Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Canada | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Provincial regulators, e.g. Ontario Private Security and Investigative Services Branch |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals and agencies |
| Experience | 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 |
| Exam | Yes |
| Training | Varies: Ontario mandatory basic private investigator course (training completion number needed to book the test); Alberta Professional Investigator Training Course or Accredited Investigator Training Course; BC PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation |
| Fees | 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 |
| Processing time | Ontario: up to 15 calendar days online, up to 30 calendar days by mail; Alberta issues a 60-day temporary licence on approval |
| Renewal | 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 |
| Reciprocity | No national licence. Ontario waives its training and test for holders of a valid licence from another province; BC requires its own licence. |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.