ONTARIO PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR LICENSE
OVER 200 QUESTION AND
ANSWER EXAM 2025
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,1. What act regulates the investigative services and private security industry
and governs the way the private security and investigation industry operates
in Ontario?
The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA)
2. When was the PSISA proclaimed into force?
August 23, 2007
3. What does the PSISA do?
Helps professionalize the industry, increase public safety, and ensure
practitioners receive proper training and are qualified to provide private
investigator services. Regulates the investigative services and private security
industry and governs the way the private security and investigation industry
operates in Ontario.
4. When was the training and testing regulation made under the PSISA?
April 15, 2010; all private investigators must fulfill the mandatory requirements of
the training and testing regulation in order to be eligible to apply for a licence.
5. Who needs a private investigator licence?
Individuals are required to have a PI license if they perform work, for
remuneration, that consists primarily of conducting investigations to provide
information on the character, actions, business, occupation, or whereabouts of a
person. Under the PSISA, loss prevention specialists are considered to be
security guards and do not require a private investigator licence.
6. Private investigators must:
Be familiar with the PSISA to ensure they follow the regulations and prohibitions,
including the code of conduct.
7. What are the licensing requirements under the PSISA?
Subsection 10(1) of the PSISA states that in order to be eligible for a PI licence, all
individuals must have completed the required training and testing, be at least 18
years old, possess a clean criminal record according to the clean criminal record
regulation, and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
8. General Rules and Standard of Practice:
PI must always carry their licence with them when they are working. They must
also identify themselves as Private Investigators and show their licence if a
member of the public asks them to do so. However, these requirements only
apply to people holding themselves out as private investigators, which means
that individuals performing an undercover investigation are not required to carry
or show their licence (it would endanger them or jeopardize the investigation).
Individuals are prohibited from carrying any symbol of authority, other than their
, licence (for example, a metal badge is prohibited). PI are prohibited from holding
themselves out as Police Officers or performing police-related duties which
means they are also prohibited from using the following words when referring to
their work as a PI: detective or private detective, law enforcement, police, officer.
9. What regulations govern PI's and what regulations should PI's licensees be
familiar with?
1. Code of Conduct 2. Eligibility to hold a Licence - Clean Criminal Record
10. Code of Conduct - Regulation:
This regulation defines what kind of behavior is appropriate or inappropriate for
private investigators to display while they are working. PI's will find that
respecting the Code of Conduct is, in most cases, a matter of common sense.
PI's are expected to treat members of the public in a respectful and professional
manner. For instance, private investigators must: act with honesty and integrity,
comply with all federal, provincial, and municipal laws, treat all persons equally
(without discrimination), avoid using profanity or abusive language, avoid using
excessive force, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while
working.
11. Eligibility to Hold Licence Regulation - Clean Criminal Record:
This regulation lists a series of criminal offenses which are prescribed under the
PSISA. Persons who have been convicted of one of these offenses and have not
received a pardon are not eligible for a PI licence, and any application they
submit will not be processed. Persons who have been convicted of or charged
with an offense that does not appear in the regulation may be eligible for a
licence. The Private Security and Investigative Services Branch (PSISB) will need
to review their file to determine if any restrictions should apply. This applicant
may be given an opportunity to be heard in order to discuss their case.
12. Public Complaints:
Members of the public may file a public complaint against any licensed
individual or licensed company if they feel that a violation of the PSISA or its
regulations has been committed. Public complaints can lead to facilitation. As
well, the PSISB may investigate the matter and as a result, charges may be laid
against the licensee, a warning may be issued, or the licence may be revoked.
13. Individuals found guilty of an offense under the PSISA could face a fine of up
to:
$25,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. As such, it is crucial that PI's
comply with all aspects of the PSISA and its regulations to avoid the possibility of
being named in a complaint or facing charges.
INVESTIGATOR LICENSE
OVER 200 QUESTION AND
ANSWER EXAM 2025
[Document subtitle]
[DATE]
[COMPANY NAME]
[Company address]
,1. What act regulates the investigative services and private security industry
and governs the way the private security and investigation industry operates
in Ontario?
The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA)
2. When was the PSISA proclaimed into force?
August 23, 2007
3. What does the PSISA do?
Helps professionalize the industry, increase public safety, and ensure
practitioners receive proper training and are qualified to provide private
investigator services. Regulates the investigative services and private security
industry and governs the way the private security and investigation industry
operates in Ontario.
4. When was the training and testing regulation made under the PSISA?
April 15, 2010; all private investigators must fulfill the mandatory requirements of
the training and testing regulation in order to be eligible to apply for a licence.
5. Who needs a private investigator licence?
Individuals are required to have a PI license if they perform work, for
remuneration, that consists primarily of conducting investigations to provide
information on the character, actions, business, occupation, or whereabouts of a
person. Under the PSISA, loss prevention specialists are considered to be
security guards and do not require a private investigator licence.
6. Private investigators must:
Be familiar with the PSISA to ensure they follow the regulations and prohibitions,
including the code of conduct.
7. What are the licensing requirements under the PSISA?
Subsection 10(1) of the PSISA states that in order to be eligible for a PI licence, all
individuals must have completed the required training and testing, be at least 18
years old, possess a clean criminal record according to the clean criminal record
regulation, and be legally entitled to work in Canada.
8. General Rules and Standard of Practice:
PI must always carry their licence with them when they are working. They must
also identify themselves as Private Investigators and show their licence if a
member of the public asks them to do so. However, these requirements only
apply to people holding themselves out as private investigators, which means
that individuals performing an undercover investigation are not required to carry
or show their licence (it would endanger them or jeopardize the investigation).
Individuals are prohibited from carrying any symbol of authority, other than their
, licence (for example, a metal badge is prohibited). PI are prohibited from holding
themselves out as Police Officers or performing police-related duties which
means they are also prohibited from using the following words when referring to
their work as a PI: detective or private detective, law enforcement, police, officer.
9. What regulations govern PI's and what regulations should PI's licensees be
familiar with?
1. Code of Conduct 2. Eligibility to hold a Licence - Clean Criminal Record
10. Code of Conduct - Regulation:
This regulation defines what kind of behavior is appropriate or inappropriate for
private investigators to display while they are working. PI's will find that
respecting the Code of Conduct is, in most cases, a matter of common sense.
PI's are expected to treat members of the public in a respectful and professional
manner. For instance, private investigators must: act with honesty and integrity,
comply with all federal, provincial, and municipal laws, treat all persons equally
(without discrimination), avoid using profanity or abusive language, avoid using
excessive force, and not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while
working.
11. Eligibility to Hold Licence Regulation - Clean Criminal Record:
This regulation lists a series of criminal offenses which are prescribed under the
PSISA. Persons who have been convicted of one of these offenses and have not
received a pardon are not eligible for a PI licence, and any application they
submit will not be processed. Persons who have been convicted of or charged
with an offense that does not appear in the regulation may be eligible for a
licence. The Private Security and Investigative Services Branch (PSISB) will need
to review their file to determine if any restrictions should apply. This applicant
may be given an opportunity to be heard in order to discuss their case.
12. Public Complaints:
Members of the public may file a public complaint against any licensed
individual or licensed company if they feel that a violation of the PSISA or its
regulations has been committed. Public complaints can lead to facilitation. As
well, the PSISB may investigate the matter and as a result, charges may be laid
against the licensee, a warning may be issued, or the licence may be revoked.
13. Individuals found guilty of an offense under the PSISA could face a fine of up
to:
$25,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. As such, it is crucial that PI's
comply with all aspects of the PSISA and its regulations to avoid the possibility of
being named in a complaint or facing charges.
