P.I.s – Who Do You Call About Licensing? Your State to State Guide

P.I. licensing laws vary from state to state. Seven states have no licensing regulations. Are you thinking about moving? Before you do, here"s your definitive checklist of who to contact for information, and which states have no requirements. Here"s one less thing you have to "investigate.- The list is broken down by region, with current phone numbers available through information:

 

 

Maine ... State Police Licensing Division, Augusta

New Hampshire ... New Hampshire State Police, Division of Licenses/Permits, Concord

Vermont ... Board of Private Investigative and Armed Security Services, Montpelier

Massachusetts ... Special Licensing Unit of the Massachusetts State Police, Danvers

Rhode Island ... State of Rhode Island Providence Plantations, Providence

Connecticut ... Department of Public Safety, Meriden

New York ... Department of State, Division of Licensing Services, Albany

Pennsylvania ... NO license required. Check with your desired county for county rules.

New Jersey ... State Police, Dept. of Law and Public Safety, West Trenton

 

 

Wisconsin ... Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing, Madison

Michigan ... State Police, Private Security and Investigator Unit, Lansing

Illinois ... Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, Springfield

Indiana ... Private Detective Licensing Board, Indianapolis

Ohio ... Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Licensing, Columbus

North Dakota ... Private Investigative and Security Board, Bismarck

South Dakota ... NO license needed; but a business license thru the Dept. of Revenue is required.

Nebraska ... Secretary of State, Lincoln

Kansas ... Attorney General"s Office, Topeka

Minnesota ... Dept. of Public Safety, Private Detective Board, St. Paul

Iowa ... Administrative Services Division, Dept. of Public Safety, Des Moines

Missouri ... NO license needed. Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis, / Springfield have their own requirements.

 

 

Delaware ... State Police, Detective Licensing, Dover

Maryland ... State Police, PI Licensing Division, Jessup

D.C. ... Security Officers Management Branch, D.C. Metro Police

Virginia ... Dept. of Criminal Justice Services, Private Security Section, Richmond

West Virginia ... Secretary of State, Licensing Division, Charleston

North Carolina ... Private Protective Services Board, Raleigh

South Carolina ... State Law Enforcement, Regulatory Services, Columbia

Georgia ... State Board of Private Security Agencies, Macon

Florida ... Dept. of State, Licensing Division, Tallahassee

Kentucky ... Board of Licensure for Private Investigators, Frankfort

Tennessee ... Dept. of Commerce and Insurance, Private Protective Services, Nashville

Mississippi ... None required.

Alabama ... None required.

Oklahoma ... Council on Law Enforcement Education / Training, Private Security, Oklahoma City

Texas ... Texas Commission on Private Security, Austin

Arkansas ... Board of Private Investigators, Little Rock

Louisiana ... State Board of Private Investigators Examiners, Baton Rouge

 

 

Idaho ... None required.

Montana ... Board of Private Security Patrol Officers / Investigators, Helena

Wyoming ... Local controls only.

Nevada ... Private Investigators Licensing Board, Attorney General"s Office, Carson City

Utah ... Dept. of Public Safety, Bureau of Regulatory Licensing, Salt Lake City

Colorado ... None required.

Arizona ... Dept. of Public Safety, Licensing, Phoenix

New Mexico ... Bureau of Private Investigators, Santa Fe

Alaska ... None; Fairbanks / other cities have their own requirements. Business license required.

Washington ... Dept. of Licensing, Olympia

Oregon ... Board of Investigators, Portland

California ... Licensing Division, Bureau of Security / Investigative Services, Sacramento

Hawaii ... Board of Private Detectives / Guards, Honolulu