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ArticleFree Private Investigator Practice Test by State 2026: 2,800+ Questions25 min read
Exam Review

Key Facts: TN Private Investigator Exam

70%

Passing Score

PSI Candidate Bulletin

100

Exam Items

PSI Candidate Bulletin

21+

Minimum Age

T.C.A. § 62-26-207

60/40

Law / Practical Split

PSI Candidate Bulletin

2 Hours

Exam Time Limit

PSI Candidate Bulletin

Prepare for the 100-item, 120-minute Tennessee individual Private Investigator exam by prioritizing Tennessee Rules and Laws (60%) while mastering Practical Knowledge (40%). The current passing score is 70%, and the current PSI fee is $140.

Sample TN Private Investigator Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the TN Private Investigator exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 425+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Tennessee agency is responsible for licensing and regulating private investigators in the state?
A.Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
B.Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission
C.Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
D.Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Explanation: The Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission is the state agency specifically tasked with licensing and regulating private investigators and polygraph examiners. This commission sets standards, issues licenses, and handles disciplinary actions for PI professionals in Tennessee.
2What is the minimum age requirement to apply for a private investigator license in Tennessee?
A.18 years old
B.21 years old
C.25 years old
D.There is no minimum age requirement
Explanation: Tennessee requires private investigator applicants to be at least 21 years of age. This is higher than some states that allow licensing at 18. The age requirement helps ensure that applicants have sufficient maturity and life experience for the responsibilities of private investigation work.
3Under Tennessee law, which of the following is considered an invasion of privacy that a PI must avoid?
A.Photographing a subject in a public park
B.Recording a conversation with the consent of one party
C.Using a hidden camera to record inside a subject's home without consent
D.Conducting a public records search on a subject
Explanation: Using a hidden camera to record inside someone's home without consent is a clear invasion of privacy under Tennessee law. Private investigators must respect the reasonable expectation of privacy that individuals have in their homes. Public photography and one-party consent recordings are generally permissible in Tennessee.
4Tennessee is a one-party consent state for recording conversations. What does this mean for private investigators?
A.A PI can record any conversation without anyone's knowledge
B.A PI can record a conversation only if they are a party to it and consent to the recording
C.A PI needs the consent of all parties before recording any conversation
D.A PI can only record conversations with a court order
Explanation: As a one-party consent state, Tennessee allows recording of conversations as long as at least one party to the conversation consents. For a PI, this means they can record conversations they are directly participating in. However, they cannot record conversations between third parties where no party has consented.
5Which of the following best describes the purpose of maintaining a chain of custody for evidence?
A.To increase the monetary value of the evidence
B.To document who handled the evidence and when, ensuring its integrity
C.To determine which court will accept the evidence
D.To ensure the client receives the evidence quickly
Explanation: Chain of custody documentation tracks every person who handled evidence and when, from collection through presentation. This maintains the integrity and admissibility of evidence by proving it was not tampered with or contaminated. A broken chain of custody can result in evidence being excluded from legal proceedings.
6A private investigator conducting surveillance notices the subject entering a medical facility. What is the most appropriate action?
A.Follow the subject inside and take photographs
B.Document the time of entry and exit from the facility exterior
C.Contact the medical facility to obtain the subject's records
D.Abandon surveillance because medical visits are private
Explanation: The most appropriate action is to document the time the subject enters and exits the facility from the exterior. Entering the facility to photograph could violate HIPAA-related privacy expectations, and attempting to obtain medical records without authorization is illegal. Observing and documenting from public areas maintains professional standards.
7What type of surveillance involves an investigator remaining in one location to observe a subject?
A.Mobile surveillance
B.Stationary surveillance
C.Electronic surveillance
D.Aerial surveillance
Explanation: Stationary surveillance, also called a stakeout or fixed-point surveillance, involves the investigator remaining in one position to observe and document a subject's activities. This is contrasted with mobile surveillance where the investigator follows the subject as they move from location to location.
8Under Tennessee's trespass laws, which of the following would constitute criminal trespass for a private investigator?
A.Standing on a public sidewalk and photographing a residence
B.Entering an unlocked private property after being told not to enter
C.Sitting in a parked car on a public street
D.Walking through an open commercial parking lot during business hours
Explanation: Under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-14-405, entering private property after being told not to enter constitutes criminal trespass. Even if the property is unlocked, a verbal or posted warning not to enter makes any unauthorized entry illegal. PIs must respect property boundaries and posted signs.
9Which investigative technique involves locating a person who has moved or is intentionally hiding?
A.Background investigation
B.Skip tracing
C.Asset search
D.Due diligence
Explanation: Skip tracing is the process of locating a person who has 'skipped' or left their known location. This technique uses databases, public records, social media, and other investigative methods to find individuals who have moved, are hiding, or are otherwise difficult to locate. It is commonly used in debt collection, legal service, and missing person cases.
10When conducting a background check, which of the following sources is generally considered the most reliable for verifying employment history?
A.Social media profiles
B.The subject's verbal statements
C.Direct verification with previous employers
D.Online resume databases
Explanation: Direct verification with previous employers is the most reliable source for confirming employment history because it involves getting information from the original source. Social media, verbal statements, and online resumes can contain inaccuracies, exaggerations, or outright fabrications that cannot be verified without employer confirmation.

About the TN Private Investigator Exam

The Tennessee individual Private Investigator examination has two official PSI domains: Practical Knowledge (40 items) and Tennessee Rules and Laws (60 items). Individual applicants must satisfy T.C.A. § 62-26-207, complete the IdentoGO background-check process, pass the exam, and receive the state license; prior investigative experience is not a basic individual-license prerequisite.

Exam sponsor: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance — Detection Services Licensing Program; examination delivered by PSI. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

2 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam / Certification Fees

$140

Exam sponsor website

Reported exam pass rate: N/A. Tennessee and PSI do not publish a current first-attempt pass rate Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

40%

Practical Knowledge

Professional practice, tools, records, locating, interviews, surveillance, case types, evidence, statements, reports, and bookkeeping

60%

Tennessee Rules and Laws

Title 62 Chapter 26, Rules 1175, licensure, apprentices, companies, conduct, privacy, penalties, and related legal restrictions

Preparing for the TN Private Investigator Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours
  • Exam / certification fees: $140 Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 425 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TN Private Investigator: Suggested Study Strategy

1Allocate study time according to the official 60-item Tennessee Rules and Laws and 40-item Practical Knowledge domains
2Distinguish individual, apprentice, and investigations-company requirements
3Use the current PSI bulletin and TDCI pages for fees, identification, renewal, and program procedures
4Apply Tennessee interception, tracking-device, trespass, and professional-conduct rules to scenarios
5Practice objective reporting, source verification, evidence preservation, and safe surveillance decisions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Tennessee private investigator exam cover?

The official PSI outline contains 40 Practical Knowledge items and 60 Tennessee Rules and Laws items.

What are the basic individual-license requirements?

An individual applicant must be at least 21, be a U.S. citizen or resident alien, satisfy the statutory competency, substance-dependence, and good-character provisions, pass the exam, and complete the state application and background-check process.

Who regulates private investigators in Tennessee?

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance administers the Private Investigation program through the Commissioner-run Detection Services Licensing Program.

Is Tennessee a one-party consent state for recording?

Tennessee generally permits recording by a party to the communication or with one party’s prior consent, unless the interception is for a criminal or tortious purpose. A nonparticipant cannot rely on a client’s consent when no consenting party is present.