Private Investigative Licensing
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See State Licensing
Requirements |
Is it necessary to have
a Private Investigator license?
You DO NOT
Need a Private Investigator License
to work in a Private Investigative firm under the owner's license. You can still
earn $20-$40 per hour, while meeting your state's mandatory requirements.
See all state private investigative license requirements.
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You can conduct the same interesting
assignments that a licensed Private Investigator does.
ALL under the direct supervision of a licensed
Private Investigator.
- Surveillances
- Background Checks
- Undercover Assignments
- Insurance Fraud
- Testifying in Court
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Without a Private Investigator's
license, YOU CAN work as an investigator in a private organization:
- Insurance Investigator
- Corporate Investigator
- Legal Investigator in a law firm
- Process Server serving legal papers
- Accomplish Internet database research
- Install hidden video cameras
- Conduct surveillance
- Find missing persons
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You DO NEED a Private Investigator's
License to:
- Operate your own PI firm
- Subcontract your services to other PIs
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Alabama
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
Currently there is no PI licensing requirement in Alabama, although some cities,
such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own requirements. A state business
license is required to operate any business in Alabama.
Alabama Department of Revenue |
State
Law
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Alaska
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
There is no PI licensing requirement in Alaska, although some cities, such as
Fairbanks, have their own requirements. A state business license is required to
operate any business in Alaska.
Fairbanks City Licensing |
State Law |
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Arizona
Arizona investigators must be licensed. The Arizona Department of Public
Safety regulates and licenses Investigators in Arizona.
Arizona Department of Public
Safety |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Arkansas
Arkansas investigators must be licensed. The Arkansas Private Investigators
and Private Security Agencies Act designates the Arkansas State Police as an
administering agency to regulate private investigators, private security
agencies and individuals or businesses offering security or investigative
services.
Arkansas State Police - License Requirements |
State Law |
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California
California investigators must be licensed. According to the State of
California, The Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Security and
Investigative Services regulate private investigator licensing in California.
California
Department of Consumer Affairs |
Requirements for
License |
State Law |
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Colorado
Colorado has no state licensing requirements for private investigators. The
Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado offers information on
training and other resources for this profession.
Colorado Department of Regulatory
Agencies |
Sate
Law |
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Connecticut
Connecticut investigators must be licensed. Connecticut Public Act # 04-192
requires that any person or firm wishing to conduct business as a Private
Detective Service in this state, must first obtain a professional license from
the Commissioner of Public Safety. Guidelines for obtaining the license,
eligibility criteria, and applicable license fees are detailed in the statute.
Private Detective services are also required to register all employees working
as investigators under their license.
Connecticut Dept. Public Safety - License Requirements |
State Law |
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Delaware
Delaware investigators must be licensed. All persons who wish to work as a
private investigator, security service contractor, security guard, armored car
guard or be in business as an investigations company, guard company, armored car
company, and courier company is required to apply for a license from the
Detective Licensing Unit, Division of State Police.
Delaware Licensing Requirements
|
State Law |
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Florida
Florida investigators must be licensed. Private investigators are regulated
and licensed through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services.
Florida
License Requirements |
State Law |
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Georgia
Georgia investigators be licensed. The Georgia Board of Private Detective
and Security Agencies regulate the private detective and security businesses.
Private detective businesses and private security companies are required to have
a company license issued by the Board. The private detective employee, must be
registered as an employee with the private detective company.
Georgia Board of Private Detectives - Licensing Requirements |
State Law |
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Hawaii
Hawaii investigators must obtain a license. The Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs regulate the private investigators.
Licensing Area:
Private Detective and Guard |
Licensing Requirements -
FAQ |
State Law |
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Idaho
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
The state of Idaho does not have a license requirement for private
investigators. |
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Illinois
Illinois investigators must be licensed. The Illinois state government
regulates detective licensing through the Division of Professional Regulation.
Illinois Division of
Professional Regulation |
Requirements for License
|
State Law |
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Indiana
Indiana investigators must be licensed. The Indiana state government
regulates detective licensing through the Indiana Private Detective Licensing
Board.
Indiana Private
Detective Licensing Board |
State Law |
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Iowa
Iowa investigators must be licensed. The Iowa Department of Public Safety
regulates private Investigators.
Iowa Department of
Public Safety |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Kansas
Kansas investigators must be licensed. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation
regulates private investigators.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation – Private Detective Licensing |
State Law |
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Kentucky
Kentucky
investigators must be licensed and take an examination . The Kentucky Board of
Licensure for Private Investigators regulates private investigators in Kentucky.
Kentucky Board of Licensure for
Private Investigators |
State Law |
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Louisiana
Louisiana investigators must be licensed. The Louisiana State Board of
Private Investigator Examiners regulates private investigators in Louisiana.
The Louisiana State Board Of Private
Investigator Examiners |
State Law |
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Maine
Maine investigators must be licensed. The Maine State Police, Department of
Public safety regulate the licensing of private investigators, investigative
assistants, and private security companies.
Department
of Public Safety- PI Licensing |
State
Law |
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Maryland
Maryland investigators must be licensed. Private investigator licensing is
regulated by the Maryland State Police.
Maryland State Police - Licensing Division |
State Law |
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts investigators must be licensed. Private Investigators are
regulated by the colonel of the Massachusetts State Police.
Massachusetts State Police |
License Requirements |
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Michigan
Michigan investigators must be licensed. Private Investigators in Michigan
are regulated by The Department of Labor and Economic Growth under the new
Professional Investigator Licensure Act.
Department of Labor and Economic Growth |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Minnesota
Minnesota
investigators must be licensed. Private Investigators in Minnesota are regulated
by The Board of Private Detective & Protective Agent Services.
Board of Private Detective and
Protective Agent Services |
State Law |
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Mississippi
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
There are currently no licensing requirements for Private Investigators in
Mississippi.
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Missouri
Missouri requiring the licensing of private investigators statewide effective
January 30, 2010. The law now requires a written exam, with exclusion for those
with current POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification.
Board of Private Investigator Examiners |
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Montana
Montana investigators are required to be licensed. The Board of Private
Security Patrol Officers and Investigators regulate investigators in Montana.
Montana Board of Private Security and Investigators |
License Requirements |
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Nebraska
Nebraska investigators are required to be licensed. The Nebraska Secretary
of State regulates licensing of private detectives.
Nebraska
Secretary of State - License Requirements |
State Law |
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Nevada
Nevada investigators are required to be licensed. The Nevada Private
Investigator Licensing Board regulates private detectives.
Nevada Private Investigator Licensing
Board |
State Law |
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New Hampshire
An investigator in New Hampshire is required to be licensed. The New
Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Sate Police regulate private
detectives.
Division of Sate Police – Licensing Unit |
Sate Law
*On July 13, 2010 the New Hampshire Private
Detective bill, HB 651, was signed into law and becomes effective January 1,
2011.
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB0651.html |
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New Jersey
An
investigator in New Jersey is required to be licensed. The New Jersey State
Police regulate private detectives.
New
Jersey State Police – Private Detective Unit |
Sate
Law |
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New Mexico
New Mexico investigators are required to be licensed. The New Mexico
Regulation and Licensing Department regulate private detectives.
New
Mexico Regulation and Licensing Division |
State Law |
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New York
New York investigators are required to be licensed and to take an
examination. The New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services
regulate private detective and administers the Private Investigator walk-in
examination.
New York
Department of State Division of Licensing Services |
State Law |
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North Carolina
North Carolina investigators are required to be licensed. The North Carolina
Department of Justice regulates private detectives.
North Carolina Department of Justice |
State Law |
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North Dakota
North Dakota investigators are required to be licensed. The North Dakota
Private Investigation and Security Board regulate private detectives.
North Dakota Private Investigation
Board |
Requirements for License
|
State Law |
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Ohio
Ohio investigators are required to be licensed. The Ohio Department of
Public Safety regulates private detectives.
Ohio Department of
Public Safety - Private Investigator Section |
State Law |
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Oklahoma
Oklahoma investigators are required to be licensed and applicants with no
training must complete Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and
Training CLEET approved and mandated training. CLEET regulate private detectives
in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Council on
Law Enforcement Education and Training |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Oregon
Oregon investigators are required to be licensed and take an examination
through the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
(DPSST). The DPSST regulate private detectives.
State of Oregon: DPSST Private
Security |
State law |
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Pennsylvania
No state licensing - done on the county by
county level.
Pennsylvania investigators are required to be licensed. To become licensed as a
Pennsylvania investigator read the Private Detective Act of 1953. Then, petition
the Court of Common Pleas in the county you reside or have your business.
Private Detective Act of 1953 |
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island investigators are required to be licensed. To apply for a
private detective license in Rhode Island one must contact the local licensing
authority where his/her principal place of business is located.
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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South Carolina
South Carolina investigators are required to be licensed. The South Carolina
Law Enforcement Division of Regulatory Services regulates private detectives.
South Carolina Law
Enforcement Division |
State Law |
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South Dakota
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
There are no licensing requirements for private investigators in South Dakota,
but a business license through Department of Revenue required.
State Revenue Offices |
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Tennessee
Tennessee investigators are required to be licensed. The Tennessee
Department of Commerce & Insurance Private Protective Services Division
regulates private detectives.
Private Protective
Services Division |
Requirements for License |
State Law (Scroll to title 62 chapter 26) |
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Texas
Texas investigators are required to be licensed. The Texas Commission on
Private Security regulates private detectives.
Texas Department of Public Safety –
Private Security Board |
State Law |
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Utah
Utah investigator license is required. The Utah Department of Public Safety
& Law Enforcement Services Bureau of Regulatory Licensing regulates private
detectives.
Utah Department of Public
Safety |
State Law |
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Vermont
Vermont investigators are required to be licensed. The Vermont Board of
Private Investigative and Armed Security Services Office of Professional
Regulation regulate private detectives.
Private Security
Investigative & Security Services |
State Law |
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Virginia
Virginia investigators are required to be licensed. The Virginia Department
of Criminal Justice Services Private Security Section regulates private
detectives.
VA DCJS – Private Security Services
|
State Law |
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Washington
Washington State investigators are required to be licensed. The Washington
Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit regulates private detectives.
Washington State Department of
Licensing |
State Law |
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West Virginia
West Virginia investigators are required to be licensed. West Virginia
Secretary of State Licensing Division (Private Investigator Licensing) regulates
private detectives.
West Virginia
Secretary of State Licensing Division |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Wisconsin
Wisconsin investigators are required to be licensed. The Wisconsin
Department of Regulation & Licensing regulates private detectives.
State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing |
Requirements for License |
State Law |
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Wyoming
NO STATE REQUIREMENT
An investigator in Wyoming is regulated by local jurisdictions.
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