Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Arkansas | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Arkansas State Police, Regulatory Services Division (Private Investigators and Private Security) |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals and agencies |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience | Company licence or manager: 2 consecutive years in the investigative field with an investigations company, or 2 years as a licensed bail bondsman plus a bachelor's degree; Class A/D applicants without this can complete a 210-hour course of instruction (17 CAR 350-1102) |
| Exam | Yes |
| Training | Class A/D applicants without manager experience: 210-hour PI course of instruction |
| Bond or insurance | No liability insurance requirement for Class A or D investigation companies (the $500,000 rule applies to Class B, C and G) |
| Fees | CPI credential $450 initial (includes one exam), $150 renewal, $75 transfer; Class A company licence $600 initial, $300 renewal ($150 late); Class D (one-person) $300 initial, $150 renewal ($75 late); re-exam $50; state and FBI background check fees extra (federal fee rose to $13 on 1 October 2026) |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; renew no more than 90 days before expiry; licences more than 6 months expired cannot be renewed |
| Continuing education | No continuing education requirement for private investigators in the Act or Part 350 rules (CE applies to polygraph examiners) |
| Reciprocity | Reciprocal licensing with Tennessee, Louisiana and Oklahoma (credential without exam on proof of good standing); out-of-state licensees may also work up to 10 calendar days after notifying the State Police |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| Firearms | The Act provides armed commissions only for security officers; there is no armed credential for private investigators |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.