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The magazine of professional investigators

State Private Investigator License Requirements

25 Apr 2011
admin
9
law, licensing, private investigator
*

Currently there is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alabama, although some cities, such as Montgomery, Birmingham and Mobile, have their own licensing process, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alabama.

*Alabama House Bill 323 was introduced to state legislature in March 2011. The bill has been indefinitely postponed. To view the bill and  keep track of the status of the bill go to the following link:

Alabama House Bill

Private Investigator Training and Courses

*

Currently there is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alaska. Some cities, such as Fairbanks have their own requirements, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska.

Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development

State Law

Private Investigator Training and Courses

*

An investigator in Arizona must be licensed. The Arizona Department of Public Safety regulates and licenses Investigators in Arizona.

Arizona Department of Public Safety

State Law

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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.

Arkansas State Police

State Law

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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.

California Department of Consumer Affairs

State Law

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While there are no state licensing requirements for private investigators, a voluntary state-issued license is available. Regardless, 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.

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies

State Law

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An investigator in Connecticut must be licensed. Connecticut statute 29-53 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 Emergency Services and Public Protection.

Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection

State Law

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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 Division of State Police Board of Examiners of Private Investigators & Private Security Agencies

Division of State Police Board of Examiners of Private Investigators & Private Security Agencies

State Law

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An investigator in Florida must be licensed. Private investigators are regulated and licensed through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

State Law

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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.

Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies

State Law

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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

*

The state of Idaho does not have a license requirement for private investigators.

Private Investigator Training and Courses

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An investigator in Illinois must be licensed. The Illinois state government regulates detective licensing through the Division of Professional Regulation.

Illinois Division of Professional Regulation

State Law

*

An investigator in Indian must be licensed. The Indiana state government regulates detective licensing through the Indian Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Board.

Indiana Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Board

State Law

*

An investigator in Iowa must be licensed. The Iowa Department of Public Safety regulates private Investigators.

Iowa Department of Public Safety

State Law

*

An investigator in Kansas must be licensed. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation regulates private investigators.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation – Private Detective Licensing

State Law

*

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

State Law

*

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

State Law

*

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

State Law

*

An investigator in the state of Maryland must be licensed. Private investigator licensing is regulated by the Maryland State Police.

Maryland State Police – Licensing Division

State Law

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An investigator in Massachusetts must be licensed. Private Investigators are regulated by the colonel of the Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police

State Law

*

An investigator in Michigan must be licensed. Private Investigators in Michigan are regulated by The Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

Department of Labor and Economic Growth

State Law

*

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

State Law

*

There are currently no licensing requirements for Private Investigators in Mississippi.

Private Investigator Training and Courses

*

An investigator in Missouri must be licensed. Private Investigators in Missouri are regulated by Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners.

Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners

State Law

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An investigator in Montana is required to be licensed. The Montana Board of Private Security regulates investigators in Montana.

Montana Board of Private Security

State Law

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An investigator in Nebraska is required to be licensed. The Nebraska Secretary of State regulates licensing of private detectives.

Nebraska Secretary of State

State Law

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An investigator in Nevada is required to be licensed. The Nevada Private Investigator Licensing Board regulates private detectives.

Nevada Private Investigator Licensing Board

State Law

*

An investigator in New Hampshire is required to be licensed. The New Hampshire Sate Police regulates private detectives.

New Hampshire Department of Safety Division of Sate Police – Licensing Unit

State Law

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An investigator in New Jersey is required to be licensed. The New Jersey State Police regulates private detectives.

New Jersey State Police – Private Detective Unit

State Law

*

An investigator in New Mexico is required to be licensed. The New Mexico Private Investigations Board regulates private detectives.

New Mexico Private Investigations Board

State Law

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An investigator in New York is required to be licensed. The New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services regulates private detective and administers the Private Investigator walk-in examination.

New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services

State Law

*

An investigator in North Carolina is required to be licensed. The North Carolina Private Protective Services Board regulates private detectives.

North Carolina PPSB

State Law

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An investigator in North Dakota is required to be licensed. The North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board regulates private detectives.

The State of North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board

State Law

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An investigator in Ohio is required to be licensed. The Ohio Private Investigation & Security Services Commission (OPISSC) regulates private detectives.

Ohio Department of Public Safety – Private Investigator/Security Guard Section

 State Law

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An investigator in Oklahoma is required to be licensed and applicants with no training must complete CLEET approved and mandated training. CLEET regulates private detectives in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training

State Law

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An investigator in Oregon is required to be licensed and take an examination through the DPSST. The DPSST regulates private detectives.

State of Oregon: DPSST Private Security

State law

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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.

Private Detective Act of 1953

Private Investigator Training and Courses

*

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

State Law

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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

State Revenue Offices

Private Investigator Training and Courses

*

An investigator in Tennessee is required to be licensed. The Tennessee
Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission regulates private detectives.

Tennessee Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission

State Law

*

An investigator in Texas is required to be licensed. The Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board regulates private detectives.

Texas Department of Public Safety – Private Security Board

State Law

*

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.

Utah Department of Public Safety

State Law

*

An investigator in Vermont is required to be licensed. The Vermont
Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services Office of Professional Regulation regulate private detectives.

Vermont Board of Private Security Investigative & Security Services

State Law

*

An investigator in Virginia is 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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An investigator in Washington State is 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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An investigator in West Virginia is required to be licensed. West Virginia Secretary of State Licensing Division (Private Investigator Licensing) regulates private detectives.

West Virginia Secretary of State Licensing Division

State Law

*

An investigator in Wisconsin is required to be licensed. The Wisconsin
Department of Regulation & Licensing regulates private detectives.

State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing

State Law

*

An investigator in Wyoming is regulated by local jurisdictions.

Private Investigator Training and Courses


Recent Comments

About the Author
9 Comments
  1. CHRIS August 4, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    EXCELLENT RESOURSE

  2. CHRIS August 4, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    EXCELLENT RESOURSE

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  5. Ryan March 2, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    Your PI license resource is very helpful, but you should update the Colorado information. A Colorado PI licensing program is being put into place as we speak, with the first license to be issued on July 1, 2012

  6. Pingback: Stalkers, Private Investigators and the Reason Behind PI Licenses

  7. Pingback: Inside Investigations Security and Private Investigation News

  8. Pingback: Why Hiring an Out-Of-State Private Investigator Can Get You the Best Results - Sheer Investigations - How to Choose The Right Private Investigator for the Job.

  9. Pingback: Why You Need a Referral to Hire a Top Notch Private Investigator in New York and New Jersey - Sheer Investigations - Hiring a Private Investigator in New York and New Jersey Requires the Advice of an Expert

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