Exam guide: Ontario security guard licensing test
570 words · checked 2026-10-03 · Free
At a glance (checked 2026-10-03)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 60 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 75 minutes to answer (appointments are 2 hours) |
| Pass mark | 62 % - in practice at least 38 of 60 correct |
| Fee | $35 + 13 % HST = $39.55 per attempt (official booking site, re-checked 2026-10-03). The older ministry study guide still shows $75.15 - confirm when you book |
| Delivery | Serco Canada for the Ministry: online proctored (desktop computer with Safe Exam Browser) or in person at DriveTest centres |
| Languages | English and French |
| Results | Usually within 2 business days |
| Retakes | Rebook and pay again; you rewrite the whole test; no waiting period stated; no refunds |
Before you can book
- Complete a ministry-approved basic training program of at least 40 hours (33.5 h if you are exempt from the first aid part) from a college, university, career college or licensed/registered business (O. Reg. 26/10 s.2(3)). You receive a Training Completion Number (TCN).
- Hold a valid Emergency First Aid / CPR certificate (St. John Ambulance Emergency First Aid or equivalent) - you must provide it before taking the test.
- Have a credit card and your TCN; book online at ontariosecuritytesting.com (preferred) or by phone (1-866-248-2555). Bookings close at 15:00 the day before the test.
On test day
- Bring valid government-issued photo ID (a health card and SIN card are not accepted as ID - check the provider's current list).
- For online tests: a desktop or laptop computer with a webcam, a quiet private room and the required Safe Exam Browser; phones and notes are not allowed.
- No study materials are permitted.
What the test covers
The 12 sections of the Training Syllabus for Security Guards (hours in class): introduction to the industry (2), PSISA and regulations (2), basic security procedures (3), report writing (2), health and safety (1), emergency response (4), Canadian legal system (3), legal authorities (7.5), communications (4), sensitivity training (3), use of force theory (2), emergency first aid (6.5, certified separately). Questions mix scenarios, terminology and federal/provincial law. The ministry announced in 2026 that new standardized curricula are being developed - check the syllabus page before your test.
Key fact: Legal authorities (arrest under Criminal Code s.494, Trespass to Property Act, use of force) and the PSISA rules (licence, uniform, prohibited terms, Code of Conduct) are the most testable areas.
After you pass: the licence
- Apply online to the Private Security and Investigative Services Branch: age 18+, legally entitled to work in Canada, clean criminal record (O. Reg. 37/08) with a criminal record and judicial matters check.
- Licence fee $80 (security guard + private investigator: $160). Licences are digital.
- The licence ends on your second birthday after issue; renew before it expires. You do not need to retake training or the test to renew (O. Reg. 26/10 s.4).
Test tips from the ministry guide (summarized)
Scan the whole test first, budget about one minute per question, answer the easy questions first, mark hard ones and come back, read each question twice, eliminate clearly wrong options, change an answer only for a good reason, and leave time to review.
Study plan using this app
- Read the free PSISA note and this guide.
- Work through each section note (legal authorities first), then topic practice.
- Sit the three exam-style practice papers (60 questions, 75 minutes, 62 %).