Compare licensing rules
Pick up to three states or countries to see their rules side by side.
| Wisconsin | |
|---|---|
| Status | Licence required |
| Regulator | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) |
| Who holds the licence | Individuals and agencies |
| Experience | None: DSPS states there are no pre-application education or experience requirements |
| Exam | Yes |
| Bond or insurance | Agency: $100,000 bond or liability policy (DSPS Forms 1482/1483); individual detective: $2,000 bond where the agency uses a bond rather than insurance |
| Fees | Private detective credential $8 initial and $8 renewal; agency licence $8 initial and $8 renewal; $25 late fee; exam fee charged per attempt |
| Processing time | Materials reviewed within about 10 days of a complete submission (DSPS's stated review time; some take longer) |
| Renewal | Every 2 years: individual credentials by 31 August of even-numbered years, agency licences by 31 August of odd-numbered years; no CE requirement |
| Continuing education | None required |
| Reciprocity | Military reciprocity route available |
| Recording calls | One-party consent |
| Firearms | Separate DSPS firearms permit needed to carry a firearm while acting as a private detective, valid one year from the last firearms training; holders of a Wisconsin concealed carry licence and qualifying current or former law enforcement officers are exempt |
Reference information, not legal advice. Each profile lists its sources and the date it was checked.