ONTARIO PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL ELABORATE ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
The legislation governing the private investigator profession is known as? -
CORRECT ANSWER - PSISA - Private Security and Investigative Services Act
(2005)
What are three general types of cases that a private investigator will take on? -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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) -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - An court order that
allows the freezing of a defendant's assets as a means of protection.
What is an Anton Piller order? - CORRECT ANSWER - A civil search warrant.
Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - Section 5
What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Section 10(1)
What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4) - CORRECT
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? -
CORRECT 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? -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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.
When can you stop a Registrar from investigating? - CORRECT ANSWER - You
can't, doing so is an offence under the Act and the Registrar may apply to the court
for remedies to prevent further/continued violations.
What does the Act specifically prohibit licensees from doing? (5) - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Representing themselves as police officers or in connection with a
police service
2. Refer to government licensing or bonding in any advertisement
3. Use a name other than the one they are licensed
4. Use the term "detective" in their representation
5. Allow other persons to use their license
, What does the Act mandate for licensees? (5) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Wear a
uniform approved by the Registrar
2. Carry and present their license to anyone making a request
3. Comply with any terms and conditions of license
4. Be over 18
5. Return the license when it has expired or is terminated/suspended/cancelled
6. Report any incident involving use of force or unusual intervention to the
Registrar
Under what circumstance is a private investigator not required to carry or show
their license? - CORRECT ANSWER - When performing an undercover
operation wherein doing so would jeopardize their safety or the investigation.
What are the 8 parts of the PSISA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Interpretation and
Application
2. Administration
3. Prohibitions
4. Licensing
5. Complaints and Investigations
6. General duties and standards of practice
7. General
8. Regulations
What offences are outlined in the Act? - CORRECT ANSWER - Furnishing or
presenting false information in any application, statement, or return under the Act,
failure to comply with any order, provision, or regulation under the Act or license
conditions
ANSWERS (VERIFIED AND WELL ELABORATE ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
The legislation governing the private investigator profession is known as? -
CORRECT ANSWER - PSISA - Private Security and Investigative Services Act
(2005)
What are three general types of cases that a private investigator will take on? -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT
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? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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) -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - An court order that
allows the freezing of a defendant's assets as a means of protection.
What is an Anton Piller order? - CORRECT ANSWER - A civil search warrant.
Section (2) of the PSISA states that...? - CORRECT 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? - CORRECT ANSWER - Section 5
What section of the PSISA covers licensing requirements? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Section 10(1)
What are the licensing requirements for a private investigator? (4) - CORRECT
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? -
CORRECT 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? -
CORRECT 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? - CORRECT 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.
When can you stop a Registrar from investigating? - CORRECT ANSWER - You
can't, doing so is an offence under the Act and the Registrar may apply to the court
for remedies to prevent further/continued violations.
What does the Act specifically prohibit licensees from doing? (5) - CORRECT
ANSWER - 1. Representing themselves as police officers or in connection with a
police service
2. Refer to government licensing or bonding in any advertisement
3. Use a name other than the one they are licensed
4. Use the term "detective" in their representation
5. Allow other persons to use their license
, What does the Act mandate for licensees? (5) - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Wear a
uniform approved by the Registrar
2. Carry and present their license to anyone making a request
3. Comply with any terms and conditions of license
4. Be over 18
5. Return the license when it has expired or is terminated/suspended/cancelled
6. Report any incident involving use of force or unusual intervention to the
Registrar
Under what circumstance is a private investigator not required to carry or show
their license? - CORRECT ANSWER - When performing an undercover
operation wherein doing so would jeopardize their safety or the investigation.
What are the 8 parts of the PSISA? - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Interpretation and
Application
2. Administration
3. Prohibitions
4. Licensing
5. Complaints and Investigations
6. General duties and standards of practice
7. General
8. Regulations
What offences are outlined in the Act? - CORRECT ANSWER - Furnishing or
presenting false information in any application, statement, or return under the Act,
failure to comply with any order, provision, or regulation under the Act or license
conditions
