BC Private Investigator study guide and books
Start with the free official guide — it is what the test is written from. Books only help if you want printed practice or a structured course.
- 5 official
Free
Official guide
Introduction to Private Investigation – British Columbia (course page and exam details)
Professional Security Knowledge Network (content by the Professional Investigators' Association of B.C.) · Paid online course ($600 including one exam)
The course the province names for B.C. PI licensing. The page states the exam format (100 questions, two hours, 70 percent), the price and rewrite fee, and how results reach the Registrar. We did not use the course content.
Introduction to Private Investigation — modules and learning objectives
Professional Security Knowledge Network · Free PDF
The free outline of the four course parts and their learning objectives. Use it as a checklist of what the exam can cover; our topics follow it.
Security worker training requirements — private investigator
Government of British Columbia — Security Programs Division · Free online
The province's own statement of what training and experience the PI-under-supervision and full PI licences require.
Private investigator study guide (Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General)
Government of Ontario · Free online
Written for Ontario's test, but its investigative techniques section describes generally accepted industry practice (surveillance, statements, notes, evidence handling). Ignore its Ontario-specific law; B.C. law differs.
Privacy Act, RSBC 1996 c. 373
Province of British Columbia (BC Laws) · Free online
A five-section act that every B.C. investigator should read: it makes wilful violation of privacy, including by surveillance, a tort, and lists the narrow exceptions.
Free practice tests
- BC Private Investigator Practice Test 125 questions with explanations
- BC Private Investigator Practice Test 225 questions with explanations
- BC Private Investigator Practice Test 325 questions with explanations
- BC Private Investigator Mock Exam 1 – 100 QuestionsTimed practice · 120 minutes · answers explained