The SSIA and Alberta Security Licensing
Key Takeaways
The Security Services and Investigators Act (SSIA) is the provincial statute that governs security workers and investigators in Alberta; Security Programs administers licensing under it
A security service worker licence costs $100 and is valid for 2 years; a dual security/investigator licence costs $160, plus a $9 service charge if applying at a registry agent
Eligibility requires being 18+, eligible to work in Canada, fluent in English (CLB Level 5), with no criminal record, no outstanding charges, and not subject of a criminal investigation
A clean police information check with vulnerable sector search is required, and a valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory can satisfy the training requirement
The original licence must be carried while on duty; renewal uses the same process as the initial application
The Security Services and Investigators Act (SSIA)
The Security Services and Investigators Act (SSIA) is the provincial statute that governs everyone who provides security services or investigative services in Alberta. It defines what counts as a security service, sets out who must be licensed, establishes the powers and limits of licensed workers, and creates the enforcement mechanisms the province uses against unlicensed or misconducting operators.
Security Programs, part of Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services, administers the SSIA. (Older course material still names the ministry Justice and Solicitor General; the program and the Registrar are the same.) Security Programs approves training providers, manages the licensing registry, processes applications, and handles complaints and discipline. For training and exam questions, the official contact is solgps.training@gov.ab.ca or 1-877-462-0791.
Understanding the SSIA is not optional for the exam — it is the source of every rule you must follow on the job. Questions on the exam frequently test whether you understand the boundaries the Act places on your authority: what you may do, what you may not do, and what happens when a security worker exceeds those boundaries.
Licence Types and Fees
Alberta issues security worker licences under the SSIA. The two most common categories for ABST candidates are:
- Security service worker licence — $100, valid for 2 years. This is the standard licence for security guards.
- Dual security/investigator licence — $160, valid for 2 years. Required if you will perform both security and investigative work.
If you apply at a registry agent, a $9 service charge is added. The licence is valid for 2 years from the date of issue, and renewal uses the same process as the initial application — including the same training/exam prerequisites and the same eligibility checks. There is no simplified renewal path.
| Licence type | Fee | Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security service worker | $100 | 2 years | Standard security guard licence |
| Dual security/investigator | $160 | 2 years | Required to perform both security and investigative work |
| Registry agent service charge | $9 | — | Added per application if filed at a registry agent |
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a security service worker licence, you must satisfy all of the following:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be eligible to work in Canada
- Be fluent in English — specifically at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) Level 5
- Have no criminal record
- Have no outstanding criminal charges
- Not be the subject of a criminal investigation
- Provide a clean police information check with vulnerable sector search
The language requirement is concrete: CLB Level 5 means you can function effectively in routine workplace communication, understand instructions, and convey information clearly — a baseline for interacting with the public, police, and clients. The criminal record check is not a formality; a conviction, an outstanding charge, or being the subject of an active investigation can disqualify you. The vulnerable sector search specifically screens for offences against vulnerable persons.
Reciprocity
A valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory can satisfy the training requirement. If you are already licensed elsewhere in Canada, you may not need to retake the full 40-hour Alberta course — but you still must apply for an Alberta licence and meet Alberta's eligibility standards. Check with Security Programs before assuming your out-of-province licence transfers cleanly.
The Licensing Pathway
The pathway from zero to licensed security worker follows a defined sequence. You cannot skip steps, and you cannot work as a security professional until the licence is issued.
A few points on this pathway deserve emphasis:
- The course precedes the exam. You cannot write the ABST exam without completing the 40-hour course (unless the Registrar has approved a challenge).
- The certificate comes after Security Programs receives the training report, not the moment you pass the exam. Expect roughly a week of processing.
- The licence is a separate step from the certificate. Passing the exam and getting the certificate does not make you a licensed worker — you must still apply for the licence, pay the fee, and clear the police information check.
- You must carry the original licence while on duty. A photocopy, a photo on your phone, or "it's in the mail" is not sufficient. If you cannot produce the original on demand, you are working illegally.
Carrying the Licence and Working Lawfully
Under the SSIA, a licensed security worker must carry the original licence while on duty. This is a condition of working, not a suggestion. A client, a police officer, a member of the public, or a Security Programs inspector may ask to see it. Failure to carry the original can result in you being sent off-site and can expose both you and your employer to sanctions.
The 2-year licence cycle means you should track your expiry date from the day the licence is issued. Because renewal uses the same process as the initial application — including training, exam, and police information check requirements — you cannot leave renewal to the last week. Start the renewal process well before expiry so there is no gap in your authority to work.
Complaints and Discipline
The SSIA also sets out the complaints process. A complaint about an individual security worker goes in writing to the worker's employer within 90 days (s. 24). The employer investigates and, within 90 days, reports its disposition to the complainant, the worker, and the Registrar (s. 25). The complainant can then ask the Registrar to review that disposition within 30 days, and the Registrar may vary the licence's terms and conditions, suspend it, or cancel it (s. 26). Complaints about a licensed security business go directly to the Registrar (s. 28). The same Act that gives you the authority to work as a security professional also gives the province the authority to take that authority away. Knowing the SSIA's expectations — and operating within them — is how you keep your licence.
Under the SSIA, how much does a standard security service worker licence cost, and how long is it valid?
$160, valid for 1 year
$100, valid for 2 years
$100, valid for 5 years
$9, valid for 2 years
Which of the following is a complete and correct list of the eligibility requirements for an Alberta security service worker licence?
16 years or older, eligible to work in Canada, basic English, no traffic tickets
18 years or older, a Canadian citizen, bilingual in English and French, a clean driving record
18 years or older, eligible to work in Canada, fluent in English at CLB Level 5, no criminal record, no outstanding charges, not subject of a criminal investigation, clean police information check with vulnerable sector search
21 years or older, eligible to work in Canada, a high school diploma, two years of security experience
A security worker licensed in British Columbia is moving to Alberta. Which statement best describes how the SSIA treats their existing licence?
It is automatically valid in Alberta with no further steps
It cannot be used for any purpose in Alberta; the worker must retake the 40-hour ABST course from scratch
It transfers only if the worker also holds a dual security/investigator licence
A valid security licence from another Canadian province or territory can satisfy the training requirement, but the worker must still apply for an Alberta licence and meet Alberta's eligibility standards
Which statement about carrying an Alberta security service worker licence is correct under the SSIA?
The original licence must be carried while on duty
A photocopy kept in the worker's vehicle is sufficient
A clear photo of the licence on the worker's phone is sufficient
The licence only needs to be produced when renewed every 2 years
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.