According to the Canada Border Services Agency, the requirements to become a CBSA Officer are:
- high school diploma
- valid driver’s license
- Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
Please note: Ontario Security Hub is a security guard training agency and is not involved in the CBSA hiring process. For any questions please visit: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/job-emploi/contact/gen-eng.html
The Canadian Firearms Safety courses are not longer required to apply. However, they must be completed by the start of training. Post secondary education in criminology, law, security, psychology, sociology or policing may be considered an asset.
Training includes 4 weeks of online courses and 4.5 months in Rigaud, Quebec. The entire process to become a CBSA officer from start to finish can take up to 3 years. Trainees make between $64,234 to $71,525 per year and once assigned to a port of entry, $69,486 to $82,411.
Working as a private security guard will help you build the competencies needed to become a CBSA officer. However, not all security guard positions will benefit you equally. For example, working as a security guard at a mall, hospital or a mobile security guard will develop the required competencies much more than working at a condominium or construction site. Maybe afterwards you decide that being a CBSA officer is not what you thought. Maybe working in policing, by-law enforcement or security is more ideal.
To obtain your security guard license in Ontario there are the 3 steps. Ontario Security Hub offers online security guard training and will guide you in finding the security positions that will move you towards your goal in becoming a CBSA officer.