Private Investigator Licensing by State PI License Required for CFE Conducting State Statute Link for Licensing or Additional Information CFE Conducting Fraud Investigations for Own CPA Exempt? Notes Examinations? Employer Exempt? Alabama currently has no P.I. licensing requirement, although Yes, in Birmingham & some cities, such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own Alabama None Alabama State Code N/A N/A Mobile, not statewide. requirements. State statues list a fee for detective agencies to operate. Yes, in Fairbanks, not Alaska doesn't have PI licensing requirements, but the City of Alaska None City of Fairbanks PI Licensing Information N/A N/A statewide. Fairbanks requires a PI license and bond. Statute does not specifically state that CPAs are exempt, but under 32-2409: "a person, firm or corporation, or employee of a person, firm or corporation, engaged in the business of obtaining and Arizona AZ Revised Statutes § 32-24-2409 Arizona PI Licensing Yes Yes No furnishing financial and related personal information for others, if the person, firm or corporation does not engage in other investigative research and if the employee is not employed or connected with any private investigator's business" is exempt. Arkansas AK Code §17-40 PI Statute; 17-40-103 Exemptions Arkansas PI Licensing Information Yes Yes No Investigators are required to be licensed in Arkansas. Anyone conducting an investigation in California must be licensed. CA Business & Professions Code § 3-11.3-7512-7573; California Bureau of Security and Investigative Out-of-state PIs may continue an investigation in California that California Yes Yes No §3-11.3-7522 Exemptions Services began in their home states if they're licensed in their home states but only under certain circumstances. A recent Colorado legislative session has enacted requirements for Colorado Revised Statutes § 1-12-58.5 PIs beyond the current voluntary licensure. The state is now Colorado Colorado PI Licensure Unknown Unknown Unknown developing protocols to comply with the new laws. Check the state's website for updates. An investigator in Connecticut must be licensed. The statute 2011 CT General Assembly Vol 9, Title 29, Chapter doesn't make any reference to persons who may qualify for an Connecticut Connecticut Private Investigative Rules Yes No No 534 exemption. The statutes have just been updated, and new rules will be developed. Check website for updates. An investigator in Delaware must be licensed. The statute doesn't Delaware Delaware Code §24-13-1301-1341 Delaware Private Investigator License Information Yes No No make allowances for exemptions. An investigator in Washington, D.C,. must be licensed by the D.C. District of Columbia Municipal Regulations §17-2000 DC Metro Police - Investigator Licensing Yes No No district; the statutes do not specify any exemptions. An investigator in Florida must be licensed. There's an exemption provided for "persons holding professional licenses in Florida when Yes, ONLY if providing expert advice in their professions" and employees FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Florida Florida Statutes §32-493 Yes Yes licensed CPA in conducting "In-house investigators who are solely, exclusively, and Services: Private Investigative Industry Florida. regularly employed as an investigator in connection with the business of an employer that does not advertise or provide investigative services for a fee." Georgia Secretary of State: Professional Licensing Georgia Georgia Code §43-38-14 Boards: Board Of Private Detective and Security Yes Yes No An investigator in Georgia must be licensed. Agencies An investigator in Hawaii must obtain a license. In narrow circumstances, a CFE or CPA may not be required to be licensed, but only if their "business is exclusively the furnishing of Hawaii Revised Statutes §10-463 Private Detectives; information as to the business and financial standing and credit Hawaii Hawaii Board of Private Detectives and Guards Yes Yes No §10-463-13 Exemptions responsibility of persons, firms or corporations, or as to personal habits and financial responsibility, of applicants for insurance, indemnity bonds, or commercial credit, or an attorney at law in performing the attorney's duties as such attorney at law." The State of Idaho has just enacted legislation regarding licensing Idaho Text of Enacted Bill State of Idaho Government Unknown Unknown Unknown private investigators. Check with the Bureau of Occupational Licenses for updates. An investigator in Illinois must be licensed. This act doesn't apply to “The activities of persons or firms licensed under the Illinois Public IL Division of Financial and Professional Regulation: Illinois Illinois Revised Statutes §225-447 Private Detectives Yes Yes Yes Accounting Act if performed in the course of their professional Private Detective Licensing practice." If not licensed in Illinois, ensure that reciprocity or mobility practice falls under the PI act. An investigator in Indiana must be licensed. Exceptions to the PI act include "a certified public accountant with a certificate under IC 25- Indiana Code § 25-30-1 Private Investigator Firms; § Indiana Professional Licensing Agency: Private Indiana Yes Yes Yes 2.1-3 to the extent that the person is engaged in an investigation 25-30-1(5) Exemption Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board incident to the practice of accountancy." If not licensed in Indiana, ensure that reciprocity or mobility practice falls under the PI act. An investigator in Iowa must be licensed. The Iowa Department of Iowa Iowa Code § 3-1-80A Iowa DPS Licensing Bureau Yes Yes No Public Safety regulates private investigators. Although attorneys are exempt, there's no mention of CPAs being exempt. Kansas Kansas Statutes § 75-7b-3 Kansas Private Investigative Licensing Yes Yes No An investigator in Kansas must be licensed. An investigator in Kentucky must be licensed. The statute excludes "a public accountant, certified public accountant, or the bona fide Kentucky Kentucky Revised Statutes §26-329A-070 Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators Yes Yes Yes employee of either, performing duties within the scope of public accountancy." An investigator in Louisiana must be licensed. The statute exempts Yes, if licensed Louisiana Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37-3500 Louisiana Board of Private Investigator Examiners Yes Yes attorneys and CPAs licensed to practice within the state of in Louisiana. Louisiana. Yes, unless only An investigator in Maine must be licensed. Exemption includes "a Only for expert ME Department of Public Safety- State Police: conducting investigation person acting within the scope of the person's professional practice Maine Maine Revised Statutes § 32-89-8101 to 8121 Yes witness Private Investigator Licensing for expert witness to analyze facts, evidence or other data for the purposes of services. services. supplying expert testimony in a legal proceeding." An investigator in the state of Maryland must be licensed. The Maryland Maryland Code Title 13 Private Detectives Maryland State Police: Licensing Division Yes No No statute makes no reference to exemptions. An investigator in Massachusetts must be licensed. Exceptions include "Individuals who are independently and currently licensed by the commonwealth in a profession or field of expertise, Yes, if licensed Massachusetts General Law § 1-20-147, Sections 22- whereby they are exclusively utilized and confined in conducting an Massachusetts Massachusetts PI License Info Yes Yes in 30 investigation to that profession or field of expertise, inasmuch as Massachusetts. the context and extent of their inquiry and investigation does not exceed the particular area of their profession or field of expertise in which they are independently licensed within the commonwealth. " An investigator in Michigan must be licensed. The statute states "a certified public accountant currently licensed, registered or certified by a regulatory agency of this or any other state or a Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: public accounting firm currently licensed, registered, or certified by Michigan Michigan Compiled Laws §338-821 to 851 Yes Yes Yes Private Investigator Licensing a regulatory agency of this or any other state, including the employees of the certified public accountant or public accounting firm acting within the scope of the individual's or the public accounting firm's professional practice" are exempt. MN 2010 Statutes 326.32-326.339: Private Detectives, Protective Agents MN 2010 Statutes MN State Board of Private Detective and Protective Minnesota 326.32: Definitions MN 2010 Statutes 326.3341: Yes Yes No An investigator in Minnesota must be licensed. Agent Services Exemptions MN 2010 Statutes 326.338: Persons Engaged as Private Detectives or Protective Agents Mississippi currently has no licensing requirements for private Mississippi None N/A N/A N/A investigators. An investigator in Missouri must be licensed. However, "a certified public accountant, performing duties as a certified public Missouri 2010 Revised Statutes § 22-324-1100 to MO Division of Professional Registration: Board of accountant, who holds an active license issued by any state and the Missouri Yes Yes Yes 1148 Private Investigator Examiners- Licensing employees of such certified public accountant or firm assisting in the performance of duties or investigation on behalf of such certified public accountant or firm" is exempt. Montana Department of Labor and Industry- Montana Code §37-60 PI Regulations; §37-60-105 Montana