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