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Reviewing License Requirements and Disqualifiers
All potential PIs
need to understand license requirements and
disqualifiers. The following are general guidelines,
followed by your state’s specific requirements.
License Requirements
If you are going to start your own agency or work as
a PI subcontractor, you need a license. To acquire a
license, you must be:
- At least 18 years
old if applying unarmed
- At least 21 years
old if applying armed
- Have at least three
years of investigative experience
- A United States
citizen or resident alien
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You Must Have:
- No criminal
convictions that directly relate to your
capacity to perform the duties of a
private investigator or hinder public
safety
- A physical location
for the business—either home or
commercial
- A valid business
license with your local Department of
Business
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How to Apply for a License
In addition to passing a written examination, you
must submit:
- A completed Private
Investigator Application
- A (usually)
non-refundable application fee
- One completed
fingerprint card
- Proof of three
years of investigative experience
performed before applying for the
license
- A certificate of
liability insurance usually with a
minimum coverage of $25,000 bodily
injury and $25,000 property damage or a
$10,000 Private Investigative Agency
Surety Bond (states may vary on this)
- If your company is
a corporation, a copy of articles of
incorporation and a list of officers and
departments and their addresses
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License Disqualifiers
Although you should refer to your particular state’s
disqualifiers, most states will disqualify you from
applying for a PI license if any of the following
conditions exist for you:
- Are under 18 years of age and are
applying to be a private investigator,
or private investigator associate
(intern).
- Do not have three
years of investigative experience
- Are not a citizen
or legal resident who is authorized to
seek employment in the United States
- Have ever been
convicted of a felony, whether or not
your conviction was subsequently set
aside and your Civil Rights were
restored
- Are currently under
indictment for a felony, or named in an
outstanding arrest warrant
- Have been convicted
of any misdemeanors involving personal
violence, misconduct with a deadly
weapon, dishonesty or fraud, arson,
theft, domestic violence, narcotics, or
sexual misconduct within the last five
years preceding your application
- Are on parole,
community supervision, work furlough,
home arrest, or release on any other
basis
- Are on probation
pursuant to a conviction for any act of
personal violence or domestic violence
- Have been
adjudicated mentally incompetent or
found to constitute a danger to self or
others
- Have a disability,
which renders you incapable of
performing essential functions of the
job even with reasonable accommodation
from an employer
- Have been convicted
of acting or attempting to act as a
security guard or private investigator
without a license if a license was
required
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Note: Not all arrests may
disqualify you from enrolling in DTI or pursuing a
career as a private investigator and eventually
obtaining your license. Many of the country's top
investigators committed minor crimes in their past,
but this has not stopped them from being successful
today. If, after reviewing your states licensing
disqualifiers, you are still concerned about a
criminal blemish on your record, feel free to
telephone Mr. Kassel at 888 425-9338 to discuss your
particular situation.
Now that you understand about state licensing, it’s
now time to learn about the requirements in your
state. As you research your state’s requirement,
keep in mind the following requirements as they
refer to age, on-the-job experience, training and
education, prior criminal record and other
disqualifiers.
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