Alberta PI License study guide
Alberta PI License · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
This page is a study resource for people preparing for the Alberta Private Investigator Licence examination. It is an independent preparation aid and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Government of Alberta. The Alberta PI License study guide has 4 sections and about 1,662 words.
01Alberta Legislation and Regulation Governing Private Investigation
Private investigation in Alberta is regulated chiefly through the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act and its regulations, administered by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General. A candidate must know that the province licenses both individuals and agencies , that investigators must carry their licence while working, and that a licence is tied to the licensee's conduct, not merely to employment.
355 words, about 2 min02Investigative Techniques: Planning, Interviews, Surveillance and Open-Source Work
Sound investigation begins with a scoped retainer: what question must be answered, what is the lawful basis for each step, and what will not be done. Candidates should understand evidence-led planning - identify the allegation, list the facts needed to prove or disprove it, then choose the least intrusive technique that will yield them.
334 words, about 2 min03Evidence Handling and Documentation
Evidence is only as good as the record showing who had it and what happened to it. Candidates must understand chain of custody : a contemporaneous, signed log recording each transfer, the date and time, the purpose, and the condition of the item.
349 words, about 2 min04Legal Powers, Limits and Ethical Conduct
An Alberta investigator's authority is the same as any citizen's, plus whatever the client's lawful instructions permit on the client's own property. There is no power to arrest except the limited citizen's arrest in narrow circumstances, no power to search, no power to compel answers, and no power to detain.
624 words, about 3 min