Private Investigator License Lookup by State
Every U.S. private investigator agency needs to know two things fast: which agency issues PI licenses in a given state, and how to verify that a license is real. This directory covers both. Below you’ll find the licensing department, phone number, and official license lookup or application page for private investigators in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. — whether you’re checking your own state’s requirements, verifying a subcontractor’s credentials before assigning a case, or researching how to get licensed in a new territory.
Note: Licensing agencies, phone numbers, and application portals change periodically. We update this list regularly, but always confirm directly with the state agency before relying on this information for compliance purposes. Entries marked “(verify)” are sourced from older directories and should be double-checked.
| State | Licensing Department / Board | Phone | License Lookup / Info Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Private Investigation Board (APIB) | (verify) | apib.alabama.gov |
| Alaska | No state-level license. Anchorage & Fairbanks license locally. | — | Municipality of Anchorage |
| Arizona | Arizona Department of Public Safety | (verify) | Official License Search |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State Police – Private Investigators/Security Program | (501) 618-8600 | Official Information |
| California | Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS) | (800) 952-5210 | License Lookup |
| Colorado | License not required. | (303) 894-7855 (verify) | colorado.gov/pacific/dora |
| Connecticut | Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection | (verify) | License Lookup |
| Delaware | Delaware State Police – Professional Licensing Section | (302) 672-5304 (verify) | Professional Licensing |
| Washington, D.C. | Dept. of Licensing and Consumer Protection – Security Officers Mgmt. Branch | (202) 671-0500 (verify) | License Lookup |
| Florida | Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services – Division of Licensing | (850) 487-1395 | License Search |
| Georgia | Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies | (478) 207-1460 (verify) | Licensee Search |
| Hawaii | DCCA – Private Detective and Guard Licensing Area | (verify) | Public License Search |
| Idaho | No state-level license required. | — | — |
| Illinois | Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) | (800) 560-6420 | License Lookup |
| Indiana | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (firm license only) | (verify) | License Verification |
| Iowa | Iowa Department of Public Safety | (verify) | License Lookup |
| Kansas | Kansas Attorney General – Private Detective Unit | (verify) | Private Detective Licensing |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators | (502) 892-4257 | kpi.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners | (verify) | License Search |
| Maine | Maine State Police – Special Investigations Unit | (verify) | Professional Investigator |
| Maryland | Maryland State Police – Licensing Division | (verify) | Private Detective Agency License |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts State Police – Certification Unit | (verify) | Active Private Investigators |
| Michigan | Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) | (517) 241-5645 (verify) | MICLEAR |
| Minnesota | Private Detective and Protective Agent Services Board | (651) 793-2666 (verify) | License Holders |
| Mississippi | No state-level individual license. Local permits may apply. | — | — |
| Missouri | Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners | (573) 522-7744 (verify) | License Search |
| Montana | Montana Board of Private Security | (406) 841-2387 (verify) | License Search |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Secretary of State – Licensing Division | (402) 471-8606 | Private Detective Agency Roster |
| Nevada | Nevada Private Investigator’s Licensing Board | (verify) | Public Access |
| New Hampshire | Division of State Police – Permits and Licensing Unit | (verify) | New Hampshire State Police |
| New Jersey | New Jersey State Police – Private Detective Unit | (609) 633-9352 | Private Detective Unit |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Private Investigations Advisory Board | (verify) | Public Search |
| New York | Dept. of State – Division of Licensing Services | (verify) | Licensee Search |
| North Carolina | NC Private Protective Services Board | (verify) | Active Licensees |
| North Dakota | Private Investigation and Security Board | (verify) | Licensed PI Agencies |
| Ohio | Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS) | (verify) | Provider Search |
| Oklahoma | Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) | (verify) | CLEET Portal |
| Oregon | Dept. of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) | (verify) | PI Business Listing |
| Pennsylvania | No state license. Issued at county level (Clerk of Courts). | — | Contact county clerk of courts |
| Rhode Island | No state license. Issued by individual cities/towns. | — | Contact local city/town clerk |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) | (803) 896-7015 | Private Investigators |
| South Dakota | No PI license. Business license via Dept. of Revenue. | (800) 829-9188 (verify) | dor.sd.gov |
| Tennessee | Dept. of Commerce & Insurance – Private Investigation & Polygraph Commission | (615) 741-6382 | License Search |
| Texas | Texas Dept. of Public Safety – Private Security Program | (verify) | License Search |
| Utah | Dept. of Public Safety – Bureau of Criminal Identification | (verify) | License Lookup |
| Vermont | Office of Professional Regulation – Board of Private Investigative & Security Services | (verify) | License Lookup |
| Virginia | Dept. of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) | (verify) | External Verification Tool |
| Washington | Dept. of Licensing – Business and Professions Division | (360) 664-1843 | Professional Licenses |
| West Virginia | Secretary of State – Business and Licensing Division | (verify) | Business Licensing |
| Wisconsin | Dept. of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) | (verify) | License Lookup |
| Wyoming | No state-level license required. | — | — |
States with No State-Level PI License
Alaska*, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming have no state-level private investigator license requirement (*Alaska licenses at the municipal level in cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks). Pennsylvania and Rhode Island also have no state license — PIs are licensed at the county or municipal level instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Alaska, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming have no state-level PI license requirement. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island license investigators at the county or municipal level instead of statewide.
Use the official state license lookup tool listed in the table above for the state where the investigator operates. Most state licensing boards, such as California’s BSIS or Texas’s DPS, offer a free online search by name or license number.
It depends on the state. PI licensing is handled by a mix of state police departments (e.g., New Jersey, Massachusetts), professional licensing boards (e.g., Illinois, Louisiana), and secretaries of state (e.g., Nebraska, West Virginia). Find your state in the directory above for the specific department and contact information.
Most states allow a licensed investigator to work briefly across state lines if the case originated in their home state, but rules vary and reciprocity is limited. Always check the destination state’s specific requirements before taking out-of-state casework.
Find Subcontract PI Work or Hire Licensed Investigators
Once you’ve confirmed your licensing status, Investigator Jobs Portal connects licensed PI agencies nationwide for subcontract casework and hiring. Browse open cases, list your agency as available for subcontract work, or post a job opening — all in one place.
Sources
Compiled from state agency websites and licensing directories, including Harbor Compliance’s 50-State Security Licensing Guide. Last compiled September 2026.
This page is provided for informational purposes by Investigator Jobs Portal and is not legal advice. Requirements, fees, and contact details change — always confirm current information directly with the relevant state agency.