How to Hire Security Guards in BC: Licensing, Insurance, and What to Ask
The licensing rules for security guards in British Columbia, what to check before you sign with a company, and eight questions to ask.
By Akash Sidhu
Owner and Managing Director, Onward Security · Updated September 1, 2026
Hiring security guards in British Columbia is straightforward once you know the rules. The province regulates who can work as a guard, and a few questions separate a professional company from one that will cause you problems.
Licensing in BC
Every security guard in British Columbia must hold a valid Security Worker Licence issued by the Registrar of Security Services under the Security Services Act. To get one, a guard has to:
- complete approved training through a certified provider
- pass a criminal record check
- renew the licence on schedule
The company itself must also hold a security business licence.
Why this matters to you: unlicensed guards put you at legal risk and can void your insurance if something goes wrong on your site. Ask to see licences. A professional company will show you.
What to check before you sign
Insurance. Ask for proof of commercial general liability insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage. Venues and general contractors usually ask for at least $2 million in liability coverage; make sure the company can produce the certificate.
Guard wages. Companies that pay a living wage keep their guards. Companies that pay minimum wage are always hiring, and you get a different, less experienced guard every few weeks.
Reporting. Ask how they report to you. You should get shift logs, incident reports with a clear turnaround, and a supervisor who checks in during shifts. If they cannot describe this, that is your answer.
Local presence. A company based in your community responds faster and knows the local conditions. A national franchise will route your call through a call centre.
BBB accreditation. Better Business Bureau accreditation means the company has met standards for honesty and responsiveness, and you can see its complaint history.
Eight questions to ask
- Are all of your guards licensed in BC?
- What insurance do you carry, and can I see the certificate?
- What do your guards earn?
- How long has your longest-serving guard been with you?
- How do you handle incidents, and how fast do I get the report?
- Who is my point of contact, and are they reachable after hours?
- What is included in the hourly rate?
- Can you give me references from local clients?
How Onward answers them
Every Onward guard holds a valid BC Security Worker Licence. The company carries commercial general liability insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage. Guards are paid a living wage. When you call, you reach me, the owner, and you get one rate that includes everything above. We are BBB A+ accredited and based in Victoria.
If you want to see how that works for your site, request a quote and I will walk you through it.