Getting and Keeping your Security Worker Licence - Ministry of Justice

̍̍AgeYou must be at least 16 years of age to hold alocksmith under supervision licence, a securityalarm installer under supervision licence or asecurity alarm monitor licence. You must be atleast 19 years of age to hold all other securityworker licences.̍̍Photo SpecificationsYou must supply a photograph of yourself,which will be printed on your licence. Thephoto must be:• recent . . . taken within the last 12 months.• much like a passport photo—the headfront-facing, eyes open, looking at thecamera;• the face should cover about 65 to 75% ofthe photo.• you may wear your prescription eyeglassesin the photo if the lenses are not tintedand there is no glare, shadows or rims/frames obscuring the eyes.• the focus must be clear and sharp (thelicence will be laminated which tends todarken photos. The photo should neitherbe too dark nor too light).• The photograph may be in black and whiteor in colour.USING THE ONLINE SERVICE? See Part 4 of thisguide for information on how to upload yourdigital photograph.Photos: EVERY FIVE YEARS, while youcontinue to hold a security worker licence,you must submit a new passport-qualityphotograph taken within the last 12 months.If, at any time, you wish to have the photoreplaced on your licence, this can be doneusing the Update form (#SPD0517) andsubmitting the $20 fee.̍̍Use of DogsIf the use of dogs for security work is required,you must request authorization to use dogsfrom the Registrar, Security Services Act. Thereis a section on the forms for this request. Referto Security Services Regulation 13 regarding useof dogs and Security Programs Licensing PolicyManual Section 3.5.Because of the possible effects on public safetyassociated with the use of dogs for security work,the Registrar will only grant an authorizationto a security guard to use a dog if satisfied thatthe guard is competent in the use and controlof the dog for either detection of people orexplosives or drugs; and/or the protection of theguard while providing a guard patrol or watch ofproperty. Individuals must provide the Registrartheir validation certificate from the JusticeInstitute of British Columbia which proves boththe dog and handler are adequately trained. Ifthe Registrar grants the request, a condition willbe printed on the back of the security guard’slicence that will identify the purpose of thesecurity dog, that is, whether for security workprotection, people detection, drug detection orexplosive detection. Once a security guard hasthe Registrar’s authorization to use security dogs,the guard must re-qualify annually (or every sixmonths if the dog is a dual-purpose dog, that isused for both detection and protection) plus heor she must carry the validation certificate andresults, along with their security worker licence,at all times when providing security services.̍̍Use of RestraintsBefore you may use restraints (handcuffsonly) you must request authorization from theRegistrar, Security Services. There is a sectionon the forms for this request. [Refer to SecurityServices Regulation 11 regarding restraintsand Security Programs Licensing Policy ManualSection 3.3.]The Registrar’s policy on the use of restraintsoutlines fully what is expected including thesuccessful completion of the Advanced SecurityTraining (AST) course provided by the JusticeInstitute of BC (JIBC) or that you have equivalenttraining to the JIBC’s course. This training, retrainingor equivalent must have been takenwithin one year of applying, plus the licenseemust re-qualify in the use of restraints everythree years through an approved re-qualificationcourse. (Click “Training and Testing – ApprovedPrograms” on the Security Industry and Licensingwebsite for JIBC contact information.) Applicantswith previous restraint training, within the pastyear as a peace officer, may be considered for anAST exemption pursuant to 3.3.2.4 and 3.3.2.5 ofthe policies.Security Industry and Licensing Website:www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/securityindustry 11