BC private investigator licence: how to get it
How to get a private investigator licence in British Columbia: the PSKN course and licensing exam, the experience routes to a full licence, fingerprints and the Security Services Platform application, with fees and renewal. Official sources.
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- Checked October 17, 2026
In British Columbia, private investigation is security work, and you need a security worker licence to do it. The Security Programs Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General issues two kinds for investigators: private investigator under supervision, for people starting out, and the full private investigator licence, which also needs documented experience or police service. Both rest on the same knowledge requirement, usually met by the Introduction to Private Investigation course and licensing exam from the Private Security Knowledge Network (PSKN).
This guide sets out the steps in order, what each one costs, what to send with the application and the rules that apply once you are licensed. Each fact links to the government of British Columbia page, or the PSKN page, that it comes from. To prepare for the licensing exam, our free practice tests, printable sheet and full-length mock exam are linked below.
Step by step
Check that you are eligible
You must be 19 or older, ordinarily resident in Canada, fluent in English for most licence categories, trained for the licence type, and not a member of a police force under the Police Act.
Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management processPick your licence route
For private investigator under supervision, complete the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and exam, or B.C. courses in criminal law, civil law, human rights, information and privacy, evidence, interviewing, report writing, surveillance and documentary research. For a full licence, add 2,000 hours of private investigation work in the last 5 years, or apply with 10 years of service in a Canadian police service and proof that you registered in the PSKN course.
Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)Take the PSKN course
Introduction to Private Investigation – British Columbia is an online course in four modules, equivalent to 60 hours of classroom instruction, offered in English. The course fee includes one attempt at the provincial licensing exam.
Source: PSKN — Introduction to Private Investigation – British ColumbiaBook the licensing exam
Create an account with eProctor Canada and book a time through PSKN's booking page. You can write the exam within 48 business hours of finishing the online course.
Source: PSKN — How to book an examPass the exam with 70% or more
The provincial licensing exam has 100 multiple-choice questions and you have two hours. The passing grade is 70 percent. PSKN sends your pass or fail result to the B.C. Registrar as part of your licence application.
Source: PSKN — Introduction to Private Investigation – British ColumbiaGather your documents and get fingerprinted
You need consent to a criminal record check, proof of training or experience, proof of citizenship, permanent residency or the right to work in Canada, a passport-quality photo, valid government photo ID and a fingerprint confirmation slip. Fingerprints are required for every first application.
Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management processApply on the Security Services Platform
Apply online through the Security Services Platform. With a BC Services Card account you verify your identity there; without one you can still apply online, but processing may take longer. Pay by credit card, or by certified cheque or money order payable to the Minister of Finance.
Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
Who can get it
- Age 19 or older and ordinarily resident in Canada. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
- Fluent in English for most licence categories, and not a member of a police force under the Police Act; peace officers and retired police officers may be eligible. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
- Under supervision: the PSKN course and exam, or the listed B.C. private investigation courses. Equivalent training may be considered. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)
- Full licence: 2,000 hours of private investigation work in the last 5 years plus the PSKN course and exam or the listed courses; or 10 years with a Canadian police service plus proof of registration in the PSKN course, completed with its exam within one year of getting the licence. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course, including one licensing exam | $600 | Source: PSKN — Introduction to Private Investigation – British Columbia |
| Licensing exam rewrite | $100 plus tax | Source: PSKN — Introduction to Private Investigation – British Columbia |
| Security worker licence, new application (non-refundable) | $120 for one year, $180 for two years, $240 for three years ($60 for a 90-day licence) | Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process |
| Renewal or change of licence | Different from new-application fees; shown on the Security Services Platform | Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process |
| Fingerprinting | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
The licensing exam is written online under remote supervision by eProctor Canada, from a computer with an internet connection, a webcam and a microphone. You book it through PSKN's booking page after finishing the course. Source: PSKN — How to book an exam
What to bring or have ready
- For the exam: a computer with an internet connection, a webcam and a microphone, and an eProctor Canada account set up before you book. Source: PSKN — How to book an exam
- For the application: consent to a criminal record check, proof of training or experience, proof of citizenship, permanent residency or the right to work in Canada, a passport-quality photo, valid government photo ID, the fingerprint confirmation slip and, if it applies, the mental health condition form. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
- For a full licence through experience: letters from employers or clients that give your employment dates, role and duties, the hours you logged and, if you worked under supervision, your supervisors' names. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)
After you pass
Once licensed, carry the physical licence whenever you do security work, since a photo of it is not enough, and show it to anyone who asks. Do not carry a badge. Report charges, convictions, address or legal name changes and becoming a peace officer, and work only within the security work shown on your licence. Operating your own security business also needs a security business licence. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Rules for licensed security workers
Validity and renewal
You choose the licence term when you pay: 90 days, one, two or three years. Renew on the Security Services Platform before the licence expires; if it has already expired you must apply as new. Renewals made without a BC Services Card account need new fingerprints. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
Common mistakes
- Expecting PSKN to issue the licence. PSKN runs the course and exam only; you apply to the province yourself. Source: PSKN — Introduction to Private Investigation – British Columbia
- Working before you are licensed or after your licence expires. You must hold a valid licence to do security work, and working on an expired one is not permitted. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Rules for licensed security workers
- Carrying a photo of your licence on your phone. The rules require the physical copy. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Rules for licensed security workers
- Experience letters without the details the province asks for. They must give dates, role and duties, hours logged and, for supervised work, the supervisors' names. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)
- On the police route, leaving the PSKN course for later. You must finish the course and exam within one year of receiving your licence. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker training requirements (private investigator)
- Skipping the fingerprint step. Every first application needs a fingerprint confirmation slip. Source: Gov.bc.ca — Security worker licence: application and licence management process
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- BC Private Investigator practice tests146 original practice questions with explanations
- BC private investigator practice test (printable PDF)50 printable B.C. private investigator exam questions with an answer key: licensing, privacy law, recording, arrest, surveillance, statements and evidence.
- BC Private Investigator study guideFree BC Private Investigator study guide: 150 key points from the Introduction to Private Investigation — modules and learning objectives (PSKN) in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- BC Private Investigator Mock Exam 1 – 100 QuestionsTimed practice · 120 minutes · answers explained
- BC Private Investigator exam simulator100 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a BC private investigator licence: common questions
How do I get a private investigator licence in BC?
Complete the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and pass its licensing exam (or take the listed B.C. courses), get fingerprinted, then apply for a security worker licence on the Security Services Platform with your ID, photo, proof of training and the fee. A full licence also needs documented experience or police service.
How much does a BC private investigator licence cost?
The licence fee for a new application is $120 for one year, $180 for two years or $240 for three years, and it is not refunded. The PSKN course and first exam are paid separately; see the cost table above.
How many questions are on the BC private investigator exam?
One hundred multiple-choice questions in two hours, with a passing grade of 70 percent.
Can I do everything online?
Yes. The PSKN course is online, the exam is remotely proctored by eProctor Canada, and the licence application goes through the Security Services Platform.
What is the difference between a PI under supervision and a full PI licence?
Under supervision needs the training only. A full licence needs the training plus 2,000 hours of private investigation work in the last 5 years, or 10 years of Canadian police service with the PSKN course and exam completed within a year.
Can I work as a self-employed private investigator?
Only with two licences. You cannot operate a security business without a security business licence, and self-employed contractors need both a worker licence and a business licence.
I am a private investigator in another province. Do I need a BC licence?
Maybe not. The province says an out-of-province private investigator may not need a licence and points to its licensing policy for the conditions; check it before you take work in B.C.
Keep practising
- BC private investigator practice test (printable PDF)50 printable B.C. private investigator exam questions with an answer key: licensing, privacy law, recording, arrest, surveillance, statements and evidence.
- BC Private Investigator study guide
- BC Private Investigator Mock Exam 1 – 100 QuestionsTimed practice · 120 minutes · answers explained
- 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
Practice by topic
- Who needs a B.C. PI licence and how to get oneThe Security Services Act definition of a private investigator, who is exempt (lawyers, journalists, insurance adjusters, pre-employment screening), the PI and PI-under-supervision licences, the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and exam, the 2,000-hour and police-experience routes, and out-of-province investigators.
- Licence rules, conduct and PI businessesCarrying and showing your licence, 14-day reporting, no uniform and no badge, the banned words detective and police, the B.C. code of conduct, business licences, insurance and records, enforcement and penalties, and why bug sweeping needs a security consultant licence.
- Courts, burden of proof and testifyingThe levels of Canadian and B.C. courts, the Civil Resolution Tribunal and Small Claims Court limits, criminal and civil burdens of proof, subpoenas, oaths, direct and cross-examination, and what counts as a crime for licensing.
- Arrest, force and criminal harassmentWhy a PI has only a citizen's powers, arrest without warrant under section 494, delivery to police, use of force under sections 25 to 27, 34 and 35, Charter rights, and how surveillance can cross into criminal harassment under section 264.
- B.C. PIPA: consent, investigations and public sourcesHow B.C.'s Personal Information Protection Act applies to PI firms: consent and deceptive practices, the investigation exception, prescribed publicly available sources, access requests, safeguards and retention, and restricted records.
- Privacy Act, recording and surveillance limitsB.C.'s statutory tort of violation of privacy, its exceptions, eavesdropping and surveillance, use of a name or portrait, one-party consent to record under Criminal Code section 184, filming from public places, GPS trackers and criminal harassment.
- Human rights, the Charter and young personsB.C. Human Rights Code grounds in services and employment, the code of conduct's equality duty, the Charter, the Youth Criminal Justice Act's age definitions and declaration of principle, the publication ban, and interviewing people under 18.
- Mandate, surveillance and undercover workSetting a justifiable mandate, preparing for surveillance, standard equipment, obeying traffic law, detecting counter-surveillance, solo and team methods, subjects with lawyers, and the rules of undercover operations.
- Interviews, statements and reportsPreparing and conducting interviews, recording only with a party's consent, the parts of a written witness statement, corrections and initials, voluntariness, objective reports, correcting notes, and using notes in court.
- Evidence handling and information sourcesThe six steps for containing evidence, chain of custody, protecting original video, business and electronic records under the Canada Evidence Act, and lawful research sources such as directories, registries, PPSR and court files.
- Technology, countermeasures and safetyTechnical surveillance countermeasures and the security consultant licence, interception and computer-system rules, wireless cameras and GPS, authenticating electronic files, insurance, and WorkSafeBC rules for lone and at-risk work.