How to become private investigator in Michigan?

In order to become a private investigator in Michigan, you need to possess a license issued by Department of Labor and Economic Growth. The basic requirement to become a private investigator in Michigan is that you must be a citizen of America and must be at least 25 years of age. You must have a high school degree or equivalent to it as considered by the Department of Labor and Economic Growth. Michigan requires that licensed private investigators posses a Bachelors degree criminal justice or police administration. You will have to undergo a thorough background criminal check.

You must not have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or fraud, unauthorized divulging or selling of information or evidence, impersonation of a law enforcement officer or employee of the United States or a state, or a political subdivision of the United States or a state, illegally using, carrying, or possessing a dangerous weapon, two or more alcohol related offenses, Controlled substances as defined under the Michigan Public Health Code, indulged in an assault, has not been dishonorably discharged from a branch of the United States military service.

You must have a practical experience of minimum three years. Call IBT (State vendor for Fingerprints) and fix an appointment with them to get fingerprinted. Do request to get your fingerprints on two cards. The total cost for fingerprint will invite you around $49.25.

Your next step is to fill an application form and request for a license. Your application form should be duly filled and notarized. Also, you will have to attach two fingerprint cards, two colored recent passport photographs along with the application form. Do not forget to attach $100,000 bond assured in your favor by a state certified insurance company. Also, you will have to provide a documentary proof of your three years practical experience and five personal references that are notarized. Attach a copy of the company's articles of incorporation if you have a company. Else, attach a copy of an Assumed Name Certificate or Doing Business as form that you can obtain at your county clerk's office.

Submit these documents along with the application form with license processing fee $750. Do remember that Michigan does not have reciprocity with other states.

Reference Website: http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-35299_35414_35470---,00.html

Contact Information:

Website: http://www.michigan.gov/dleg/0,1607,7-154-35299_35414---,00.html Email: bcslic@michigan.gov

Licensing Division, P.O. Box 30018, Lansing, Michigan, United States, 48909 Phone: (517) 241-9288

Fax: (517) 373-3085

Associations: Michigan Council of Private Investigators

Citation Statute: Michigan Legislature 338.821-338.851

Professional Investigator Licensure Act

Act 285 of 1965

Website: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(ux5nra55d4krizyb1a2mr0np))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-act-285-of-1965&queryid=2065916&highlight

Fees: Sole Proprietor/LLC/Corporation Application $750.00

Fingerprints $49.25

Branch Office Application $125.00

Renewal Information: Sole Proprietor/LLC/Corporation Renewal $300.00

Sole Proprietor/LLC/Corporation Relicensure $750.00

Branch Office Renewal $125.00

Forms: http://www.cis.state.mi.us/dms/results.asp?docowner=BCSC&doccat=Private+Detectives&Search=Search