Private investigator licensing in Nevada
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Nevada.
The Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board licenses individual investigators and corporations (through a qualifying agent), and employees of a licensee need a registered work card instead. Applicants must be at least 21, show five years (10,000 hours) of investigative experience or the Board-approved equivalent, pass an exam with 75% or better and carry at least $200,000 of liability insurance.
21
5 years
Yes
$200,000 insurance
How to get licensed
- 1
Check you are 21+, a US citizen or lawfully able to work, and have 10,000 hours of investigative experience (degree credit allowed)
- 2
Request an application from the Board at pilbinfo@pilb.nv.gov and have employers certify your experience on the Board's forms
- 3
Submit the application with the $20 fee, $750 background deposit and fingerprints for FBI and Nevada checks
- 4
Sit the Board exam (held quarterly in January, April, July and October) and score 75% or more
- 5
After Board approval, file proof of $200,000 liability insurance and pay the prorated licence fee within 90 days
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Nevada.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- 5 years (10,000 hours) as an investigator or Board-approved equivalent; an associate degree in police science or criminal justice counts as 1,333 hours, a bachelor's as 3,000 hours
- Training
- Board firearms course (8 hours classroom, 5 hours range) only if armed
- Bond or insurance
- Liability insurance of at least $200,000 (or approved self-insurance) under NRS 648.135
- Citizenship
- US citizen or lawfully entitled to remain and work in the US
- Fees
- Application processing $20; exam $100 per category; background investigation deposit $750 for the first category and $250 for each extra one; licence fee up to $500 per category a year (prorated by month in the first year)Fees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- Not published by the regulator
- Renewal
- Annually; licences expire 30 June (renewal window 15 May to 30 June); $100 late fee per licence
- Firearms
- Separate Board firearm certification needed to carry on duty: a two-day course with a Board-certified firearms instructor (8 hours classroom, 5 hours range), requalification every six months, certificate valid 5 years; concealed carry on duty also needs a Nevada CCW permit
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity: every licensee must maintain a principal place of business in Nevada (NRS 648.148)
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
- 1 pilb.nv.gov
- 2 pilb.nv.gov
- 3 nevada.public.law
- 4 pilb.nv.gov
- 5 nevada.public.law
- 6 nevada.public.law
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Nevada
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Nevada?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Nevada. The Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board licenses individual investigators and corporations (through a qualifying agent), and employees of a licensee need a registered work card instead. Applicants must be at least 21, show five years (10,000 hours) of investigative experience or the Board-approved equivalent, pass an exam with 75% or better and carry at least $200,000 of liability insurance.
Who licenses private investigators in Nevada?+
Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board, under NRS Chapter 648.
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in Nevada?+
At least 21.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Nevada?+
5 years (10,000 hours) as an investigator or Board-approved equivalent; an associate degree in police science or criminal justice counts as 1,333 hours, a bachelor's as 3,000 hours
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in Nevada?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
Do private investigators in Nevada need a bond or insurance?+
Liability insurance of at least $200,000 (or approved self-insurance) under NRS 648.135
How often does a Nevada PI licence need renewing?+
Annually; licences expire 30 June (renewal window 15 May to 30 June); $100 late fee per licence
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Nevada?+
Application processing $20; exam $100 per category; background investigation deposit $750 for the first category and $250 for each extra one; licence fee up to $500 per category a year (prorated by month in the first year)
How do you get a private investigator licence in Nevada?+
1. Check you are 21+, a US citizen or lawfully able to work, and have 10,000 hours of investigative experience (degree credit allowed) 2. Request an application from the Board at pilbinfo@pilb.nv.gov and have employers certify your experience on the Board's forms 3. Submit the application with the $20 fee, $750 background deposit and fingerprints for FBI and Nevada checks 4. Sit the Board exam (held quarterly in January, April, July and October) and score 75% or more 5. After Board approval, file proof of $200,000 liability insurance and pay the prorated licence fee within 90 days
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in Nevada?+
No out-of-state exemption: the exemptions in NRS 648.018 do not cover investigators licensed in other states, and licensees must keep a principal place of business in Nevada
Does Nevada accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
No reciprocity: every licensee must maintain a principal place of business in Nevada (NRS 648.148)
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Nevada?+
It depends on the setting in Nevada; some conversations need everyone's consent.
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