Private Investigator License

Whether you want to actually be a private investigator, or simply write intelligently about a character who is one, you need to know about licenses and licensing requirements.

Private investigators are required to be licensed in most states. The actual licensing requirements vary considerably from state to state. Typically, the private investigator is licensed in the state in which he both resides and does business.

Before we get to specific requirements, let's start with a definition. With the advent of internet searches this is an important topic, because lots of people do research and "investigate" things. Some people charge to "investigate" things. Does that make the person a private investigator?

Again, we have to go on a state-by-state basis here, because the rules are written into the laws of each state. We'll take the Commonwealth of Virginia as an example: According to the Code of Virginia § 9.1-138, "a 'private investigator' means any individual who engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on (i) crimes or civil wrongs; (ii) the location, disposition, or recovery of stolen property; (iii) the cause of accidents, fires, damages, or injuries to persons or to property; or (iv) evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigative committee."

Another interesting aspect of the licensing of private investigators is that some states have an experience requirement, much like an apprenticeship. Consequently, if the hero of your novel lives in New York and one day decides to quit his job with Verizon as a product manager to become a private eye, he won't be hanging out his own shingle any time soon; he will, instead, spend years working for someone else. Of course, he could also consider moving to another state.

What if a private investigator lives and works in Georgia, but has a case that requires him or her to do some work in North Carolina? Most states have reciprocity agreements with nearby states. In this example, we find that North Carolina has reciprocal licensing agreements with six other states, including Georgia. To quote: "These agreements allow currently licensed private investigators from states to come into North Carolina for a specific period of time (30 days maximum, except for Tennessee, which is 15 days) to work a case which originated in their home state. Likewise, licensed North Carolina investigators may enter that state to work a case originating there. Investigations exceeding the time limits must be handled by a private investigator licensed in the particular state."

It's easy and inexpensive to find out what the licensing requirements for private investigators are in your state. Simply go to the state's official website, and poke around. As an alternative, there is such a thing as picking up the telephone and calling someone in your state government. We don't see any need to pay good money for one of those books that offers to tell you the licensing requirements for private investigators in all 50 states; the information is basically free on the internet. We'll also provide links on this page as time allows.

District of Columbia - The Metropolitan Police Department, Security Officers Management Branch is the unit responsible for issuing private investigator licenses. They can be contacted by writing to 2000 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 or by phoning 202-671-0500.
Florida - Division of Licensing
New York - Licensed Private Investigator Requirements
North Carolina - Department of Justice
Pennsylvania - Private Investigators must be licensed, a requirement stemming from the Private Detective Act of 1953. A pdf file with helpful information may be found here.
Vermont - Board of Private Investigative and Security Services
Virginia - Department of Criminal Justice Services

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