Becoming a PI

Do you want to become a Private Investigator?

Employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. In addition to growth, replacement of those who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons should create many job openings. Increased demand for private detectives and investigators will result from fear of crime, increased litigation, and the need to protect confidential information and property of all kinds. More private investigators also will be needed to assist attorneys working on criminal defense and civil litigation. Growing financial activity worldwide will increase the demand for investigators to control internal and external financial losses, and to monitor competitors and prevent industrial spying.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Check the following state below to determine the requirement to be a licensed investigator in your state.

State Licensing Requirements

Alabama	No requirements. A Business license may be required. AAPI- Alabama Private Investigators Association State Law
Alaska	No requirements. Business license may be required. AIA- Alaska Investigators Association
Arizona	A License is Required Department of Public Safety Licensing State Law- Article 24 AALPI- Arizona Association of Licensed Investigators
Arkansas	Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies #1 State Police Plaza Dr. Little Rock, Arkansas 72209 (501) 618-8600 AAPPI- Arkansas Association of Private Investigators
California	A License is Required Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services 400 R Street Sacramento, CA 95814 (800) 952-5210 State law - SECTION 7520-7539 CALI-California Association of Licensed Investigators
Colorado	No requirements A Business license may be required. PPIAC-Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado
Connecticut	Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police 294 Colony St. Meriden, CT 06450-2098 CALPI-The Connecticut Association Of Licensed Private Investigators
Delaware	Detective Licensing, Delaware State Police P. O. Box 430 Dover, DE 19903 (302) 736-5900
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 FALI-Florida Association of Licensed Investigators
Georgia	Georgia State Board of Private Security Agencies 237 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217-3858 (478) 207-1460 GAPPI-Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators
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	No requirements. Business license may be required. IPIAI-Idaho Private Investigators Association
Illinois	Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation 320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62786
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 INSPI-Indiana Society of Private Investigators
Iowa	Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety Wallace State Office Bldg. Des Moines, IA 50319 (515) 281-3211 State law IAPI-Iowa Association of Private Investigators
Kansas	Kansas Bureau of Investigation 1620 SW Tyler Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 296-8200 KALI-Kansas Association of Licensed Investigators
Kentucky	Kentucky Private Investigators Licensing Board 502-564-3296, ext. 239 KPIA-Kentucky Professional Investigators Association
Louisiana	Louisiana State Board of Private Investigators Examiners 2051 Silverside Drive, Suite 190 Baton Rouge, LA 70808 LPIA- Louisiana Private Investigators Association
Maine	State Police Licensing Division State House Station #164 Augusta, ME 04333 (207) 624-8775 State Law MLPIA- Maine Licensed Private Investigators Association
Maryland	Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division Jessup, MD (410) 799-0191, ext. 331 State Law PIAM-Professional Investigators Alliance of Maryland
Massachusetts	Massachusetts State Police Special Licensing Unit 485 Maple Street Danvers, MA 01923 978-538-6128 voice 978-538-6021 fax LPDAM-Licensed Private Detectives Association of Massachusetts
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 Visit the Michigan Council of Private Investigators website for more information.
Minnesota	Department of Public Safety Private Detective & Protective Agent Services Board 445 Minnesota St., St. Paul, MN 55101 (651) 215-1753 Website State law State Private Investigator Association
Mississippi	Mississippi Professional Investigators Association P.O. Box 4484 Meridian, MS 39304
Missouri	P.O. Box 720 Jefferson City, MO 65102 No requirements on the state level, but Kansas City, St Louis, Joplin, St Joseph and Springfield require licensing.
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
Nebraska	Secretary of State State Capitol, Suite 2300 Lincoln, NE 68509 (402) 471-2554
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
New Hampshire	State Police Division of Licenses and Permits Hazen DR., Concord, NH 03305 (603) 271-3575 State Law State Private Investigator Association
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 2931 New Jersey Licensed Private Investigator's Association
New Mexico	Bureau of Private Investigators P.O. Box 25101 Santa Fe, NM 87504 (505) 476-7080 New Mexico State Licensing State Law
New York	Department of State Division of Licensing Services 84 Holland Avenue Albany, NY 12208-3490 Division of Licensing State Law State Private Investigator Association
North Carolina	Private Protective Services Board 1631 Midtown Place, Suite 104 Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 (919) 875-3611 (919) 875-3609 fax North Carolina Dept of Justice State Private Investigator Association
North Dakota	Private Investigative & Security Board P.O. Box 7026 Bismarck, ND 58505 (701) 222-3063 State of North Dakota Private Investigation Board
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 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
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
Pennsylvania	State Private Investigator Association
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
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 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
Tennessee	Department of Commerce & Insurance Private Protective Services Division 500 James Robertson Parkway Nashville, TN 37243-1158 (615) 741-6382 State Private Investigator Association
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 Texas Department of Public Safety State Private Investigator Association
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
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 State Private Investigator Association
	Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Private Security Section P.O. Box 10110 Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998 (804) 786-4700 State Law State Private Investigator Association
Washington	Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit 405 Black Lake Boulevard P.O. Box 9649 Olympia, WA 98507-9649 Washington Dept of Licensing State Law State Private Investigator Association
District of Columbia	Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police Security Unit 2000 14th St. NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 671-0500
West Virginia	Secretary of State Licensing Division Private Investigator Licensing Charleston, WV 25301
Wisconsin	Department of Regulation & Licensing P.O. Box 8935 Madison, WI 53708 (608) 266-0829 State Private Investigator Association
Wyoming	Regulated by local jurisdictions.