It no longer takes just brawn and bravado to be a bouncer — as of the beginning of this month, all bar security staff must be licensed and undergo special training before they can work the door.

Scott Gurney, spokesman for the Victoria Bar and Cabaret Association, said while the training program is an added expense for bars, managers see the new rules as a way to better equip their staff to deal with tense situations.

“I think it’s great that it’s in place because it doesn’t allow places to run with half-assed security,” he said.

The new legislation, the Security Services Act, was introduced by then-Solicitor General John Les in 2007 and has been phased in over the last two years.

Bouncers must undergo a 40-hour training course, offered online through the Justice Institute of B.C., and write a final exam before they can be certified. They also have to undergo a criminal background check.

In the course, they learn about everything from crisis management to effective communication and legal liability. Gurney said one of the most useful things bouncers learn is how to properly record and report criminal matters to police and paramedics.

Victoria police said that’s a valuable tool, as officers often look to bouncers as primary witnesses in an assault. Police spokesman Sgt. Grant Hamilton said the department welcomes “anything that puts a better background check on an industry.”

The legislation also creates a complaint process that will be run by a registrar.

While bouncers in Nanaimo and Vancouver have faced criminal charges in the past as a result of conflicts with customers, Hamilton said the department has received few complaints about Victoria bouncers, who he said are trained to use as little force as possible.

Owners of Darcy’s Pub and Upstairs Cabaret shelled out about $10,000 to get their staff certified, said Gurney, also the manager of Darcy’s.

The basic security training course costs $315 and the licence costs $120 for one year and is subject to a $60-a-year renewal fee.

While bars can choose to pay for their staff to complete the course, the licence is awarded to individuals so they can remain certified if they change jobs.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. I hope it’s not just a money grab,” said Grant Olson, co-owner of the Strathcona Hotel, who said he already had a strict training process in place for the 20 bouncers who work at the five bars throughout the complex.

He said there were few surprises for his staff when they wrote the exams three weeks ago and the daily conduct of security staff won’t change.

“It just formalizes the responsibility of the individual to behave,” said Olson, who equates the program to the Serving It Right initiative for bars and servers. “It sets a standard level of awareness for everyone so people know they are potentially liable for the things they do.”

Karen English, manager of training programs for the Justice Institute, said the new legislation would license 5,000 bouncers, in-house security guards, armoured-car personnel, bodyguards and the Corps of Commissionaires.

kderosa@tc.canwest.com