Private investigator licensing in Michigan

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Michigan. LARA licenses professional investigator agencies, each run through a qualifying officer who holds the licence, and investigative employees work under that agency licence. The qualifying officer must be a US citizen aged 25 or over with a high-school education and 3 years' full-time investigative experience or a relevant bachelor's degree, and the agency needs a physical Michigan office. The agency also files a $10,000 bond or liability insurance of $10,000/$100,000/$200,000, applies online through MiCLEAR and renews every 3 years.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau, under Professional Investigator Licensure Act, 1965 PA 285 (MCL 338.821-338.851).

At least 25.

3 years full-time as a licensed investigator elsewhere, investigative employee of a licensed agency, government investigator or police officer, or in-house investigator; or a bachelor's or higher degree in police administration, security management, investigation, law, criminal justice or computer forensics

No state exam is required.

$10,000 surety bond, or insurance of $10,000 property damage, $100,000 per person and $200,000 per occurrence

Every 3 years at the end of the month of issue; renewal fee $300 (branch $125) plus a current bond or insurance certificate and proof the entity is active; there is no late-renewal period

Agency application $750 ($150 application fee plus $600 licence fee); branch office $125; renewal $300 every 3 years (branch $125); relicensure $750

1. Form the business with the Michigan Corporations Division, or register a DBA with the county clerk if a sole proprietor, and secure a physical office in Michigan 2. Check the qualifying officer meets MCL 338.826: US citizen, 25 or over, high-school education, no disqualifying convictions and 3 years' qualifying experience or a relevant degree 3. Obtain a $10,000 surety bond or a certificate of insurance meeting MCL 338.829 4. Collect five notarised reference statements on LARA's form, the Entity Members form and proof of qualifying experience 5. Submit the Professional Investigator Agency Application in MiCLEAR, upload the documents and pay the $750 fee 6. LARA investigates the qualifying officer's qualifications and issues the agency licence, which then renews every 3 years

No temporary permit exists. Under MCL 338.826(6) any reciprocal agreement would let an investigator licensed in their home state continue a case that began there for up to 30 days per case in Michigan without soliciting local business; LARA lists no agreements in force.

MCL 338.826(5)-(6) lets LARA sign reciprocal agreements that allow an investigator licensed in their home state to continue a case that began there for up to 30 days per case, without soliciting Michigan business; LARA publishes no list of agreements in force. Separately, 3 years licensed in another state counts as qualifying experience.

It depends on the setting in Michigan; some conversations need everyone's consent.