| Any individual or organization may be licensed as a | | | | degree in criminal justice or a related field is not |
| private investigator. In the United States, | | | | sufficient by itself. Connecticut recognizes ten |
| forty-two states and the District of Columbia | | | | years experience as a sworn police officer. New |
| have licensing requirements for private | | | | York, Kansas and Wisconsin applicants are |
| investigators. The purpose of licensing basically is | | | | required to pass a written exam. The state of |
| to regulate the industry and to keep the | | | | Louisiana entails a 40-hour class and written |
| unqualified out of the profession. | | | | examination for applicants. |
| Under the state licensing authority rules, there are | | | | Active police officers may encounter problems, |
| specific criteria that must be met to qualify for a | | | | other than department policy, when working in |
| license. Applications for class A, B and C licenses | | | | private practice. There is a conflict of interest |
| are given to the director in writing and under oath. | | | | statute thus prohibiting a police officer from |
| Once these applications are received, the director | | | | holding a private investigator's license. |
| forwards it to the bureau of criminal identification | | | | Obtaining and maintaining the license, once |
| and investigation. If the director is satisfied with | | | | approved, can also involve purchasing private |
| the applicant an examination time and date is set | | | | investigator's liability insurance, general business |
| up. If the applicant is found to be appropriate, | | | | liability insurance or posting a surety bond. |
| they are issued a class A, B or C license | | | | California and South Carolina require a $10,000 |
| according to the requirements. | | | | bond. Florida requires a $300,000 liability insurance |
| Different States have a discrete set of guidelines | | | | policy obtained from a state approved agency. |
| for issuing licenses. The state of Indiana accepts | | | | Minnesota recognizes an indemnity bond, liability |
| two years of experience in the field. In Florida, | | | | insurance policy or letter of credit from a financial |
| three years of investigative knowledge with a | | | | institution. Indiana does not have any insurance or |
| government agency, or as an intern-employed full | | | | bond requirements. |
| time by a licensed investigative agency are | | | | States that require a private investigator's license |
| compulsory. Experience as a police officer is not | | | | have an enforcement program and penalties for |
| adequate; there should be at least three years of | | | | unlicensed activities. There are many cities and |
| genuine investigative experience documented. A | | | | counties that require local licenses. |