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Puerto Rico Private Investigator Licensing EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Puerto Rico Private Investigator Licensing Exam
Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW – 10 Key Points
1. Governing Body: The Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau prepares the
written examination and issues, renews, or denies private detective licenses .
2. Legal Foundation: Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965, as amended, is the primary legislation
regulating private detectives and security guards in Puerto Rico .
3. Examination Requirement: Every applicant must submit to a written examination
prepared by the Superintendent covering matters reasonably related to the occupation .
4. Exemption Pathways: Agents who served at least 8 years in specified investigative
bodies (Police of PR, NIE, FBI, Municipal Police, federal investigative corps) may be
exempt from the written exam if honorably discharged .
5. Education Requirement: Non-exempt applicants must complete a course of study at an
authorized private detective school with at least 1,000 hours of study and professional
practice .
6. Bachelor's Degree Option: Candidates with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from an
accredited institution need only 200 hours of study in an authorized private detective
school .
7. Disqualification: Persons expelled from the Police of Puerto Rico, Municipal Police, or as
a penal guard for acts constituting a felony or misdemeanor involving moral depravity
are ineligible for licensure .
8. Identification Card: The Superintendent issues an identification card to every licensed
private detective, which must be carried at all times while acting as such and renewed
every three years .
9. Continuing Education: Licensed private detectives must complete 9 hours of continuing
education every three years upon renewal, with 4 hours mandatory at the Police
Academy .
10. License Renewal: Licenses must be renewed every three years, with the identification
card renewed concurrently .
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SECTION 1: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
1. Which law primarily regulates the profession of private detectives in Puerto Rico?
A. Law No. 20 of 2017
B. Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965
C. Law No. 49 of 2023
D. Law No. 167 of 2024
Correct Answer: B. Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965
Rationale: Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965, as amended, is the fundamental legislation known as
the "Law to Regulate the Professions of Private Detectives and Security Guards in Puerto Rico" .
This law establishes the requirements, restrictions, and licensing framework for private
detectives.
2. Who is responsible for preparing the written examination for private detective candidates?
A. The Department of Justice
B. The Superintendent of the Police
C. The Secretary of Public Safety
D. The Board of Examiners
Correct Answer: B. The Superintendent of the Police
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Rationale: Under § 285n of the Puerto Rico Laws, the Superintendent is authorized to prepare
the examinations for all candidates for private detective licenses . This is one of the
Superintendent's primary functions and powers in administering the licensing process.
3. What is the minimum number of hours of study and professional practice required for non-
exempt applicants at an authorized private detective school?
A. 200 hours
B. 500 hours
C. 1,000 hours
D. 2,000 hours
Correct Answer: C. 1,000 hours
Rationale: Under the requirements for private detective licensure, applicants must successfully
complete a course of study at an authorized private detective school with a minimum of 1,000
hours of study and competent professional practice as determined by the Commissioner by
regulation .
4. What is the education requirement for an applicant with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal
Justice?
A. 1,000 hours of study at a private detective school
B. 200 hours of study at a private detective school
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C. Exemption from all education requirements
D. 500 hours of study at a private detective school
Correct Answer: B. 200 hours of study at a private detective school
Rationale: Candidates who hold a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from an accredited
institution only need to complete 200 hours of study and professional practice at an authorized
private detective school . This recognizes the value of formal criminal justice education while
still requiring practical training.
5. Which individuals are exempt from the written examination requirement for a private
detective license?
A. All applicants with a college degree
B. Agents who served 8 or more years in specified investigative bodies and were honorably
discharged
C. Applicants who complete 1,000 hours of training
D. Applicants who have been licensed in another state
Correct Answer: B. Agents who served 8 or more years in specified investigative bodies and
were honorably discharged
Rationale: Under the exemptions provision, agents who have belonged to any division of the
Police Corps of Puerto Rico, the FBI, the Special Investigations Bureau (NIE), Municipal Police, or
Puerto Rico Private Investigator Licensing EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR – JUST RELEASED
Puerto Rico Private Investigator Licensing Exam
Practice Questions with Rationales
EXAM OVERVIEW – 10 Key Points
1. Governing Body: The Superintendent of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau prepares the
written examination and issues, renews, or denies private detective licenses .
2. Legal Foundation: Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965, as amended, is the primary legislation
regulating private detectives and security guards in Puerto Rico .
3. Examination Requirement: Every applicant must submit to a written examination
prepared by the Superintendent covering matters reasonably related to the occupation .
4. Exemption Pathways: Agents who served at least 8 years in specified investigative
bodies (Police of PR, NIE, FBI, Municipal Police, federal investigative corps) may be
exempt from the written exam if honorably discharged .
5. Education Requirement: Non-exempt applicants must complete a course of study at an
authorized private detective school with at least 1,000 hours of study and professional
practice .
6. Bachelor's Degree Option: Candidates with a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from an
accredited institution need only 200 hours of study in an authorized private detective
school .
7. Disqualification: Persons expelled from the Police of Puerto Rico, Municipal Police, or as
a penal guard for acts constituting a felony or misdemeanor involving moral depravity
are ineligible for licensure .
8. Identification Card: The Superintendent issues an identification card to every licensed
private detective, which must be carried at all times while acting as such and renewed
every three years .
9. Continuing Education: Licensed private detectives must complete 9 hours of continuing
education every three years upon renewal, with 4 hours mandatory at the Police
Academy .
10. License Renewal: Licenses must be renewed every three years, with the identification
card renewed concurrently .
, Page 2 of 128
SECTION 1: REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
1. Which law primarily regulates the profession of private detectives in Puerto Rico?
A. Law No. 20 of 2017
B. Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965
C. Law No. 49 of 2023
D. Law No. 167 of 2024
Correct Answer: B. Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965
Rationale: Law No. 108 of June 29, 1965, as amended, is the fundamental legislation known as
the "Law to Regulate the Professions of Private Detectives and Security Guards in Puerto Rico" .
This law establishes the requirements, restrictions, and licensing framework for private
detectives.
2. Who is responsible for preparing the written examination for private detective candidates?
A. The Department of Justice
B. The Superintendent of the Police
C. The Secretary of Public Safety
D. The Board of Examiners
Correct Answer: B. The Superintendent of the Police
, Page 3 of 128
Rationale: Under § 285n of the Puerto Rico Laws, the Superintendent is authorized to prepare
the examinations for all candidates for private detective licenses . This is one of the
Superintendent's primary functions and powers in administering the licensing process.
3. What is the minimum number of hours of study and professional practice required for non-
exempt applicants at an authorized private detective school?
A. 200 hours
B. 500 hours
C. 1,000 hours
D. 2,000 hours
Correct Answer: C. 1,000 hours
Rationale: Under the requirements for private detective licensure, applicants must successfully
complete a course of study at an authorized private detective school with a minimum of 1,000
hours of study and competent professional practice as determined by the Commissioner by
regulation .
4. What is the education requirement for an applicant with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal
Justice?
A. 1,000 hours of study at a private detective school
B. 200 hours of study at a private detective school
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C. Exemption from all education requirements
D. 500 hours of study at a private detective school
Correct Answer: B. 200 hours of study at a private detective school
Rationale: Candidates who hold a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from an accredited
institution only need to complete 200 hours of study and professional practice at an authorized
private detective school . This recognizes the value of formal criminal justice education while
still requiring practical training.
5. Which individuals are exempt from the written examination requirement for a private
detective license?
A. All applicants with a college degree
B. Agents who served 8 or more years in specified investigative bodies and were honorably
discharged
C. Applicants who complete 1,000 hours of training
D. Applicants who have been licensed in another state
Correct Answer: B. Agents who served 8 or more years in specified investigative bodies and
were honorably discharged
Rationale: Under the exemptions provision, agents who have belonged to any division of the
Police Corps of Puerto Rico, the FBI, the Special Investigations Bureau (NIE), Municipal Police, or
