How to Become a Private Investigator in Ontario
Do you need a licence?
Licence required
You must be registered with the Ministry of the Solicitor General to work as a private investigator in Ontario or to use a protected title.
- Protected titles
- private investigator
Show the source
“You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario.”
From ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi..., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Licence required See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 2 steps
- Trained outside Canada: no separate route
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
-
Show that you meet the age, work eligibility, criminal record and check requirements.
Source
“Prove that you: are 18 years old or older are legally entitled to work in Canada have a clean criminal record”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi... -
Complete the mandatory basic training and get an Ontario training completion number from your training provider.
Source
“get an Ontario training completion number from your training provider”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi... -
Complete the mandatory testing, using your Ontario Training Completion Number to book your test.
Source
“Complete the mandatory testing for security guards, private investigators or both.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi... -
Submit your testing completion number, mailing address, criminal record check, photo, identification and payment with your application.
Source
“Submit the following with your application: your Ontario testing completion number or out of province licence information your Ontario mailing address your Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 2 done
- 2 steps without a listed fee
-
Include your licence number, type, expiry date, province or territory of issue and a photocopy of your valid licence with your application.
Source
“If you have a valid out-of-province licence, include the following information with your application in addition to the items listed in part 4: licence number, type and expiry date province or territory of issue photocopy of the front and back of your valid licence”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi... -
Source
“all out-of-province applications will be processed within 10 business days once the application is complete.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
No separate route for this group. Source
“You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Licence type change fee: $80 (when changing licence types)
Source
“An $80 fee applies when changing licence types, including from a: security guard to a private investigator licence”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Requirements
Police check
You must have a valid Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check.
Source
“have a valid Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Good character
You must have a clean criminal record, meaning you have not been convicted of listed offences, or have received a pardon or record suspension.
Source
“have a clean criminal record, meaning you: have not been convicted of any offences listed in the Eligibility to Hold a Licence – Clean Criminal Record Regulation”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Other
You must be 18 years old or older.
Source
“are 18 years old or older”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Source
“are legally entitled to work in Canada”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Already licensed in another province?
Direct transfer
Applicants with a valid out-of-province licence from another Canadian province or territory do not need to complete Ontario mandatory training and testing and can apply directly. Source
“You do not need to complete the Ontario mandatory training and testing if you have a valid out-of-province security guard or private investigator licence from another Canadian province or territory.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
Exams
-
mandatory testing
Source
“Complete the mandatory testing for security guards, private investigators or both.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Language tests
No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with Ministry of the Solicitor General
Exemptions: The pages do not state any language test exemptions. Source
“You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Canadian experience
The pages do not state any Canadian experience requirement. Source
“You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Supervised practice
Not required
The pages do not state any supervised practice requirement. Source
“You must have a valid licence to work as a security guard, private investigator or both in Ontario.”
ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi...
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $17.60 | $20.00 | $34.87 | Limited (2 of 5) |
| Canada | $16.55 | $21.00 | $31.45 | — |
Private investigators in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Not confirmed yet
- Alberta Licence required
- Saskatchewan Licence required
- Manitoba Not confirmed yet
- Quebec Licence required
- New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
- Nova Scotia Not confirmed yet
- Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
- Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
- Yukon Not confirmed yet
- Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
- Nunavut Not confirmed yet
Sources checked
- Security guard or private investigator licence (individuals) | ontario.ca ontario.ca/page/security-guard-or-private-investigator-licence-indi... · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a private investigator in Ontario?
Yes. Registration with the Ministry of the Solicitor General is required to practise in Ontario, and to use the title private investigator.
Which exams are required?
mandatory testing.
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