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Sort and compare private investigator licensing requirements side-by-side across all 50 states.
| State | License Req? | Exp. Years | Exam? | Bond? | Armed? | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $225 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | No | — | No | No | No | $50 | — | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | $722 | — | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ~$336 | — | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | 3 | Yes | No | Yes | $725 | — | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | No | — | No | No | No | — | — | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | Yes | $1,450 | — | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | — | No | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | — | No | Yes | No | — | — | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | Yes | $167 | — | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | ~$115–$170 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | ~$310 | — | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | No | — | No | No | No | — | — | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $400 | 8 | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | 2 | No | No | Yes | $300 | — | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | null | No | Yes | Yes | — | 12 | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | — | Yes | No | Yes | $250+ | 12 | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | — | Yes | No | Yes | ~$556 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | 3 | No | No | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | — | No | Yes | Yes | $15 | — | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 6 | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | No | — | No | No | No | — | — | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | Yes | — | 16 | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | 4 | No | No | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | Yes | — | — | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $400 | — | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $775 | — | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $450 | 8 | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $400 | — | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | Yes | $375 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $450 | 16 | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | $350 | — | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $450 | — | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | 3 | No | Yes | Yes | $400 | — | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $350 | — | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | No | — | No | No | No | — | — | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $450 | — | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | 3 | Yes | No | Yes | $135 | 6 | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | 2 | Yes | No | Yes | $350 | — | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | — | No | No | Yes | $200 | — | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | — | Yes | No | Yes | $300 | 12 | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | $250 | — | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $450 | — | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | $250 | No continuing education requirement found; renewal requires fee, background check (CIB), and signature re: convictions | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | No | — | No | No | No | — | — | March 2026 |