Working as a private investigator in Ontario requires a licence under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA). Before that licence is issued, you must complete mandatory training and pass the ministry’s PI test. This guide covers who needs the licence, the test format, what the exam covers, and how to prepare.
Who needs an Ontario private investigator licence?
Anyone whose paid work consists primarily of conducting investigations to provide information needs a PSISA licence. The Act defines a private investigator by what the work involves: gathering information on the whereabouts of persons or property, the character or actions of a person, or the business or occupation of a person. If that describes how you earn money, you need a licence.
Some roles are exempt: locksmiths, armoured vehicle operators, and people hired only to research publicly available records for credit or insurance purposes do not fall under the Act. The full list of exemptions is published at ontario.ca.
What are the steps to get licensed?
Getting your PI licence takes three steps:
- Complete approved training: Finish a private investigator training course from a provider approved by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. The course issues a Training Completion Number (TCN).
- Pass the test: Book and sit the ministry’s PI test using your TCN.
- Apply to the Registrar: Submit your licence application with the required documentation.
You cannot book the test without a TCN, so training comes first.
How many questions are on the Ontario PI test?
The test has 60 multiple-choice questions and you have 75 minutes to complete them, within a two-hour appointment. The pass mark is 77%. Some third-party websites cite lower figures, but 77% is the official cut score. Results are released within five business days.
If you need to retake the test, you can rebook through Serco, the ministry’s test delivery agent. The fee is CA$35.00 plus 13% HST, totalling CA$39.55 per attempt.
What does the Ontario PI test cover?
The exam draws from two areas. The larger part tests the legislation that governs PIs directly. The second part covers practical-skills topics taught in your training course, such as investigative technique, report writing, ethics and communication; study those from your course materials.
The legislation-based topics include:
- The PSISA and its Code of Conduct: who counts as a private investigator, the six licence types, prohibited activities, how licences are issued or refused, the complaints and inspection process, licensee duties (insurance, carrying your licence, prohibited titles), and the penalties for offences. Fines reach $25,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a business entity.
- Privacy law: PIPEDA’s consent rules and ten fair-information principles, including the investigation exceptions a PI may rely on; and the FIPPA and MFIPPA rules on personal information held by Ontario provincial and municipal institutions.
- Arrest and use of force: the Criminal Code provisions a PI must know: citizen’s arrest powers, use-of-force authority, self-defence, and defence of property.
How is the test weighted across topics?
The 60 questions cover 12 topic areas drawn from the PSISA, Code of Conduct, privacy law and the Criminal Code. The highest-weight areas are complaints and investigations (7 questions), privacy under PIPEDA (7 questions), licence decisions and appeals (6 questions), duties and standards of practice (6 questions), and Criminal Code arrest and use-of-force rules (6 questions). No topic is safely skippable, but those five areas account for 32 of the 60 questions.
What is the official source for this information?
The exam draws from legislation published by the King’s Printer for Ontario and the Government of Canada. Licensing details, including approved training providers and test booking via Serco, are at ontario.ca. The PSISA, O. Reg. 363/07 (Code of Conduct), PIPEDA, FIPPA, MFIPPA and the relevant Criminal Code sections are all freely available online.