FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where can I find your website?
Next question, please.
Is being a private investigator really as exciting as on TV?
No. It's not. But...it IS a challenging, rewarding, and often adventurous career that will certainly keep you on your toes. There WILL be intrigue, mystery, suspense, danger, action...and maybe even a little romance thrown in for good measure...just not nearly as much as in most well-edited TV shows. Oh, and the red Ferrari? Leave it parked in the garage, okay?
What qualifications do I need to take the courses?
All students must be 18 years of age or over, as this is the legal age to obtain a private investigator or security guard licence in the province of Ontario. If you have been convicted of a serious criminal offence, you may also want to check with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to ensure that you meet eligibility requirements (there are a list of offences, contained within the regulations of the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, of which applicants must not have been convicted). You must also be reasonably fluent in both spoken and written English, or provide your own interpreter to assist you during your online studies.
How soon after I complete the course may I write the test to obtain my P.I. or security guard licence?
Upon completion of the course, we will immediately notify Serco, the administrative arm serving the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and obtain an authorization number which will permit you to schedule the test. Availability of test dates will vary depending on the location, time of year, and other factors. We will provide full details and instructions as to how to obtain your licence as quickly and painlessly as possible once you have finished the course.
How is the test conducted? What score do I need to pass?
The test is provided by various Service Ontario locations across the province at a cost of $66.50 (plus HST). It will consist of a total of 60 multiple choice questions, Test appointments are 2 hours in length, and you will have 75 minutes of that to complete the test. A score of 77% (46/60) or better must be achieved in order to pass and obtain your P.I. license, while a score of at least 62% (37/60) must be achieved to qualify for a security guard licence. The instructor will provide full details on how to arrange to book and take your test after completing the course, and will help to ensure your success by providing a sample test and reviewing any course material that is not fully understood.
What happens if I fail my test?
If you should fail your test within 60 days of taking our course, you are welcome to re-take a regularly scheduled course at no extra charge before attempting the test a second time. Please contact us for further details.
May I work for myself once I obtain my licence?
Once you have a licence to work as a private investigator and/or security guard in Ontario, you are free to offer your services to any licenced agency in the province. Agencies will then provide you with cases/assignments/postings, along with instructions, guidelines, and perhaps some additional training. However, you are not permitted to directly offer services to anyone other than a licenced agency. This would be outside the scope of your licence, and would subject you to severe penalties under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, including possible revocation of your licence.
Does age, gender, past employment, or physical disability affect my chances of being a successful private investigator or security guard?
The field of private investigation encompasses many, many specialties and sub-specialties – from missing persons to background checks to surveillance and undercover work. No matter your demographic, everyone comes with strengths that will be valuable in one or more areas of the industry. It is up to you to determine what those strengths are, and how they are best used. Likewise, there are a variety of security positions available in various sectors - some of which require a high degree of fitness and mobility, and others that require less agility since they are more sedentary in nature.
Will I become an expert by taking this course?
No. If you have no prior experience before taking this course, you will be considered a recruit. Once you start getting paid for your services, you automatically become a “professional”. However, you likely won’t be considered an expert until you’ve been in the trenches for a decade or more. But you’ll have a lot of fun earning your wings!
How do you know if I've spent enough qualifying hours on the online course?
All students must meet the requirements under PSISA, which mandates a 50-hour course for investigators and 33.5 hours of study for security guards (plus a separate 6.5 hour first aid course) . As a means to stay accountable to those rules, we have put into place a monitoring system to record the time that each student spends logged into the course material. Of course, if you choose to just sit there and stare at the screen that's your business. But then you'll invariably fail the test and the only one you've cheated is yourself. (Note: Time credit is also given for any online workshops that you attend, or pre-recorded webinars you view.)
What equipment would I need to access online meetings?
The online workshops can be accessed via any computer (and also by regular telephone - long distance charges may apply, however). Simply register for any scheduled workshop that you'd like to attend and an invite to join the event will be sent to you. Easy as pie.