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Becoming a Private Detective or Private Investigator

Congratulations on taking the first step to becoming a Private Investigator or Private Detective. Requirements for Private Detectives or Private Investigators vary from state-to-state. 

Private Detective & Investigator Training

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Training is required in many states to become a licensed professional private detective or private investigator. It's important that you understand the life of a PI is not always glamorous and exciting as you see in the movies, books and of course dime detective novels. (Don't think I have ever seen a detective novel that cost only a dime:-)

When considering a career in the private investigations industry consider looking for reputable PI firms in your area. Call ask to visit and interview a few of the PI's. Ask them what a typical day in the life of a private investigator is like, what hours do they work, how often do they get to be involved in exciting situations. 

Look for accrediting or certification board for the state that you want to work. Learn about the training and licensing requirements that you are required to complete before becoming a private investigator. Below is a list of requirements by state.

In Georgia, visit ProPIAcademy to learn more about the requirements for Georgia Private Detectives and Private Investigators. 

There is no federal licensing requirements for Private Investigators or Private Detectives. Each state is responsible for determining, if any, requirements. Following is a list by state that may help you in your search:

 Alabama - There is no state licensing for private investigation agencies in the state of Alabama. Check your local county/city rules.

Alaska 
At this time there is no P.I. Licensing requirements in Alaska, although some cities, such as Fairbanks, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska.   There is a Process Server License requirement through Alaska DPS. The only License a P.I. needs in Alaska is a State Business License.

Arizona 
Department of Public Safety, Licensing Division 
P.O. Box 6328 
Phoenix, AZ 85005 
602-223-2361

Arkansas 
Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies 
#1 State Police Plaza Dr. 
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209 
501-618-8600 
Web Site: http://www.state.ar.us/asp/asp.html

California 
Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services 
400 R Street 
Sacramento, CA 95814 or 
P.O Box 989002                                                                                                                                                  
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9002                                          

916- 445-7724 or 
800-952-5210 
Web Site:  http://www.dca.ca.gov/bsis/ 
State Law: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

Colorado 
None required. There is no statewide control over persons who seek to operate a Detective business, nor any bonding requirements.

Connecticut
 
Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police 
294 Colony St.    Meriden, CT 06450-2098 
Web Site: http://www.state.ct.us/dps/special.htm

Delaware 
Detective Licensing, Delaware State Police 
P. O. Box 430 
Dover, DE 19903 
302-736-5900
Web Site: http://www.state.de.us/govern/agencies/pubsafe/dsp/indxdsp.htm

District of Columbia 
Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police 
Security Unit 2000 
14th St. NW 
Washington, DC 20009 
202-939-8722

Florida 
Department of State, Division of Licensing 
P.O. Box 6687 
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6687 
904-488-5381

Georgia 
State Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies 
237 Coliseum Drive 
Macon, GA 31217-3858
478-207-2440

Hawaii 
Board of Private Detectives & Guards 
DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch 
1010 Richards St. 
P.O. Box 3469 
Honolulu, HI 96801. 
808-586-3000 or 808-586-2701

Idaho 
There is no Licensing Regulatory Agency in the state of Idaho.  None required.

Illinois 
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation 
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor 
Springfield, IL 62786 
State Law:  
Detective: http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/dtct.asp

Security: http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/secure.asp

Indiana 
Private Detective Licensing Board 
100 N. Senae Ave., Rm 1021 
Indiana Government Center North 
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2246 
317-232-2980                                                                                                                                                     
             
  
Iowa
 
Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety 
Wallace State Office Bldg. 
Des Moines, IA 50319 
515-281-3211  


Kansas
 
Office of the Attorney General 
Kansas Judicial Center, 2nd Floor 
Topeka, KS 66612-1597

Kentucky 
Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators
P. O. Box 1360
Frankfort, Kentucky  40602
502/564-3296, Ext. 225
Executive Director:  Nancy L. Black
Board Administrator:  Wendy SatterlyWeb Site: http://kpi.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Louisiana 
Secretary of State 
P.O. Box 94125 
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 
504-925-4704 


Maine 
State Police Licensing Division 
State House Sta #164 
Augusta, ME 04333 
207-624-8775

Maryland 
Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division 
Jessup, MD 
410-799-0191, ext. 331                                                                                                                                                                   

Massachusetts 
Massachusetts State Police 
Special Licensing Unit 
20 Somerset St., Boston, MA 02108 
617-727-6128 

Michigan
 
Department of State Police 
Private Security & Investigative Section 
7150 Harris Dr. 
Lansing, MI 48913 
517-322-1964


Michigan                                                                                                                                                             
Department of State Police                                                                                                                          
Private Security & Investigative Section                                                                                                           
4000 Collins                                   
PO Box 30635

Lansing, MI 48909-8135                                                                                                                                      
517-336-3440


Minnesota 
Department of Public Safety 
Private Detective & Protective Agent Services Board 
444 Cedar Street 
St. Paul, MN 55101 
612-215-1753
State Law:http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/7506/

Mississippi 
None required.

Missouri 
P.O. Box 720 
Jefferson City, MO 65102 
No requirements at the state level, but Kansas City, St Louis, Joplin, St Joseph and Springfield require licensing. 

Montana
 
Board of Private Security Patrolmen & Investigators 
Arcade Building 
11 North Jackson 
PO Box 200513 
Helena, MT 59620-0513 
406-841-2387   Fax: 406-841-2305


Montana
Board of Private Security Patrolmen & Investigators                                                                                             
11 North Jackson                                                                                                                                              
Arcade Building                                                                                                                                                     
PO Box 200513                                                                                                                                               
Helena, MT 59620-0513                                                                                                                                    
406-444-3728  Fax: (406)444-1667
  

Nebraska 
Secretary of State 
State Capitol, Suite 2300 
Lincoln, NE 68509 
402-471-2554


Nevada

State of Nevada, Attorney General, 
Nevada Private Investigators License Board
3476 Executive Pointe Way, Suite 14
Carson City, NV 89706
(775) 687-3225 Direct
(775) 687-3226 Fax                                                                                                                                                   
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-648.html


New Hampshire 
State Police 
Division of Licenses and Permits 
Hazen Dr., Concord, NH 03305 
603-271-3575 
New Jersey
 
State Police 
Department of Law & Public Safety 
Private Detective Unit 
P. O. Box 7068 
W. Trenton, NJ 08688-0068 
09-882-2000                                                                                                                                                      
Web Site:
http://www.njsp.org/about/pdet_act.html
Amendment: http://www.njsp.org/about/pdf/060106_amendedstat.pdf 
NJSP Private Detective Unit http://www.njsp.org/about/private-detective.html

New Mexico 
Bureau of Private Investigators 
P.O. Box 25101 
Santa Fe, NM 87504 
505-827-7172

New York 
Department of State 
Division of Licensing Services 
84 Holland Avenue 
Albany, NY 12208-3490                                                                                                                                      


North Carolina
 
Private Protective Services Board 
P.O. Box 29500 
3320 Old Garner Rd. 
Raleigh, NC 27626-0500 
919-662-4387  Fax: 919-662-4459                       
Web Site:                                                                                            
http://www.ncdoj.gov/getdoc/12efca3c-8bb9-4c6f-9e45-6fd99328eba9/2-6-3-4-1-Licensing-process.aspx

North Dakota
 
Private Investigative & Security Board 
P.O. Box 7026 
Bismarck, ND 58505 
701-222-3063

Ohio
Private Investigator/Security Guard Section
Ohio Department of Public Safety 
1952 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223
(614) 466-4130
Email: pisg@dps.state.oh.us

Oklahoma 
Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training 
Private Security Division 
P. O. Box 11476-Cimarron Station 
Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0476                                                                                                                          
405- 425-2775  

Oregon 
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
Private Security/Investigator Section
4190 Aumsville Hwy SE
Salem, Oregon 97317 
Phone: 503-378-8531 

Pennsylvania 


Puerto Rico 
Policia De Puerto Rico/Puerto Rico Police 
GPO Box 70166 
San Juan, PR 00936 
809-781-0227

Rhode Island                                                                                                                                                   
Providence Plantations 
345 Harris Ave. 
Providence, RI 29221 
402-277-2000                                                                                                                                                       


South Carolina 
State Law Enforcement Division 
Regulatory Services 
P. O. Box 21398 
Columbia, SC 29221-1398 
803-737-9000   Fax: 803-896-7041


South Dakota 
The Department of Commerce and Regulation does not License Private Investigators. 
Business license through                                      
Department of Revenue required. 
Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188

Tennessee 
Department of Commerce & Insurance 
Private Protective Services Division 
500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243-1158 
615-741-6382
Web Site: http://www.tn.gov/regboards/pi/pirReq.shtml


Texas 
Texas Department of Public Safety
Private Security Bureau
PO Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773
Telephone: (512) 424-7710
Facsimile: (512) 424-7729
Web Site: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb

Utah 
Department of Public Safety & Law Enforcement Services 
Bureau of Regulatory Licensing 
4501 South 2700 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119 
801-965-4461 
State Law: http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE53/53_09.htm

Vermont 
Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services 
Office of Professional Regulation 
109 State St., Montpelier, VT 05609-1101 
802-828-2837 

Virginia 
Department of Criminal Justice Services 
Private Security Section 
P.O. Box 10110 
Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998 
804-786-4700 
Licensing law and regulation can be viewed at:  http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm


Washington 
Public Protection Services Section
Department of Licensing 
(Private Detective, Security Guards, Bail Bond Agents and Bail Bond Recovery Agents Licensing )
P.O. Box 9649
Olympia, Washington 98507-9649

Information regarding our laws is found at www.dol.wa.gov/business/professionals.html

West Virginia 
Secretary of State  
Private Investigator Licensing Division
Charleston, WV 25301 
http://www.sos.wv.gov/business-licensing/licensing/pages/applyingforanindividualpilicense.aspx

Wisconsin 
Department of Regulation & Licensing 
P.O. Box 8935 
Madison, WI 53708
608 266-0829                                                                                                                                                         

Wyoming 
Regulated by local jurisdictions.
 



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