Washington laws: licensing, conduct and privacy 36
A client asks a Washington investigator to find a former partner. The investigator knows a court order bars the client from contacting that person in a domestic violence matter. What is the investigator's position?RCW 18.165.160(11)
A licensed investigator leaves a Washington agency. How does the agency notify the director?RCW 18.165.130(1)
A Washington armed private investigator fires a gun on duty, away from a supervised range. What must the company do?RCW 18.165.130(3)
A Washington hospital employs a full-time investigator who works only on the hospital's own affairs. Does chapter 18.165 RCW apply?RCW 18.165.020(1)
A Washington investigator fits a car with a shield that makes it look like it belongs to a public law enforcement agency. What does RCW 18.165.150 say?RCW 18.165.150(6)
A Washington investigator secretly records a private conversation in violation of RCW 9.73.030. Can the recording be used in a civil case?RCW 9.73.050
A Washington license expired fourteen months ago and no renewal fee was paid. What is its status?WAC 308-17-160
A Washington licensee is named as a defendant in a criminal complaint. How soon must the private investigator program manager be notified?WAC 308-17-230
Show all 80 questions (72 more)
Washington laws: licensing, conduct and privacy, continued
An agency license applicant in Washington may skip the examination by showing what?RCW 18.165.050(1)
An investigator from another state is on temporary assignment in Washington under that state's license. What may the investigator not do?RCW 18.165.140(3)
An investigator licensed in a state with requirements at least equal to Washington's must cross the state line on cases. For how long may the investigator operate in Washington?RCW 18.165.120
For a Washington agency license, how much work makes "a year's experience"?RCW 18.165.050(1)(b)
How many questions does WAC 308-17-310 give the Washington agency principal examination?WAC 308-17-310(2)
How much preassignment training must each Washington private investigator candidate receive?WAC 308-17-300(2)
How quickly must a Washington public agency respond to a public records request?RCW 42.56.520(1)
How soon after receiving its license certificate must a Washington agency post it in its principal office?RCW 18.165.080(2)(a)
RCW 18.165.030 and 18.165.040 set two minimum ages. Which one goes with the unarmed license?RCW 18.165.030(1)
Under RCW 9.73.030, when is the consent of all parties to a recorded conversation considered obtained?RCW 9.73.030(3)
Under RCW 18.165.010, a "private investigator" is licensed and employed by an agency for investigation and which other services?RCW 18.165.010(11)
What does it take to become a certified preassignment trainer in Washington?WAC 308-17-320
What does Washington law say about a firearm while a licensee is soliciting a client?RCW 18.165.165
What is the offense of performing the duties of a private investigator in Washington without a license?RCW 18.165.150(1)
What is the penalty class for recording a private conversation in violation of RCW 9.73.030?RCW 9.73.080(1)
What liquidated damages may a person injured by a violation of Washington's privacy chapter recover?RCW 9.73.060
What must a Washington private investigator do with the license card while working?RCW 18.165.080(1)
What must every advertisement by a Washington private investigator agency contain?RCW 18.165.080(2)(c)
What score must an applicant reach on the Washington preassignment training test?WAC 308-17-300(3)
What surety bond must a Washington agency license applicant file with the director?RCW 18.165.100(1)
What tie to an agency must an applicant for a Washington private investigator license have?RCW 18.165.030(4)
When does a Washington private investigator's license card expire under WAC 308-17-160?WAC 308-17-160
Which business is exempt from Washington's private investigator chapter?RCW 18.165.020(11)
Which of these does Washington require for an armed private investigator license?RCW 18.165.040(1)
Which statement by a Washington private investigator is unprofessional conduct under RCW 18.165.160?RCW 18.165.160(7)
Which word may not appear in the name of a Washington private investigator company?RCW 18.165.050(3)
Who must own the firearms that Washington armed private investigators carry on duty?RCW 18.165.060(2)
Whose consent does Washington require before a private telephone call is recorded?RCW 9.73.030(1)
Federal laws: privacy, records, credit reports and wiretaps 24
A consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report with no other permissible purpose in which case?15 U.S.C. 1681b(a)(2)
A federal agency holds a company's trade secrets. How does the Freedom of Information Act treat them?5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)
A person causes an investigative consumer report to be prepared on a consumer. How soon must the consumer be told in writing?15 U.S.C. 1681d(a)
A person knowingly and willfully obtains a record about someone from a federal agency under false pretenses. What does the Privacy Act provide?5 U.S.C. 552a(i)(3)
A person knowingly and willfully obtains information on a consumer from a consumer reporting agency under false pretenses. What is the penalty under 15 U.S.C. 1681q?15 U.S.C. 1681q
An agency wrongly withholds records requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Which court may order them produced?5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(B)
Before an employer procures a consumer report for employment purposes, what must the consumer receive?15 U.S.C. 1681b(b)(2)
How long does a federal agency have to decide whether to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request?5 U.S.C. 552(a)(6)(A)
How long does a person have to bring a civil action under 18 U.S.C. 2520 for unlawful interception?18 U.S.C. 2520(e)
In a civil suit for unlawful interception under 18 U.S.C. 2520, what statutory damages may the court award?18 U.S.C. 2520(c)
Most adverse items, other than criminal convictions, may not appear in a consumer report once they are how old?15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)
Under the federal Privacy Act, when may an agency disclose a record about an individual from a system of records, absent a listed exception?5 U.S.C. 552a(b)
Under the federal wiretap statute, when may a private person lawfully record a telephone call?18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(d)
Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, what must a financial institution have given a consumer before it discloses nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party?15 U.S.C. 6802(a)
What does 18 U.S.C. 2515 say about a wire or oral communication intercepted in violation of the federal wiretap chapter?18 U.S.C. 2515
What is "nonpublic personal information" under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act?15 U.S.C. 6809(4)
What is the "opt out" that 15 U.S.C. 6802(b) gives a bank customer?15 U.S.C. 6802(b)
What is the general criminal penalty for unlawfully intercepting a wire, oral or electronic communication under 18 U.S.C. 2511?18 U.S.C. 2511(4)(a)
What must each agency allow an individual to do with the individual's own record under the federal Privacy Act?5 U.S.C. 552a(d)
When does a report on a person become an "investigative" one under 15 U.S.C. 1681a(e)?15 U.S.C. 1681a(e)
Which of these is one of the Freedom of Information Act's listed exemptions?5 U.S.C. 552(b)(9)
Which reason for wanting a credit file does 15 U.S.C. 1681b(a)(3) accept?15 U.S.C. 1681b(a)(3)
Which records does the Freedom of Information Act exempt to protect personal privacy?5 U.S.C. 552(b)(6)
Who is an "individual" protected by the federal Privacy Act?5 U.S.C. 552a(a)(2)
Court systems: federal and state 6
Chapter 35.20 RCW creates a municipal court in each incorporated city of what size?RCW 35.20.010(1)
For a federal district court to hear a civil case between citizens of different states, how much must be in controversy?28 U.S.C. 1332(a)
Under 28 U.S.C. 1, of whom does the highest federal court consist?28 U.S.C. 1
Up to what value of claim does a Washington district court have civil jurisdiction, for each claimant?RCW 3.66.020
Which claims may no state court hear, under 28 U.S.C. 1338?28 U.S.C. 1338(a)
Which Washington court has original jurisdiction in all criminal cases amounting to felony, and in probate and divorce?RCW 2.08.010
Legal procedures and definitions 8
A person knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a building. Which Washington offense is that?RCW 9A.52.070
A person pretends to be a public servant and acts in that pretended capacity with intent to defraud. What is the Washington offense?RCW 9A.60.040
How long after it is committed may a Washington misdemeanor be prosecuted?RCW 9A.04.080(1)
Under RCW 5.60.060, when may an attorney be examined about what a client told the attorney in the course of professional employment?RCW 5.60.060(2)
What is the maximum jail term for a gross misdemeanor defined in Title 9A RCW?RCW 9A.20.021(2)
What must a petition for dissolution of marriage in Washington allege about the marriage?RCW 26.09.030
When no special rule applies, how is a summons served on a defendant under RCW 4.28.080?RCW 4.28.080
Within how many years must a Washington action for injury to the person or rights of another, not otherwise listed, be commenced?RCW 4.16.080(2)
Other sources of public information 6
A private investigator's request for a Washington vehicle owner's name and address is granted. What does the disclosing entity then do?RCW 46.12.635(4)
From which office, for a fee set by rule, can a person get a copy of a law, record or other document on file there, or a certificate under seal?RCW 43.07.120(1)
Which information in Washington voter registration files is open to public inspection?RCW 29A.08.710(2)
Which of these does a Washington county recording officer record under RCW 65.04.030?RCW 65.04.030
Which Washington county officer is the recorder of deeds?RCW 36.22.010(1)
Whose duty is it to codify Washington's general and permanent laws into the Revised Code of Washington?RCW 1.08.015(1)
How this list was compiled: Chapter 18.165 RCW, chapter 308-17 WAC, chapter 9.73 RCW and the other Revised Code of Washington sections each question names, read on October 12, 2026 on the Washington State Legislature site (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.165 and https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=308-17); and the federal Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, wiretap chapter, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and Title 28 sections in the United States Code, 2023 edition, on govinfo.gov (U.S. Government Publishing Office). The five topics and their shares follow the study guide on the Washington State Department of Licensing page "Exams: Private investigators" (https://dol.wa.gov/professional-licenses/private-investigators/exams-private-investigators) and WAC 308-17-310. Each question names its section and links to it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the law. Nothing comes from the Department of Licensing examination, a preassignment training test, a training class or a prep publisher.
How it works
This unofficial Washington State private investigator license practice test follows the Department of Licensing study guide: 80 of our own questions on state laws, federal laws, court systems, legal definitions and public records. Not affiliated with the Washington State Department of Licensing.
Read the full guide
Washington State private investigator practice test: which exam this is
The department's examination is for agency principals and certified trainers. An unarmed investigator instead takes four hours of preassignment training and a test that a certified trainer verifies, on the topics of WAC 308-17-300, which this bank also covers.
How the questions are spread
The study guide gives state laws 45%, federal laws 30%, court systems 7.5%, legal procedures and definitions 10% and other public information 7.5%. The 80 questions keep those shares.
What is left out
Court decisions, legal dictionary terms and investigative technique are not asked. Every answer was read in its statute or rule on October 12, 2026.
Washington requires the consent of all participants before a private conversation is recorded (RCW 9.73.030).
Carry the license card whenever you work, and show it on request (RCW 18.165.080).
A company name may not include the word "police" (RCW 18.165.050).
Questions and answers
How many questions are on the Washington private investigator exam?
75, under WAC 308-17-310. The Department of Licensing says you must answer 85% correctly to pass. Exam mode here uses both numbers. The department publishes no time limit.
Who has to take the Washington private investigator exam?
Applicants for a certified trainer license must pass it. An applicant for an agency principal license may pass it or show three years of investigative experience instead (RCW 18.165.050).
What happens if you fail the Washington private investigator exam?
The department says a new exam can be booked 7 business days after the previous one, as many times as you like, with a re-exam fee each time. WAC 308-17-150 lists the reexamination fee as $25.
How is the Washington private investigator exam given?
Online. After you apply, the department emails to schedule the exam and, on the day, emails a link to take it. It says results come by call or email about 10 business days later.
What do you need for a Washington private investigator license?
Be at least eighteen, be a citizen or resident noncitizen, submit fingerprints, and be employed by or have an offer from a licensed agency (RCW 18.165.030). Preassignment training and its test come first (WAC 308-17-300).