal Code offence?
1. A. 24 hours
2. B. 72 hours
3. C. 14 days
4. D. 30 days
10. A reporter at an Alberta office tower asks the lobby guard what he knows about an executive in the news. What does the ABST manual advise?
1. A. Say "no comment" and walk away
2. B. Share what he has heard from staff
3. C. Refer the reporter to the media contact
4. D. Give an interview off the record
11. You placed an unresponsive but breathing man in the recovery position in a hospital parking lot. Paramedics are 10 minutes away. What is your main job now?
1. A. Keep checking his breathing and be ready to start CPR
2. B. Go back to your post and return in 10 minutes
3. C. Search his pockets for identification
4. D. Give him sips of water to keep him awake
12. Which tense does the ABST manual say to use when writing a report?
1. A. Future tense
2. B. Present tense
3. C. Any tense, mixed
4. D. Past tense
13. You receive a subpoena for a trial next month about an assault you saw a year ago. What does the study guide advise before court?
1. A. Rewrite your notes neatly in a new notebook for court
2. B. Carefully review all your notes and recall as much detail as you can
3. C. Ask the witness what she remembers and add it to your notes
4. D. Do nothing until you are on the stand, to stay natural
14. You see a suspect run from a store. Which description will be most useful in your report?
1. A. "A suspicious-looking person"
2. B. Height, build, clothing, hair and any distinctive marks
3. C. Your guess about the person's ethnicity and income
4. D. "Someone who looked like trouble"
15. Under Alberta's SSIA, who is guilty if a security business commits an offence under the Act?
1. A. The business and any officer or director involved
2. B. Only the newest employee on the payroll
3. C. Only the client that hired the business
4. D. No one, since a business cannot commit offences
16. What does Charter s.10(a) guarantee to everyone who is arrested or detained?
1. A. To be released within one hour
2. B. To be told promptly the reasons for it
3. C. To make a statement to the media
4. D. To choose which officer arrives
17. In a report, which information answers the question "where?"
1. A. The full names of the suspects and all witnesses
2. B. The time and the date of each event, in order
3. C. The location, and where people and evidence were found
4. D. How each person involved was acting at the time
18. A worker in a warehouse has a deep cut on his forearm that is bleeding heavily. What is the first thing to do?
1. A. Wash the wound under running water for five minutes
2. B. Have him walk to the first aid room alone
3. C. Apply firm, direct pressure on the wound with a dressing
4. D. Wait for the bleeding to stop by itself
19. Whose decision is final in Alberta's complaint review process about an individual licensee?
1. A. The employer of the individual licensee
2. B. The Registrar of Security Programs
3. C. The client where the incident happened
4. D. The Director of Law Enforcement
20. Avoiding alcohol helps a shift worker cope with unusual work hours.
1. A. True
2. B. False
21. A guard in a clearly marked uniform walks the levels of a parking garage at random times. What is her visible presence mainly meant to do?
1. A. Make arrests
2. B. Collect fees
3. C. Deter crime
4. D. Enforce by-laws
22. A patron hits his head on a door frame at a bar. He did not pass out, but later he is confused, vomits and has a worsening headache. What should you do?
1. A. Call 911 and keep him still and monitored
2. B. Let him sleep it off in a quiet corner
3. C. Give him a pain reliever and send him home
4. D. Have him drink water and walk it off
23. Police arrive to arrest a guard's friend at a mall. The guard stands in the doorway to block them. What might the guard be committing?
1. A. Obstructing a peace officer
2. B. Nothing, because guards control access
3. C. Defence of property under s.35
4. D. A lawful citizen's arrest
24. You arrest a shoplifter at the store exit. The man demands to know why he is being held. What should you do?
1. A. Tell him clearly that he is under arrest for theft
2. B. Refuse to say anything until police arrive
3. C. Tell him he will find out in court
4. D. Tell him only that he looks suspicious
25. In the phonetic alphabet, which word stands for the letter F?
1. A. Foxtrot
2. B. Frank
3. C. Fox
4. D. Freddie
26. According to the study guide, how should a guard treat all evidence after an incident?
1. A. As property the guard can keep
2. B. As trash to clear away quickly
3. C. As though it could be used in a trial
4. D. As something to show on social media
27. Which incident must an Alberta business licensee report to the Registrar within 24 hours?
1. A. A guard arriving 20 minutes late for a scheduled shift
2. B. A client paying the monthly security invoice late
3. C. Serious injury to another person allegedly caused by one of its guards
4. D. A guard asking for a transfer to a different site
28. A choking adult you are helping becomes unresponsive. What should you do?
1. A. Keep giving abdominal thrusts while they stand
2. B. Make sure 911 has been called and begin CPR
3. C. Put them in a chair and wait
4. D. Leave to find a doctor in the mall
29. Before using an extinguisher on a small fire, which check matters most?
1. A. That the extinguisher's class matches the burning material
2. B. That the extinguisher is the newest model
3. C. That a supervisor has signed off
4. D. That the fire has burned for at least five minutes
30. At the end of your shift you remember an important detail you forgot to note earlier. How should you add it?
1. A. Squeeze it between earlier lines so it looks like the original
2. B. Tear out the page and rewrite the whole shift from memory
3. C. Add a new entry at the current time, marked as a late addition
4. D. Leave it out completely, since it is now too late to add
31. According to the SSIA Policy Manual, what is a "patrol dog" compared with a yard dog?
1. A. A dog left alone in a fenced yard at night
2. B. A dog trained to work with a handler to provide security
3. C. Any pet dog that barks at strangers
4. D. A dog used only for police tracking
32. Which alarm sensor detects physical shocks in certain frequency ranges, such as glass breaking?
1. A. Infrared
2. B. Physical contact
3. C. Seismic
4. D. Electric field
33. Under Criminal Code s.25(1)(c), a guard who helps a police officer make an arrest is protected if:
1. A. He uses any force the officer asks him to use
2. B. He acts on reasonable grounds and uses only necessary force
3. C. He is off duty at the time he helps the officer
4. D. He carries a baton approved by his employer
34. An anxious elderly woman cannot find her car in a large parking garage and is becoming tearful. What should the guard do first?
1. A. Tell her to call a taxi and come back tomorrow
2. B. Say the garage is closing and she must leave now
3. C. Reassure her calmly and help her search with simple questions
4. D. Hand her a map of the garage and walk away
35. Under s.92(14) of the 1867 Act, who makes the rules of procedure for civil cases in a province's courts?
1. A. The Supreme Court
2. B. The province
3. C. Parliament
4. D. Each city council
36. Under Alberta's SSIA s.19, which allegation must a business licensee report?
1. A. That a guard arrived late for two shifts
2. B. That one of its guards committed a crime
3. C. That a client disliked the uniform colour
4. D. That a guard asked for a raise in pay
37. Under Alberta's SSIA s.3, which activity needs a licence when done for pay?
1. A. Locking up your own home before leaving for a holiday
2. B. Patrolling, guarding or providing security for another person's property
3. C. Watching over your own car while it sits in a parking lot
4. D. Volunteering at a church door with no pay of any kind
38. At a car lot, a guard notices a vehicle whose identification number plate has been ground off. Under Criminal Code s.354(2), what does this suggest?
1. A. Nothing, since VIN plates often fall off older cars
2. B. That the car's owner must be the guard's own client
3. C. Absent other evidence, proof it was obtained by an indictable offence
4. D. That the car has been legally abandoned on the lot
39. What happens if an Alberta licensee lets their licence expire without renewing, according to the SSIA Policy Manual?
1. A. It renews itself automatically each time
2. B. It turns into a 30-day training licence
3. C. It stays valid for six more months
4. D. It is cancelled, and a new application is required
40. Before appearing in court, a guard should carefully review all notes and try to recall as many details as possible.
1. A. True
2. B. False
41. What is the minimum letter height for SECURITY on the back of an Alberta security uniform?
1. A. 1.5 cm, in upper case
2. B. 5 cm, in upper case
3. C. 8 cm, in upper case
4. D. 2.5 cm, in any case
42. During a bomb search, which areas does the ABST manual say to search first?
1. A. Locked offices used by executives
2. B. Public areas that are easy to access
3. C. The roof and the attic spaces
4. D. The guard's own post and booth
43. A suspect tells you, "I only took it because I was hungry." How should you record this in your notebook?
1. A. Summarize it as "he confessed to theft"
2. B. Leave it out because it is not a formal statement
3. C. Write what you think he really meant
4. D. Write his exact words in quotation marks
44. Fixed surveillance relies mainly on only one of the guard's senses: vision.
1. A. True
2. B. False
45. When answering the phone at a security desk, what is a professional way to begin?
1. A. Say "What?" and wait for the caller to explain
2. B. Greet the caller, and give your name and the site or company
3. C. Answer with a joke to relax the caller
4. D. Pick up and say nothing until they speak
46. Why must guards take care when e-mailing incident reports, according to the syllabus?
1. A. E-mail systems always delete the attached files
2. B. Reports can legally be sent only by fax machine
3. C. They may hold confidential information that must be protected
4. D. Clients are never allowed to read security reports
47. A visitor signs in at 0930 h but the log has no exit time for her at closing. Why does this matter?
1. A. In an emergency, she may be thought inside or be untraceable later
2. B. It does not matter, since she signed in properly
3. C. Only the time in is ever needed for visitor logs
4. D. It matters only for the client's payroll records
48. Police are on their way to a break-in you discovered on your patrol. How can you best support them, according to the study guide?
1. A. Search the area and question witnesses yourself
2. B. Clean up broken glass so the store can reopen
3. C. Leave the site since police will handle it
4. D. Secure the scene until police arrive and share what you saw
49. Which is the highest court in Canada?
1. A. The Supreme Court of Canada
2. B. The Court of Appeal for Ontario
3. C. The Federal Court
4. D. The Ontario Court of Justice
50. You should leave blank space between notebook entries so you can add details later.
1. A. True
2. B. False

Answer key

1. A — Red Cross first aid guidance says not to remove an embedded object; stabilize it, control bleeding by pressing around it and get medical help. Removing it can increase bleeding.
2. A — Section 430(2) of the Criminal Code makes mischief that causes actual danger to life an indictable offence with a maximum of life imprisonment.
3. B — Section 7 of the syllabus says the trainer outlines criminal, provincial and municipal law as well as case and common law. Case law comes from court decisions; statutes are passed by Parliament or legislatures.
4. C — The ABST manual says if you see something suspicious, do not touch it or change anything, do not use electronics nearby, move away slowly, secure the area and report its exact location and description.
5. A — The SSIA Policy Manual s.5.1 notes that business licensees may choose to implement more restrictive internal policies for employees who encounter criminal offences, regardless of the powers in Criminal Code s.494.
6. A — Reports must convey information accurately and without bias. Separating what the guard personally saw from what others reported helps readers such as police and courts judge the information properly.
7. B — The study guide (s.3) notes that with surveillance, response may be restricted to calling police or internal personnel, especially when the guard is monitoring from a different location. Calling promptly and recording details of what you saw is the right action.
8. D — Section 40 of the SSIA prohibits a licensee from using the expressions "private detective", "law enforcement officer", "protection officer" or "security officer", or any derivation likely to confuse the public.
9. A — Section 3(1) of AR 52/2010 requires an individual licensee who is arrested or charged under the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act or another federal law to report it to the Registrar in writing within 24 hours.
10. C — The ABST manual advises referring media to a media contact, not taking part in interviews, staying courteous, and not using "no comment", which media may treat as an opinion.
11. A — An unresponsive person can stop breathing at any time. Stay with him and check his breathing often. If it stops or becomes abnormal, roll him onto his back and start CPR.
12. D — The ABST manual advises writing reports in the past tense (called, ran, looked), in the order events happened, with short sentences and plain language.
13. B — The study guide says that before appearing in court the guard should carefully review all notes and try to remember as many details as possible. Original notes must not be rewritten or changed.
14. B — The study guide (s.4) asks reports to answer "who" with factual detail, and the Training Syllabus (s.4) lists descriptions of individuals as a basic element. Observable features such as height, build, clothing and marks help police identify the person; labels and guesses do not.
15. A — Section 46(2) of the SSIA says that if a business commits an offence, any officer or director who directed, authorized, assented to, acquiesced in or participated in it is also guilty, whether or not the business is prosecuted.
16. B — Section 10(a) of the Charter says everyone has the right on arrest or detention to be informed promptly of the reasons for it. Criminal Code s.29(2) similarly requires anyone making an arrest to give notice of the reason where feasible.
17. C — The study guide (s.4) says "where" covers the location of the incident, where each person involved was situated and where evidence was found. Names answer "who", times answer "when" and behaviour answers "how".
18. C — Severe bleeding is a core Emergency Level First Aid topic (study guide s.12). First aid courses teach stopping severe bleeding with firm, direct pressure using a dressing or clean cloth, while someone calls 911.
19. D — Section 27 of the SSIA allows a complainant to ask the Director of Law Enforcement to review the Registrar's decision within 30 days, and s.27(3) says the Director's decision is final.
20. A — Alcohol disrupts sleep quality; avoiding it helps shift workers rest and stay alert.
21. C — The study guide says most guard tasks involve observing, deterring, recording and reporting. A visible, unpredictable patrol makes would-be offenders think twice. Arrests are rare and by-law enforcement belongs to municipal officers and police.
22. A — Confusion, vomiting and a worsening headache after a head injury can signal a serious brain injury. Call 911, keep him still, and do not leave him alone. Watch his breathing and level of consciousness.
23. A — Section 129 of the Criminal Code prohibits resisting or wilfully obstructing a peace officer in the execution of their duty. Section 35(3) also removes the defence of property against people lawfully enforcing the law.
24. A — Criminal Code s.29(2) requires anyone making an arrest to tell the person the reason for the arrest where it is feasible. Clear, calm communication also helps prevent the situation from escalating.
25. A — The ABST manual uses "foxtrot" as its example of a phonetic alphabet word for the letter F, chosen because it is unlikely to be confused with any other word.
26. C — The study guide (s.7) says that in the event of an incident, guards should treat all evidence as though it could potentially be used in a trial. That means careful collection, security and documentation.
27. C — Section 19(i) of the SSIA and s.4(1) of AR 52/2010 require reporting any incident involving serious injury to or death of another person allegedly caused by an individual licensee's actions within 24 hours.
28. B — When a choking adult becomes unresponsive, first aid guidance is to lower them to the ground, ensure emergency services are called, and start CPR, checking the mouth for the object before giving breaths.
29. A — CCOHS stresses using the right type of extinguisher for the class of fire (for example A, B, C, D or K). The wrong type can be ineffective or dangerous, such as water on electrical or grease fires.
30. C — The study guide (s.4) says notebooks must be chronological and not tampered with. Adding a clearly marked late entry at the current time keeps the record honest; squeezing text into old lines or rewriting pages can look like tampering.
31. B — The SSIA Policy Manual s.3.1.1 explains that patrol dogs are trained to work with a handler to provide security services, while yard or watch dogs are turned loose without a handler in fully enclosed areas; the latter group is not addressed by licensing.
32. C — The study guide (s.6) describes seismic sensors as detecting physical shocks in certain frequency ranges, like glass breaking. Infrared detects heat changes, contact sensors detect doors or windows opening, and electric-field sensors measure changes in amplitude along wires.
33. B — Criminal Code s.25(1)(c) covers people acting in aid of a peace officer. They are justified if they act on reasonable grounds and use only as much force as is necessary. Section 26 still makes them responsible for any excess.
34. C — The syllabus stresses empathy, rapport and adapting communication to the person and situation. Calm reassurance and simple questions (level, entrance used, car colour) help her and reduce distress.
35. B — Section 92(14) of the Constitution Act, 1867 gives the provinces power over the administration of justice, including setting up provincial courts of civil and criminal jurisdiction and procedure in civil matters in those courts. Criminal procedure is federal under s.91(27).
36. B — Section 19(e) of the SSIA requires a business licensee to report any allegation that an individual licensee it employs has committed a criminal offence; AR 52/2010 s.4(1) requires this within 24 hours. The policy manual includes complaints alleging excessive force.
37. B — Section 3(1) of the SSIA says no person may, without a licence and for remuneration, patrol, guard or provide security for another person or their property or premises, or detect loss of or damage to them.
38. C — Criminal Code s.354(2) says possession of a motor vehicle whose VIN has been wholly or partly removed or obliterated is, absent evidence to the contrary, proof it was obtained by an indictable offence. The guard should record it and report to the client and police.
39. D — The SSIA Policy Manual s.6.5.5 says failure to renew results in cancellation, and a licensee who wants to reactivate must submit a new licence application package for approval.
40. A — True. The study guide (s.4) advises that before appearing in court, the guard should carefully review all notes and try to remember as many details about the situation as possible, since notes are only a memory aid on the stand.
41. B — Section 21(3)(d)(iii) of AR 55/2010 requires lettering on the back of the uniform to be in upper case and not less than 5 cm high, in a colour contrasting with the uniform.
42. B — The ABST manual's best practices say to search public areas first, since they are more accessible to someone planting a device, then evacuated areas and the exterior, while keeping a searched "cushion" between you and the exit.
43. D — The study guide (s.4) says reports should contain facts, and statements should record a person's words verbatim. Writing the exact words in quotation marks preserves what was actually said for police and the court.
44. A — True. The study guide (s.3) lists reliance on only one sense, vision, as a disadvantage of surveillance, along with blind spots and equipment failure. Foot patrol, by contrast, lets a guard use sight, hearing, smell and touch.
45. B — The study guide (s.9) says guards should be courteous and professional to build rapport and trust, and that tone matters especially on the phone. A clear greeting that identifies you and the site helps the caller and sets a professional tone.
46. C — The Training Syllabus (s.4) asks trainers to cover how to properly distribute reports, including problems with e-mailing confidential reports, and the legal implications of reports and confidentiality. The Code of Conduct also requires confidentiality (O. Reg. 363/07 s.2(1)(h)).
47. A — The study guide says a log should record each person's name and time of entry and exit so guards can locate visitors during an emergency, or later after they leave.
48. D — The study guide (s.3) explains that security can supplement police by securing crime scenes until police arrive, and that guards can be a valuable source of information for police. Disturbing the scene can destroy evidence.
49. A — The study guide's chart of Canada's court system (s.7) places the Supreme Court of Canada at the top. Provincial courts of appeal, superior courts, provincial courts and the federal courts sit below it.
50. B — Entries must be continuous with no gaps; blank spaces allow later additions and undermine the notebook's reliability. Record late information as a new, dated entry.

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