PI Licensing
 | Currently there is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alabama, although some cities, such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alabama.Alabama Department of RevenueState LawBecome a Private Investigator |
 | There is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alaska, although some cities, such as Fairbanks, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska. |
 | An investigator in Arizona must be licensed. The Arizona Department of Public Safety regulates and licenses Investigators in Arizona. |
 | An investigator in Arkansas 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. |
 | An Investigator in California 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. |
 | While there are no state licensing requirements for private investigators, an individual is still subject to applicable laws related to repossession and/or collection services.The Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado offers information on training and other resources for this profession. |
 | An investigator in Connecticut 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. The Special Licensing & Firearms Unit (SLFU) is responsible for processing the license applications and employee registrations, as well as investigating complaints concerning violations of the license statutes. |
 | An investigator in Delaware 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. No one can be issued a license without a criminal background report from the State Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation |
 | An investigator in Florida must be licensed. Private investigators are regulated and licensed through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. |
 | An investigator in Georgia must 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, armed or unarmed, must be registered as an employee with the private detective company and have completed the required pre-license training from an approved Georgia private investigator school. Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies Georgia Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Hawaii must obtain a license. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs regulate the private investigators. Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs – Licensing Area: Private Detective and Guard State Law (scroll down to Chapter 463) |
 | The state of Idaho does not have a license requirement for private investigators. |
 | An investigator in Illinois must be licensed. The Illinois state government regulates detective licensing through the Division of Professional Regulation.Illinois Division of Professional RegulationState Law |
 | An investigator in Indiana must be licensed. The Indiana state government regulates detective licensing through the Indiana Private Detective Licensing Board.Indiana Private Detective Licensing Board State Law |
 | An investigator in Iowa must be licensed. The Iowa Department of Public Safety regulates private Investigators.Iowa Department of Public SafetyState LawIowa Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Kansas must be licensed. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation regulates private investigators. Kansas Bureau of Investigation – Private Detective Licensing Kansas Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator must be licensed and must take an examination in the State of Kentucky. The Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators regulates private investigators in Kentucky. Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators Kentucky Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Louisiana must be licensed. The Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners regulates private investigators in Louisiana. The Louisiana State Board Of Private Investigator Examiners Louisiana Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Maine 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- Maine State Police – Professional Licensing |
 | An investigator in the state of Maryland must be licensed. Private investigator licensing is regulated by the Maryland State Police. |
 | An investigator in Massachusetts must be licensed. Private Investigators are regulated by the colonel of the Massachusetts State Police. |
 | An investigator in Michigan must be licensed. Private Investigators in Michigan are regulated by The Department of Labor and Economic Growth under the new Professional Investigator Licensure Act. |
 | An investigator in Minnesota 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 Minnesota Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | There are currently no licensing requirements for Private Investigators in Mississippi.Private Investigator Training and Courses |
 | On August 28, 2007 a bill was signed into law in Missouri requiring the licensing of private investigators statewide. The law now requires a written exam, with exclusion for those with current POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certification. The law also requires background checks, fingerprinting, and submission of documentation and photograph, $250,000 general liability insurance. While the law is in effect, the state’s website says it has not yet appointed the licensing board members and does not anticipate doing so until the legislative session of 2008. It also indicates that it will not begin enforcing the new licensing requirement until January 2009. For More information Contact: Department of Labor and Board of Private Investigator Examiners 3605 Missouri BoulevardP.O. Box 1335 Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335 573.522.7744 Telephone 573.751.0878 Fax 800.735.2966 TTY 800.735.2466 Voice Relay |
 | An investigator in Montana is required to be licensed. The Board of Private Security Patrol Officers and Investigators regulate investigators in Montana. Montana DLI – Board of Private Security Officers and Investigators |
 | An investigator in Nebraska is required to be licensed. The Nebraska Secretary of State regulates licensing of private detectives. |
 | An investigator in Nevada is required to be licensed. The Nevada Private Investigator Licensing Board regulates private detectives. |
 | An investigator in New Hampshire is required to be licensed. The New Hampshire State Police regulate private detectives. New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Sate Police – Licensing Unit *On July 13, 2010 the New Hampshire Private Detective bill, HB 651, was signed into law and becomes effective January 1, 2011. This bill adds certain exclusions from regulation of private investigative agencies, security guard agencies, and bail enforcement agencies. It replaces “the term detective agencies” with “private investigative agencies”, and requires the commissioner of safety to regulate private investigative agencies, security guard agencies, and bail enforcement agencies. The link to the bill is: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB0651.html |
 | An investigator in New Jersey is required to be licensed. The New Jersey State Police regulate private detectives. |
 | An investigator in New Mexico is required to be licensed. The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department regulate private detectives.New Mexico Regulation and Licensing DivisionState LawNew Mexico Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in New York is required to be licensed and take an examination. The New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services regulate private detective and administers the Private Investigator walk-in examination. |
 | An investigator in North Carolina is required to be licensed. The North Carolina Department of Justice regulates private detectives. North Carolina Department of Justice North Carolina Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in North Dakota is required to be licensed. The North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board regulate private detectives. The State of North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board |
 | An investigator in Ohio is required to be licensed. The Ohio Department of Public Safety regulates private detectives. Ohio Department of Public Safety – Private Investigator/Security Guard Section |
 | An investigator in Oklahoma is required to be licensed and applicants with no training must complete CLEET approved and mandated training. CLEET regulate private detectives in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training Oklahoma Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Oregon is required to be licensed and take an examination through the DPSST. The DPSST regulate private detectives. State of Oregon: DPSST Private Security Oregon Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Pennsylvania is 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. |
 | An investigator in Rhode Island is 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.State Law |
 | An investigator in South Carolina is required to be licensed. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division regulates private detectives. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division South Carolina Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | There are no licensing requirements for private investigators in South Dakota, but a business license through Department of Revenue required. Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188 |
 | An investigator in Tennessee is required to be licensed. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Private Protective Services Division regulates private detectives. Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Private Protective Services Division State Law (Scroll to title 62 chapter 26) Tennessee Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Texas is required to be licensed. The Texas Commission on Private Security regulates private detectives. Texas Department of Public Safety – Private Security Board Texas Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Utah is required to be licensed. The Utah Department of Public Safety & Law Enforcement Services Bureau of Regulatory Licensing regulates private detectives. |
 | An investigator in Vermont is required to be licensed. The VermontBoard of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services Office of Professional Regulation regulate private detectives. Vermont Board of Private Security Investigative & Security Services |
 | An investigator in Virginia is required to be licensed. The VirginiaDepartment of Criminal Justice Services Private Security Section regulates private detectives.VA DCJS – Private Security ServicesState Law Virgina Private Investigator Continuing Education is required |
 | An investigator in Washington State is required to be licensed. The Washington Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit regulates private detectives. |
 | An investigator in West Virginia is required to be licensed. West Virginia Secretary of State Licensing Division (Private Investigator Licensing) regulates private detectives. |
 | An investigator in Wisconsin is required to be licensed. The WisconsinDepartment of Regulation & Licensing regulates private detectives. |
 | An investigator in Wyoming is regulated by local jurisdictions. |
