What serco canada does

Serco Canada Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Serco Group plc that administers mandatory security guard and private investigator licensing examinations on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General under Agreement No. PSD-0240 / Tender 16704. The company operates as the sole government-designated testing provider under Ontario's Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, serving individual candidates who have completed ministry-approved training (minimum 40 hours for security guards, 50 hours for private investigators, 90 hours for dual licences). Test results are transmitted electronically to ServiceOntario, which issues the actual licences.

The core product is a multi-channel testing platform combining in-person administration at over 30 DriveTest Centres across Ontario with an online proctored testing alternative. The technology stack includes the proprietary SGT Online Exam Browser (Windows and macOS builds), Safe Exam Browser integration, video conference invigilation with 360-degree room checks, and AI-supported monitoring tools that use computer vision (gaze tracking, presence detection, unauthorized person detection) and keystroke anomaly detection to flag potential policy violations for review by trained human invigilators. Data is encrypted using AES-256 in transit and at rest, with Canadian data residency for stored data and U.S. processing for video conferencing. The platform also includes an online booking system integrated with Bambora/TD for payment processing, a Training Registration Venue for authorized training providers, and a Test Results Portal.

Serco generates revenue through two streams: a transaction fee of $39.55 CAD ($35.00 base plus 13% HST) collected from candidates at booking, and compensation from the Ontario government for administering the testing program. The service operates under a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model where candidates discover the service through ministry-identified training providers, the ontariosecuritytesting.com website, or ServiceOntario referrals. Serco Canada also operates the DriveTest brand on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario for driver licensing services, which co-locates physical infrastructure. The company has been operating in Canada since the 1990s and has grown to 100 offices across four provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan).

Name

serco canada

Legal name

Serco Canada Inc.

Website

https://ontariosecuritytesting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Serco Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Serco Group plc, administers mandatory security guard and private investigator licensing examinations on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General at over 30 DriveTest Centres and via online proctored testing, with results transmitted to ServiceOntario for licence issuance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Licensing and Certification Testing Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Safety & Government Licensure/Entrance Exam Prep (Civil service, law enforcement, firefighting) (EDANAIAN), State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO)

Keywords

• Licensing examination services
• Security guard testing
• Private investigator testing
• Online proctored exams
• Government testing administration

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Contract - Security Testing Services: Serco Canada operates as a service provider and agent of the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General under Agreement No. PSD-0240 / Tender 16704, administering mandatory security guard and private investigator tests on behalf of the government. The company collects test fees from candidates ($39.55 CAD per test) and is compensated by the government for the administration of the testing program.
2. Test Fee Collection from Candidates: Each security guard or private investigator test costs $35.00 CAD plus 13% HST ($39.55 CAD total). Fees are prepaid by candidates via credit card (Visa, MasterCard), prepaid MasterCard, or VISA Vanilla card. The fee covers test reservation, administration, and marking, but does not include ServiceOntario licensing fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Serco Canada Inc. administers mandatory security guard and private investigator licensing examinations on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General under Agreement No. PSD-0240 / Tender 16704. The service delivers 90-minute multiple-choice tests both in-person at over 30 DriveTest Centres across Ontario and via online proctored video conference, with results transmitted electronically to ServiceOntario for licence issuance. Candidates pay $39.55 CAD per test, and the operation also supports bilingual delivery (English and French), accessibility accommodations, and government-referral-driven booking.

Product overview

Serco Canada operates the Ontario Security Guard and Private Investigator Testing Program, a unified testing administration service delivered on behalf of Ontario's Ministry of Solicitor General. The core offering consists of a multi-channel testing platform that combines in-person testing at DriveTest Centres across Ontario with an online proctored testing alternative. The ecosystem includes an online booking system (ontariosecuritytesting.com) for scheduling appointments, the Training Registration Venue portal for authorized training providers to manage candidates, the SGT Online Exam Browser for secure remote test delivery, and a Test Results Portal for candidates to access their scores. All services integrate with ServiceOntario for subsequent license issuance. AI-assisted proctoring supports exam integrity through computer vision and anomaly detection during online sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and key.

• Ministry of Solicitor General (Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSerco Canada administers mandatory security guard and private investigator tests on behalf of the Ministry of Solicitor General (SolGen) under Agreement No. PSD-0240 / Tender 16704. Serco acts solely as a service provider and agent of the Ministry, with no independent authority to determine the purposes or means of collection or use of personal information. Test results are shared with the Ministry for licensing purposes.
• ServiceOntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter candidates pass their security guard and/or private investigator test, Serco transmits results automatically, securely, and electronically to ServiceOntario, which processes licence applications and issues security guard and private investigator licences to eligible applicants. Candidates authorize Serco to share their test results with ServiceOntario for licensing purposes.
• Ministry of Transportation (Ontario)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSerco operates DriveTest Centres on behalf of the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario, delivering driver examination services (commercial and non-commercial licensing) under the brand DriveTest. Private security testing is conducted at these same centres outside regular business hours.
• Ministry-Identified Training EntitieskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTraining providers approved by the Ministry of Solicitor General deliver mandatory security guard (minimum 40 hours) and private investigator (minimum 50 hours) training courses. These entities upload proof of course completion to the Ontario Security Guard and Private Investigator Testing system, which automatically generates a Training Completion Number (TCN) for candidates. With candidate consent, training entities may also book test appointments on behalf of candidates.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pearson VUE: Pearson VUE operates one of the world's largest network-based testing programs for professional licensure and certification exams, including public-safety and government-administered exams. It is the closest direct comparator to Serco Canada's regulated licensing exam administration business.
• Prometric: Prometric delivers standardized testing for licensure, certification, and academic admissions through test centres and remote proctoring, often under government contracts. Its secure browser and AI-assisted proctoring mirror Serco's SGT browser and AI invigilation stack.
• PSI Services: PSI (now part of Scantron/PSI) administers professional licensure and certification testing programs for regulated industries and occupational licensing bodies. It competes for the same government and professional-board contracts as Serco.
• Meazure Learning (formerly ProctorU): Meazure Learning provides online and in-person proctoring services for high-stakes certification and licensure exams, using AI-assisted and human-proctored invigilation. It is a direct comparator to Serco's online proctored testing channel.

Emerging players

• Examity: Examity provides online proctoring solutions combining AI monitoring with live human invigilators for certification and licensure exams. It overlaps directly with Serco's AI-assisted, human-reviewed proctoring model.
• Kryterion: Kryterion delivers web-based proctored testing and certification programs with secure browser technology, often used by credentialing bodies. It offers comparable online-proctoring technology to Serco's SGT platform.
• Yardstick Assessment Strategies: Yardstick Assessment Strategies is a Canadian-owned assessment firm specializing in competency-based examinations and licensing tests for regulated professions. As a Canada-based testing peer, it is the closest regional competitor for similar mandates.

Others

• Government of Ontario (DriveTest direct operations): The Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Solicitor General are Serco's principals and potential insourcing counterparty. Government direct delivery of licensing testing is the principal structural risk and a comparable service model.

Regional players

• ISO Quality Testing (Canadian Testing Centre): ISO Quality Testing operates assessment centres in Canada for regulatory and certification examinations, including professional licensing. It is a regional test-administration peer operating in the same Canadian market.

Broad incumbents

• Sterling Talent Solutions: Sterling provides background screening, identity verification, and workforce compliance services, often intersecting with occupational licensing. It is a broader incumbent in the regulated-workforce services space that touches security guard licensing workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about serco canada