Ontario 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.

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The ministry's private investigator test is 60 multiple-choice questions with 75 minutes to answer, and the cut score is 77 percent. This printable sheet gives you 50 questions drawn evenly from all 11 of our topics, which follow the study guide: the industry and licensing, PSISA rules and the Code of Conduct, privacy law, evidence, the Trespass to Property Act, Criminal Code arrest and force, courts and intimidation, locating and surveillance, interviews and statements, undercover work and document service, and ethics and communication.

Set a 60-minute timer, work through the sheet in one sitting, then turn to the answer key on the separate pages at the end. Each answer has a short explanation and names the section of the study guide, syllabus or statute it comes from. Look hard at anything you miss on privacy, recording conversations and citizen's arrest: these rules have exact conditions, and the real questions test them in field scenarios. On this sheet, 39 correct is the same 77 percent as the real cut score.

Jump to the answer key

1.Which list gives the six core steps for containing evidence?
1. Observe, deter, record, report, testify, file
2. Collect, analyse, copy, share, return, archive
3. Locate, seize, photograph, label, store and then destroy
4. Collect, secure, preserve, identify, continuity, log
2.Your first private investigator licence is issued on October 1. When does it expire?
1. Exactly one year after the issue date
2. Exactly three years after the issue date
3. On your second birthday after the issue date
4. On December 31 of the following year
3.When may an investigator place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle?
1. Only at night when the vehicle is on a public street
2. Whenever the driver is the subject of the file
3. Whenever the client is paying for the investigation
4. Only with the permission of the vehicle's owner
4.A complaint alleges a Code of Conduct breach. If the facilitator recommends remedial instruction, what does the Registrar do?
1. Imposes the remedial instruction as a condition of the licence
2. Revokes the licence immediately without a hearing
3. Sends the complaint to the local police service for possible criminal charges
4. Closes the file because facilitation ends the matter
5.What arrest powers does a licensed private investigator have in Ontario?
1. Special powers granted by the PSISA
2. The same as a peace officer
3. The same as a by-law enforcement officer
4. The same as any member of the public
6.Surveillance could become criminal harassment under section 264 if the subject reasonably fears for their safety because you:
1. Photograph their business sign from the street
2. Repeatedly follow them from place to place
3. Record their public activity from a parked car once
4. Search land registry records for their home
7.While undercover for suspected theft, you see serious safety violations the client did not mention. What should you do?
1. Fix them yourself without telling anyone
2. Report them to the workers' union first
3. Observe and report them along with the theft
4. Ignore them, as they are outside your mandate
8.Which is a decision-making skill the study guide expects of private investigators?
1. Telling relevant facts apart from irrelevant ones
2. Making decisions quickly without checking facts
3. Relying on first impressions of a subject
4. Letting the client make every judgment call
9.Once a witness starts talking freely, what is the recommended practice?
1. Do not interrupt, and take notes discreetly
2. Correct each error the moment you hear it
3. Stop them often to summarize what they said
4. Show disbelief so they add more detail
10.When might two or more investigators be assigned to one surveillance?
1. Whenever the subject lives in a large city
2. When the subject drives aggressively or the site has several exits
3. Whenever the file is the investigator's first case and a mentor is available
4. Whenever the client's budget allows overtime
11.An authorized person arrests a trespasser under the Trespass to Property Act. What must they do next?
1. Hold the person until the occupier decides on charges
2. Release the person once they give their name and address
3. Promptly call police and hand the person into police custody
4. Take the person's photo and escort them off the land
12.A witness testifies that she saw the accused strike the victim. What type of evidence is this?
1. Direct evidence
2. Opinion evidence
3. Circumstantial evidence
4. Hearsay evidence
13.Under the PSISA, what kind of paid work requires a private investigator licence?
1. Occasional fact-checking done as a small part of another job
2. Work that mainly consists of investigations to provide information
3. Work that mainly consists of patrolling to protect property
4. Any job that involves regularly reading public court records for others
14.Your subject is walking in a public park. What may you do?
1. Ask park staff for the subject's home address
2. Nothing, because people keep full privacy in parks
3. Photograph or video record the subject's activities
4. Approach and question the subject about the claim
15.You suspect the person a client wants found is in a witness protection program. What must you do?
1. Ask the Registrar for written permission to continue
2. Locate the person but report the address only to police
3. Continue if the client signs a release of liability
4. Not locate or gather information to locate that person
16.You see a person committing an indictable offence. What does section 494 allow?
1. Only a peace officer may arrest them
2. Any person may arrest them without a warrant
3. You may arrest only if you are on duty
4. You may arrest only with the client's consent
17.What is the difference between libel and slander?
1. Libel applies to companies; slander to individuals
2. Libel is spoken defamation; slander is written
3. Libel is defamation in lasting form; slander is spoken
4. Libel is a crime; slander is lying under oath
18.Who must swear the Affidavit of Service after a document is served?
1. The investigator who actually served the document
2. The client's lawyer who drafted the document
3. The person who received the document
4. Any employee of the investigation agency
19.Which stress factor does the study guide specifically mention for private investigators?
1. Supervising large security teams
2. Public speaking at large events
3. Isolation, driving and fatigue
4. Handling cash in a retail store
20.After the signatures on the last page of a statement, what is common practice?
1. Staple a blank page for the lawyer's notes
2. Draw an x through the rest of the page
3. Leave the space blank for later additions
4. Write the client's name in the remaining space
21.What is the purpose of covert surveillance?
1. To let the subject know they are being watched
2. To question the subject about the client's claim while recording the answers
3. To observe without being detected and see the subject's true behaviour
4. To collect the subject's mail for later review
22.Which of these is one of the ways to commit trespass under the Trespass to Property Act?
1. Using the normal path to knock on a front door
2. Taking a photo of a building from the street
3. Refusing to leave right away when the occupier says to go
4. Walking on a public sidewalk that runs beside someone's private land
23.With one party's consent, you save an intercepted electronic message on a USB drive. How should the drive be treated?
1. As a personal copy you may keep at home
2. As waste to be deleted once the report is filed
3. As a draft that can be edited for the report
4. As evidence, stored in a secure location
24.Which of these people is NOT covered by the PSISA while doing their usual work?
1. A person paid to follow a spouse suspected of cheating
2. An employee who tracks down missing debtors' addresses
3. An insurance adjuster licensed under the Insurance Act
4. A self-employed person locating witnesses for a fee
25.What kind of law is PIPEDA?
1. An Ontario regulation on licence renewals
2. A federal law on intercepting phone calls
3. An Ontario law on access to records held by municipalities and boards
4. A federal law on how businesses handle personal information
26.A client asks you to give less courteous service to people of a certain ethnic origin. What does the Code of Conduct require?
1. Refer the request to the Registrar before deciding
2. Comply only if the client puts the request in writing
3. Follow the client's instructions, since the client pays
4. Treat all persons equally without discrimination
27.Section 494(1)(b) allows any person to arrest someone they believe committed a criminal offence when that person is:
1. Escaping and freshly pursued by people with authority to arrest
2. Known to have committed similar offences in the past
3. Seen on video committing the offence a week earlier
4. Named as a suspect by a reliable witness who calls you the next morning
28.How does the study guide say every investigation should be conducted?
1. As if the case could go to trial
2. As informally as the client allows
3. As if only the client will read the report
4. As quickly as possible, with paperwork done later
29.Who typically decides whether police are informed of what an undercover operation found?
1. The suspected employee's union
2. The Registrar
3. The undercover operator
4. The client
30.Why are tone, volume and cadence especially important on the telephone?
1. Phone calls are always recorded and may be played back as evidence
2. The PSISA requires a formal tone on calls
3. Phone lines distort words more than voices
4. There are no non-verbal cues to help interpret the message
31.According to the study guide, what is the key to a successful interview?
1. Knowing the purpose of the interview
2. Holding it at the investigator's office
3. Keeping it under ten minutes long
4. Recording it on video from a hidden camera
32.Your file is missing the subject's date of birth before surveillance starts. What should you do?
1. Ask the subject's neighbours for it
2. Phone the subject pretending to be a pollster
3. Start anyway and guess from the subject's looks
4. Check the file or contact your office to confirm it
33.You go up a house's front walk to knock and ask the resident a question. What does the Act presume?
1. Entry is trespass unless a sign invites visitors
2. Any entry on residential land needs written permission
3. Access to the door for a lawful purpose is not prohibited
4. Entry is allowed only if the owner is home
34.Evidence shows the accused owns the same type of gloves found at the scene and was nearby. What is this?
1. Trace evidence
2. Real evidence of identity
3. Circumstantial evidence
4. Direct evidence
35.Maria holds both a security guard and a private investigator licence. What rule applies to her work?
1. She may do both roles at once only on the same client's premises
2. She cannot act as a guard and an investigator at the same time
3. She must choose one licence and surrender the other within a year
4. She needs written approval from the Registrar for each shift
36.PIPEDA is described as a consent-based statute. What does that mean for an investigation agency?
1. It may never collect information without the subject present
2. It is limited in what it may collect or share without consent
3. It may collect anything about anyone once a client has signed a contract
4. It must get a court order before collecting any information
37.Which item may a private investigator carry as identification or a symbol of authority?
1. A metal badge with the company logo
2. A photo ID card reading Investigations Officer
3. Only the licence issued under the PSISA
4. A wallet badge that resembles a police shield
38.Who may arrest a person found committing a criminal offence on or in relation to property?
1. Any investigator hired by a neighbouring business that saw the offence
2. Only the property's insurance company
3. Only the police force for that municipality
4. The owner or lawful possessor, or someone they authorize
39.Which conduct can amount to intimidation under section 423 of the Criminal Code?
1. Reading court files about a person at the courthouse
2. Asking a neighbour once whether a person lives nearby
3. Taking one photograph of a person in a public mall
4. Persistently following a person to compel them to act
40.Before going undercover in a workplace, which briefing topic does the study guide list?
1. Who the supervisors and any known suspects are
2. The client's annual profit and tax filings
3. The home addresses of all the employees
4. The salaries of the company's managers
41.What does tactical communication allow a private investigator to do?
1. Be assertive without being confrontational
2. Win every argument with a witness
3. Use police-style commands with subjects
4. Avoid ever speaking to the public
42.What is the key purpose of taking a witness statement?
1. To keep an accurate record of the witness's recollection
2. To get the witness to agree with the client's view
3. To replace the need for the witness to testify
4. To test whether the witness will take a bribe
43.Before starting a locate or background investigation, what should you first establish with the client?
1. A cover story for contacting neighbours
2. A justifiable mandate for the investigation
3. The number of hours the client will pay
4. The subject's likely daily schedule
44.Besides the Trespass to Property Act, which Ontario statute does the PI syllabus list as relevant, especially for undercover work?
1. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
2. The Highway 407 East Act, 2012
3. The Ontario Heritage Act
4. The Employment Standards Act, 2000
45.You collect a dropped item as evidence. What should you write on the evidence bag?
1. Your opinion of how the item was used
2. The subject's name and the client's file fee
3. Your initials and the date and time gathered
4. Nothing, so the court sees it untouched
46.What is the minimum in-class time for basic private investigator training?
1. 33.5 hours
2. 40 hours
3. 50 hours
4. 29 hours
47.Which law governs access to records held by Ontario government ministries?
1. The Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
2. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
3. The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
4. The Private Security and Investigative Services Act
48.While openly working as a private investigator, a member of the public asks who you are. What must you do?
1. Give only your first name and your employer's main office phone number
2. Identify yourself as a private investigator and produce your licence
3. Show your business card instead of the licence itself
4. Refuse, because your work is confidential under the PSISA
49.According to section 26 of the Criminal Code, what is a person authorized to use force responsible for?
1. Only force used on private property
2. Only force that causes death
3. Any excess of force they use
4. Nothing, if they were making an arrest
50.A client sues a former partner in civil court. What standard of proof applies?
1. A balance of probabilities
2. Reasonable and probable grounds
3. Proof beyond all possible doubt
4. Beyond a reasonable doubt

Answer key with explanations

1. D — Collect, secure, preserve, identify, continuity, log
The study guide and syllabus give six core steps for containing evidence: collect, secure, preserve, identify, ensure continuity, and log. The other lists include steps such as destroying or sharing that are not part of the method.
Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custody · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 5 — Evidence handling techniques
2. C — On your second birthday after the issue date
A new individual licence ends on the holder's second birthday following the day it was issued, and each renewal then runs for two years. Three-year terms apply to business licences issued since July 2021, not to individuals.
The PI industry and getting licensed · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 1 The private investigation industry and licensing, O. Reg. 367/07; ServiceOntario licence page
3. D — Only with the permission of the vehicle's owner
The study guide says GPS devices should only be placed on a vehicle with the owner's permission, for example a company owner giving written permission for a company car an employee drives. Being the subject or paying the bill does not create that right.
Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — GPS tracking
4. A — Imposes the remedial instruction as a condition of the licence
Code of Conduct complaints are referred to a facilitator unless the complainant objects. If the facilitator recommends remedial instruction, section 19(10) requires the Registrar to impose it as a licence condition. Revocation and charges are separate powers.
PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaints · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, PSISA s. 19(6)–(10) — Facilitation
5. D — The same as any member of the public
Private investigators have neither police nor peace officer powers. Their arrest powers are those of any member of the public under the Criminal Code, mainly section 494.
Criminal Code: arrest, force and offences · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Study guide Section 4 — Criminal Code (powers of arrest)
6. B — Repeatedly follow them from place to place
Section 264 prohibits conduct such as repeatedly following someone, monitoring their movements, or watching their home or workplace, when it causes them to reasonably fear for their safety. The syllabus warns investigators that surveillance can cross into stalking.
Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil law · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 264 — Criminal harassment
7. C — Observe and report them along with the theft
The study guide says the operator may see infractions the client is unaware of and should observe and report on all criminal acts, policy breaches and health and safety infractions observed.
Undercover work, email monitoring and serving documents · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Undercover operations
8. A — Telling relevant facts apart from irrelevant ones
Listed skills include recognizing relevant and irrelevant facts, making sound and defensible decisions supported by facts and research, prioritizing, drawing on the law and recognizing ethical dilemmas.
Ethics, communication and self-management · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 6–8 Ethics, communication and self-management, Study guide Section 6 — Principles of ethical reasoning
9. A — Do not interrupt, and take notes discreetly
The study guide advises not to interrupt once the person has started talking, to take notes without being too obvious, and to control your emotions and never react.
Interviews, statements and reports · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Interview techniques
10. B — When the subject drives aggressively or the site has several exits
Most surveillance is done alone, but teams are used for reasons such as the subject's aggressive driving, multiple exits from a location, or the subject's ability to run counter-surveillance.
Locating, research and surveillance · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Detection of surveillance
11. C — Promptly call police and hand the person into police custody
Section 9 lets the occupier or a person they authorize arrest without warrant a person believed on reasonable and probable grounds to be trespassing, but a non-police arrester must promptly call for police and give the person into police custody.
Trespass to Property Act and other statutes · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Trespass to Property Act s. 9 — Arrest without warrant on premises
12. A — Direct evidence
Direct evidence is testimony about something the witness saw directly. Circumstantial evidence requires an inference, hearsay repeats another person's statement, and opinion evidence is what an expert believes or infers.
Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custody · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — Types of evidence
13. B — Work that mainly consists of investigations to provide information
Section 2 defines a private investigator as someone paid for work that consists primarily of conducting investigations to provide information. Patrolling to protect property is security guard work, and occasional or incidental research is not work that consists primarily of investigating.
The PI industry and getting licensed · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 1 The private investigation industry and licensing, PSISA s. 2(2)–(3) — Private investigators
14. C — Photograph or video record the subject's activities
A person in a public place has no reasonable expectation of privacy, so their actions may be photographed or recorded on video. Contacting the subject or asking staff for personal information is not part of covert observation.
Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — Industry standards regarding protection of privacy
15. D — Not locate or gather information to locate that person
Section 9(2) prohibits a licensee from locating, or gathering information to locate, someone known or suspected to be in a witness protection program. No permission or release creates an exception.
PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaints · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, PSISA s. 9(2) — Protected witnesses
16. B — Any person may arrest them without a warrant
Section 494(1)(a) allows anyone to arrest without warrant a person found committing an indictable offence. The power does not depend on being on duty or on a client's consent.
Criminal Code: arrest, force and offences · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 494(1)(a) — Arrest without warrant by any person
17. C — Libel is defamation in lasting form; slander is spoken
Both libel and slander are defamation, a civil wrong (tort). Libel is in a lasting form such as writing, while slander is spoken. Lying under oath is perjury, which the syllabus also lists.
Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil law · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Training syllabus Section 4 — Tort law, libel, slander and perjury
18. A — The investigator who actually served the document
The Affidavit of Service must be sworn by the investigator who served the documents, in front of a lawyer or commissioner of oaths. Errors found before swearing are disclosed, corrected and initialled first.
Undercover work, email monitoring and serving documents · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Rules of Civil Procedure and document service
19. C — Isolation, driving and fatigue
Under acting under stress, the study guide says investigators should know how to manage stress from isolation, driving and fatigue, and how to react if exposed during surveillance.
Ethics, communication and self-management · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 6–8 Ethics, communication and self-management, Study guide Section 8 — Self-management skills
20. B — Draw an x through the rest of the page
Each page is initialled or signed so nothing can be added, and on the final page common practice is to draw an x through the remainder of the page to show there is no further information.
Interviews, statements and reports · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Statements
21. C — To observe without being detected and see the subject's true behaviour
Covert surveillance aims to observe persons, places or things without being detected and to see the subject in their natural and true state. Letting the subject know, questioning them or taking their mail defeats the purpose or breaks the law.
Locating, research and surveillance · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Principles of surveillance
22. C — Refusing to leave right away when the occupier says to go
Section 2(1) makes it an offence to enter where entry is prohibited, to do a prohibited activity, or to not leave immediately when directed by the occupier or an authorized person. Public sidewalks, normal access to a door and street photos are not trespass.
Trespass to Property Act and other statutes · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Trespass to Property Act s. 2(1) — Trespass an offence
23. D — As evidence, stored in a secure location
The study guide says evidence handling rules also apply to non-physical evidence, so a USB drive holding an intercepted communication should be treated as evidence and stored securely. Editing or deleting it would destroy its value.
Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custody · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 5 — Care and control of evidence
24. C — An insurance adjuster licensed under the Insurance Act
Section 2(7) excludes licensed insurance adjusters acting in that capacity, along with lawyers, peace officers and locksmiths. Paid work locating people or reporting on someone's actions is investigative work that needs a licence.
The PI industry and getting licensed · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 1 The private investigation industry and licensing, PSISA s. 2(7) — Non-application
25. D — A federal law on how businesses handle personal information
PIPEDA is a federal statute that governs the collection, use and disclosure of personal information by organizations engaged in commercial activities. Municipal records fall under MFIPPA, and interception is covered by the Criminal Code.
Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — PIPEDA
26. D — Treat all persons equally without discrimination
Section 2(1)(d) of the Code requires licensees to treat everyone equally, without discrimination based on grounds including race, ethnic origin, creed, sex, age and disability. A client's instruction or written request does not override this duty.
PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaints · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, O. Reg. 363/07 s. 2(1)(d) — Treat all persons equally
27. A — Escaping and freshly pursued by people with authority to arrest
Section 494(1)(b) covers a person believed on reasonable grounds to have committed a criminal offence who is escaping from and freshly pursued by persons with lawful authority to arrest. Old video, later tips or past conduct are not enough.
Criminal Code: arrest, force and offences · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 494(1)(b) — Fresh pursuit
28. A — As if the case could go to trial
The study guide says every investigation should be conducted as if it could go to trial, with procedural and administrative requirements completed with the utmost care. Reports may become evidence.
Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil law · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Study guide Section 4 — Canadian court system
29. D — The client
The study guide says it is typically the client's responsibility to determine whether the police are to be informed. Police then lay any charges they see fit based on the evidence supplied.
Undercover work, email monitoring and serving documents · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Undercover operations
30. D — There are no non-verbal cues to help interpret the message
Tone, volume and cadence strongly affect how a message is received, and on the phone the listener lacks non-verbal cues to help interpret your reaction, so they matter even more.
Ethics, communication and self-management · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 6–8 Ethics, communication and self-management, Study guide Section 7 — Tactical communication
31. A — Knowing the purpose of the interview
The study guide says the key to a successful interview is to know its purpose. Preparation, such as reviewing what you know and preparing questions, follows from that purpose.
Interviews, statements and reports · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Interview techniques
32. D — Check the file or contact your office to confirm it
Before surveillance you should have the subject's name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, employment, places frequented and the purpose. If something is missing, the study guide says consult the file or contact your office.
Locating, research and surveillance · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Preparation
33. C — Access to the door for a lawful purpose is not prohibited
Section 3(2) presumes that using the normal approach to a building's door for a lawful purpose is not prohibited. That presumption ends if the occupier gives notice prohibiting entry or tells you to leave.
Trespass to Property Act and other statutes · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Trespass to Property Act s. 3(2) — Implied permission
34. C — Circumstantial evidence
Circumstantial evidence lets a fact be inferred without anyone having seen it directly, such as owning similar gloves and being nearby. To be useful it must be sufficiently connected to a relevant fact.
Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custody · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — Types of evidence
35. B — She cannot act as a guard and an investigator at the same time
Section 12 lets a person hold more than one type of licence, but they may never act as a security guard and a private investigator at the same time. There is no surrender deadline or per-shift approval.
The PI industry and getting licensed · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 1 The private investigation industry and licensing, PSISA s. 12 — Licences, general rules
36. B — It is limited in what it may collect or share without consent
Because PIPEDA is consent-based, a licensed business is limited in what third-party personal information it can collect, use and disclose without the person's consent. Exceptions exist, but a client contract is not one, and court orders are not routinely required.
Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — PIPEDA
37. C — Only the licence issued under the PSISA
Section 34(2) bans possessing any identification or symbol of authority other than the PSISA licence; the study guide gives a metal badge as an example of what is prohibited. The word officer is also banned under section 40.
PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaints · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, PSISA s. 34(2) — No other evidence of authority
38. D — The owner or lawful possessor, or someone they authorize
Section 494(2) gives this power to the owner or person in lawful possession of the property, or a person they authorize, at the time of the offence or within a reasonable time after if a peace officer cannot feasibly make the arrest.
Criminal Code: arrest, force and offences · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 494(2) — Arrest by owner of property
39. D — Persistently following a person to compel them to act
Section 423 covers wrongful acts done to compel someone to do or not do something they have a right to do, including persistently following them or besetting or watching where they live or work. One photo, file searches or a single question are not on that list.
Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil law · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 423(1) — Intimidation
40. A — Who the supervisors and any known suspects are
The operator should be briefed on the environment, who the supervisors are, known suspects, the infractions sought, what is expected as a legitimate employee, and where suspects gather. Personal and financial data are not part of the briefing.
Undercover work, email monitoring and serving documents · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Undercover operations
41. A — Be assertive without being confrontational
Tactical communication means adjusting your style and demeanour to the situation and audience so that you can be assertive without being confrontational.
Ethics, communication and self-management · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 6–8 Ethics, communication and self-management, Study guide Section 7 — Tactical communication
42. A — To keep an accurate record of the witness's recollection
The study guide says the key purpose of taking a statement is to ensure an accurate record of the witness's recollection of an event exists. Lawyers can still cross-examine the witness at trial.
Interviews, statements and reports · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Statements
43. B — A justifiable mandate for the investigation
The study guide says the investigator must first identify with the client a justifiable mandate: what is requested, why, whether it is frivolous, and whether getting it is lawful, for example under PIPEDA. The reason should be documented.
Locating, research and surveillance · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 5 Investigative techniques, Study guide Section 5 — Basic locator techniques
44. D — The Employment Standards Act, 2000
The syllabus and study guide list the Employment Standards Act, 2000, the Labour Relations Act, 1995, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Provincial Offences Act, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and the Trespass to Property Act. The other acts are not on the list.
Trespass to Property Act and other statutes · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Training syllabus Section 3 — Additional legislation
45. C — Your initials and the date and time gathered
The study guide says the bag should be marked with the investigator's initials and the time and date the item was gathered. Keeping handlers to a minimum and documenting each transfer maintains the chain of custody.
Evidence: types, Evidence Acts and chain of custody · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 5 — Care and control of evidence
46. C — 50 hours
The syllabus sets at least 50 in-class hours for the private investigator program. The 40 and 33.5 hour figures belong to security guard training, and 29 is the suggested total of outside-class pre-reading hours.
The PI industry and getting licensed · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 1 The private investigation industry and licensing, Training Syllabus for Private Investigators — Program length
47. C — The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
FIPPA covers records in the custody or control of the provincial government, designated agencies, colleges, universities and, since January 1, 2012, hospitals. MFIPPA covers municipalities, and PIPEDA covers commercial organizations.
Privacy law: PIPEDA, FIPPA and MFIPPA · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 3 Provincial and federal statutes, Study guide Section 3 — FIPPA
48. B — Identify yourself as a private investigator and produce your licence
Section 34 requires anyone holding themself out as a private investigator to carry the licence, identify as a private investigator on request and produce the licence on request. A business card does not replace the licence.
PSISA rules, Code of Conduct and complaints · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 2 The Private Security and Investigative Services Act, PSISA s. 34(1) — Identification as private investigator
49. C — Any excess of force they use
Section 26 makes everyone authorized by law to use force criminally responsible for any excess of force, according to the nature and quality of the act. Being authorized to arrest does not excuse excessive force.
Criminal Code: arrest, force and offences · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Criminal Code s. 26 — Excessive force
50. A — A balance of probabilities
The burden of proof in a civil matter is lower than in a criminal one: the plaintiff must prove the case on the balance of probabilities. Beyond a reasonable doubt is the criminal standard.
Courts, intimidation, harassment and civil law · Based on: Ontario Private Investigator Study Guide (ontario.ca, October 2021), Ch. 4 Criminal and civil law, Study guide Section 4 — Canadian court system

Original practice questions by Canada Exam Prep, written from the official handbook. Not official test questions. Free to print for personal study.

FAQ

Private investigator practice test (printable PDF): common questions

Does the ministry publish the private investigator test as a PDF?

No. The test questions are not released. The ministry publishes the Private Investigator Study Guide online and the Training Syllabus for Private Investigators, and the test is based on the topics of the basic training course. Every question on this sheet is original and cites the section it comes from.

What score should I aim for on this sheet?

The real cut score is 77 percent, which is about 39 of these 50 questions. Aim for 43 or more before you book, so a few unfamiliar questions on test day do not put you near the line.

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Ontario Private Investigator Practice Test – Printable PDF