Sample Questions
Free Sample Exam Questions
Here are a few sample questions directly from our complete 130-question bank:
Sample Question 1
Under the British Columbia Security Services Act, which regulatory authority is directly responsible for issuing and administering private investigator licences?
- The Registrar of Security Services, within the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General ✓
- The Law Society of British Columbia through its special regulatory legal discipline investigation board
- The Insurance Council of British Columbia licensing division and professional conduct oversight panel
- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police E Division operational criminal investigations branch command unit
Explanation: The Registrar of Security Services, appointed by the minister under s. 49 of the Security Services Act, issues and administers security worker and security business licences, including private investigator licences. The licensing office is the Security Programs Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Sample Question 2
For a full (not under supervision) private investigator licence in British Columbia, what work experience must the applicant document under the Registrar's published requirements?
- The training alone (the PSKN course and exam), with no documented work experience
- 2,000 hours of private investigation work within the last 5 years, documented by employer or client letters ✓
- Two full years of employment with a licensed security guard business, confirmed by the employer
- 1,000 hours of private investigation work within the last 10 years, confirmed by a police reference
Explanation: The Security Services Regulation (s. 3(6)) requires two years' experience as, or providing the services of, a private investigator plus courses in evidence gathering and presentation and in relevant criminal and civil law, or equivalent experience. The BC government's published requirement for a full licence is 2,000 hours of private investigation work within the last 5 years, documented by employer or client letters, together with the training (the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and exam, or equivalent BC courses). A licence "under supervision" needs the training only.
Sample Question 3
Under section 12(3)(b) of the BC Security Services Regulation, what is the rule on identification badges for a licensed private investigator?
- Plastic badges may be carried provided they do not display the provincial crest
- A visible identification badge must be worn when interviewing witnesses
- No identification badge may be carried or used while engaged in security work ✓
- A badge may be displayed when serving court documents
Explanation: Section 12(3)(b) of the Regulation says a security worker licensee must not, while engaged in security work, carry or use an identification badge. The licence itself (carried and produced under Act s. 8) is the investigator's identification.
Sample Question 4
Under section 12(4) of the BC Security Services Regulation, what rule governs the wearing of uniforms by licensed private investigators?
- Private investigators must wear a standardized tactical uniform during high-risk mobile surveillance
- Private investigators may wear uniforms if clearly labeled with their agency business registry name
- Private investigators must wear corporate uniforms whenever conducting formal interviews in retail malls
- Private investigators are legally prohibited from wearing any uniform while acting as an investigator ✓
Explanation: Section 12(4) of the Regulation says a security worker licensee must not wear a uniform while engaged in the work of a private investigator. (Uniform rules for security guards are in s. 12(2).)
Frequently Asked Questions
Exam FAQs
Is this BC private investigator practice test free?
Yes — 100% free practice exams for the BC Introduction to Private Investigation (IPI) licensing test.
What experience does BC require for a full private investigator licence?
The Registrar's published requirement is 2,000 hours of private investigation work within the last 5 years, documented by employer or client letters, plus the training (the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and exam, or equivalent BC courses). The Security Services Regulation (s. 3(6)) states it as two years' experience plus courses in evidence gathering and in relevant criminal and civil law.
Do private investigators have police powers in British Columbia?
No — private investigators are private citizens with no special police search or arrest powers. They have only the arrest power that Criminal Code section 494 gives to anyone.
Is one-party consent legal for audio recording in Canada?
Yes — under Criminal Code section 184(2)(a), a participant in a conversation may legally record it without notifying the other parties.
Can private investigators carry an identification badge or wear a uniform in BC?
No — a security worker licensee must not carry or use an identification badge while engaged in security work (Security Services Regulation s. 12(3)(b)) and must not wear a uniform while engaged in the work of a private investigator (s. 12(4)).