Compare licensing rules
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| Rhode Island | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals |
| Experience | 5 years as an investigator or police officer with a government police or investigative agency, 5 years employed as an investigator by a private detective, a criminal justice degree from an accredited college, or substantively equivalent training or experience (5-5-3) |
| Exam | No |
| Bond or insurance | $5,000 surety bond (individual), delivered to the local licensing authority (5-5-14) |
| Fees | Licence $150 a year set by statute (5-5-9); some towns add an application fee (e.g. Newport $50) |
| Renewal | Annual: each licence expires one year after issue and the renewal application must reach the local licensing authority at least 30 days before expiry (5-5-8) |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| Firearms | The Private Detective Act has no armed PI licence; carrying a pistol needs an ordinary Rhode Island concealed carry licence, and some town applications ask whether you will carry one |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.