Private Investigator exam
New York PI Exam Practice Questions
and Answers UPDATED 2025
Who regulates PI's in NY? -Correct Answer ✔The Department of State, Division
of Licensing
What type of crime is operating as a PI without a license? -Correct Answer ✔Class
B Misdemeanor
A corporation's PI license can be revoked if ___% or more of the corporate stock is
held by a person who cannot meet the character standard set for an individual PI
license. -Correct Answer ✔10
Who has the power to enforce the provisions of the PI licensing law? -Correct
Answer ✔The Secretary of State
Is a licensee obliged to supply their books or records to the State upon State
Request? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
What is the term of a PI license? -Correct Answer ✔2 years
What is the cost of an Individual PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$400
What is the cost of a Corporate PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$500
Is a PI required to be bonded? -Correct Answer ✔yes
Is a PI required to be insured? -Correct Answer ✔No
What is the surety bond required of a PI? -Correct Answer ✔$10,000
If a NY PI license is to be issued to a non-resident, what must the applicant file a
written consent to? -Correct Answer ✔Consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of
NY in any case or cases arising from PI services within NY state
Private Investigator exam
,Private Investigator exam
No PI license shall be issued to a person under the age of ___. -Correct Answer
✔25
What is the fee to take the exam that you need to pass to qualify for a PI
application? -Correct Answer ✔$15
Can a NY PI license be issued to a person convicted of a felony? -Correct Answer
✔No
Are there any misdemeanor convictions that will not allow a person to be issued a
NY PI license? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Are a list of the applicant names and business addresses of all pending PI
applications posted for public view? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Are a list of PI licenses that had been either issued or revoked the prior week
posted for public view? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Can a NY PI licensee simultaneously hold an employment agency license? -
Correct Answer ✔No
To change the name on a PI license, the cost is ___ -Correct Answer ✔$150
To change the address on a PI license, the cost is ___ -Correct Answer ✔$10
How must the issued PI license certificate be displayed? -Correct Answer ✔Posted
up and at all times displayed in a conspicuous place for which it was issued, so that
all persons visiting such place may readily see it.
Every license certificate shall be surrendered to the Department of Stat within ____
hours after its terms shall have expired or after notice in writing to the holder that
such license has been revoked. -Correct Answer ✔72
Failure to surrender the license certificate within the required hours is what type of
crime? -Correct Answer ✔Misdemeanor
What is the cost for the replacement of an unexpired PI license certificate or an
unexpired pocket card? -Correct Answer ✔$10
Private Investigator exam
, Private Investigator exam
What are the restrictions on the replacement of an unexpired PI license certificate
or an unexpired pocket card? -Correct Answer ✔If lost or destroyed without fault
on the part of the holder.
When should a NY PI file a PI license renewal application? -Correct Answer ✔6
weeks before the expiration date of the PI license
What is the cost to renew an Individual PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$400
What is the cost to renew a Corporation PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$500
If late to renew a PI license, what is the late filing fee amount? -Correct Answer
✔$100
In no event will PI license renewal be granted more than ___ months after the date
of expiration of a PI license. -Correct Answer ✔6
What, besides the PI license renewal fee, must accompany the PI license renewal
fee? -Correct Answer ✔A new surety bond
May a licensee resign as a licensee without the written approval of the Secretary of
State? -Correct Answer ✔No
For a violation of any provision of the PI licensing law, the state may revoke or
suspend the license, or can impose a fine not exceeding ________. -Correct
Answer ✔$1000
Can your PI license be revoked or suspended or fined if you demonstrate
incompetence or untrustworthiness in your actions? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
True or False: Before a PI license is denied or revoked, the PI will be notified at
least 15 days in advance of a hearing where applicant/licensee can be heard in
person. -Correct Answer ✔True
What appears on a PI license 'Pocket Card' ID? -Correct Answer ✔1. A photograph
of PI licensee,
2. Seal of Department of State
Private Investigator exam
New York PI Exam Practice Questions
and Answers UPDATED 2025
Who regulates PI's in NY? -Correct Answer ✔The Department of State, Division
of Licensing
What type of crime is operating as a PI without a license? -Correct Answer ✔Class
B Misdemeanor
A corporation's PI license can be revoked if ___% or more of the corporate stock is
held by a person who cannot meet the character standard set for an individual PI
license. -Correct Answer ✔10
Who has the power to enforce the provisions of the PI licensing law? -Correct
Answer ✔The Secretary of State
Is a licensee obliged to supply their books or records to the State upon State
Request? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
What is the term of a PI license? -Correct Answer ✔2 years
What is the cost of an Individual PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$400
What is the cost of a Corporate PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$500
Is a PI required to be bonded? -Correct Answer ✔yes
Is a PI required to be insured? -Correct Answer ✔No
What is the surety bond required of a PI? -Correct Answer ✔$10,000
If a NY PI license is to be issued to a non-resident, what must the applicant file a
written consent to? -Correct Answer ✔Consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of
NY in any case or cases arising from PI services within NY state
Private Investigator exam
,Private Investigator exam
No PI license shall be issued to a person under the age of ___. -Correct Answer
✔25
What is the fee to take the exam that you need to pass to qualify for a PI
application? -Correct Answer ✔$15
Can a NY PI license be issued to a person convicted of a felony? -Correct Answer
✔No
Are there any misdemeanor convictions that will not allow a person to be issued a
NY PI license? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Are a list of the applicant names and business addresses of all pending PI
applications posted for public view? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Are a list of PI licenses that had been either issued or revoked the prior week
posted for public view? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
Can a NY PI licensee simultaneously hold an employment agency license? -
Correct Answer ✔No
To change the name on a PI license, the cost is ___ -Correct Answer ✔$150
To change the address on a PI license, the cost is ___ -Correct Answer ✔$10
How must the issued PI license certificate be displayed? -Correct Answer ✔Posted
up and at all times displayed in a conspicuous place for which it was issued, so that
all persons visiting such place may readily see it.
Every license certificate shall be surrendered to the Department of Stat within ____
hours after its terms shall have expired or after notice in writing to the holder that
such license has been revoked. -Correct Answer ✔72
Failure to surrender the license certificate within the required hours is what type of
crime? -Correct Answer ✔Misdemeanor
What is the cost for the replacement of an unexpired PI license certificate or an
unexpired pocket card? -Correct Answer ✔$10
Private Investigator exam
, Private Investigator exam
What are the restrictions on the replacement of an unexpired PI license certificate
or an unexpired pocket card? -Correct Answer ✔If lost or destroyed without fault
on the part of the holder.
When should a NY PI file a PI license renewal application? -Correct Answer ✔6
weeks before the expiration date of the PI license
What is the cost to renew an Individual PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$400
What is the cost to renew a Corporation PI license? -Correct Answer ✔$500
If late to renew a PI license, what is the late filing fee amount? -Correct Answer
✔$100
In no event will PI license renewal be granted more than ___ months after the date
of expiration of a PI license. -Correct Answer ✔6
What, besides the PI license renewal fee, must accompany the PI license renewal
fee? -Correct Answer ✔A new surety bond
May a licensee resign as a licensee without the written approval of the Secretary of
State? -Correct Answer ✔No
For a violation of any provision of the PI licensing law, the state may revoke or
suspend the license, or can impose a fine not exceeding ________. -Correct
Answer ✔$1000
Can your PI license be revoked or suspended or fined if you demonstrate
incompetence or untrustworthiness in your actions? -Correct Answer ✔Yes
True or False: Before a PI license is denied or revoked, the PI will be notified at
least 15 days in advance of a hearing where applicant/licensee can be heard in
person. -Correct Answer ✔True
What appears on a PI license 'Pocket Card' ID? -Correct Answer ✔1. A photograph
of PI licensee,
2. Seal of Department of State
Private Investigator exam
