Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Georgia | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies (Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards) |
| Who holds the licence | The agency |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience | 2 years as a registered agent with a licensed detective agency, or 2 years in law enforcement, or a 4-year degree in criminal justice or related field |
| Exam | Yes |
| Bond or insurance | $25,000 bond, or $1,000,000 liability insurance, or net worth affidavit over $50,000 |
| Fees | Private detective company: $100 application + $300 licence ($400); renewal $300 ($400 late); employee registration $45 unarmed or $70 armed, renewal $65; plus $5 online or $10 paper processing fee; PSI exam fee paid separately |
| Processing time | The Board decides exam eligibility at its meetings; rejected candidates are told within two weeks of the meeting |
| Renewal | Every 2 years; company licences expire 30 June of odd-numbered years ($300 detective company renewal; employee registration $65) |
| Reciprocity | No reciprocal licensing, but limited licence recognition agreements with Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia allow up to 30 days per case per year on home-state cases |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| Firearms | A Board-issued weapon permit is needed to carry while working; a probate-court weapons licence is not valid on duty |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.