The majority of United States
states and the District of Columbia require private
detectives and investigators to be licensed. Licensing
requirements vary, however.
Only eight states have no statewide
licensing requirements:
- Alabama (some municipalities
require a city-license, and a state business license
is required)
- Alaska (some municipalities
require a city-license, and a state business license
is required)
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Mississippi
- Missouri (some municipalities
require a city-license)
- South Dakota (a state business
license is required)
- Wyoming (locally regulated)
Some states have very few
requirements, but the majority have more stringent
regulations.
Mandatory training programs
for private detectives and investigators are being
established in several states. In California, for
example, the Bureau of Security and Investigative
Services for the Department of Consumer Affairs has
established that private investigators must be at
least eighteen years and must have at least three
years or 6,000 hours of invesigative experience, background
education in a police science, criminal law, or criminal
justice. They must also pass a criminal history background
check conducted by the California Department of Justice
and the FBI. They must also pass a two-hour written
examination on laws and regulations and meet additional
requirements if they wish to carry a gun.
Most states that require
a license also require ongoing continuing education.
Those states include Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky,
Minnesota, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
