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6541.4 – Security guards
Security guards guard property against theft and vandalism, control access to establishments, maintain order and enforce regulations at public events and within organizations or areas.
Profile
Example titles Help
- Airport security guard
- Bodyguard (except police)
- Commissionaire
- Gate attendant - security
- Night guard
- Preboarding security guard
- Security guard
Main characteristics Help
- General learning ability to understand and apply security regulations
- Verbal ability to communicate with police, fire and civil defence authorities and the general public
- Form perception to patrol assigned areas, on foot or in vehicles, to guard against theft, shoplifting, vandalism and fire
- Methodical interest in copying to perform security checks of passengers and luggage at airports; to operate security control room equipment to monitor establishment activities; to ensure that establishment safety and emergency procedures are followed; and to enforce regulations of establishments to maintain order
- Social interest in speaking with visitors to control access to organizations, issue passes and direct them to appropriate areas
- Directive interest in driving and guarding armoured trucks when delivering cash and valuables to banks, automated teller machines and retail establishments; and in responding to fire alarms, bomb threats and other emergencies
Aptitudes Help
One of five levels assigned for each factor, with levels representing normal curve distribution of the labour force:
- G
- General learning ability
- V
- Verbal ability
- N
- Numerical ability
- S
- Spatial perception
- P
- Form perception
- Q
- Clerical perception
- K
- Motor co-ordination
- F
- Finger dexterity
- M
- Manual dexterity

- The highest 10% of the working population
- Upper third, exclusive of the highest 10%
- Middle third of the working population
- Lowest third, exclusive of the lowest 10%
- Lowest 10% of the working population
An individual's overall capacity to learn the skills needed to perform job duties is based on his or her specific aptitudes for acquiring information and transforming it into action.
General learning ability G-4
Ability to 'catch on' or understand instructions and underlying principles; to reason and make judgments.
Verbal ability V-3
Ability to understand the meaning of words and the ideas associated with them, and to use them effectively; to comprehend language, to understand relationships between words and to understand the meaning of whole sentences and paragraphs; to present information or ideas clearly.
Numerical ability N-4
Ability to carry out arithmetical processes quickly and accurately.
Spatial perception S-4
Ability to think visually about geometric forms and comprehend the two dimensional representation of three dimensional objects; to recognize the relationships resulting from the movement of objects in space. May be used in such tasks as blueprint reading and in solving geometry problems. Frequently described as the ability to 'visualize' objects of two or three dimensions.
Form perception P-4
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in objects and in pictorial and graphic material; to make visual comparisons and discriminations and to see slight differences in shapes and shadings of figures and widths and lengths of lines.
Clerical perception Q-4
Ability to perceive pertinent detail in verbal or tabular material; to observe differences in copy, to proofread words and numbers, and to avoid perceptual errors in arithmetical computation.
Motor co-ordination K-4
Ability to co-ordinate eyes, hands and fingers rapidly and accurately when required to respond with precise movements.
Finger dexterity F-4
Ability to move the fingers and manipulate small objects with the fingers rapidly and/or accurately.
Manual dexterity M-4
Ability to move the hands easily and skillfully; to work with the hands in placing and turning motions.
Interests Help
Three of five descriptive factors, assigned in order of predominance and lower case rating indicating weaker representation:
- D
- Directive
- I
- Innovative
- M
- Methodical
- O
- Objective
- S
- Social
Methodical M
Methodical persons like to have clear rules and organized methods to guide their activities. They prefer working under the direction or supervision of others according to given instructions, or to be guided by established policies and procedures. Methodical persons like to work on one thing until it is completed. They enjoy following a set routine and prefer work that is free from the unexpected.
Social s
Social persons like dealing with people. They enjoy caring for and assisting others in identifying their needs and solving their concerns. Social persons like working and co-operating with others. They prefer to be involved in work that requires interpersonal contact.
Directive d
Directive persons like to take charge and control situations. They like to take responsibility for projects that require planning, decision making and co-ordinating the work of others. They are able to give direction and instructions easily. They enjoy organizing their own activities. They see themselves as independent and self-directing.
Data, people, and things Help
Data
- 0
- Synthesizing
- 1
- Co-ordinating
- 2
- Analyzing
- 3
- Compiling
- 4
- Computing
- 5
- Copying
- 6
- Comparing
- 7
- N/A
- 8
- Not Significant
People
- 0
- Mentoring
- 1
- Negotiating
- 2
- Instructing - Consulting
- 3
- Supervising
- 4
- Diverting
- 5
- Persuading
- 6
- Speaking - Signaling
- 7
- Serving - Assisting
- 8
- Not significant
Things
- 0
- Setting up
- 1
- Precision working
- 2
- Controlling
- 3
- Driving - Operating
- 4
- Operating - Manipulating
- 5
- Tending
- 6
- Feeding - Offbearing
- 7
- Handling
- 8
- Not significant
Data Copying 5
Carrying out a set of explicit procedural/operational functions or processes based on an understanding of instructions or information necessary to perform the work.*
People speaking 6
Talking with and/or signalling people to convey or exchange information; giving assignments and/or directions to helpers.
Things Driving 3
Starting, stopping and running machines and equipment that must be steered or guided in order to fabricate, process and/or move things or people. Involves activities such as observing gauges and dials, estimating distances and determining speed and direction of other objects, pushing clutches or brakes, and pushing or pulling gear shifts or levers. Includes such machines as cranes, conveyor systems, tractors, and hoisting machines. Excludes manually powered and power-assisted machines.
Physical activities Help
V - Vision
- 1
- Close visual acuity
- 2
- Near vision
- 3
- Near and far vision
- 4
- Total visual field
H - Hearing
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Verbal interaction
- 3
- Other sound discrimination
L - Limb co-ordination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Upper limb co-ordination
- 2
- Multiple limb co-ordination
C - Colour discrimination
- 0
- Not relevant
- 1
- Relevant
B - Body position
- 1
- Sitting
- 2
- Standing and/or walking
- 3
- Sitting, standing, walking
- 4
- Other body positions
S - Strength
- 1
- Limited
- 2
- Light
- 3
- Medium
- 4
- Heavy
Vision Vision V-4
The use of sight in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the visual field involved in the performance of the work.
4 - Total visual field
Work activities involve the entire field of vision – Near and far vision (3) – as well as depth perception and peripheral vision.
Examples:
- driving vehicles
- refereeing sports events
- fighting fires
- dancing onstage in ballet performances
Colour discrimination Colour discrimination C-0
The use of colour descrimination to identify, distinguish and match colours and different shades of the same colours.
0 - Not relevant
Colour discrimination is not relevant in the performance of the work.
Examples:
- cleaning windows
- providing information over the telephone
- interviewing, hiring and overseeing staff training
- translating documents
Hearing Hearing H-3
The use of hearing in the work performed. The levels are organized in terms of the type of auditory discrimination involved in the performance of the work.
3 - Other sound discrimination
Work activities involve the identification, assessment and/or production of sound. Verbal interaction (2) is included in this level.
Examples:
- leading bands, orchestras and choirs during musical rehearsals and performances
- administering audiometric tests to diagnose the degree of hearing impairment
- testing automotive systems and components using testing devices to isolate faults
- commanding fishing vessels by operating navigational instruments
Body position Body position B-4
Primary type of posture or body movement involved in performing the work. These postures or body movements range from simple to complex and from sedentary to mobile.
4 - Other body positions
Work activities involve body postures other than, or in addition to, Sitting (1) and Standing and/or walking (2) such as bending, stooping, kneeling and crouching
Examples:
- performing labouring duties in warehouses
- measuring, cutting and installing carpeting
- adjusting, repairing or replacing parts and components of automotive systems
- treating patients' disorders of the spine and body through corrective manipulation
Limb co-ordination Limb co-ordination L-1
The use of limbs in performing work.
1 - Upper limb co-ordination
Work activities involve co-ordination of upper limbs.
Examples:
- keyboarding
- performing maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications and tune-ups
- operating video cameras
- instructing students in sign language
Strength Strength S-2
The use of strength in the handling of loads such as pulling, pushing, lifting and/or moving objects during the work performed.
2 - Light
Work activities involve handling loads of 5 kg but less than 10 kg.
Examples:
- repairing soles, heels and other parts of footwear
- filing materials in drawers, cabinets and storage boxes
- preparing and cooking meals
- repairing paintings and artifacts
Environmental conditions Help
Location
- L1
- Regulated inside climate
- L2
- Unregulated inside climate
- L3
- Outside
- L4
- In a vehicle or cab
Hazards
- H1
- Dangerous chemical substances
- H2
- Biological agents
- H3
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- H4
- Electricity
- H5
- Radiation
- H6
- Flying particles, falling objects
- H7
- Fire, steam, hot surfaces
- H8
- Dangerous locations
Discomforts
- D1
- Noise
- D2
- Vibration
- D3
- Odours
- D4
- Non-toxic dusts
- D5
- Wetness
Hazards Equipment, machinery, tools H3
Potential hazards to which the worker may be exposed. The codes provide an indication of the type(s) of hazard(s) most likely to be present in the workplace environment. They are not a measure of frequency, duration or degree of exposure to hazards, but an indication of the presence or absence of a particular hazard in the work environment.
H3 - Equipment, machinery, tools
Working near or with equipment, instruments, machinery or power/hand tools that may be a potential source of accident or injury.
Examples:
- operating metal machining tools to shape metal
- using hand tools to fabricate wood products
- operating power saws to thin trees
- performing surgical procedures
Hazards Dangerous locations H8
Potential hazards to which the worker may be exposed. The codes provide an indication of the type(s) of hazard(s) most likely to be present in the workplace environment. They are not a measure of frequency, duration or degree of exposure to hazards, but an indication of the presence or absence of a particular hazard in the work environment.
H8 - Dangerous locations
Working in locations that are inherently treacherous and are potential sources of injury. Such work locations include construction sites, underground sites, erected support structures and marine environments.
Examples:
- building underground passageways in mines
- installing roof shingles
- washing exterior windows of buildings
- commanding fishing vessels
- operating underwater video, sonar, recording and related equipment
Location Regulated inside climate L1
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L1 - Regulated inside climate
A normal controlled environment such as an office, hospital or school.
Location Unregulated inside climate L2
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L2 - Unregulated inside climate
An inside work environment where the temperature or humidity may be considerably different from normal room conditions. In some groups, the nature of the duties affects the temperature or humidity of the work environment.
Examples:
- extracting coal/ore from underground mines
- operating machines that press or blow molten glass
- unloading stock into cold storage freezers
- operating furnaces to melt metals for casting
Location Outside L3
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L3 - Outside
An outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to variations in weather conditions and seasonal weather patterns.
Examples:
- maintaining lawns
- repairing buildings, roads, bridges and dams
- operating power saws to thin and space trees
- delivering mail
Location In a vehicle or cab L4
The work performed is carried out indoors in a regulated environment, indoors in an unregulated environment, outdoors or in a vehicle. In many occupations, the Main Duties may be performed in more than one location. Therefore, a group may have more than one Location code, for example:
- firefighting and fire prevention duties
- maintenance of interior/exterior of buildings
- managing operations and paperwork of farms
L4 - In a vehicle or cab
An interior space in any form of vehicle or in the cab of heavy equipment operated by the worker.
Examples:
- driving buses
- operating cranes
- providing service to passengers during flights
- operating subway transit vehicles
Employment requirements Help
Education/training Help
- 1
- No formal education or training requirements
- 2
- Some high school education and/or on the job training or experience
- 3
- High school
- 4
- Course work, training, workshops and/or experience related to the occupation
- 5
- Apprenticeship, specialized training, vocational school training
- 6
- College, technical school (certificate, diploma)
- 7
- Undergraduate degree
- 8
- Post-graduate or professional degree
- +
- Additional requirement beyond education and training
- R
- Regulated requirement(s)
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- A college diploma in law and security or police technology may be required.
- Training is provided for airport security guards and establishment-specific training may be provided for other security occupations in this group.
- Security guards carrying firearms require a licence.
- In Quebec, a permit issued by the Sûreté du Québec is required to work as a private detective or security officer.
- Responsible beverage service certification is usually required for security staff in establishments serving alcoholic beverages.
Workplaces/employers Help
- Industrial organizations
- Investigation service companies
- Residential complexes
- Transportation facilities
- Self-employment
- Retail establishments
- Businesses
- Public or private security agencies
- Organizations throughout the private and public sectors
- Educational, cultural, financial and health institutions
Exclusions Help
Remarks Help
- For some occupations in this group, Hazards H3 and H8(Equipment, machinery, tools and Dangerous locations) may apply.
Breakdown summary
- Broad occupational category
- 6 – Sales and service occupations
- Skill level
- C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training
- Minor group
- 65 – Service representatives and other customer and personal services occupations
- Minor group
- 654 – Security guards and related security service occupations
- Unit group
- 6541 – Security guards and related security service occupations
- Version
- NOC 2016 Version 1.3