ONTARIO PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026
The legislation governing the private investigator profession is known as? - Answers PSISA - Private
Security and Investigative Services Act (2005)
What are three general types of cases that a private investigator will take on? - Answers Investigation
following an incident, into a suspicion or allegation of misconduct, or suspicion or allegation of breach
of compliance.
What are the ethical requirements of a private investigator? - Answers To conduct yourself in a lawful,
transparent, professional manner and free of judgement, bias, or personal motivations.
What may be the goal(s) of an investigation? - Answers Collection of evidence for larger action,
amalgamation of data/info, assistance with compliance and resolution, or mitigation of future
risk/incidents.
What 8 criteria should be included in investigative plans? - Answers 1. Determining the goal/objective
2. Clarifying the scope and any potential hinderances
3. Establishing timeline and expectations for deliverables
4. Determining the resources required
5. Budget allowances
6. Communication and points of contact
7. Expectations of outcomes and possible alternatives
8. Scope of expertise and resources
What tasks/duties could be expected in working as a private investigator? (7) - Answers Investigating
behaviour, conducting searches/surveillance, researching, interviews, documentation, assessing facts
and the source of said facts for credibility, and assisting law enforcement.
What is a Mareva injunction? - Answers An court order that allows the freezing of a defendant's
assets as a means of protection.
What is an Anton Piller order? - Answers A civil search warrant.
Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? - Answers A private investigator is a person who performs work,
for remuneration, that consists primarily of conducting investigations in order to provide information.
What section of the PSISA regulates the type of employers able to employ private investigators? -
Answers Section 5
What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? - Answers Section 10(1)
What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4) - Answers 1. Have a clean criminal
record
2. Be 18 years of age or older
3. Entitled to work in Canada
4. Successfully completed training and testing as prescribed
When could a licensee be denied a license or have their license revoked? - Answers Fee nonpayment,
past conduct suggests that license will not be honoured, no reasonable expectation of responsibility,
contravention of the Act/regulations/terms and conditions of license, conviction of offence, or the
holding of a license would be prejudicial to public interest.
Who is responsible for issuing, amending, suspending, or cancelling a license? - Answers The
Registrar.
What can the Registrar do if they have received a complaint or have the grounds to believe a licensee
is acting in bad faith? - Answers They have the power to investigate under the Act and in general
delivery of services; including inspection of business offices and search warrants as obtained by court
order.
When can you stop a Registrar from investigating? - Answers You can't, doing so is an offence under
the Act and the Registrar may apply to the court for remedies to prevent further/continued violations.
What does the Act specifically prohibit licensees from doing? (5) - Answers 1. Representing
themselves as police officers or in connection with a police service
2. Refer to government licensing or bonding in any advertisement
3. Use a name other than the one they are licensed
4. Use the term "detective" in their representation
5. Allow other persons to use their license
What does the Act mandate for licensees? (5) - Answers 1. Wear a uniform approved by the Registrar
2. Carry and present their license to anyone making a request
3. Comply with any terms and conditions of license
, 4. Be over 18
5. Return the license when it has expired or is terminated/suspended/cancelled
6. Report any incident involving use of force or unusual intervention to the Registrar
Under what circumstance is a private investigator not required to carry or show their license? -
Answers When performing an undercover operation wherein doing so would jeopardize their safety
or the investigation.
What are the 8 parts of the PSISA? - Answers 1. Interpretation and Application
2. Administration
3. Prohibitions
4. Licensing
5. Complaints and Investigations
6. General duties and standards of practice
7. General
8. Regulations
What offences are outlined in the Act? - Answers Furnishing or presenting false information in any
application, statement, or return under the Act, failure to comply with any order, provision, or
regulation under the Act or license conditions
What is the penalty for an individual for a first offence? - Answers Fine up to $25,000 and up to one
year imprisonment
What is the penalty for a corporation for a first offence? - Answers Fine up to $25,000 and any
officers, directors, or agents who directed and/or participated are guilty regardless of prosecution of
the coporation
What section of the act requires an investigator to produce their license upon request? - Answers
Section 35(1)
What are the specific rules of impersonation for private investigators? - Answers You cannot wear or
present any other symbols of authority beyond your license and uniform, you cannot impersonate a
police officer or insinuate such duties, act as an account collector/bailiff/eviction officer, or
locate/identify/investigate any individual within witness protection
What legal authority do private investigators have? - Answers None - they do not have any privilege
or access to confidential databases or criminal records, intercept private communications, carry out
search warrants, or act in contravention of the law.
Ontario Regulation 434/07 - Answers Rules of record keeping
Ontario Regulation 361/07, s. 5 - Answers Reporting charges or convictions under the Criminal Code,
Controlled Substances Act, or any other enactment of Canada
Ontario Regulation 361/07, s. 2 - Answers Reporting any changes of information provided to the
Registrar at the time of application or renewal of license.
Ontario Regulation 434/07, s.1.1(4) - Answers Reporting of any use of force incident
Part 8 of the PSISA contains? - Answers The Code of Conduct and Regulations
What is the regulation number for the Code of Conduct? - Answers Ontario Regulation 363/07
Three most important factors to promote a good public image? - Answers Appearance, attitude, and
training.
What section of the PSISA discusses uniforms? - Answers Ontario Regulation 362/07
What section of the PSISA discusses equipment? - Answers Ontario Regulation 366/07
What section of the PSISA discusses the use of animals? - Answers Ontario Regulation 365/07
What is tort law? - Answers A body of rights, obligations, and remedies that is applied by courts in civil
proceedings to provide relief for persons who have suffered harm from the wrongful acts of others.
What is the term for the reasonable actions and considerations taken to prevent harm to others? -
Answers Duty of care
What is the Neighbour Principle? - Answers A term established by Donoghue v. Stevenson that states
that considerable care should be taken to ensure that others who may be reasonably affected by your
actions are not subject to harm.
What are the two tests that determine a Duty of Care obligation? - Answers 1. Claimant/defendant
are within parametres of a "special relationship"
2. Precedent
What is the Anns test? - Answers A prima facie duty of care established through Anns v. Merton,
wherein a sufficient relationship of proximity exists between someone imposing harm and someone
suffering as a result without interference or influence from external factors.
The legislation governing the private investigator profession is known as? - Answers PSISA - Private
Security and Investigative Services Act (2005)
What are three general types of cases that a private investigator will take on? - Answers Investigation
following an incident, into a suspicion or allegation of misconduct, or suspicion or allegation of breach
of compliance.
What are the ethical requirements of a private investigator? - Answers To conduct yourself in a lawful,
transparent, professional manner and free of judgement, bias, or personal motivations.
What may be the goal(s) of an investigation? - Answers Collection of evidence for larger action,
amalgamation of data/info, assistance with compliance and resolution, or mitigation of future
risk/incidents.
What 8 criteria should be included in investigative plans? - Answers 1. Determining the goal/objective
2. Clarifying the scope and any potential hinderances
3. Establishing timeline and expectations for deliverables
4. Determining the resources required
5. Budget allowances
6. Communication and points of contact
7. Expectations of outcomes and possible alternatives
8. Scope of expertise and resources
What tasks/duties could be expected in working as a private investigator? (7) - Answers Investigating
behaviour, conducting searches/surveillance, researching, interviews, documentation, assessing facts
and the source of said facts for credibility, and assisting law enforcement.
What is a Mareva injunction? - Answers An court order that allows the freezing of a defendant's
assets as a means of protection.
What is an Anton Piller order? - Answers A civil search warrant.
Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? - Answers A private investigator is a person who performs work,
for remuneration, that consists primarily of conducting investigations in order to provide information.
What section of the PSISA regulates the type of employers able to employ private investigators? -
Answers Section 5
What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? - Answers Section 10(1)
What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4) - Answers 1. Have a clean criminal
record
2. Be 18 years of age or older
3. Entitled to work in Canada
4. Successfully completed training and testing as prescribed
When could a licensee be denied a license or have their license revoked? - Answers Fee nonpayment,
past conduct suggests that license will not be honoured, no reasonable expectation of responsibility,
contravention of the Act/regulations/terms and conditions of license, conviction of offence, or the
holding of a license would be prejudicial to public interest.
Who is responsible for issuing, amending, suspending, or cancelling a license? - Answers The
Registrar.
What can the Registrar do if they have received a complaint or have the grounds to believe a licensee
is acting in bad faith? - Answers They have the power to investigate under the Act and in general
delivery of services; including inspection of business offices and search warrants as obtained by court
order.
When can you stop a Registrar from investigating? - Answers You can't, doing so is an offence under
the Act and the Registrar may apply to the court for remedies to prevent further/continued violations.
What does the Act specifically prohibit licensees from doing? (5) - Answers 1. Representing
themselves as police officers or in connection with a police service
2. Refer to government licensing or bonding in any advertisement
3. Use a name other than the one they are licensed
4. Use the term "detective" in their representation
5. Allow other persons to use their license
What does the Act mandate for licensees? (5) - Answers 1. Wear a uniform approved by the Registrar
2. Carry and present their license to anyone making a request
3. Comply with any terms and conditions of license
, 4. Be over 18
5. Return the license when it has expired or is terminated/suspended/cancelled
6. Report any incident involving use of force or unusual intervention to the Registrar
Under what circumstance is a private investigator not required to carry or show their license? -
Answers When performing an undercover operation wherein doing so would jeopardize their safety
or the investigation.
What are the 8 parts of the PSISA? - Answers 1. Interpretation and Application
2. Administration
3. Prohibitions
4. Licensing
5. Complaints and Investigations
6. General duties and standards of practice
7. General
8. Regulations
What offences are outlined in the Act? - Answers Furnishing or presenting false information in any
application, statement, or return under the Act, failure to comply with any order, provision, or
regulation under the Act or license conditions
What is the penalty for an individual for a first offence? - Answers Fine up to $25,000 and up to one
year imprisonment
What is the penalty for a corporation for a first offence? - Answers Fine up to $25,000 and any
officers, directors, or agents who directed and/or participated are guilty regardless of prosecution of
the coporation
What section of the act requires an investigator to produce their license upon request? - Answers
Section 35(1)
What are the specific rules of impersonation for private investigators? - Answers You cannot wear or
present any other symbols of authority beyond your license and uniform, you cannot impersonate a
police officer or insinuate such duties, act as an account collector/bailiff/eviction officer, or
locate/identify/investigate any individual within witness protection
What legal authority do private investigators have? - Answers None - they do not have any privilege
or access to confidential databases or criminal records, intercept private communications, carry out
search warrants, or act in contravention of the law.
Ontario Regulation 434/07 - Answers Rules of record keeping
Ontario Regulation 361/07, s. 5 - Answers Reporting charges or convictions under the Criminal Code,
Controlled Substances Act, or any other enactment of Canada
Ontario Regulation 361/07, s. 2 - Answers Reporting any changes of information provided to the
Registrar at the time of application or renewal of license.
Ontario Regulation 434/07, s.1.1(4) - Answers Reporting of any use of force incident
Part 8 of the PSISA contains? - Answers The Code of Conduct and Regulations
What is the regulation number for the Code of Conduct? - Answers Ontario Regulation 363/07
Three most important factors to promote a good public image? - Answers Appearance, attitude, and
training.
What section of the PSISA discusses uniforms? - Answers Ontario Regulation 362/07
What section of the PSISA discusses equipment? - Answers Ontario Regulation 366/07
What section of the PSISA discusses the use of animals? - Answers Ontario Regulation 365/07
What is tort law? - Answers A body of rights, obligations, and remedies that is applied by courts in civil
proceedings to provide relief for persons who have suffered harm from the wrongful acts of others.
What is the term for the reasonable actions and considerations taken to prevent harm to others? -
Answers Duty of care
What is the Neighbour Principle? - Answers A term established by Donoghue v. Stevenson that states
that considerable care should be taken to ensure that others who may be reasonably affected by your
actions are not subject to harm.
What are the two tests that determine a Duty of Care obligation? - Answers 1. Claimant/defendant
are within parametres of a "special relationship"
2. Precedent
What is the Anns test? - Answers A prima facie duty of care established through Anns v. Merton,
wherein a sufficient relationship of proximity exists between someone imposing harm and someone
suffering as a result without interference or influence from external factors.
