Private investigators work as part of a team that provides information about other peoples’ actions and events. In Canada, the private investigation industry is regulated provincially. That means there are different rules for each province/territory regarding licensing requirements for becoming a private investigator.
Some provinces also require that investigators be bonded against any wrongdoing they might commit while performing their tasks. This bond is usually covered by the company employing them or the investigators themselves, and it ensures that they will not steal from their clients.
All provinces require certain academic qualifications for private investigator licensing, while others also include a training requirement. Once you’ve met these requirements, you’ll need to provide proof of your good character and pass an exam before being granted a license to work as a private investigator.
The Licensing Requirements for Private Investigators
The specific education and training requirements for private investigators in each province are as follows:
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British Columbia: All applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and the licensing process includes an exam, background checks and firearms training. Applicants can choose between two designations: “investigator” or “private investigator.” The former designation is for people working in surveillance, while the latter covers all other areas of private investigation.
Alberta: Applicants need at least a high school diploma and must be 18 years old. The licensing process requires that applicants undergo police background checks and submit to fingerprinting. Successful candidates must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Saskatchewan: Applicants must be 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and have at least one year of experience in law enforcement. The licensing process requires successful applicants to pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Manitoba: Applicants need to hold either a college diploma in criminology or a Bachelor of Justice Studies degree. Applicants must also have at least three years of experience working in law enforcement before applying for the licensing process, which includes passing an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Ontario: Applicants must hold a college diploma in investigation and surveillance technology, police foundations or policing. Applicants must also submit to a criminal check and pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators before receiving their license.
Quebec: Applicants need at least a college diploma in criminology and must demonstrate good character by providing references from two people who know them personally. If they’ve already worked as a private investigator in another province, applicants are exempt from this requirement. Successful candidates must also pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators before being licensed.
New Brunswick: Applicants need at least three years of experience working in security, law enforcement or the military before applying for the licensing process, which includes passing an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Nova Scotia: Applicants need at least a high school diploma and must meet certain criminal and background check requirements before applying for the licensing process, including passing an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Prince Edward Island: Applicants need at least a high school diploma and must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Newfoundland: Applicants need at least a high school diploma and must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators before they are granted a license.
Yukon: All applicants need at least a high school diploma and must pass an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators before they are granted a license.
Northwest Territories: Applicants must submit to background checks and complete the licensing process, including passing an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Nunavut: All applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent before applying for the licensing process, which includes passing an exam that tests their knowledge of laws specific to private investigators.
Summary
In every Canadian province and territory, it’s possible to gain employment as a private investigator. Still, you need to be licensed in most places, and the licensing process requires education and training. If you are caught working as a private investigator without one, you risk facing fines or even jail time.