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Private Investigator
No
License Required?
Varies
Experience (Years)
No
Exam Required?
Varies
Total Initial Fees
No
Bond Required?
N/A
Armed Endorsement
Colorado does not require a state-level private investigator license. CRITICAL: Colorado previously licensed PIs from June 2015 to August 31, 2021. Gov. Polis vetoed HB 20-1207 on July 11, 2020. Sunset took effect. Now UNREGULATED. Only local business license may be needed.
Available License Categories
VerifiedCRITICAL: Colorado previously licensed PIs from June 2015 to August 31, 2021. Gov. Polis vetoed HB 20-1207 on July 11, 2020. Sunset took effect. Now UNREGULATED. Only local business license may be needed.
Private Investigator
No state license required as of August 31, 2021. Only local business license may be needed.
Required Experience
VerifiedVaries
Years of Experience
Details
No state experience requirements. State is unregulated.
Private investigator experience requirements often include work in law enforcement, military intelligence, legal investigations, or supervised work under a licensed PI.
Exam Requirements
VerifiedNot Required
State Exam
Overall licensing difficulty: 14/100
Study recommendation: 1–2 weeks of focused review is usually sufficient
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Difficulty rating based on education, exam, and experience requirements. Individual experience may vary.
Study guides for the PI licensing exam.
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Minimum Age
18 years old
Background Check
VerifiedNot Required
Criminal Check
Not Required
Fingerprinting
Not Required
Moral Character
Surety Bond
VerifiedNot Required
Bond
Insurance
VerifiedNot Required
General Liability
Not Required
Errors & Omissions
Not sure if you need a private investigator license? Check whether your state requires one.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Total Initial Fees N/A - no state licensing | Varies |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
Calculate your licensing ROI →
See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Renewal & CE Requirements
VerifiedN/A (no licensing program)
Renewal Period
—
CE Hours Required
Regulatory Board
Private investigator licenses must be renewed on schedule. Some states require continuing education covering legal updates, ethics, and investigative techniques.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedDoes Not Accept Out-of-State Credentials
Transfer Details
No state licensing; reciprocity not applicable
Private investigator license reciprocity varies by state. Some states offer endorsement for experienced PIs, while others require passing the state exam regardless of prior credentials.
Moving to another state? Use our Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Compare Colorado with other states →
See how requirements, costs, and timelines differ across all 50 states.
Colorado does not offer an armed endorsement for private investigators, or it is handled through a separate process outside of the PI licensing board.
Colorado is one of the few states that had state-level PI licensing (June 2015–Aug 2021) and then lost it when Gov. Polis vetoed HB 20-1207 and the sunset provision took effect. Now completely unregulated at the state level.
CRITICAL: Previously licensed June 2015–Aug 2021. Gov. Polis vetoed HB 20-1207 on July 11, 2020. Sunset took effect August 31, 2021.
Now UNREGULATED at state level. Licensing office dissolved.
Only local business license may be needed.
PIs must still comply with state and federal privacy laws.
Private Investigator requirements in nearby states
Other professional licenses in Colorado
See how Colorado compares: Private Investigator License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Related Guides
Compare private investigator requirements across all states →
Private Investigator licensing requirements nationwide →
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How does Colorado compare to other states for private investigator? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your private investigator license →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Colorado.
Private Investigator Schools in Colorado
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Moving to Colorado? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Private Investigator license to Colorado →
Transfer your Private Investigator license from Colorado to: Arizona → | Kansas → | Nebraska → | New Mexico → | Oklahoma → | Utah → | Wyoming →
Colorado does not require a state-level PI license. All licensing is managed through the None (office dissolved).
Requirements vary by state and may change. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.