Ontario private investigator licence: how to get it
How to get a private investigator licence in Ontario: approved basic training, the ministry test, the criminal record check and the ServiceOntario application, with fees, online options and renewal. Official Ontario sources.
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- Checked October 17, 2026
You need a valid private investigator licence to work as a private investigator in Ontario, that is, to carry out investigations for pay in order to provide information. ServiceOntario issues the licence for the Ministry of the Solicitor General, and the route is fixed: finish approved basic training for private investigators, pass the ministry's private investigator test, then apply with a recent criminal record check, two pieces of government ID and a photo.
This guide puts those steps in order, shows what each one costs and what to bring, and lists the mistakes that forfeit test bookings and get applications sent back. Every fact links to the Ontario government page, or the page of the ministry's test delivery agent, that it comes from. When you are ready for the test, 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 18 or older, legally entitled to work in Canada and have a clean criminal record, meaning no convictions for the offences listed in Regulation 37/08 unless you have a pardon or record suspension.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)Complete private investigator basic training
Take at least 50 hours of private investigator training from a community college, career college, public university, licensed agency or, for its own staff only, a registered employer. Unlike security guard training, it does not require an emergency first aid or CPR certificate. Web-based courses count if they allow real-time interaction with an instructor.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic trainingGet your training completion number
When you finish, your provider gives you a training certificate and a training completion number (TCN). You need the TCN to register for the ministry test.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic trainingBook the private investigator test
Book online at ontariosecuritytesting.com, or by phone, with your TCN and a credit card, no later than 3 p.m. the day before. Walk-ins are not allowed, and once booked a test cannot be cancelled or rescheduled.
Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Booking and payment optionsWrite the test and score 77% or more
The private investigator test has 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 75 minutes to answer within a two-hour appointment, and the cut score is 77 percent, about 47 correct.
Source: Ontario.ca — Private investigator study guide, About the testCheck your result
The testing site says results are available within 2 business days of the exam date. You look them up on its results page with the number from your booking emails.
Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Home pageGet a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
Order a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC). It must be issued within six months of the day you submit your application, in its original format, with your name exactly as it appears on your ID.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)Apply to ServiceOntario
Apply online through Ontario.ca Login, which takes up to 15 calendar days for a complete application, or by mail with the official form and a bank draft, money order or certified cheque payable to the Minister of Finance, which takes up to 30 calendar days.
Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Who can get it
- Age 18 or older and legally entitled to work in Canada. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- A clean criminal record: no convictions for an offence listed in Regulation 37/08, unless a pardon or record suspension has been granted. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Private investigator basic training completed and the ministry test passed. If you hold a current, active licence in good standing from another Canadian province or territory, you do not need Ontario training and testing. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- For a dual licence (security guard and private investigator), you must pass both tests; the private investigator test is a separate test. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator testing
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Private investigator basic training | Set by each training provider | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator basic training |
| Ministry test, each attempt | $35.00 plus 13% HST, $39.55 in total | Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Booking and payment options |
| Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
| Private investigator licence, new or renewal | $80 (non-refundable) | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
| Dual licence (security guard and private investigator) | $160 | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
| Changing your licence type | $80 | Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Write the private investigator test online or at select DriveTest centres across Ontario. You register and book through the ministry's testing website, ontariosecuritytesting.com, using the training completion number from your provider. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard and private investigator testing
What to bring or have ready
- At a test centre: an original, valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID from any country, in the same name as your booking and TCN. Health cards and social insurance cards are not accepted, and food, drinks and aids of any kind are not allowed. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — What to expect in person
- For the online test: a desktop or laptop (no tablet or phone), a reliable high-speed connection, a webcam, a microphone and speakers (no headphones or earbuds), the exam browser installed beforehand, a private room that passes a 360-degree check and government photo ID for sign-in. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Frequently asked questions
- For the licence application: your Ontario testing completion number, an Ontario mailing address, the original CRJMC, a photo that meets the photo rules, the front and back of two different valid government IDs (one proving identity, one proving you may work in Canada) and the fee. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
After you pass
No plastic card is issued. Your licence is digital: download or print it from Ontario.ca Login, carry a digital or printed copy whenever you work and show it on request. A dual licence holder cannot work as a security guard and a private investigator at the same time. Tell the ministry when your name, address or contact details change, and within 5 days of any conviction for a listed offence. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Validity and renewal
A new licence expires on your second birthday after it is issued, and each renewal runs two more years, tied to your birthday. You can renew online up to 90 days before expiry; the fee is $80. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
Common mistakes
- Booking only one test for a dual licence. Security guard and private investigator are separate tests, and you must pass both in separate sessions. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — Frequently asked questions
- Arriving late. It counts as a cancellation by you, and you lose the prepaid test fee. Source: Ontario Security Testing (Serco, for the ministry) — What to expect in person
- Treating the cut score like the security guard test. The private investigator test has its own, higher cut score of 77 percent. Source: Ontario.ca — Private investigator study guide, About the test
- Sending a scanned or photocopied criminal record check, or one older than six months. Online applications need the original digital PDF and mail applications the original paper copy. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Names that do not match. The name on your CRJMC, your IDs and your application must be exactly the same. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Including a health card or SIN card, or using the same ID for both identity and work eligibility. Health and SIN cards are not accepted, and you need two different IDs. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
- Ignoring a returned application. You have 90 calendar days to fix it; after that it closes, the fee is kept and you must apply and pay again. Source: Ontario.ca — Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals)
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.
- Ontario Private Investigator practice tests139 original practice questions with explanations
- Private investigator practice test (printable PDF)50 printable Ontario private investigator test questions with an answer key: PSISA, privacy, evidence, arrest, surveillance and statements. Print or save as PDF.
- Ontario Private Investigator study guideFree Ontario Private Investigator study guide: 243 key points from the Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- Ontario Private Investigator Mock Exam 1 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Private Investigator exam simulator60 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 an Ontario private investigator licence: common questions
How do I get a private investigator licence in Ontario?
Finish private investigator basic training with an approved provider, use your training completion number to book and pass the ministry test, then apply to ServiceOntario with your testing completion number, a recent Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check, two government IDs, a photo and the fee.
How much does an Ontario private investigator licence cost?
The licence itself is $80 ($160 for a dual licence), paid to ServiceOntario and not refunded. Training, the ministry test and the criminal record check are paid separately; see the cost table above.
Can I get my Ontario private investigator licence online?
Yes. You can apply through Ontario.ca Login, a complete application takes up to 15 calendar days and the licence arrives by email as a digital licence. Web-based basic training and the online test are also options, as the steps above explain.
How many questions are on the Ontario private investigator test?
Sixty multiple-choice questions, with 75 minutes to answer. The cut score is 77 percent.
What happens if I fail the test?
Book a new appointment, pay again and rewrite the whole test. There is no waiting period between attempts, and you are not told which questions you got wrong.
Do I need first aid training to become a private investigator in Ontario?
No. The ministry says emergency first aid and CPR certification is required for security guard training but not for private investigator basic training.
Can I write the private investigator test in French?
Yes. The security guard and private investigator tests are offered in English and French, and candidates with reading, writing or vision limitations can ask for a verbal test at no extra fee. Translators and interpreters are not allowed in the room.
Keep practising
- Private investigator practice test (printable PDF)50 printable Ontario private investigator test questions with an answer key: PSISA, privacy, evidence, arrest, surveillance and statements. Print or save as PDF.
- Ontario Private Investigator study guide
- Ontario Private Investigator Mock Exam 1 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Private Investigator Mock Exam 2 – 60 QuestionsTimed practice · 75 minutes · answers explained
- Ontario Private Investigator Practice Test 130 questions with explanations
- Ontario Private Investigator Practice Test 230 questions with explanations
- Ontario Private Investigator Practice Test 330 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- The PI industry and getting licensedWho needs an Ontario private investigator licence under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, who is exempt, the six licence types, eligibility (age 18, clean criminal record, right to work, training and testing), the 50-hour training syllabus, approved training providers and the licence term.
- PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaintsCarrying and producing your licence, the undercover exception, the ban on badges and on words such as detective and officer, the Code of Conduct (O. Reg. 363/07), public complaints and facilitation, refusals and appeals, work a PI may not do, and the penalties for breaking the Act.
- Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPAHow PIPEDA's consent rules limit what personal information an investigation business can collect, use and disclose, the exceptions for publicly available information and investigations, access to government records under FIPPA and MFIPPA, and industry practice on expectations of privacy, hidden cameras, audio and GPS trackers.
- Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custodyDirect, circumstantial, hearsay, documentary (illustrative), real, trace, opinion and unsworn evidence, admissions, business records under the Ontario Evidence Act and Canada Evidence Act, and the six core steps for containing evidence and keeping a chain of custody.
- Trespass to Property Act and other statutesOccupiers and authorized persons, the three ways to commit trespass, notice by voice, writing, signs and red or yellow markings, arrest and handover to police, the $10,000 maximum fine, and the other Ontario statutes the syllabus names, including the Highway Traffic Act on surveillance.
- Criminal Code: arrest, force and offencesWhy a PI has only a citizen's powers, arrest without warrant under section 494, delivering a person to police, use of force under sections 25 to 27, defence of person and property, Charter rights on arrest and detention, and the offences the study guide names: theft, false pretences, fraud and kidnapping.
- Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil lawThe Canadian court system, burden of proof in criminal and civil cases, intimidation under section 423, criminal harassment under section 264, interception of private communications under section 184, tort, libel, slander and perjury, and the parties to a civil action.
- Locating, research and surveillanceSetting a justifiable mandate, basic locator techniques, public records and research sources such as PPSR searches, the purposes of covert surveillance, what to know before you start, standard equipment, detection, and solo versus team surveillance methods.
- Interviews, statements and reportsPreparing for and conducting interviews, taking and correcting a witness statement, confessions and youth interviews, writing objective surveillance reports, correcting notes and using notes when you testify.
- Undercover work, email monitoring and serving documentsWhen undercover operations are used, briefing and supervising an operator, conduct that protects credibility in court, monitoring employee email, and serving civil documents under Ontario's Rules of Civil Procedure, including personal service, substituted service and the Affidavit of Service.
- Ethics, communication and self-managementEthical decision-making, duty of care, prejudice and the Ontario Human Rights Code, clear and unbiased communication, tactical communication, and managing stress, time, teamwork and changing conditions on assignments.