How to be a Private Investigator in Georgia?

The state of Georgia allows you to work as a private investigator only when you possess a license as a private investigator issued by Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies. To work for a company as a private investigator you must be 18 years old or older, and meet the requirements that have been set by the Board. You must be eligible to carry your profession in Georgia by some law or you must be the citizen of United States of America.

In order to become a private investigator in Georgia you need to start a company because Georgia government provides license only to company. If you do not have a four years degree in criminal justice and two years experience in law enforcement, you have to find for an investigation company which will provide you the basic training. The company provides training to if you are younger up to 18, else; you need to possess the degree. This training will prove you eligible to become a private investigator in Georgia. The basic requirement of the government of Georgia to become a private investigator is that you should get a four years degree in criminal justice and two years experience in law enforcement.

As the license in Georgia is given only to companies, hence before applying for a license you have to start a company. For this you have to file an application and register your company. Make sure that your company adheres to the requirements of the Georgia government. After incorporating your company, you can make an application for the private investigator license. You will find company license application form here.

Apply for the criminal investigation license as soon as your company is established. You can do this by going to http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/plbforms.asp?board=31 and requesting that license, instead of the business license, on the same application.

You need to pass written examination conducted by the administration for getting your license after you have completed your two years training. For any questions regarding examinations please call (478) 207-2440

You must follow Georgia laws and regulations in order to be a successful private investigator in Georgia.

Contact Information:
State Board of Private Security Agencies
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
(478) 207-1460

How to become a private investigator in Washington?

To become a private investigator in Washington, you have to get the necessary license which is provided by the Washington State Government and Licensing Board. The basic requirements for getting a license is that you must be at least 18 years of age and must a citizen of America or resident alien of united states. But in order to become an armed private investigator the age should be of 21 years. You must not be convicted of crime in any jurisdiction. The director could with held the license if your crime comes in any way in your work of investigation. Washington has four types of licenses: a Private investigator agency license, an unarmed private investigator license, an armed private investigator license, and a certified trainer license.

You have then to fill up the application form requesting for license. The form can be obtained from the Washington state department of licensing forms website. It should be fully filled and all the information mentioned in it should be correct. Along with the application form you will have to pay a licensing fee of $200 for unarmed private investigator license and $100 in addition to for armed private investigators license. Then you have you have to undergo a thorough background check. All applications to become an investigator should be approved by the department.

Mostly those belonging to military service undertake private investigation as a profession but it is not the requirement. Mostly those having degree in criminal justice and experience in law enforcement are generally proffered to be a prospective private investigator. It is also necessary that you have been employed or have an employment letter from a private investigator agency or it is necessary that you may be licensed as a private investigator agency.

You have to also submit a completely filled fingerprint card. You can take the help of sheriff or police department. The card should be of 10 digits. Submit a fully completed application that includes proper identification on a form prescribed by the director for each company of employment. You will have to submit two recent photographs. In addition, you will need to file and keep in force throughout the duration of your license a bond of no less than $5,000. A detailed structure on fees is available here.

State Government and Licensing Board conduct an examination in order to qualify you as a private investigator. For more information on exams please click here.

The gun laws do not allow the private investigator to carry a weapon but by meeting some of the requirements you can get the permission to have a weapon.
For more information please log on to http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/

Contact Information:
Website: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/
Email: security@dol.wa.gov
Private Investigator Licensing Department of Licensing, PO Box 9048, Olympia, Washington, United States, 98507-9048
Phone: (360) 664-6611
Fax: (360) 570-7888

Citation Statute:
Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Title 18: Businesses and Professions
Chapter 165: Private Investigators

Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
Title 308: Department of Licensing
Chapter 17: Private Investigative Agencies and Private Investigators

Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Title 18: Businesses and Professions
Chapter 235: Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act

Website: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.165

How to become Private Investigator in Utah?

Working as a private investigator in Utah will require you to possess a license issued by the Bureau of Criminal Identification, Utah. The basic requirement is you must be at least 21 years of age. You may be a citizen of United States or you must be lawfully entitled to carry out your profession in United States.

Fill the application form (Form 95-9-01) by answering all the questions therein. The application for Private Investigator is available at http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/. The application form must be duly signed as well as notarized.

You have to attach two passport color photographs (2” x 2”) taken within 90 days of this application. You also have to provide copy of your driving license or any other document as identification proof provided by your state. Along with this, two complete fingerprint cards have to be attached. As the bureau does not provide fingerprinting service, you have to contact the police department or sheriff’s office.

One important formality to fulfill is the surety bond document for $10000 referenced by section 53-9-109 and must remain in force until the validity of license. You need to attach a copy of this $10000 surety bond to the application form.

The applicant must have at least 2,000 hours of investigative experience in the field of private investigation. Attach a verified statement of your experience to the application. Include a certificate of workers' compensation insurance.

Registrant Licenses:
The applicant must have at least 1,000 hours of investigative experience. Attach a verified statement of your experience to the application. The registrant must work for a private investigation agency.

Apprentice Applicant:
An apprentice must work for a private investigation agency.
All attachments must be printed or typed to ensure legibility.

Pay application fee $200.00 if your requirement is that of an agency license. This fee will license one investigation agency and the owner or primary investigator of that agency. Pay application fee of $100.00 if you need a registrant or apprentice license. In addition, fees of $24 must be submitted to FBI with each application. The application fees need to be in the form of cash, cashier's check, money order or company check. All checks must be made payable to "Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification". Personal checks will not be accepted. Do remember not to send cash in mail.

A background investigation will be conducted as soon as the bureau receives your application for license. The application will then be reviewed by the Private Investigator Hearing and Licensure Board for recommendation of issuance. The whole process takes a minimum of 90 days.For Utah State Laws refer: http://www.le.state.ut.us/~code/TITLE53/53_08.htm

Contact Information:
Bureau of Criminal Identification
3888 West 5400 South
Taylorsville, Utah 84118
(801) 965-4445

Department of Public Safety & Law Enforcement Services
Bureau of Regulatory Licensing
4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84119
(801) 965-4461

How to become a private Investigator in Texas?

A private investigator is a private agency; not a part of government or police department. A private investigator investigates and collects information for both private citizens and corporations. In order to become a private investigator in Texas, you must apply to the Private Security Bureau and pass licensing requirements, including a thorough background check. Although many of the private investigators come from a law enforcement or military background, but, it is not a requirement for employment as a private investigator. In order to work in Texas as a private investigator, you need to have a license with you. The following steps will enroll you in the list of private investigators in Texas:

Qualification Criteria: You need to have some practical training on private investigation in order to be a private investigator in Texas. See the following qualification requirements and decide which one best suits you.

• Practical experience of three years in private investigation field;

• If you possess a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a bachelor’s degree with your specialization, you just need to have an additional six months of investigation-related experience;

• an associate degree in criminal justice or related course of study, with an additional twelve months of investigation-related experience; or a specialized course of study directly designed for and related to the private investigations profession, taught and presented through affiliation with a four-year college or university accredited and recognized by the State of Texas. This study must be endorsed by the four year college or university’s department of criminal justice program and include a departmental faculty member(s) on its instructional faculty. This course of study must consist of a minimum of two hundred face-to-face classroom hours including coverage of ethics, Private Security Board administrative rules, the Private Security Act, and related statutes. At the discretion of Bureau manager, other combinations of education and investigation-related experience may be substituted for the above. The bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and specialized courses referenced above must be affiliated with a college or university recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board, Southern Association of Schools and Colleges or other accreditation organization recognized by the State of Texas.

After meeting these qualifications, a person must register to take the exam with the Private Security Bureau. Upon successful completion of the written exam, a person must show proof of liability insurance.

The person must:

• be at least 18 years of age;
• should not possess any criminal history;
• not have been convicted and charged, in any jurisdiction, of a Class A or Class B or equivalent misdemeanor;
• not have been convicted, within the past 5 years, in any jurisdiction, of a Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense;
• must be mentally fit and not incompetent;
• not have been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed services, discharged from the United States armed services under other conditions determined by the Board to be prohibitive, or dismissed by the United States armed services if a commissioned office in the United States armed services;

After this, apply for license. Select a class type; fill up the application form along with prescribed filing fee. As of 2010, the application fee for each class varies from $361 for a Private Investigation Company license to $412 for a Private Security Company license. Each license class requires its own documentation. Submit the application and required documents to Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau. For additional information, click here to visit the Private Security Bureau of Texas (PSB) Web Site or contact the PSB by phone: 512-424-7710

How to become private investigator in Iowa?

In order to work as a private investigator in Iowa it compulsory to get the license. Without the license you will not be allowed to work as an investigator. The license can be obtained from Iowa Department of Public Safety. The basic requirement to become a private investigator is that you must be at least 18 years of age. You must be the citizen of United States and should not be convicted of moral crime. You must be of good moral character. You will have to undergo a thorough background check and get the fingerprints.

Then you will have to get the application form for the license from the Department of Public Safety. If you take the application form by hand then you will have to pay the fee of $10 and you take by mail then you will have to pay the fee of $15. You must completely and correctly fill the application form. Attach all the documents. The documents such as two copies of fingerprints, colored photographs, proof of financial responsibility and a copy of surety bond of $5000. Along with the application you will have to pay the fee of $100 as license fee, plus a $30 processing fee for checking your fingerprints and $10 for each state-issued private investigator ID card you want. If your application form is not approved then you will get the license fee back.

Then you will have to undertake a written examination conducted by the board. The exam is conducted to find out the competency of the applicants. If you pass the exam then you are provided with the license. After that you can work as a private investigator. But make sure that you renew your license every two years because the license expires every two years. The renewal fee is $100. At the time of renewal you will have to go for a continuing education. The education should be of minimum 12 hours of approved course. The Department of Public Services is responsible to send the notice of renewal of application.

Contact Information:
Website: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/licensing.shtml
Email: piinfo@dps.state.ia.us
Private Investigative Licensing Program Services Bureau Iowa Department of Public Safety, Wallace State Office Bldg 3rd Fl, Des Moines, Iowa, United States, 50319-0045
Phone: (515) 725-6230
Fax: (515) 281-8921

Citation Statute:
Code of Iowa, Chapter 80A; Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 121
Website: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/pi/pi80a03code.pdf

Forms: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/pi_licensing.shtml

How to become Private Investigator in Indiana?

The private investigators in Indiana are licensed. Hence if you want to become a private investigator in Indiana then you will have to acquire the necessary license from the Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board. A separate agency is formed investigating the individuals applying for private investigator license. The agency consists of director, assistant director and two case managers. The basic requirement to obtain a license is that you must be at least 21 years of age and must possess a business license. You must not be convicted of any crime and should be of good moral character. The agency inquires whether you have worked without the license. If it is so you will be denied of license.

You must have a bachelor’s degree in the field in which you are going to work. You must have a work experience of minimum 4000 hours/two years in an investigative profession or possess a bachelor’s degree or higher in criminal justice, or a related field from an accredited Institution. You will have to undergo a thorough background check. Then you will have to get fingerprinted. You can get your fingerprints from the police or sheriffs office.

Then you will have to obtain the application from the Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, 402 West Washington Street, Room W072, Indianapolis. You will have to complete the form correctly with all the information. Attach all the necessary documents. You will have to provide in the form your social security number. Attach one passport quality photograph. You will have to undertake a criminal background check and fingerprints. Attach verification of the liability insurance and complete the form verifying investigative experience. You can download the investigative experience form here. Along with application you will have to submit an application fee of $150 which is payable to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The forms are available at
http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/detective/pdfs/applicationAndInstructions.pdf.

Then submit the application to the Indiana private investigator and security guard licensing board. This board meets every third Thursday of odd-numbered months. The form should be submitted one week before the meeting. The license expires every four years on October 1. Hence you will have to renew the license every four years; the renewal fee is $150. You will be charges a late fee of $50 if you are 30 days late for renewal after expiration.

Contact Information:
Website: http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/detective/
Email: pla11@pla.IN.gov
Indiana Professional License Agency Attn: Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing, 402 W Washington Street, Room W 072, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46204
Phone: (317) 234-3040

Citation Statute:
IC 25-30 25-1-11 Title 862

Website: http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title25/ar30/index.html

How to become private investigator in Ohio?

Working as a private investigator in Ohio is adventurous but at the same time involves a high degree of risk. To work in Ohio as a private investigator you need a license issued by Ohio department of public safety. But the basic requirement for obtaining license is that you must have 2 years continuous experience in law enforcement, security and law. You can obtain experience by working under any licensed private investigator. If you do not have law enforcement experience, arrange for a two year internship with a licensed private investigator. The other requirement is that you must not be convicted in any crime since last 20 years. For this you will have to pass the background criminal check.

Firstly you will have to apply for the B class license. For acquiring the license you will have to attach 5 letters of reference from the people which have known you since last 5 years. But the letters should not be from relatives by blood or marriage. You will also have to attach proof of general liability insurance. You will have to attach you experience certificate showing your two years experience without which you will not be provided the license.

In order to get the license you will have to attempt an examination conducted by the Ohio government. This examination will demonstrate your competency as a private investigator or security guard provider. For attempting the examination you will have to pay a fee of $25 which will be non refundable and along with it you will have to pay license fee of $375 which is refundable. A degree in criminal justice is a good starting place for a career as a private investigator.

After passing the examination you will be provided two forms of identification by the state of Ohio. A wall license which you will have to place on the wall at the place of your office and an identification card which you will have to produce at the of performing your duty.

For more information please log on to:
Link 1
Link 2

Contact information:
Email: pisg@dps.state.oh.us
Division of Homeland Security/PI/SG Unit, 1970 W. Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43223
Phone: (614) 466-4130
Fax: (614) 752-6380

Associations:
Ohio Association of Security and Investigation Services


Citation Statute:
Ohio Revised Code
Title 47: Occupations - Professions
Chapter 4749: Private Investigators; Security Services

Website: http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4749