PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR COURSE
Private Investigator
Are you interested in becoming a Private Investigator? In Ontario, it’s possible to begin your journey by completing a 50-hour online only training through a Ministry-approved partner.
Coast2Coast First Aid & Aquatics has recently partnered with a great security training company that offers various courses including Private Investigator training. This in-depth training course will provide students a solid understanding of what a Private Investigator is, what their duties will be and so much more!
In Canada, Private Investigators (PIs) are regulated and licensed by Provincial Ministries. In Ontario licenses are issued by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. They must adhere to a Code of Ethics and complete an approved training course.
If this sounds like the career for you, get registered for a Private Investigator training course today!
Private Investigator Course Detail
| Online Training: | ~50 hours |
| Course Content: | Introduction to the Private Investigation Industry Private Security & Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA) Provincial & Federal Statutes Criminal & Civil Law Investigative Techniques Principles of Ethical Reasoning / Decision Making Key Principles of Communication & Interaction Investigation Specializations |
| Requirements: | Possess a clean criminal record 18 years or older Eligible to work in Canada |
| Training Completion: | Training Completion Numbers provided within 24 hours of course completion |
How to Register for Private Investigator Training:
Training to become a Private Investigator in Ontario is simple. You must meet the basic requirements, including age, work eligibility, language proficiency, etc. Furthermore, the training must be from a government-approved PI course such as the course through our Ministry-approved training partner.
Why Should You Take a Private Investigator Course?
Private Investigation is a great standalone career in the security industry which will allow you to take on multiple jobs. Students who complete Private Investigator training may also be interested in taking Security Guard training as well.
Private Investigators are issued licenses by their respective Provinces. Provincial regulations govern how PIs can operate if a case requires inter provincial investigation or if a PI permanently moves to another province.
Working as a Private Investigator will not make you an officer of the law, but will give you the opportunity to work in the federal and provincial statutes of the industry. If you are ethical, anti-discriminatory and have self-management skills, becoming a PI may be the right job for you!
What Type of Job can a Private Investigator get?
Some Private Investigators specialize and spend most of their time working on a particular area of expertise. Others prefer to work in a variety of cases. Some specialized areas of investigation are:
- Missing persons
- Workplace health and safety
- Workplace misconduct
- Environmental incidents
- Insurance (casualty, property, recovery, life, health)
- Corporate (intellectual property (IP), due diligence, financial background, theft, data theft)
- Legal (civil & criminal): litigation support, estate law, commercial law
- Intellectual property (piracy, copyright, patent, trademark, Mareva injunctions, Anton Piller orders)
Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005 (PSISA) (what is it and why is it important?)
The Private Security and Investigative Services Act (PSISA) of 2005, enacted by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS), defines security-related careers’ legal and regulatory framework. Private Investigators have a professional code of conduct they must adhere to. Besides carrying their license at all times, they must treat public members respectfully, showing their license when asked.
Other licensing conditions include a clean criminal record, meeting the age requirement of 18 years and older, and being entitled to work in Canada. There are hefty fines or imprisonment for contravening the Act.
Provincial vs. Federal Statues
Despite being provincial, the legislation surrounding private law enforcement is similar in each region. Local laws define the requirements for licensing several types of private activities. Private investigation agencies must also meet specific needs, including paying mandatory insurance coverage, proper record-keeping according to the provincial guidelines, and professional standards compliance.
Balancing Criminal and Civil Law Regulations
There are certain things Private Investigators can do and others they can’t. They must balance these with criminal and civil law regulations.
The police are public officers working for the government or local levels. When public members report a crime, the police must investigate criminal activities and identify the perpetrators. They then lay charges according to the offense and evidence found, and the suspect faces trial and sentencing accordingly.
On the other hand, Private Investigators are called to investigate non-criminal civil or private matters. These are often complex and diverse investigations, including gathering evidence for accidents and disabilities. PIs are often hired to find missing people and conduct domestic investigations for divorce cases or when child abuse or neglect are suspected. Other examples of civil law investigations PIs work on are corporate financial irregularities or due diligence.
Working Together with the Police
Private Investigators work within the law. This requires a good understanding of the laws surrounding furtive interception of private communications and the importance of never committing Criminal Harassment or Mischief. Other laws private investigators must adhere to include privacy laws, legally accessing information, and knowing the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
They must adhere to provincial laws and follow the correct protocol for entering premises as ruled by Trespass to property legislation. They must also understand occupier liability law, occupational health and safety legislation, the Canada Evidence Act, and provincial evidence legislation. Knowledge of all the above laws assists private investigators in performing their duties while balancing the criminal and civil law regulations.
Most importantly, Private Investigators in Ontario cannot impersonate a police officer, carry a badge, wear a uniform or say anything implying they are a federal agent or police officer. Furthermore, they cannot legally arrest anybody but should contact law enforcement if they have evidence.
Private Investigator Techniques
Private investigators use several techniques to survey and research a case and gather evidence.
These include:
- Performing background checks
- Locating witnesses and getting statements
- Video and audio surveillance
- Taking photographs
- Making personal observations
- Searches on public databases, libraries, and the internet to gather information
- Searching divorce, bankruptcy, and land registry records
Surveillance requires working all hours, day or night, and at different locations.
Why Ethics are Important as a Private Investigator
Besides meeting the licensing requirements and not acting as police officers, Private Investigators have a strict code of conduct from the PSISA that defines appropriate and inappropriate behavior. These include being professional, respectful, and acting in a non-discriminatory way to everyone. It is easy to be biased in certain situations, but as a Private Investigator, you must know how to work past this while investigating. These ethics include honesty and integrity and are essential because it helps you maintain an excellent reputation as a Private Investigator, ensuring professional success.
Communication and Interaction
Private investigators need excellent communication and listening skills when conducting investigative work and dealing with clients. Interaction is essential because they need to convey vital information to clients clearly and understandably.
Self-Management for Private Investigators
Depending on the type of Private Investigative work you are doing, you will need to have self-management skills to regulate yourself. Not only will self-management teach you how to be responsible as a PI, but it will also teach you how to work individually or as a team.
How long is my Private Investigator Certificate valid for?
Private investigator licenses are renewable every two years, expiring two birthdays after the day issued. Remember to renew yours at least 30 days before expiry to avoid issues. The application requires the same documents used for a new license.