How to Become a Private Investigator in Alberta (Licence + Training)

If you want to work as a private investigator in Alberta, the path is pretty straightforward:

1. Meet the eligibility requirements

2. Complete an approved training course

3. Pass the provincial exam

4. Apply for your investigator licence

This guide walks you through each step, what the work actually looks like, and what to expect once you’re licensed.

What does a private investigator do in Alberta?

Private investigators (also called “in-house investigators” in some workplaces) are hired to collect information and document facts. In Alberta, that typically means work like:

• Investigating accidents and personal injury claims

• Looking into damaged or stolen property

• Locating people or confirming whereabouts

• Doing background and due-diligence checks

• Documenting incidents for insurers, employers, lawyers, or private clients

Day-to-day, the work often includes interviews, surveillance, taking statements, and researching records and reports.

Good investigators are methodical, calm, and excellent at documentation. A big part of the job is writing clear notes and reports that can stand up to scrutiny later.

Private investigator vs security guard: what’s the difference?

Both roles fall under Alberta’s Security Programs system, but they’re not the same job.

• Security guards are typically focused on presence, deterrence, access control, and incident response.

• Private investigators are focused on gathering information and producing documentation (often for decisions, claims, or legal processes).

Some people hold both licences (or start as a guard and later move into investigations), but the training and licensing steps are specific to the investigator role.

Eligibility requirements in Alberta

To apply for an investigator licence in Alberta, you must:

• Be at least 18

• Be eligible to work in Canada

• Be fluent in English (Alberta uses a specific standard — Canadian Language Benchmarks level 5)

• Have no criminal record

• Have no outstanding criminal charges

• Not be the subject of a criminal investigation

If you’re unsure about your situation, it’s smarter to sort that out early before you pay for training.

Step 1: Take an approved investigator training course

Alberta requires that all investigators successfully complete an approved training course and then pass the provincial final exam with 80% or higher.

Alberta lists two approved course options:

• Alberta Professional Investigator Training Course, or

• Accredited Investigator Training Course (AIT)

And the course must be taken through an approved training provider (Alberta publishes a provider list).

What you’ll learn in investigator training

Most approved programs cover the practical training you’ll actually use on the job, like:

• Professionalism and ethics

• Privacy and legal boundaries

• Investigative planning and file management

• Interviewing and statement-taking

• Surveillance basics and documentation

• Report writing and note-taking

  
  

Step 2: Pass the provincial investigator exam

After training, you’ll write the provincial exam with a proctor (online or in-person depending on the provider). You need 80%+ to pass.

Once you pass, you’ll receive your training certificate by mail within about a week.

Step 3: Get the required police information checks

Before you submit your licence application, Alberta requires all three of the following (no exceptions):

• Criminal record check

• Vulnerable sector search

• Local police database search

  
  

NOTE: these documents expire 90 days after issue, so don’t do them months in advance.

Step 4: Apply for your investigator licence

Alberta’s investigator licence:

• Costs $160

• Is valid for 2 years

  
  

You can apply either:

• In person at a registry agent that offers Security Programs licensing services, or

• By mail to Security Programs (Government of Alberta)

  
  

If approved, Alberta issues a temporary licence valid for 60 days while you wait for your card.

Can private investigators carry a baton in Alberta?

Sometimes people ask this because they’re crossing over from guard work.

Baton carry requires:

• Employer approval, plus

• An approved 40-hour baton use-of-force training course, plus

• Submitting that certificate with your application

In practice: most investigation work is about staying low-profile and staying out of physical situations. If you’re expecting “hands-on” work, you’re thinking more along the lines of security guard roles, not investigations.

What kind of jobs can you get as a new investigator?

A lot of new investigators start in areas like:

• Insurance investigations

• Workplace or internal investigations (in-house)

• Loss prevention–adjacent investigations

• Locating people / skip tracing support

• Background checks and due diligence support

  
  

The fastest way to get hired is to be reliable at the unsexy stuff: notes, timelines, clean reports, and staying professional when someone is frustrated or lying to your face.

Training with Tip of Spear

Tip of Spear offers the Alberta Investigators Training (AIT) course online, built to meet Alberta’s approved training requirement and prepare you for the provincial exam.

If you want to move quickly, the simplest plan is:

1. Register for AIT

2. Complete the modules

3. Write the proctored provincial exam

4. Submit your licence application with the required checks

   
   

FAQ

How long does it take to become a private investigator in Alberta?

Training is commonly delivered as a 60-hour program, then you book the exam and complete your records checks and application. The exact timeline depends on how quickly you study and how fast your checks come back.

Do I need a licence to work as a private investigator in Alberta?

Yes. Alberta requires licensing to work as a private or in-house investigator.

What do I need to pass the Alberta investigator exam?

You must complete an approved course and score 80% or higher on the provincial exam.

What police checks are required for the licence?

Alberta requires a criminal record check, vulnerable sector search, and local police database search.