Missouri Private Investigator Licensing Examination
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Official Exam Structure (Missouri Division of Professional Registration)
Exam Component Details
Total Questions 100
Time Allowed 2 Hours
Statutes (State Laws) 150 Questions (Ch. 324 RSMo)
Rules (Board Regulations) 25 Questions (20 CSR 2234)
General Practice 25 Questions (Techniques/Ethics)
Passing Score 97%
Exam Fee $80.00
Location Jefferson City, MO (or designated site)
How to Use This Guide
The questions below are designed to mirror the difficulty and specific language of
the Missouri exam. Pay close attention to the statutory definitions and specific
timeframes (e.g., "10 days," "30 days"), as these are heavily tested.
,Section 1: Missouri Statutes (Ch. 324 RSMo) - 50 Sample Questions
1. According to Missouri statute, which of the following is a task that defines the
practice of a "private investigator"?
A) Providing debt collection services
B) Investigating the cause of responsibility for libel, losses, or injury
C) Practicing law in civil court
D) Performing financial audits for a corporation
Answer-: B. This falls under the "Responsibility" category of the PRICIE acronym.
Collecting debts (A) is excluded; practicing law (C) is prohibited for non-attorneys;
financial audits (D) are for CPAs .
2. In what year was the Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire
Investigator Examiners created in Missouri?
A) 1999
B) 2007
C) 2015
D) 2020
Answer-: B. Licensure has been required in Missouri since 2007 .
3. Which of the following occupations is specifically EXEMPT from the definition
of "private investigator" in Missouri statutes?
A) A licensed bounty hunter working on a skip trace
B) A private citizen conducting surveillance on a cheating spouse
C) An attorney or paralegal employed by a law firm
D) A security guard working at a mall
Answer-: C. Attorneys, paralegals, and law firm employees acting within the
scope of their employment are exempt. Security guards may be exempt if only
working for one employer, but the attorney exemption is a statutory safe harbor .
4. A private investigator in Missouri has a duty to report wrongdoing by a fellow
PI to the Board. How must this report be made?
A) Anonymously via the Board website
B) Verbally over the phone to the executive director
,C) As a signed complaint
D) Through a third-party mediator
Answer-: C. Anonymous complaints do not fulfill the duty to report; the
complaint must be signed .
5. What is the minimum amount of liability insurance (surety bond) required to
obtain a PI license in Missouri?
A) $50,000
B) $100,000
C) $250,000
D) $500,000
Answer-: C. The bond must be for $250,000 and the Certificate of Insurance must
name the Board as the certificate holder .
6. A licensed private investigator may work for:
A) Multiple agencies simultaneously, as long as the cases don't conflict.
B) Any agency that offers them a contract.
C) Only the agency whose ID number appears on their application.
D) Themselves and one other agency.
Answer-: C. An investigator is licensed to work for a specific agency .
7. How often must a licensed private investigator complete continuing
education?
A) 8 hours annually
B) 16 hours every two years
C) 24 hours every three years
D) 10 hours per year
Answer-: B. Licensees must complete 16 CE hours biennially .
8. What is the deadline for individual PIs to report their continuing education
hours to the Board?
A) December 31st of every year
B) January 15th of every odd-numbered year
C) February 28th of every even-numbered year
D) The last day of their birth month
Answer-: C. The reporting deadline is February 28th of even-numbered years .
, 9. If the Board suspends a PI license, what is the maximum duration of the
suspension?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer-: C. Suspensions cannot exceed three years. Probation cannot exceed
five years .
10. A person convicted of a felony applies for a PI license. The conviction
occurred 18 months ago. The Board will likely:
A) Issue the license with probation
B) Deny the license, as felonies in the last two years are disqualifying
C) Issue the license after a waiting period of 6 more months
D) Request a letter of reference from the parole officer
Answer-: B. A felony conviction in the last two years (or a misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude) is an automatic disqualifier .
11. Refusing to obey a subpoena from the PI licensing board is classified as:
A) A class A misdemeanor
B) A class D felony
C) An administrative violation only
D) Contempt of court, with a fine only
Answer-: A. Refusing to obey a subpoena or answer questions is a Class A
misdemeanor .
12. Falsifying fingerprints or photographs on a licensure application is classified
as:
A) A class A misdemeanor
B) A class D felony
C) An infraction
D) Automatic license denial with no criminal penalty
Answer-: B. This specific act is elevated to a Class D felony .
13. For how long must a private investigator retain records related to a case that
went to trial?
A) 3 years
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
Official Exam Structure (Missouri Division of Professional Registration)
Exam Component Details
Total Questions 100
Time Allowed 2 Hours
Statutes (State Laws) 150 Questions (Ch. 324 RSMo)
Rules (Board Regulations) 25 Questions (20 CSR 2234)
General Practice 25 Questions (Techniques/Ethics)
Passing Score 97%
Exam Fee $80.00
Location Jefferson City, MO (or designated site)
How to Use This Guide
The questions below are designed to mirror the difficulty and specific language of
the Missouri exam. Pay close attention to the statutory definitions and specific
timeframes (e.g., "10 days," "30 days"), as these are heavily tested.
,Section 1: Missouri Statutes (Ch. 324 RSMo) - 50 Sample Questions
1. According to Missouri statute, which of the following is a task that defines the
practice of a "private investigator"?
A) Providing debt collection services
B) Investigating the cause of responsibility for libel, losses, or injury
C) Practicing law in civil court
D) Performing financial audits for a corporation
Answer-: B. This falls under the "Responsibility" category of the PRICIE acronym.
Collecting debts (A) is excluded; practicing law (C) is prohibited for non-attorneys;
financial audits (D) are for CPAs .
2. In what year was the Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire
Investigator Examiners created in Missouri?
A) 1999
B) 2007
C) 2015
D) 2020
Answer-: B. Licensure has been required in Missouri since 2007 .
3. Which of the following occupations is specifically EXEMPT from the definition
of "private investigator" in Missouri statutes?
A) A licensed bounty hunter working on a skip trace
B) A private citizen conducting surveillance on a cheating spouse
C) An attorney or paralegal employed by a law firm
D) A security guard working at a mall
Answer-: C. Attorneys, paralegals, and law firm employees acting within the
scope of their employment are exempt. Security guards may be exempt if only
working for one employer, but the attorney exemption is a statutory safe harbor .
4. A private investigator in Missouri has a duty to report wrongdoing by a fellow
PI to the Board. How must this report be made?
A) Anonymously via the Board website
B) Verbally over the phone to the executive director
,C) As a signed complaint
D) Through a third-party mediator
Answer-: C. Anonymous complaints do not fulfill the duty to report; the
complaint must be signed .
5. What is the minimum amount of liability insurance (surety bond) required to
obtain a PI license in Missouri?
A) $50,000
B) $100,000
C) $250,000
D) $500,000
Answer-: C. The bond must be for $250,000 and the Certificate of Insurance must
name the Board as the certificate holder .
6. A licensed private investigator may work for:
A) Multiple agencies simultaneously, as long as the cases don't conflict.
B) Any agency that offers them a contract.
C) Only the agency whose ID number appears on their application.
D) Themselves and one other agency.
Answer-: C. An investigator is licensed to work for a specific agency .
7. How often must a licensed private investigator complete continuing
education?
A) 8 hours annually
B) 16 hours every two years
C) 24 hours every three years
D) 10 hours per year
Answer-: B. Licensees must complete 16 CE hours biennially .
8. What is the deadline for individual PIs to report their continuing education
hours to the Board?
A) December 31st of every year
B) January 15th of every odd-numbered year
C) February 28th of every even-numbered year
D) The last day of their birth month
Answer-: C. The reporting deadline is February 28th of even-numbered years .
, 9. If the Board suspends a PI license, what is the maximum duration of the
suspension?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer-: C. Suspensions cannot exceed three years. Probation cannot exceed
five years .
10. A person convicted of a felony applies for a PI license. The conviction
occurred 18 months ago. The Board will likely:
A) Issue the license with probation
B) Deny the license, as felonies in the last two years are disqualifying
C) Issue the license after a waiting period of 6 more months
D) Request a letter of reference from the parole officer
Answer-: B. A felony conviction in the last two years (or a misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude) is an automatic disqualifier .
11. Refusing to obey a subpoena from the PI licensing board is classified as:
A) A class A misdemeanor
B) A class D felony
C) An administrative violation only
D) Contempt of court, with a fine only
Answer-: A. Refusing to obey a subpoena or answer questions is a Class A
misdemeanor .
12. Falsifying fingerprints or photographs on a licensure application is classified
as:
A) A class A misdemeanor
B) A class D felony
C) An infraction
D) Automatic license denial with no criminal penalty
Answer-: B. This specific act is elevated to a Class D felony .
13. For how long must a private investigator retain records related to a case that
went to trial?
A) 3 years
