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
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. |
State Listing |