The main factor for obtaining an Arizona private investigator license is having a clean record. As a result, Arizona has some of the most lenient requirements. Here you will find 13 easy steps to obtain your license.
1. For an Arizona Private Investigator License, You Must be at Least 21 Years Old
If you are under 21 years of age, then you cannot apply for a license.
2. You Must be a United States Citizen
On the other hand, you can be a United States legal resident. As a resident, you must be authorized to seek employment.
3. You Can Not Have Felony Convictions or be Under Indictment
High crimes will not get your foot in the door. In addition to convictions, individuals registered as sex offenders cannot apply.
4. You Can Not Have Misdemeanor Convictions [within 5 years]
Specifically, applicants can not have any of these:
- Acts involving violence or force against another person (threats are included)
- Misconduct involving deadly weapons
- Acts involving dishonesty or fraud
- Arson
- Theft
- Domestic violence
- Sexual misconduct
5. You Can Not be on Parole or Similar
Further, this restriction includes community supervision, work furlough, home arrest or having an outstanding arrest warrant.
6. You Can Not be on Probation
Above all, this restriction only applies to acts of personal or domestic violence.
7. You Must Not Be Adjudicated Mentally Incompetent
This law also restricts those that constitute a danger to themselves or others.
8. You Can Not Have a Conviction of Impersonating a Private Investigator
In short, this rule is self-explanatory and does not have time limitations.
9. You Must Meet a Three (3) Year Investigative Experience Requirement
In fact, the code defines this experience. For example, experience must consist of investigative work for a ‘private concern’. This experience could come from working for the federal, state, county or municipal government.
Consequently, you can provide proof for this requirement. A former supervisor or others need to write a letter. The letter needs to describe working relationships and verify your investigative experience.
Alternatively, you can also submit agency documents such as your military DD-214, OERs, etc. The documents need to be explicit about your investigative experience.
10. You Must Apply for an Arizona Private Investigator License
A private investigation agency license allows you to hire investigators. As a result, it is the agency’s duty to apply for licenses.
Here is the Arizona private investigator license [agency] application.
11. You Must Obtain Workers Compensation Insurance [if you hire employees]
By law, agencies must have workers compensation insurance. With this in mind, agencies must obtain insurance before applying for employee private investigator licenses.
12. You Must Apply for a Private Investigation Employee Registration and/or Agency
Private investigators need to have a valid employee registration certificate while working for an agency. Therefore, if employment ends, the employee has to return the registration certificate to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The registration process includes the following:
- Be offered employment by a DPS-licensed private investigation agency. The agency fills out the employer section and signs the registration application
- Complete and sign the employee section
- Submit fingerprints (for criminal history check)
- Provide a passport-sized color photo of your face (2″x2″)
- Submit proof of identification and US citizenship or legal permanent residency (i.e. driver’s license, passport, naturalization documents, resident card, etc)
- Submit $72 cash, money order or cashier’s check payable to DPS. This will cover the $50 registration certificate fee and the $22 fingerprint fee.
Click here for the private investigator employee registration form application.
13. For an Arizona Private Investigator License, You Must Pay Fees
- Private investigator employee – $72
Application fee for new private investigator agency – $272License fee for new private investigator agency license – $400- Associate fee for new private investigator agency associate fee – $72
Approved agencies are required to obtain a surety bond in the amount of $2,500