ONTARIO PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR EXAM 2026
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE INVESTIGATION
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What are three general types of cases that a private investigator
will take on? Answer: 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?
Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer:
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) Answer: 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? Answer: An court order that allows
the freezing of a defendant's assets as a means of protection.
◉ What is an Anton Piller order? Answer: A civil search warrant.
◉ Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? Answer: 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? Answer: Section 5
, ◉ What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? Answer:
Section 10(1)
◉ What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4)
Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer:
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.
STUDY GUIDE COMPLETE INVESTIGATION
PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ What are three general types of cases that a private investigator
will take on? Answer: 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?
Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer:
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) Answer: 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? Answer: An court order that allows
the freezing of a defendant's assets as a means of protection.
◉ What is an Anton Piller order? Answer: A civil search warrant.
◉ Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? Answer: 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? Answer: Section 5
, ◉ What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? Answer:
Section 10(1)
◉ What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4)
Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer: 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? Answer:
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.
