Free practice test

Private Investigator Practice Test

Check what you know about the private investigator job with 15 free questions and instant explanations.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
About this practice test

15 multiple-choice questions on private investigator knowledge, safety and vocabulary. Submit to see your score and explanations, or open any question’s answer as you go. Nothing is saved or shared.

Question 1 of 15Skip tracing is:
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Answer: Locating hard-to-find people. It locates people.

Question 2 of 15Pretexting to get financial records is often:
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Answer: Illegal. Laws prohibit many forms of pretexting.

Question 3 of 15Most states require PIs to:
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Answer: Be licensed. Licensing is common.

Question 4 of 15Good surveillance notes include:
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Answer: Timestamps. Timestamps document activity.

Question 5 of 15The FCRA governs:
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Answer: Consumer reports and background checks. It regulates consumer reports.

Question 6 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act on financial privacy.”
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Answer: GLBA. GLBA: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act on financial privacy.

Question 7 of 15What does “Affidavit” mean?
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Answer: A sworn written statement.. Affidavit: A sworn written statement.

Question 8 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Investigating before a business decision.”
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Answer: Due diligence. Due diligence: Investigating before a business decision.

Question 9 of 15What does “FCRA” mean?
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Answer: Fair Credit Reporting Act.. FCRA: Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Question 10 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Locating someone who is hard to find.”
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Answer: Skip trace. Skip trace: Locating someone who is hard to find.

Question 11 of 15What does “Public records” mean?
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Answer: Records available to the public, such as court files.. Public records: Records available to the public, such as court files.

Question 12 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Watching and recording a subject’s activities.”
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Answer: Surveillance. Surveillance: Watching and recording a subject’s activities.

Question 13 of 15What does “Background check” mean?
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Answer: Researching a person’s history.. Background check: Researching a person’s history.

Question 14 of 15Which term matches this definition: “Tracking evidence handling.”
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Answer: Chain of custody. Chain of custody: Tracking evidence handling.

Question 15 of 15What does “Retainer” mean?
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Answer: Advance payment for services.. Retainer: Advance payment for services.

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