Jurisdictional, Licensing, and Regulation Concerns
Washington Private Investigator License
Washington has four types of licenses: a Private investigator agency license, an unarmed private investigator license, an armed private investigator license, and a certified trainer license.
Reference Website:
http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/Contact Information:Website:
http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/Email:
security@dol.wa.gov Private Investigator Licensing Department of Licensing, PO Box 9048, Olympia, Washington, United States, 98507-9048
Phone: (360) 664-6611
Fax: (360) 570-7888
Associations:PNAI - Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators WALI - Washington Association of Legal InvestigatorsCitation Statute: Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Title 18: Businesses and Professions
Chapter 165: Private Investigators
Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
Title 308: Department of Licensing
Chapter 17: Private Investigative Agencies and Private Investigators
Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
Title 18: Businesses and Professions
Chapter 235: Uniform Regulation of Business and Professions Act
Website:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.165Qualifications Requirement: An applicant must meet the following minimum requirements to obtain a private investigator license:
(1) Be at least eighteen years of age;
(2) Be a citizen or resident alien of the United States;
(3) Not have been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction, if the director determines that the applicant's particular crime directly relates to his or her capacity to perform the duties of a private investigator and the director determines that the license should be withheld to protect the citizens of Washington state. The director shall make her or his determination to withhold a license because of previous convictions notwithstanding the restoration of employment rights act, chapter 9.96A RCW;
(4) Be employed by or have an employment offer from a private investigator agency or be licensed as a private investigator agency;
(5) Submit a set of fingerprints;
(6) Pay the required nonrefundable fee for each application; and
(7) Submit a fully completed application that includes proper identification on a form prescribed by the director for each company of employment.
In addition to meeting the minimum requirements to obtain a license as a private investigator, an applicant, or, in the case of a partnership or limited partnership, each partner, or, in the case of a corporation, the qualifying agent must meet the following additional requirements to obtain a private investigator agency license:
(a) Pass an examination determined by the director to measure the person's knowledge and competence in the private investigator agency business; or
(b) Have had at least three years' experience in investigative work or its equivalent as determined by the director. A year's experience means not less than two thousand hours of actual compensated work performed before the filing of an application. An applicant shall substantiate the experience by written certifications from previous employers. If the applicant is unable to supply written certifications from previous employers, applicants may offer written certifications from professional persons other than employers who, based on personal professional knowledge, can substantiate the employment.
An agency license issued pursuant to this section may not be assigned or transferred without prior written approval of the director.
No license to own or operate a private investigator company may be issued to an applicant if the name of the company portrays the company as a public law enforcement agency, or in association with a public law enforcement agency, or includes the word "police."
No criminal convictions that directly relate to your capacity to perform the duties of a private investigator and/or hinders public safety. A physical location of the business within Washington. A valid business license with the Department of Licensing. Proof of three years investigative experience performed before applying for the license. A certificate of liability insurance with minimum coverage of $25,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage OR a $10,000 Private Investigative Agency Surety Bond.
Testing: An exam is required for a private investigator license in the State of Washington. Exam information is available at the following website: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/piexam.html
Fees: Private Investigator Agency with unarmed principal: $600
Private Investigator Agency with armed principal: $700
Unarmed Private Investigator: $200
Armed Private Investigator (additional): $100
Renewal Information: Private Investigator Agency: $350
Private Investigator $175
Forms: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/pi/piforms.html