Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| California | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), Department of Consumer Affairs |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals and agencies |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience | 6,000 hours (3 years) paid investigative work; law degree or 4-year police science degree reduces to 4,000 hours, associate degree in police science/criminal law/justice to 5,000 hours |
| Exam | Yes |
| Bond or insurance | No general bond; $1,000,000 liability insurance for armed bodyguard work, and $1,000,000+ errors-and-omissions cover for LLC licensees |
| Fees | Initial application and exam $374; initial licence $424; renewal $292 (fees from 1 October 2025); firearms permit $110; Live Scan fingerprint fees extra |
| Renewal | Every 2 years ($292 renewal since 1 October 2025); delinquent 30 days after expiry; can be renewed up to 3 years after expiry |
| Continuing education | No continuing education requirement for PI licence renewal; armed licensees must requalify on the range four times during each 2-year firearms permit |
| Reciprocity | Limited reciprocity agreements with Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina and Oregon: investigators may continue a home-state case in California for up to 30 days per agency per case after Bureau approval |
| Recording calls | All-party consent |
| Firearms | Separate BSIS firearms permit needed to carry on duty: age 21, US citizen or permanent resident, 8-hour Power to Arrest course and 14-hour firearms course; concealed carry also needs a local CCW permit |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.