Private investigator licensing in Connecticut
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Connecticut.
The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection licenses private detectives and private detective agencies through the State Police Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, and licensees must register each investigator they employ. Applicants must be at least 25 with five years' full-time investigative experience or ten years as a police officer, pass an oral interview, post a $10,000 surety bond and hold $300,000 of general liability insurance.
25
5 years
No
$10,000 bond + insurance
How to get licensed
- 1
Check you meet the age (25+), character and five-year experience requirements
- 2
Complete the notarised application (Form DPS-366-C) with photos, driving record, credit report, education proof, proof of citizenship or green card and experience verification
- 3
Pay for fingerprint background checks online through FlexCheck/CCHRS and get fingerprinted
- 4
Have four character reference letters sent directly to SLFU within 60 days
- 5
Attend the oral interview, then file the $10,000 bond and $300,000 liability insurance and pay the licence fee
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Connecticut.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- 5 years full-time as a licensed private detective, registered investigator, proprietary detective agency operator, government investigator or police detective (or other recognised investigative work), or 10 years as a police officer; up to 1 year can be substituted by an approved course; security work does not count
- Training
- Minimum high-school education
- Bond or insurance
- $10,000 surety bond and $300,000 general liability insurance
- Citizenship
- US citizen or green-card holder (per DESPP; work permits not accepted)
- Fees
- Individual private detective licence $1,450 for the first 2 years, then $625 per 2-year renewal; agency (corporation, association or partnership) $1,750 initial, $1,000 renewal; employee registration $40 each; background checks $75 state plus $12 FBIFees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- Not published by the regulator
- Renewal
- Every 2 years (individual renewal $625; agency $1,000); SLFU mails the renewal package 90 days before expiry
- Firearms
- No PI-specific armed permit; carrying a handgun requires a standard Connecticut pistol permit (C.G.S. 29-28)
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
Depends on the setting
Whether you need everyone’s consent depends on how and where the conversation happens.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Connecticut
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Connecticut?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Connecticut. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection licenses private detectives and private detective agencies through the State Police Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, and licensees must register each investigator they employ. Applicants must be at least 25 with five years' full-time investigative experience or ten years as a police officer, pass an oral interview, post a $10,000 surety bond and hold $300,000 of general liability insurance.
Who licenses private investigators in Connecticut?+
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), Special Licensing and Firearms Unit, under Connecticut General Statutes ss. 29-153 to 29-161 (Chapter 534).
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in Connecticut?+
At least 25.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Connecticut?+
5 years full-time as a licensed private detective, registered investigator, proprietary detective agency operator, government investigator or police detective (or other recognised investigative work), or 10 years as a police officer; up to 1 year can be substituted by an approved course; security work does not count
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in Connecticut?+
No state exam is required.
Do private investigators in Connecticut need a bond or insurance?+
$10,000 surety bond and $300,000 general liability insurance
How often does a Connecticut PI licence need renewing?+
Every 2 years (individual renewal $625; agency $1,000); SLFU mails the renewal package 90 days before expiry
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Connecticut?+
Individual private detective licence $1,450 for the first 2 years, then $625 per 2-year renewal; agency (corporation, association or partnership) $1,750 initial, $1,000 renewal; employee registration $40 each; background checks $75 state plus $12 FBI
How do you get a private investigator licence in Connecticut?+
1. Check you meet the age (25+), character and five-year experience requirements 2. Complete the notarised application (Form DPS-366-C) with photos, driving record, credit report, education proof, proof of citizenship or green card and experience verification 3. Pay for fingerprint background checks online through FlexCheck/CCHRS and get fingerprinted 4. Have four character reference letters sent directly to SLFU within 60 days 5. Attend the oral interview, then file the $10,000 bond and $300,000 liability insurance and pay the licence fee
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Connecticut?+
It depends on the setting in Connecticut; some conversations need everyone's consent.
Associations for investigators in Connecticut
Investigator events in Connecticut
No upcoming events listed in Connecticut right now. Know of one? Submit it free.
Meet investigators in Connecticut
Join Investigator Events free to see who's going to the conferences and AGMs near you.
Join free