The Ontario private investigator licensing test is a 60-question, multiple-choice exam that requires a 77% score to pass. Most of the content comes from the law that governs private investigators in Ontario: the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA) and its Code of Conduct, privacy statutes (PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA), and the relevant Criminal Code provisions on arrest and use of force. A structured approach to those statutes, with regular timed mock practice, is the most reliable path to a passing score.
What is on the Ontario PI test?
The test covers 12 topic areas drawn from Ontario and federal legislation. The table below shows how the questions are distributed, from the category-weight breakdown in the official exam content:
| Category | Questions |
|---|---|
| Complaints, Investigations and Inspections | 7 |
| Privacy: PIPEDA | 7 |
| Licence Decisions and Appeals | 6 |
| Duties and Standards of Practice | 6 |
| Arrest and Use of Force (Criminal Code) | 6 |
| Interpretation and Application | 5 |
| Licensing Requirements | 5 |
| Offences and Penalties | 5 |
| Prohibitions | 4 |
| Privacy: FIPPA/MFIPPA | 4 |
| Code of Conduct (O. Reg. 363/07) | 3 |
| Administration and Licence Types | 2 |
The top five categories alone account for 32 of the 60 questions, so they should get the most study time.
Step 1: Finish your training course first
You cannot book the test without a Training Completion Number (TCN). Complete your approved PI training course first. The practical-skills portion of the exam (investigative technique, report writing, ethics, communication, self-management) is taught in the course; those topics are not drawn from legislation and you should study them from your course materials, not exam law guides.
Step 2: Start with the PSISA definitions and scope
The PSISA is the foundation for roughly half the exam. Before drilling individual categories, read Part I carefully: the definitions of private investigator, security guard, licensee, business entity, and provincial offence. Understanding who the Act covers, who is exempt (armoured vehicle operators and locksmiths, for example), and what counts as remuneration will answer a cluster of scope questions on the real test.
Step 3: Focus on the five heavy categories
The five categories with 6 or 7 questions each total 32 marks. Work through them in this order:
- Complaints, Investigations and Inspections (7 questions): the complaints process, who can investigate, inspector powers, and inspection timing.
- Privacy: PIPEDA (7 questions): the ten fair-information principles, consent, the PI-specific exceptions that let investigators gather information without individual consent.
- Licence Decisions and Appeals (6 questions): grounds for refusal, conditions, revocation, timelines, hearings, and appeals to the Licence Appeal Tribunal.
- Duties and Standards (6 questions): insurance requirements, carrying and displaying a licence, prohibited titles (detective, officer), and uniform rules.
- Arrest and Use of Force (6 questions): citizen’s arrest under the Criminal Code, use of force, self-defence under s. 34, and defence of property under s. 35, where the standard is reasonableness in the circumstances.
Step 4: Learn the Code of Conduct and privacy law
O. Reg. 363/07 sets out exactly nine duties every individual licensee must follow while working, including honesty, legal compliance, avoiding unnecessary force, maintaining confidentiality, and cooperating with police. These duties appear directly in exam questions.
On the privacy side, PIPEDA governs how private-sector organizations handle personal information (anything about an identifiable individual), with consent at its core. FIPPA and MFIPPA apply to personal information held by provincial and municipal institutions in Ontario respectively. A PI needs to understand both regimes: PIPEDA when dealing with private-sector clients and records, and FIPPA/MFIPPA when accessing government-held information.
Step 5: Sit timed mocks until your score is consistently above 77%
The pass mark is 77% on 60 questions in 75 minutes. Practice under real conditions: closed notes, a timer running, the full 60 questions in one sitting. Pay attention to which categories you drop marks in and go back to the source sections for those areas. When you pass two consecutive mocks above 77%, you are ready to book.
Step 6: Book and sit the test
The test is delivered by Serco DES Inc., the ministry’s agent. Book online or by phone with your TCN. The fee is CA$35.00 plus 13% HST (CA$39.55 per attempt). Results are available within five business days of sitting.