U.S. Private Security & PI Licensing Guides

Alabama regulates private security and private investigation through separate state boards, with licensing requirements set by state statute.

Alaska licenses security guards and security guard agencies through DPS, but does not license private investigators at the state level; PI licensing may be local.

Arizona regulates security guards and private investigators through DPS, requiring agency licensing and individual registration certificates under ARS Title 32.

Arkansas regulates private investigators and private security agencies through the Division of Arkansas State Police under A.C.A. § 17-40-101 et seq. and related rules.

California regulates private patrol operators, security guards, and private investigators through BSIS under the Private Security Services Act and Private Investigator Act.

Colorado does not license security guards statewide and does not maintain a statewide private investigator licensing program; requirements may be local.

Connecticut regulates private security companies, security officers, private detectives, and detective agencies through DESPP’s Special Licensing and Firearms Unit under Chapter 534.

Delaware regulates private security agencies and private investigators through the Delaware State Police Professional Licensing Section under Title 24, Chapter 13, using agency licensing and individual registration ID cards.

The District of Columbia licenses private detectives, private detective agencies, and security agencies under D.C. Code § 47-2851.01 et seq., and commissions Special Police Officers under D.C. Code § 23-582.

Florida regulates private security and private investigation through FDACS under Chapter 493, using a class-based system that licenses both agencies and individuals.

Georgia regulates private detective and private security businesses through the Secretary of State’s Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies under O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 38.

Hawaii regulates private detective agencies, guard agencies, and guard employees through DCCA’s Board of Private Detectives and Guards under HRS Chapter 463.

Idaho does not maintain a statewide private investigator or security guard licensing program; private security and PI requirements are often set by local ordinances.

Illinois regulates private security contractors and private detectives through IDFPR under 225 ILCS 447, combining agency licensure with individual licensing and PERC employee registration.

Indiana licenses private investigator firms and security guard agencies through the Professional Licensing Agency and the Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board under IC 25-30 and 874 IAC 1.

Iowa licenses private investigative and private security agencies through the Iowa Department of Public Safety under Iowa Code Chapter 80A and IAC 661, Chapter 121, with employee identification cards required for personnel.

Kansas licenses private detectives and private detective agencies through the Kansas Attorney General under K.S.A. 75-7b01 et seq., and separately issues a Kansas Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL) under K.S.A. 75-7c.

Kentucky licenses private investigators and private investigation agencies through the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators under KRS Chapter 329A, and issues a Kentucky Concealed Deadly Weapon License (CCDW) through the Kentucky State Police under KRS 237.110.

Louisiana licenses private security companies and registers security officers through the Louisiana State Board of Private Security Examiners under R.S. 37:3270 et seq., and licenses private investigators and private investigation agencies through the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners under R.S. 37:3501 et seq.

Maine regulates private security and private investigation through the Maine State Police under Title 32, Chapter 93 (Private Security Guards) and Chapter 89 (Professional Investigators).

Maryland licenses security guard agencies, security guard employees, private detectives, and private detective agencies through the Maryland State Police under Public Safety Article, Title 19, and issues a Wear and Carry Permit under Public Safety § 5-306.

Massachusetts licenses private detectives and private detective agencies through the Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police under M.G.L. c. 147 §§ 22–30, and issues firearms licenses under M.G.L. c. 140 §§ 129B and 131.

Michigan regulates private security businesses under the Private Security Business and Security Alarm Act (1968 PA 330) and licenses professional investigators under the Professional Investigator Licensure Act (1965 PA 285).

Minnesota licenses protective agents, private detectives, and protective agent agencies through the Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 326.32–326.339.

Mississippi does not maintain a statewide licensing regime for private security companies, security guards, private investigators, or private investigation agencies.

Missouri licenses private investigators and private investigation agencies through the Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Firearm Investigator Examiners under RSMo Chapter 324, and issues concealed carry permits under RSMo § 571.101.

Montana licenses private investigators, private security guard companies, and security guards through the Montana Board of Private Security under Title 37, Chapter 60, MCA, and issues concealed weapon permits under Title 45, Chapter 8, MCA.

Nebraska licenses private detectives, plain clothes investigators, and private detective agencies through the Nebraska Secretary of State under the Private Detective Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-3201 et seq.), and issues concealed handgun permits under Neb. Rev. Stat. § 69-2430 et seq.

Nevada licenses private investigators, private patrol operators, process servers, and related security services through the Nevada Private Investigator’s Licensing Board under NRS Chapter 648.

New Hampshire licenses private investigators, security guard services, and security guards through the New Hampshire State Police Permits and Licensing Unit under RSA 106-F, and issues pistol and revolver licenses under RSA 159.

New Jersey regulates private detectives under the Private Detective Act and regulates security officers and security officer companies under the Security Officer Registration Act administered by the Superintendent of State Police.

New Mexico licenses private investigators, private investigation agencies, security guard companies, and security guards through the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department under the Private Investigations Act (NMSA 1978, § 61-27B-1 et seq.).

New York licenses private investigators, watch guard and patrol agencies, and security guards through the New York Department of State under the General Business Law Article 7 and Article 7-A.

North Carolina licenses private investigators and private protective services entities through the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board under N.C. Gen. Stat. Chapter 74C.

North Dakota licenses private investigators and security service providers through the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board under N.D.C.C. Chapter 43-30.

Ohio licenses private investigators and security guard providers through the Ohio Department of Public Safety under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4749.

Oklahoma licenses security guards, armed security guards, private investigators, and security and investigation companies through the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) under 59 O.S. § 1750.1 et seq.

Oregon licenses private investigators and private security providers through the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training under ORS Chapter 703.

Pennsylvania licenses private detectives and private detective agencies under the Private Detective Act of 1953 (22 P.S. § 11 et seq.) and regulates armed security under the Lethal Weapons Training Act (22 Pa.C.S. § 501 et seq.).

Rhode Island licenses private detectives, private detective agencies, and security guards through the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation under R.I. Gen. Laws Title 5, Chapter 5-5.

South Carolina licenses private investigators, private investigation agencies, security officers, and security businesses through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division under S.C. Code Ann. Title 40, Chapter 18.

South Dakota licenses private investigators and security guards through the South Dakota Secretary of State under SDCL Chapter 36-25B.

Tennessee licenses private investigators, contract security companies, proprietary security organizations, and armed and unarmed security officers through the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance under Tenn. Code Ann. Title 62, Chapter 35.

Texas licenses private investigators, security guard companies, and security officers through the Texas Department of Public Safety under the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702.

Utah licenses private investigators, private security companies, and security officers through the Utah Department of Public Safety under Utah Code Title 53, Chapter 9.

Vermont licenses private investigators and security guard companies through the Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 59.

Virginia licenses private security services businesses and private investigators through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services under Va. Code § 9.1-138 et seq.

Washington licenses private investigators, private investigation agencies, security guards, and security guard companies through the Washington State Department of Licensing under RCW 18.165 and RCW 18.170.

West Virginia licenses private investigators, private detective agencies, and security guard firms through the West Virginia Secretary of State under W. Va. Code § 30-18-1 et seq.

Wisconsin licenses private detectives, private detective agencies, and private security personnel through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services under Wis. Stat. Chapter 440 and Chapter 443.

Wyoming does not maintain a statewide licensing regime for private security companies, security guards, private investigators, or private investigation agencies.