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Private Investigator Licensing, Training, and Services

Following is guide to assist you in learning how to become a licensed private investigator.  This reference guide includes a state-by-state listing of contact information for obtaining a private investigators license, links to private investigator training courses, a list of potential services you might provide as a private detective, and more.

Overview of the Private Investigation Occupation

A private investigator, or PI, is a person who undertakes investigations, usually for a private citizen or some other entity not involved with a government or police organization. Licensed Private Investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases or on behalf of a defense attorney. Many licensed private detectives work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims. Many private investigators are hired obtain proof of adultery or other illegal conduct to establish grounds for a divorce. Collecting evidence of adultery or other "bad behavior" by spouses and partners is still one of the most profitable activities that licensed private investigators perform.

Many jurisdictions require PIs, or private eyes, to be licensed, and they may or may not carry firearms depending on local laws. Some investigators are ex-law enforcement officers.  Investigators typically keep detailed notes during each case and often testify in court regarding their observations on behalf of their clients. Licensed private detectives take great care to remain within the law (e.g., being forbidden to trespass on private property or break into homes) on pain of losing their licenses as well as facing criminal charges. Irregular hours may also be required when performing surveillance work (e.g., outside a subject's house during the early hours of the morning).

Private detectives also undertake a variety of work that is not usually associated with the industry in the public's view.  For example, many PIs are involved in process serving, the personal delivery of summons, subpoenas and other legal documents to parties in a legal case.  The tracing of debtors can also form a large part of a PIs work load. Many agencies specialize in a particular field of expertise. For example, some PI agencies deal only in tracing. Others may specialize in technical surveillance countermeasures, which is the locating and dealing with unwanted forms of electronic surveillance (for example, a bugged boardroom for industrial espionage purposes).

Increasingly, modern Private Investigators prefer to be known as "professional investigators" rather than "private investigators" or "private detectives". This is a response to the negative image that is sometimes attributed to the profession and an effort to establish and demonstrate the industry to be a proper and respectable profession.

The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics published a useful article in the 2004-2005 edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook for Private Detectives and Investigators. The guide describes the nature of private investigation work, working conditions, qualifications, employment, training and advancement, earnings, job outlook, and related occupations.  If you want to become a private detective, this is a great place to begin.

Private Investigator Services, Training, and Reference Material

• View a list of potential private investigator services

• View Private Investigator training courses and training books

• View a list of Private Investigator books in our book store

• Private Investigator salary information

• Find your dream job as a private investigator! Post your Resume Today.

Getting Your Private Investigator License

Following is a state-by-state listing of contact information for obtaining your private investigator license.  Some states do not require a license specifically for private investigations, but they may require a business license, or have other legal requirements such as training or certifications.  Many states also require that you pass a test to become a licensed private investigator.

If you conduct business in more than one state, you may want to consider getting licensed in all states that you do business in.

State	Private Investigator Licensing Requirements
Alabama	No requirements.  Business license may be required. Alabama Private Investigators Association Alabama Private Investigator Directory
Alaska	No requirements.  Business license may be required. Alaska Investigators Association Alaska Private Investigator Directory
Arizona	Dept. of Public Safety, Licensing Division P. O. Box 6328 Phoenix, AZ 85005 (602) 223-2361 Website Arizona State Law Arizona Association of Licensed Investigators Arizona Private Investigator Directory
Arkansas	Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies #1 State Police Plaza Dr. Little Rock, Arkansas 72209 (501) 618-8600 Arkansas Association of Private Investigators Arkansas Private Investigator Directory
California	Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services 400 R Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (800) 952-5210 California State Law California Private Investigator Directory
Colorado	No private investigator license requirements.  Business license may be required. Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado Colorado Private Investigator Directory
Connecticut	Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police 294 Colony St. Meriden, CT 06450-2098 The Connecticut Association Of Licensed Private Investigators Connecticut Private Investigator Directory
Delaware	Detective Licensing, Delaware State Police P. O. Box 430 Dover, DE 19903 (302) 736-5900 Delaware State Police Website Delaware Private Investigator Directory
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Florida	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing, Bureau of License Issuance P.O. Box 6687 Tallahassee, Fla. 32314-6687 (850) 488-5381 Florida Association of Licensed Investigators Florida Association of Private Investigators Florida Private Investigator Directory
Georgia	State Board of Private Security Agencies 237 Coliseum Drive Macon,  GA  31217-3858 (478) 207-1460 Georgia Private Investigator Directory
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 Hawaii Private Investigator Directory
Idaho	No private investigator license requirements.  Business license may be required.
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Illinois	Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62786 Illinois Private Investigator Directory
Indiana	Private Detective Licensing Board 100 N. Senae Ave., Rm 1021 Indiana Government Center North Indianapolis, IN 46204-2246 (317) 232-2980 Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Indiana Private Investigator Directory
Iowa	Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety Wallace State Office Bldg. Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-3211 Iowa Association of Private Investigators Iowa Private Investigator Directory
Kansas	Kansas Bureau of Investigation 1620 SW Tyler Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 296-8200   Kansas Association of Licensed Investigators Kansas Private Investigator Directory
Kentucky	Kentucky Private Investigators Licensing Board 502-564-3296, ext. 239 Kentucky Professional Investigators Association Kentucky Private Investigator Directory
Louisiana	Louisiana State Board of Private Investigators Examiners 2051 Silverside Drive, Suite 190 Baton Rouge, LA  70808 Louisiana Private Investigators Association Louisiana Private Investigator Directory
Maine	State Police Licensing Division State House Station  #164 Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 624-8775  Maine State Law Maine Licensed Private Investigators Association Maine Private Investigator Directory
Maryland	Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division Jessup, MD (410) 799-0191, ext. 331 Maryland State Law Professional Investigators Alliance of Maryland Maryland  Private Investigator Directory
First Last State Select AL AK AR AZ CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY
Massachusetts	Massachusetts State Police Special Licensing Unit 485 Maple Street Danvers, MA  01923 978-538-6128 voice 978-538-6021 fax Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts Massachusetts  Private Investigator Directory
Michigan	To verify a Michigan private investigator's license, go to: Department of Consumer & Industry Services P.O. Box 30018 Lansing, Michigan  48909 (517) 241-5645 For information on obtaining your private investigator license in the State of Michigan, please contact: Bureau of Commercial Services Department of Consumer & Industry Services 525 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30004 Lansing, Michigan 48909 Phone: (517) 335-4008 Fax: (517) 241-9280 Website Visit the Michigan Council of Private Investigators website for more information. Michigan Private Investigator Directory
Minnesota	Department of Public Safety Private Detective & Protective Agent Services Board 445 Minnesota St., St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 215-1753 - Website - Minnesota State Law - State Private Investigator Association - Minnesota Private Investigator Directory
Mississippi	Mississippi Professional Investigators Association P.O. Box 4484 Meridian, MS 39304 Mississippi Private Investigator Directory
Missouri	Missouri Association of Private Investigators Missouri now has a statutory authority to license private investigators. The Missouri board is currently in the rule writing process in order to implement state licensure. We anticipate licensure to begin in October or November, 2009. For information related to the Missouri Board of Private Investigator Examiners individuals should contact PO Box 1335, Jefferson City MO 65102 OR 573-522-7744 OR to to the website at www.pr.mo.gov/pi.asp. Missouri Private Investigator Directory
Montana	Board of Private Security Patrol Officers and Investigators 301 S Park, Room 430 PO Box 200513 Helena, MT 59620-0513 (406) 841-2387, Fax: (406) 841-2309 Montana Private Investigator Directory
Nebraska	Secretary of State State Capitol, Suite 2300 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2554 Nebraska Private Investigator Directory
Nevada	Office of the Attorney General Private Investigator's Licensing Board 100 N. Carson St. Carson City, NV 89701-4717 (775) 687-3223 State law Nevada  Private Investigator Directory
New Hampshire	State Police Division of Licenses and Permits Hazen DR., Concord, NH 03305 (603) 271-3575 State Law State Private Investigator Association New Hampshire  Private Investigator Directory
New Jersey	State Police Department of Law & Public Safety Private Detective Unit P. O. Box 7068 W. Trenton, NJ 08688-0068 (609) 882-2000, ext 5608 New Jersey Licensed Private Investigator's Association New Jersey Private Investigator Directory
New Mexico	Bureau of Private Investigators P.O. Box 25101 Santa Fe, NM 87504 (505) 476-7080 New Mexico Private Investigator Directory
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New York	Department of State Division of Licensing Services 84 Holland Avenue Albany, NY 12208-3490  Website State Law State Private Investigator Association New York  Private Investigator Directory
North Carolina	Private Protective Services Board 1631 Midtown Place, Suite 104 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 (919) 875-3611 (919) 875-3609 fax Website State Private Investigator Association North Carolina Private Investigator Directory
North Dakota	Private Investigative & Security Board P.O. Box 7026 Bismarck, ND 58505 (701) 222-3063 Website North Dakota Private Investigator Directory
Ohio	Ohio Department of Homeland Security Department of Public Safety 1970 West Broad Street Columbus, OH  43223 (614) 387-6171 State Law State Private Investigator Association Ohio Private Investigator Directory Ohio Investigator's Association Online Search - Professional License Division
Oklahoma	Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training Private Security Division P. O. Box 11476-Cimarron Station Oklahoma City, OK 73136-0476 (405) 425-2775 State Law State Private Investigator Association Oklahoma Private Investigator Directory
Oregon	Oregon Board of Investigators 445 State Office Bldg. 800 NE Oregon Street #33 Portland, OR 97232 (503) 731-4359 FAX: (503) 731-4366 State law State Private Investigator Association Oregon Private Investigator Directory
Pennsylvania	State Private Investigator Association Pennsylvania Private Investigator Directory
Puerto Rico	Policia De Puerto Rico GPO Box 70166 San Juan, PR 00936 (787) 793-1234
Rhode Island	State of Rhode Island Providence Plantations 345 Harris Ave. Providence, RI 29221 (401) 277-2000 State Law Rhode Island Private Investigator Directory
South Carolina	State Law Enforcement Division Regulatory Services P. O. Box 21398 Columbia, SC 29221-1398 (803) 737-9000 Fax: (803) 896-7041 State Private Investigator Association South Carolina Private Investigator Directory
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South Dakota	No Private Investigator license is required, but a business license through Department of Revenue is required. Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188 State Revenue Offices South Dakota Private Investigator Directory
Tennessee	Department of Commerce & Insurance Private Protective Services Division 500 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-1158 (615) 741-6382  State Private Investigator Association Tennessee Private Investigator Directory
Texas	Texas Commission on Private Security 4930 S. Congress, Suite C-305 Austin, TX 78745 P. O. Box 13509 Austin, TX 78711 (512) 463-5545 FAX: (512) 452-2307 Website State Private Investigator Association Texas Private Investigator Directory
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 State Private Investigator Association Utah Private Investigator Directory
Vermont	Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services Office of Professional Regulation 109 State St. Montpelier, VT 05609-1101 (802) 828-2837 State Law  Vermont Private Investigator Directory
Virginia	Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Private Security Section P.O. Box 10110 Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998 (804) 786-4700 State Law Virginia Private Investigator Directory
Washington	Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit 405 Black Lake Boulevard P.O. Box 9649 Olympia, WA  98507-9649   State Law State Private Investigator Association Washington Private Investigator Directory
District of Columbia	Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police Security Unit 2000 14th St. NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 671-0500 Washington D.C. Private Investigator Directory
West Virginia	Secretary of State Licensing Division Private Investigator Licensing Charleston, WV 25301 West Virginia Private Investigator Directory
Wisconsin	Department of Regulation & Licensing P.O. Box 8935 Madison, WI 53708 (608) 266-0829 State Private Investigator Association Wisconsin Private Investigator Directory
Wyoming	Local requirements. Wyoming Private Investigator Directory

Related Private Investigator Licensing Agencies:

• International Homicide Investigators Association

• National Association of Legal Investigators

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

• National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators