ALBERTA BASIC SECURITY TRAINING COURSE LICENCE

Guidelines for Licence Application

GENERAL INFORMATION
The Security Services and Investigators Act (SSIA) focuses on providing higher standards for the
security services and investigator industry in Alberta. One measure of these standards is mandatory
basic security training.
The Ministry has developed a core curriculum, standards and learning outcome for this training.
However, the Ministry does not intend to be the sole source provider of training programs for the security
and investigation service industry in Alberta. The Ministry has developed the Alberta Basic Security
Training Course (ABST) for licence to interested service providers.
The course may be used in two ways:
1) As a primary training course offered in-house or as marketable product for training individuals
applying for licensing under the SSIA.
2) As the basis for development of alternative training courses that meet the requirements for
licensing under the SSIA. Courses developed using the ABST must be reviewed and accredited
by the Ministry prior to implementation. See document Basic Security Training Course
Accreditation: Guidelines for Accreditation Application for more information on the accreditation
process.
The trainer/instructor teaching the ABST must be accredited by the Ministry. Requests for
trainer/instructor accreditation may be submitted with the course application or separately using the
Trainer Accreditation Application Form.
Additional information on training accreditation is also available in the Policy Manual, section 9.0.
Direct questions about training and the ABST licensing process to:
Tammy Spink, Project Implementation Support SSIA
Alberta Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Security
Email:
Tammy.Spink@gov.ab.ca
Direct:
780-643-1295
Phone:
1-877-462-0791 (toll-free in Alberta only)

REQUIREMENTS
Companies interested in licensing the ABST must complete the following process:
1) Complete the Request for Alberta Basic Security Training Course Licence Form attached.
a) Incomplete or illegible applications will be returned to the applicant without processing.
b) Provide email addresses for key contacts; email will be the primary form of ongoing
communication between program staff and the applicant
ABST Licence Guidelines and Application 2010/12/10
Security Services and Investigators Act Alberta Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Security

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c) Provide name of primary contact responsible for managing or administering the training program
for the company; this will be the contact for questions, distribution of amendments and updates to
the course, changes to process and verification of past and present course participants
2) Fees: No licensing fees apply.
3) Course must be a minimum of 40-hours and is required for the following licence classes:
SECURITY SERVICES
LOSS PREVENTION
EXECUTIVE PROTECTION
PATROL DOG HANDLER
SECURITY ALARM RESPONDER
4) Upon approval, applicant must sign a licensing agreement with the Government of Alberta and
adhere to the terms of that agreement.
a) A unique Licence Number will be assigned to the providers of licensed courses that will appear
on all participant certificates.
b) Upon receipt of the signed licensing agreement, the applicant will be provided with:
a Certificate of Licensing (the certificate must be displayed at the business premises), and
a USB flash drive containing all the necessary course materials including a participant
manual and instructor resources.
5) Approved licensees will be listed on the Security Programs website as approved providers, unless
otherwise stated on the application form.
6) Record Keeping: Student records and test score must be retained by the licensee for at least 2
years. Final exams are the property of the Ministry and will be retained according to Government of
Alberta retention schedules.
7) Liability Insurance: Applicants must hold proper liability insurance for the protection of both the
company and the students. Proof of minimum $1 million is required.
8) Licensees are required to notify the Ministry in writing within 30 days if they decide to discontinue
offering the licensed course or no longer require the course for the development of alternative
training courses.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Must maintain the integrity of the course as provided.
The Ministry will be responsible for notifying Licensees of any amendments or updates to the course
materials. This information will be communicated by email to the contacts listed on the application form.
Notify the Registrar within 30 days in writing if the contact information changes. The applicant will be
provided with a Program contact when the application is approved and notified of a change in contact as
needed.
Applicants must adhere to all requirements for reporting, final exams and retention and storage or
records.

ABST Licence Guidelines and Application 2010/12/10

Security Services and Investigators Act Alberta Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Security

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Companies licensed to provide ABST or accredited basic security training courses are subject to audit
(inspection and investigation) by the Registrar. The outcome of an audit may influence a companys
licence and/or accreditation standing.
Upon application, or after an inspection or investigation, the Registrar may vary the terms and/or
conditions of the licence and/or accreditation, as deemed necessary.

FINAL EXAMS AND PARTICIPANT CERTIFICATES

Final exams will be administered through the Ministry. The exam will be conducted at the training facility
by:
1. A representative of the Ministry, or
2. A certified proctoring service in Alberta that is booked and arranged by the training facility.
Ministry proctors must be booked and arranged through the Ministry. Licensees must notify program
staff at least 10 working days prior to the examination date to arrange for a proctor.
Certified proctoring services are booked and arranged by the training provider.
service must be approved in advance by the Registrar.

The proctoring

Costs of either service above must be born by the training provider.

The proctor will conduct the exam, collect and mark all exams and submit the final marks to the Ministry
for processing. The Ministry will prepare all participant training certificates for participants with a score of
not less than 80% and will notify participants that fail to meet the necessary grade. The Ministry will
notify the licensee of final grades of all participants. More information on the examination process will be
provided with the course materials.
For more information on the final examination process see the document Provincial Examination Process
for Basic Security Training Courses

ABST Licence Guidelines and Application 2010/12/10

Security Services and Investigators Act Alberta Solicitor General and Ministry of Public Security

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