Video: Over the years and even in 2024, our clients who have passed and failed the California PI exam have provided input on what additional information we should include in our 2017 book (The California Legal Investigator). The overwhelming response is "go more in detail on the Investigator-client privilege." If you want some additional information that will help you pass the California Private Investigator (PI) Exam, watch our video on the Chapter 26 update.
We offer study material to help you pass the California PI Exam. The study material we offer is our (2017) book, The California Legal Investigator: A Book on Investigative Methods for Investigators Without Law Enforcement Authority and Managing a California-Based Private Investigations Agency. The book features a 150-question final exam with many answer explanations, and it's usually ranked in the Top 100 Best Sellers in the Legal Services Section. You may purchase the book on Amazon.com. Click on the "Buy Now" button to read the reviews or to purchase the book.
About our study material...
Our book is based on extensive review of hundreds of pages of civil codes, criminal codes, procedural codes, evidence codes, business and professions codes, discussions with other professionals, and the study outline provided to all exam takers. Best of all, the author is a licensed private investigator and he passed the state exam on the first try. Our product is based on the techniques and knowledge he used to pass!
We emphasize that no practice exam (including the one we have in our book) will cover the state exam completely (unless it was obtained illegally). Our company is based on integrity so none of our questions should be on the state exam. If you are looking for something exactly like the state exam, go find another vendor. We have plenty of clients who are willing to pass the exam through hard work and good study efforts.
However, if you want to become one of our hundreds of clients who have passed the state exam, you must be able to know the law and techniques used in our industry and apply this knowledge to any fact pattern presented on the exam. Roughly 95% of our clients have passed using our advice and our study material.
HERE IS WHAT OUR BOOK COVERS:
Traffic Collision Investigation
The traffic collision investigation portion of our exam covers how to investigate (privately) traffic collisions and evidence collection (for example: what do you do if you find a piece of evidence at the scene?).
Evidence Code and Recording Issues
We cover the general rules and theories of evidence such as probative value, admissibility of evidence, witnesses, and privileges), interviews declarations, affidavits, and audio recording issues.
Private and Public Records
We cover the collection of public and private records: UCC financing statements and records held by the Secretary of State, City Clerk, County Clerk, County Recorder, and County Registrar.
We also cover the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), Fair Credit Reporting Act, California Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act, and background checks.
When you qualify to sit for the PI exam, the state will send you their 200+ page book on the Business and Professions Code. How well did you read the book? How will you gauge your knowledge on the material? Let us test you (on the relevant sections)!
Evidence Collection
Do you know how to properly collect soil evidence? Paint chips from a traffic collision? How about the filament in a headlamp? Do you know how to properly take photos of a scene? If you’re not 100% sure, try the Evidence Collection portion of our exam.
Polygraphs and Lie Detectors
The Polygraphs and Lie Detectors part of our exam covers questions involving California and Federal law on the permissible use of these types of machines. When can you polygraph someone? Do you know if polygraphs or lie detector machines can be used in a criminal trial? How about a civil trial? Is a voice stress analyzer a lie detector machine? What does California law say about this? Don’t wait until the state exam to answer these questions!
Process Serving
Do you know how to serve a summons on a corporation? How do you serve process on a minor? Can you sub-serve a subpoena? How do you serve a person who is evasive?
Surveillance Techniques
Here, we will cover questions pertaining to pre-surveillance activities, surveillance methods, and legal considerations.
Miscellaneous
The miscellaneous section of our exam is one of the most important sections and the most revised. This section covers narrow issues that do not fall into our broad categories (i.e. information disclosure, court room procedures, and legal definitions).
Final Exam
In the Private Investigator Final Practice Exam at the end of our book, we gathered 150 questions from our question base. On most of the questions, we've changed a fact, changed the sequence of answer choices, deleted some answer choices, or some questions we've left as-is. The changes are very subtle, but significant! At least 95% of those who are able to pass the Final Practice Exam under test-like conditions on the first attempt, go on to pass the state exam.
1. After I submit my application to BSIS, will I be given study materials?
We have nothing to hide. The answer is yes, but the study materials offered and suggested by California will not, based on our experience, help you pass the state private investigator exam.
The State will give you the following for free and/or suggest the following:
A. Candidate Information Bulletin (Updated 2022) - focus on Page 10 and 11
B. Table 16 – Examination Outline for the Private Investigator Qualified Manager Examination.
C. Links from the Candidate Information Bulletin regarding California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services Laws and Regulations containing hundreds of BPC sections from Chapter 11.3 - Private Investigators:
2. Are you affiliated with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS)?
No and I would never consider working for them. My product or service has not been approved or endorsed by any government agency and my products or service is not being made by an agency of the government (BPC Section 17533.6).
3. I'm going to take the California Private Investigator Exam. What type of study materials do you have?
Your best option is to purchase our book, The California Legal Investigator. The book is offered in soft cover.
4. Do you have any classes available?
Unfortunately we do not, however we have plans in the next five years to begin offering live and online courses.
5. Why are your products so expensive?
Just like any other business, we operate under the rules of supply and demand -- our demand is high and product is invaluable.
6. Why should I trust you?
We are the only company that has a current (off-duty) full-time police officer as the owner-operator. Any accusation of fraud/misconduct puts Shaun's 21-year law enforcement career at stake. Shaun is also a licensed private investigator, and any untruthful act can be reported to the authorities.
If you ever feel you were "ripped off" by us, you can always contact us and we will work with you to remedy the situation. If you are still not satisfied, they're are plenty of links on our webpage to Facebook, Linkedin, Yelp!, and TrustLink (BBB affiliate). On those webpages, feel free to post something negative. In four years of business, no one has felt the need to post something negative about us (not even on Amazon.com). Also, we had roughly 1,000 clients (PPO/PI) over the past 14 years, and only 7 have requested refunds (all refunds were honored).
7. Do you offer a pass guarantee?
Let's be realistic. No one can guarantee you'll pass the state exam. Not everyone passes this difficult exam, but having the right material is one step closer to passing.
Please note that if your experience was limited to surveillance operations and you have minimal training/education with the "book version" of PI work, the exam might be a little challenging since only 4% of the state exam covers surveillance operations. There is no book or practice material that can substitute for experience, so study/learn accordingly!
8. Do you offer insurance policies for private investigators (PI) or private patrol operators?
Some insurance companies are suspected of taking advantage of the new BSIS insurance laws. For these reasons, we get a lot of requests for legitimate insurance providers. Unfortunately, we do not endorse any vendor.
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