Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Vermont | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals and agencies |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Experience | 2 years' investigative experience to practise independently or head an agency (e.g. as a licensed PI elsewhere, agency investigator or sworn law enforcement); none for registered employees |
| Exam | Yes |
| Training | Licensed PI (qualifying agent): 40-hour approved training programme; registered employee: 8-hour approved programme |
| Fees | Licensed PI (unarmed): application $175, renewal $140; armed: application $230, renewal $205. Registered employee (unarmed): application $70, renewal $95. PI agency: application $390, renewal $345. Transitory permit $70 |
| Renewal | Every 2 years, by 31 May of odd-numbered years |
| Reciprocity | Out-of-state licensed PIs with no Vermont base can get a transitory permit for up to 30 days a year (3176a). Fast Track Endorsement is available to anyone licensed in good standing elsewhere for at least 3 years. |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| Firearms | Separate armed certification (specialty) needed: approved firearms training with a Vermont-licensed instructor plus an FBI background check; licensees may not carry a firearm on the job without it (3175c, 3176) |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.