Private investigator licensing in Canada

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Canada. Licensing is provincial, not federal, and investigators need a licence in each province where they work. Ontario (Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005) requires applicants to be 18, complete the basic private investigator course and pass a 60-question ministry test; Alberta (Security Services and Investigators Act) requires an approved course and 80% on the provincial exam; British Columbia (Security Services Act) issues licences under supervision or full licences backed by 2,000 hours of experience; Quebec's Bureau de la sécurité privée issues agent and agency permits. Every province requires a clean criminal record check.

Provincial regulators, e.g. Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Branch, under Provincial statutes, e.g. Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005.

Varies: none for entry in Ontario/Alberta; BC full licence needs 2,000 hours (or 2 years) in the last 5 years, or 10 years' police service

Yes, applicants must pass an exam.

Ontario: every 2 years, expiring on the holder's birthday, renewable up to 90 days early; Alberta: every 2 years, same process as a first application

Ontario: $80 private investigator licence (2 years), $160 dual guard and investigator, $80 to change licence type; Alberta: $160 investigator licence (2 years) plus $9 registry service charge; training and test fees are set by providers

Ontario: up to 15 calendar days online, up to 30 calendar days by mail; Alberta issues a 60-day temporary licence on approval

1. Ontario example: check you are 18, entitled to work in Canada and have a clean criminal record 2. Complete the mandatory basic private investigator course and get an Ontario training completion number 3. Book and pass the ministry test (60 multiple-choice questions, 75 minutes) online or at a DriveTest centre 4. Obtain a Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check (issued within the last 6 months) 5. Apply online with ServiceOntario (or by mail to the Kingston licensing office) with photo, two government IDs and the $80 fee

No cross-border visiting permit. A valid licence from another province lets you skip Ontario's training and test; Ontario decides out-of-province applications within 10 business days or you are deemed certified for 6 months while it finishes the review.

No national licence. Ontario waives its training and test for holders of a valid licence from another province; BC requires its own licence.

Canada is a one-party consent country: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.