There is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alabama, although some cities, such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alabama.
State Law
State P.I. Association
There is no P.I. licensing requirement in Alaska, although some cities, such as Fairbanks, have their own, and a state business license is required to operate any business in Alaska.
City of Fairbanks | Anchorage Private Detective Licenses
State P.I. Association
Dept. of Public Safety, Licensing Division P. O. Box 6328
Phoenix, AZ 85005
(602) 223-2361.
Web Site | License CheckNEW!
State Law (scroll down to chapter 24)
State P.I. Association | State P.I. Association #2NEW!
Arkansas Board of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies
#1 State Police Plaza Dr.
Little Rock, Arkansas 72209
(501) 618-8600
State P.I. Association
State Police web site - contact for further information
Fees and exemptions
Licensing Division, Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
400 R Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(800)952-5210
Web Site |License Check
State law
State P.I. Association
The Office of Private Investigator Voluntary Licensure
Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
1560 Broadway, Suite 1550
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 894-7855
Voluntary Licensing (Begins July 2012) |State Law
Check License Status (Not active) | State P.I. Association
Department of Public Safety, Division of State Police
294 Colony St.
Meriden, CT 06450-2098
Current Licensee List (PDF)
Web site
State P.I. Association |State P.I. Association Members
Detective Licensing, Delaware State Police
P. O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 672-5304
State Police Web Site
Security Officers Management Branch, Metro Police
Security Unit 2000
14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 671-0500
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
Web Site |License Check
State Law
State P.I. Association
State Board of Private Security Agencies
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
(478) 207-1460
License Check (Individuals not agencies)
License Check (Agencies not individuals)
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association Members
Board of Private Detectives & Guards
DCCA, PVL, Licensing Branch
1010 Richards St.
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI96801.
(808) 586-3000 or (808) 586-2701
License check(Use code PD for individuals, PDA for firms)
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Web page
State law
State P.I. Association
Private Detective Licensing Board
100 N. Senae Ave., Rm 1021
Indiana Government Center North
Indianapolis, IN46204-2246
(317) 232-2980
Web Page|License Check
State Law
Administrative Services Division, Iowa Department of Public Safety
Wallace State Office Bldg.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515)725-6230
State law
State P.I. Association
Kansas Bureau of Investigation
1620 SW Tyler
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-8200
L.S.B.P.I.E.
2051 Silverside Drive, Suite 190
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Web Site|License Check
State P.I. Association
State Police Licensing Division
State House Station #164
Augusta, ME 04333
(207) 624-7216
State Law
State P.I. Association
Maryland State Police, PI Licensing Division
Jessup, MD
(410) 653-4500, ext. 3, then ext. 1
No Web License Check Available |State Law
State P.I. Association |Other State P.I. Association
Massachusetts State Police
Special Licensing Unit
485 Maple Street
Danvers, MA 01923
978-538-6128 voice
978-538-6021 fax
The Department of Consumer & Industry Services
P.O. Box 30018
Lansing, Michigan48909
(517) 241-5645
Web Site |License Check
State Law (use arrows beside 'Documents' to navigate through pages)
State P.I. Association
Department of Public SafetyPrivate Detective & Protective Agent Services Board
445 Minnesota St.St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 793-2666
Web Site |All Licensees List (PDF)
State law
State P.I. Association
No PI license required.
State P.I. Association
Licensing now required in Missouri!!
MissouriBoard of Private Investigator Examiners
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102
(573)522-7744
Web Site |License Check
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
Web Site |License Check
Secretary of State
State Capitol, Suite 2300
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2554
Web site |Agency List PDF|Individual License PDF
State law
Private Investigator's Licensing Board 3476 Executive Pointe Way,Suite 14
Carson City,NV89706
(775) 687-3223
State Police
Division of Licenses and Permits
Hazen DR., Concord, NH 03305
(603) 271-3575
State Law| No web license check available
State P.I. Association|State P.I. Association Members
State Police
Department of Law & Public Safety
Private Detective Unit
P. O. Box 7068
W. Trenton, NJ 08688-0068
(609)633-9352
Web site | No web license check available
State P.I. Association|State P.I. Association Members
Bureau of Private Investigators
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
(505) 476-7080
Department of State
Division of Licensing Services
84 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208-3490
License Check(Business name search only.)
Web site
State Law
State P.I. Association
Private Protective Services Board
1631 Midtown Place, Suite 104
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 875-3611
(919) 875-3609 fax
Website |License Check(.PDF)
State P.I. Association
Private Investigative & Security Board
P.O. Box 7026
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 222-3063
Web Site|License Check
Divison of Homeland Security/PI/SG Unit
1970 W. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43223
office: (614) 466-4130
fax: (614) 752-6380
e-mail:pisg@dps.state.oh.us
State Website|License Check
State Law
State P.I. Association
Council on Law Enforcement Education & Training
Private Security Division
P. O. Box 11476-Cimarron Station
OklahomaCity, OK 73136-0476
(405) 239-5110
State Law
State P.I. Association
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training
4190 Aumsville Hwy SE
Salem, Oregon 97317
Phone: 503-378-8531
Fax: 503-378-4600
Web Site |License Check
State law
State P.I. Association
Policia De Puerto Rico
GPO Box 70166
San Juan, PR 00936
(787) 793-1234
There is no statewide licensing. Licenses are issued by town halls. Applicants must have 2 of the following: Prior law enforcement experience; a college degree in criminal justice; 5 years of documented experience working for a licensed private investigator.
State Law
State Law Enforcement Division
Regulatory Services
P. O. Box 21398
Columbia, SC 29221-1398
(803) 896-7015
Fax: (803) 896-7041
State Law (Pop Up Word File) |State Website | No web license check available
State P.I. Association|State P.I. Association Members
No P.I. license, but business license through Department of Revenue required.
Main Department of Revenue Office number: 800-829-9188
State Revenue Offices
Department of Commerce & Insurance
Private Protective Services Division
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1158
(615) 741-6382
Web Site |License Check
State P.I. Association
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
Department of Public Safety & Law Enforcement Services
Bureau of Regulatory Licensing
4501 South 2700 West
Salt Lake City,UT 84119
(801) 965-4544 Direct|(801) 965-4445 ext "0" Use if Direct Unavailable
State Website(No online license verification available.)
State Law
State P.I. Association
Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services
Office of Professional Regulation
109 State St.
Montpelier, VT05609-1101
(802) 828-2837
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association |State P.I. Association Members
Department of Criminal Justice Services
Private Security Section
P.O. Box 10110
Richmond, Virginia 23240-9998
(804) 786-4700
License Check
State Law (click on Legislative & Regulator link, to left of screen)
State P.I. Association
Another State P.I. Association
Department of Licensing, Public Protection Unit
405 Black Lake Boulevard
P.O. Box 9649
Olympia, WA 98507-9649
Web Site
State Law
State P.I. Association(WALI) |State P.I. Association Members
Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators
Secretary of State
Licensing Division
Private Investigator Licensing
Charleston, WV 25301
Web site |License Check
State Law
Department of Regulation & Licensing
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-0829
Web site |Individual License Check|Agency License Check
State P.I. Association
Regulated by local jurisdictions.
