A security guard:

• provides or supervises a guard patrol or watch of property
• provides or supervises a guard of an individual
• performs services to prevent the loss of property, and/or
• provides door security at an establishment licensed under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act

Security guards can also respond and monitor alarms installed on the property of another person. Security Guard Under Supervision does the work of a security guard only under the direct supervision of a fully licensed security guard.

A Security Alarm Installer is a person who sells, supplies, provides advice on, or offers to install a security alarm and maintains or repairs security alarms.

A Security Alarm Installer can also code or recode an electronic locking device, make, sell or otherwise provide a lock operating device for an electronic locking device.

This type of licensee can also sell, supply, provide advice on, service or install any closed circuit television equipment device or system.

Security Alarm Installer Under Supervision must work under the direct supervision of a fully licensed Security Alarm Installer.

Monitors security alarms installed on the property of another person.

Responds to and monitors security alarms installed on the property of another person.

Sells or gives advice on security alarms.

Note: A person, who sells security alarms but does not attend the premises where the security alarm has been or will be installed, does not require a licence under the Security Services Act.

A person who advises on methods of protecting property from vandalism, intrusion, trespass or theft; or provides the service of detecting electromagnetic, acoustical or other devices by which private communications or records may be intercepted, transmitted or examined.

Armoured car services transport property, valuables and money in approved armoured vehicles. Armoured car guards may possess firearms in connection with their employment upon providing proof to the Registrar that they have a current, valid Authorization to Carry a restricted firearm certificate (ATC).

A locksmith is a person who:

• makes, services, repairs, codes, records, rekeys or repins any locking device (except a person who codes or recodes a device that person owns)
• cuts, makes, sells or otherwise provides restricted keys
• cuts, makes, sells or otherwise provides keys from a numerical or alphabetical code or a combination of numerical and alphabetical codes
• sells, services or repairs safes, vaults or other similar secure storage methods or
• sells, supplies and installs an electronic locking device

Locksmith Under Supervision performs the work of a locksmith only while under the direct supervision of a fully licensed locksmith.

A private investigator is a a person, who for consideration, seeks or obtains information about:

• crimes, offences, contraventions or misconduct, or allegations of crimes, offences contraventions or misconduct
• the activities, character or repute of a person or organization;
  the whereabouts of a person
• the location, disposition or recovery of lost, stolen or missing property
• the cause of or the responsibility of any fire, accident or incident in which damage to property or injury to any person has occurred

Private Investigator Under Supervision performs the work of a private investigator only under the supervision of a fully licensed private investigator.

Provides a service of selling, supplying, providing advice on, servicing or installing any closed circuit television equipment, device or system.

Provides the following services:

• selling, supplying, providing advice on, servicing or installing an electronic locking device
• coding or recoding an electronic locking device
• making, selling or providing a lock-operating device for an electronic locking device

The selling of body armour may only be done by licensed security businesses (with licence type body armour vendor listed on their licence) and by licensed security workers (who have licence type body armour sales listed on their licence).

Licensed security businesses and licensed security workers do not have to apply for a permit to possess body armour for the purposes of sales.

An individual using the Security Industry and Licensing online service, wanting to access their records on file with the Registrar in order to renew, update or replace a licence, require an secure ‘access code’ provided by Security Programs.

This is the person applying for a security business or security worker licence. In the case of a security worker licence, the applicant is the individual seeking the licence. In the case of a security business licence, the applicant will is the person – usually the business manager or owner – applying on behalf of the business entity requiring a licence to operate as a security business.

Authorization to Carry a restricted firearm, a certificate issued pursuant to the Firearm Act.

Basic Security Training is required training for all security guard workers (formerly BST 1 and BST 2). The Justice Institute of British Columbia offers Basic Standards Training. See Training and Testing – Approved Programs for more information.

A garment or item designed, intended or adapted for the purpose of protecting the body from puncture or stab wounds intended to be inflicted by another person; or panels or plates that protect the body from projectiles discharged from a firearm or from puncture or stab wounds and are designed to be inserted into pockets of vests, jackets or other garment to create or enhance body armour.

Provides or supervises a guard of an individual. Bodyguards require a security worker licence (security guard licence type) under the Security Services Act.

A business entity is defined in the Security Services Act as a corporation, a partnership, a society, or another person prescribed by regulation.

The certificate issued to locksmiths and security alarm installers who have met Industry Training Authority (ITA) standards. See Training and Testing - Approved Programs for more information.

Individuals who control or are able to control the operation of a security business, including every director, senior officer, partner, and every shareholder carrying more than 30 per cent of the votes for election of directors – see Policy 2.4.2.

Individuals providing door security at an establishment licensed under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act require a security worker licence (security guard licence type) under the Security Services Act – see Policy 2.2.5.

Individuals volunteering as door security at an establishment or an event licensed under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act must hold a valid security guard or security guard under supervision licence whether they are paid or unpaid for the work they do.

Insurance that covers four types of injuries: bodily injury that results in actual physical damage or loss; property damage or loss; personal injury; and advertising injury.

An individual, who for no remuneration or fee, resides in or visits a private residence for the purpose of maintaining the property or pets. No licence is required under the Security Services Act.

A person who provides security services within an entity that is not, itself, a security business such as a hospital, a department store, a bank or a licensed liquor establishment.

ITA is a provincial crown agency responsible for managing B.C.'s industry training system to develop a skilled workforce. ITA works collaboratively with industry, training providers, labour unions, government, and other stakeholders to meet industry's training needs. For more information see the ITA website.

A loss prevention officer is a security guard whose duties include preventing and reducing loss of property. This includes services to prevent damage and theft. Loss Prevention officers require a security worker licence (security guard licence type) under the Security Services Act.

When considering issuing a licence under the Security Services Act or the suitability of a controlling member of a security business, the mental condition of the individual is reviewed. The conditions include but are not limited to psychiatric conditions such as mood disorders (e.g., depression and bipolar disorders), schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and personality disorders.

Only individuals ‘ordinarily resident’ in Canada may apply for a security worker or security business licence. The Registrar uses a variety of factors to determine if an applicant is ‘ordinarily resident’ including the review of these types of documents: work permit, study permit, visa in conjunction with valid a passport and/or a Canadian residential address – see Policy 2.5.1.

A Peace Officer is any person charged with upholding the peace such as: mayor, auxiliary/reserve police officer, custom or immigration officer, correctional probation or parole officer, sheriff or deputy sheriff, etc. See the definitions listed in the BC Provincial Interpretation Act for a full legal definition of a Peace Officer.

If an individual or business disagrees with a licensing decision, they may request the Registrar to review ‘reconsider’ the decision. See section 51 of the Security Services Act.

The Registrar of Security Services -- appointed under section 49 of the Security Services Act -- has a variety of powers and responsibilities including the authority to issue, renew, suspend, cancel and impose conditions on a licence. The Registrar also has the authority to take enforcement action against a licensee and has the responsibility to deal with complaints.