In order to follow anyone legally or conduct private investigations in Ontario, you must be licensed under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act (PSISA), administered by the Private Security and Investigative Services Branch (PSISB) of the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
Minimum legal age required by the PSISA to hold a Private Investigator licence.
Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident, or holder of a valid Work Permit.
No disqualifying convictions, or a pardon received for any prior convictions.
Complete the mandatory Private Investigator Basic Training Course from a Ministry-approved provider. Receive your Course Certificate and Completion Number.
Sit the Private Investigator Test — 60 multiple-choice questions. Minimum passing grade is 77%.
Submit your Ontario Private Investigator licence application. Renewable on your birthday every two years.
First you have to apply to an Investigation Agency. Once hired, a Senior Investigator will provide you with on-the-job training at a training wage. Once your trainer feels you are competent enough to work on your own, you will most likely receive a small raise and be supervised as you take on simple tasks, then more complex cases as you grow.
Salaries vary with experience. New Private Investigators with no prior background typically start on-the-job training at $18 – $20 / hour, learning surveillance, report writing and case procedure. According to Indeed, the average PI salary in Ontario is $22.45 / hour — 7% above the national average. Experienced investigators can earn up to $100,000 / year.
You MUST carry your Private Investigator licence with you at all times when working in the field.
Private Investigators in Ontario are not allowed to carry badges or any other evidence of authority other than their issued licence.
T.R.I.O Investigations partners with Ministry-registered training providers and supports new investigators across Northern and Southern Ontario.