West Virginia Private Security and Private Investigation Licensing Guide

West Virginia maintains a centralized, statewide licensing regime for private investigators and private security guard firms under W. Va. Code § 30-18-1 et seq.

Licensing is administered by the West Virginia Secretary of State.

The statute provides for licensure of private detective and private investigator firms, as well as security guard firms. Individual private investigators and security guards must also obtain licensure or registration as required by statute prior to performing regulated services.

Licensure is required prior to engaging in regulated activities. Both business entities and individual practitioners are regulated at the state level.

Firearms authorization for armed security personnel is governed within the statutory framework and related administrative provisions. Separate concealed handgun licensing is governed under other provisions of West Virginia law and is not itself a private security or private investigation license.

Regulation of private investigation and private security services is centralized at the state level.

West Virginia regulates private investigation and private security under a unified statutory framework administered by the Secretary of State.

Security guard firms and private investigator firms must be licensed. Individual security guards and private investigators must obtain required licensure or registration prior to performing regulated services.

Firearms authorization is governed within the statutory framework and does not replace required licensure.