Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Indiana | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) |
| Who holds the licence | The agency |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Experience | 2 years (4,000 hours) of W-2 investigative experience (1099 work not accepted), or a bachelor's degree or higher in criminal justice or a related field |
| Exam | No |
| Bond or insurance | $100,000 liability insurance with the State of Indiana as additional insured |
| Fees | Firm licence $300 ($150 if issued within the year before the common expiry date); renewal $300 every 4 years; reinstatement after 3 or more years lapsed $600; Indiana State Police fingerprint check fee not listed by the PLA |
| Renewal | Every 4 years; firm licences expire on 1 October (2023, 2027, etc.); renewal fee $300 |
| Continuing education | None listed: renewal needs only the $300 fee and a 4-year criminal background check from your state of residence |
| Reciprocity | None: IC 25-30-1-14 makes it unlawful for an investigator licensed in another state to do business in Indiana until licensed by the board, and out-of-state applicants must prove good standing in their home state. |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| GPS trackers | Since 1 July 2023, IC 35-46-8.5-1 makes knowingly placing a tracking device on a person, or on property they own or use, without their knowledge or consent a Class A misdemeanour (unlawful surveillance). There is no exception for private investigators; placing a device on property you own or have a contractual interest in is exempt unless a protective order applies. |
| Firearms | The licence gives no right to carry a weapon (IC 25-30-1-19); carrying follows general Indiana firearms law |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.