Arizona Private Investigators and Detectives

Arizona private Investigator Licensing - Only licensed private investigators can conduct investigations in this state.

Licenses are only good in Arizona.  There is no State Reciprocity with any other state at this time.

State Licensing Authority: Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Website: http://www.azdps.gov/license/default.asp
Email: licensing@azdps.gov
Phone:(602) 223-2361
P. O. Box 6328, Phoenix, AZ 85005
Fax: (602) 223-236
View the Arizona State Law

Qualifications and Requirements:

Agency:

Have had a minimum of three years of full-time investigative experience or the equivalent of three years of full-time investigative experience that consists of actual work performed as an investigator for a private concern, for the federal government or for a state, county or municipal government.

The necessary documentation to fulfill the above Statute must be described in a letter from an individual or individuals, such as a former supervisor, who can specifically state their work relationship with you and personally verify your investigative experience. The author of the letter must be clearly identified by name and include an address and contact telephone number. The author must sign the letter.

You may also submit documentation from an agency from which you retired or were previously employed. This documentation may be in the form of retirement papers, letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, or military records such as DD 214, NCOERs, OERs, awards, etc. (a DD 214 alone is insufficient evidence - we also need the copy that shows the type of discharge received). The documents must explicitly state that you have the required investigative experience from verifiable sources.
Investigator:
Be offered employment by a DPS-licensed Private Investigation agency. This agency fills out the Employer section and signs the Registration Application.
Complete and sign the Employee section.

Submit fingerprints.

Submit a color photograph of your face.

Submit $79 cash, money order, or check payable to DPS. This covers the $50 license fee and the $29 fingerprint processing fee.

Expiration date will be the same as the Agency’s expiration date.

Disqualifications:

If you are under 18 years of age. A Qualifying Party must be at least 21.

If you are not a citizen or legal resident who is authorized to seek employment in the United States.

If you have ever been convicted of a felony, whether or not your conviction was subsequently Set

Aside and your Civil Rights were restored.

If you are currently under indictment for a felony

If within the last 5 years preceding your application, you have been convicted of any misdemeanors involving:
Personal violence

Misconduct involving a deadly weapon as provided in section 13-3102

Dishonesty or fraud

Arson

Theft

Domestic violence

Narcotics (Arizona Revised Statutes Title 13, Chapter 34, or similar)

Sexual misconduct

If you are on parole, community supervision or work furlough, on home arrest, on release on any other basis.

If you are named in an outstanding arrest warrant

If you are on probation pursuant to a conviction for any act of personal violence or domestic violence as in section 13-3601 or similar.

If you have been adjudicated mentally incompetent or found to constitute a danger to self or others, section 36-540.

If you have a disability, which renders you incapable of performing essential functions of the job even with reasonable accommodation from the employer, section 41-1461.

If you have been convicted of acting or attempting to act as a security guard or private investigator without a license if a license was required.

Fees:

Agency:

The new agency application fee is $250 plus $29 for the fingerprint processing of the Qualifying Party.

Any Resident Manager and/or Associate application fee with fingerprints is $79 each. This covers the $50 license fee and the $29 fingerprint processing fee. These are to be submitted with the new agency application paperwork.

After all requested information has been received at DPS and the background checks and experience have been reviewed and approved, we then request the new agency license fee of $400 and a Surety Bond in the amount of $2,500.00.

Investigator:

The application fee to become licensed in Arizona is $50.00. In addition, the costs for the fingerprint processing are $29.00, which makes the total $79.00.

Renewal Information:

Agency:

The renewal license fee for renewing an agency is $250. Include $29 for the fingerprint processing of the Qualifying Party ($279 total for the QP).

Any Resident Manager or Associate renewal applications and fingerprints must be submitted with the agency renewal paperwork - include the $50 license fee and the $29 fingerprint processing fee per

Resident Manager or Associate applicant ($79 per person).
Allow at least 15 business days after the submission of your application before calling the unit to check your status. Repeated phone calls will only delay your application.
Investigator:
Private Investigator Employees renew when their Agency renews

Less than 60 days before the expiration date

Less than 90 days past the expiration date (add $10 late fee)

Forms:

There is an application form that must be completed. It is located at http://www.azdps.gov/license/application.PDF

Arizona State requires licensing for Private Investigators, Security Guards and Agencies