Security Industry and Licensing
Definitions
The following definitions are for the purpose of the information provided on the Security Industry and Licensing website only. For legal definitions, please refer the Security Services Act and Security Services Regulation.
Applicant
The person applying for a security business or worker licence. In the case of a security worker licence, the applicant will be the individual seeking the licence. In the case of a security business, the applicant will be the person – usually the business manager or owner – applying on behalf of the business entity requiring a licence to operate.
Armoured Car, Armoured Car Guard
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 Firearm (ATC) certificate.
ATC
Authorization to Carry a Firearm, a certificate issued pursuant to the Firearms Act.
Bodyguard
A person who provides or supervises a guard of an individual.
Basic Security Training
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.
Business Entity
A business entity is defined in the Security Services Act as “(a) a corporation, (b) a partnership, (c) a society, or (d) another person prescribed by regulation”.
CCTV
Means closed circuit television.
Closed Circuit Television Installer
Provides a service of selling, supplying, providing advice on, servicing or installing any closed circuit television equipment, device or system.
Certificate of Qualification
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.
Commissionaire
Refers to the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, a business that provides private security services.
Doorperson (at licensed liquor establishments)
A person who provides door security at an establishment licensed under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act.
Direct Licensing
Refers to the responsibility of security workers to obtain their own security worker licences. Note: under the prior legislation, security businesses were responsible for obtaining the licences of their employees.
Electronic Locking Device Installer
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.
General Liability Insurance
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.
Housesitter
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.
In-house security services
Security services that operate within an entity that is not, itself, a security business such as a hospital, a department store, a bank or a licensed liquor establishment.
Industry Training Authority (ITA)
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.
Locksmith
A person who (a) makes, services, repairs, codes, records, rekeys or repins any locking device (except a person who codes or recodes a device that person owns); (b) cuts, makes, sells or otherwise provides restricted keys; (c) cuts, makes, sells or otherwise provides keys from a numerical or alphabetical code or a combination of numerical and alphabetical codes, or (d) sells, services or repairs safes, vaults or other similar secure storage methods. Locksmiths require a licence under the Security Services Act.
Loss Prevention
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. A security guard licence is required under the Security Services Act.
Peace Officer
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 Criminal Code of Canada for a full legal definition of a Peace Officer.
Private Investigator
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 Investigators require a licence under the Security Services Act.
Reconsideration
A provision under Section 51 of the Security Services Act that allows an individual or business to request the Registrar to reconsider a licensing decision.
Registrar
The Registrar of Security Services appointed under section 49 of the Security Services Act. The Registrar has a variety of powers and responsibilities under the Security Services Act including the power to issue, renew, suspend or cancel a licence.
Security Alarm Service
A person who (a) sells, supplies, provides advice on, services or installs a security alarm or offers to do any of these things (b) a person who repairs, monitors or responds to security alarms installed on the property of another person. A security alarm installer, security alarm monitor, security alarm response worker and security alarm sales worker all require a licence under the Security Services Act.
Note: a person who provides the services in section (a) who 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.
Security Consultant
A person who:
- advises on methods of protecting property from vandalism, intrusion, trespass or theft; or
- provides the service of detecting electromagnetic, acoustical or to other devices by which private communications or records may be intercepted, transmitted or examined.
Security Consultants require licensing under the Security Services Act.
Security Guard
A security guard, as defined in the Security Services Act, is as a person who 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 require licensing under the Security Services Act.
Sole Proprietor Business
An unincorporated business owned by one person.
SPPTD
Acronym for the Security Programs and Police Technology Division, Policing and Community Safety Branch, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Study (Student) Permit
A permit issued by Citizen and Immigration Canada to persons who are in Canada on a temporary basis to study.
Work Permit
A permit issued by Citizen and Immigration Canada to persons who enter Canada to work.
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