Jurisdictional, Licensing, and Regulation Concerns
Nebraska
Nebraska has three types of Investigator licenses: An Agency license, a Private Detective license, and a Plainclothes Investigator license.
A licence exam is required where the applicant must score an 80% or higher.
Reference Website:
http://www.sos.ne.gov/licensing/private_eye/Contact Information:Website:
http://www.sos.ne.gov/licensing/private_eye/Email:
sos.licensing@nebraska.gov Secretary of State, P.O. Box 94608, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 68509-4608
Phone: (402) 471-2385
Fax: (402) 471-2530
Associations:NAPI - Nebraska Association of Private InvestigatorsCitation Statute: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§71-3201 through 71-
3213.
Website:
http://www.sos.state.ne.us/licensing/private_eye/pdf/pi_stat.pdfQualifications Requirement: 005. PRIVATE DETECTIVE and PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY LICENSING
REQUIREMENTS
005.01. Before being approved by the Secretary of State all applicants for a private detective
license or a private detective agency license must meet or exceed the following requirements:
005.01A. Minimum of 3000 hours of verifiable investigative experience, or
005.01B. A minimum of 2500 hours of verifiable investigative experience if the
applicant has completed an associate degree in Criminal Justice, or a closely related field,
from an accredited, regionally recognized, degree-awarding university, college or
community college, or
005.01C. A minimum of 2000 hours of verifiable investigative experience if the
applicant has completed a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, or a closely related field,
from an accredited, regionally recognized, degree-awarding university or college, and
005.01D. A minimum score of 80% on the license exam.
006. PLAIN CLOTHES INVESTIGATOR'S LICENSE
006.01. Before being approved by the Secretary of State all applicants for a plain clothes
investigators license must meet or exceed the following requirements:
006.01A. A minimum score of 80% on the license exam.
006.01B. A statement signed by the agency license holder who the plain clothes
investigator will be employed by ensuring that each investigator has the necessary
knowledge to competently practice in the private investigative business.
006.02. A plain clothes investigator license shall be null and void upon the following
circumstances: expiration of agency, termination of employment
006.03. All plain clothes investigators must be employed by a licensed Nebraska private
detective agency.
006.04. In addition to the requirements set forth in these rules before being approved by the
Secretary of State all applicants for a plain clothes investigators license must meet all the
requirements set forth for licensure under the Private Detective Licensing Act.
Annotation: Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 71-3201 and 71-3205
Reciprocity: Nebraska does not have reciprocity agreements with any other states.
Testing: 007. LICENSE EXAM
007.01. The license exam shall consist of questions aimed at determining whether the applicant
has the reasonably necessary knowledge, experience, and competency to engage in and perform
the duties of the secret service or private policing business.
007.01A. Knowledge of the Nebraska Private Detective Act and laws related to or
affecting private detective work, including but not limited to:
007.01A1. Provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-3201 through 71-3213 the Nebraska
private detective licensing act
007.01A2. Basic requirements to become a license holder
007.01A3. Debt collection restrictions
007.01A4. Surety bond requirements
007.01A5. Minimum number of hours of experience to apply for a detective
license
007.01A6. Disqualification for application of private detective license
007.01A7. Expiration date of all license holders
007.01A8. Restrictions on duties of plain clothes investigators
007.01A9. Advertising for private detective services
007.01A10. License renewal requirements
007.01A11. Interception of wire of electronic communications (wiretapping)
007.01A12. Trespassing
007.01A13. Carrying a concealed weapon
007.01A14. Provisions of the Nebraska private detective licensing rules and
regulations
007.01A15. Intrusion
007.02. The license exam shall be administered at such places and times as the Secretary of
State may determine, but in no event shall the test be held more than 30 days after an applicant's
request to take the test. Any applicant who does not pass the exam must wait at least 21 days
before re-taking the exam. If an applicant does not pass the test after three tries the applicant
shall be considered incompetent to receive a license for private investigative work in the State of
Nebraska, and shall not be eligible to take the test again. A passing exam score shall be valid for
2 years from the date of examination.
Annotation: Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 71-3205
The license exam shall consist of questions aimed at determining whether the applicant
has the reasonably necessary knowledge, experience, and competency to engage in and perform the duties of the secret service or private policing business.
Must score 80% or higher.
Fees: Agency License
$100.00 + $38
Private Detective License
$50.00 + $38
Plainclothes Investigator License
$25.00 + $38
Renewal Information: All licenses are required to be renewed by June 30 of each even numbered year.
008.01A. Private Detective …………………………..$50.00.
008.01B. Private Detective Agency ………………...$100.00.
008.01C. Plain Clothes Investigator…………….……$25.00.
Forms: An application for private detective, private detective agency or plain clothes investigator must be requested from the Licensing Division.
(402) 471-2385
Advertising Restrictions: 002. PRIVATE DETECTIVE BUSINESS
002.01. For purposes of the Act advertising or holding oneself out as being engaged in the
private detective business shall mean and include:
002.01A. Placing advertisements offering private detective, secret service or private
policing services.
002.01B. Distributing business cards using stationary or letterhead indicating the
individual or entity offers private detective, secret service or private policing services.
002.01C. Soliciting clients for the purpose of performing private detective, secret
service, or private policing services.
002.02. Advertising in state and local publication must be the same as identified on the
application form.
002.02A. Private detective agency advertising must have a private detective agency
license.
002.02B. Private detective advertising must be advertising as an individual performing
private detective work.
002.02C. Plain clothes investigators may only advertise as employees of a private
detective agency that they are employed.
Annotation: Neb. Rev. Stat. Sec. 71-3201 and 71-3202