Private investigator licensing in Indiana

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Indiana. Indiana licenses private investigator firms, not individual investigators; a sole trader also needs a firm licence, and employees work under the firm's licence. The firm's qualifier must be 21 and show 2 years (4,000 hours) of W-2 investigative experience or a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a related field. The firm must carry $100,000 of liability insurance naming the State of Indiana as an additional insured.

Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency), under Indiana Code Title 25, Article 30, Chapter 1 (IC 25-30-1).

At least 21.

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

No state exam is required.

$100,000 liability insurance with the State of Indiana as additional insured

Every 4 years; firm licences expire on 1 October (2023, 2027, etc.); renewal fee $300

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

1. Check the firm's qualifier is 21 and has 4,000 hours of W-2 investigative experience or a criminal justice (or related) bachelor's degree 2. Get a fingerprint-based Indiana State Police check plus criminal history checks from every city, county and state you have lived in over the last 7 years 3. Buy $100,000 general liability insurance from an Indiana-authorised insurer, naming the State of Indiana as additional insured 4. Create an Access Indiana and MyLicense One account and submit the Initial Application with the $300 fee, Verification of Experience form, insurance proof and supporting documents 5. The board reviews the application; the licence is issued once proof of insurance is on file

Not allowed: IC 25-30-1-14 bars investigators licensed in other states from doing business in Indiana until they hold an Indiana firm licence

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.

Indiana is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.