Private investigator licensing in New Mexico
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in New Mexico.
The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department licenses individual private investigators and private investigation companies, advised by the Private Investigations Advisory Board. Applicants must be at least 21, show 6,000 hours of investigative work within the five years before applying and pass an online jurisprudence exam. Companies must carry $1 million of general liability insurance, and licences run for three years.
21
5 years
Yes
$1,000,000 bond + insurance
How to get licensed
- 1
Check you meet the age and 6,000-hour experience rules
- 2
Have past employers complete the Certificate in Support of Experience form
- 3
Get fingerprinted through IdentoGO using ORI NM920250Z (service code 2BH2BY)
- 4
Register on the RLD online licensing portal and start the private investigator application
- 5
Pass the online jurisprudence exam inside the application (retakes allowed)
- 6
Upload your documents and pay the fees online
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in New Mexico.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- At least 6,000 hours of actual investigative work acquired within the 5 years before application
- Training
- None for an unarmed licence; firearm certification (department-approved firearms training plus a psychological evaluation) only if armed
- Bond or insurance
- Companies: general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000; no bond found for individual investigators
- Fees
- Application $100; private investigator licence $300 per 3-year term (renewal $300); company licence $300; late renewal $100; fingerprint fee set by the Department of Public Safety vendorFees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- One to three weeks from receipt of the application (RLD FAQ); background issues can delay it
- Renewal
- Every 3 years online through the RLD portal, by the expiry date (30-day grace period with a $100 late fee); 6 hours of CE per renewal period
- Continuing education
- 6 hours every 3-year renewal period (2 hours a year) from an approved provider; firearms requalification does not count
- Firearms
- Optional firearm certification on the licence: department-approved firearms training with a qualification score sheet and a psychological evaluation (16.48.2.9 NMAC)
- Reciprocity
- Licence by reciprocity for applicants licensed for at least a year in another state with similar or better requirements and no discipline in the last year (16.48.2.25 NMAC)
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
- 1 srca.nm.gov
- 2 regulations.justia.com
- 3 nmlegis.gov
- 4 srca.nm.gov
- 5 srca.nm.gov
- 6 srca.nm.gov
- 7 rld.nm.gov
- 8 rld.nm.gov
- 9 rld.nm.gov
- 10 rld.nm.gov
- 11 nmlegis.gov
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in New Mexico
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in New Mexico?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in New Mexico. The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department licenses individual private investigators and private investigation companies, advised by the Private Investigations Advisory Board. Applicants must be at least 21, show 6,000 hours of investigative work within the five years before applying and pass an online jurisprudence exam. Companies must carry $1 million of general liability insurance, and licences run for three years.
Who licenses private investigators in New Mexico?+
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department – Private Investigations Advisory Board, under Private Investigations Act, NMSA 1978 §61-27B; rules 16.48.2 NMAC.
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in New Mexico?+
At least 21.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in New Mexico?+
At least 6,000 hours of actual investigative work acquired within the 5 years before application
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in New Mexico?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
Do private investigators in New Mexico need a bond or insurance?+
Companies: general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000; no bond found for individual investigators
How often does a New Mexico PI licence need renewing?+
Every 3 years online through the RLD portal, by the expiry date (30-day grace period with a $100 late fee); 6 hours of CE per renewal period
How much does a private investigator licence cost in New Mexico?+
Application $100; private investigator licence $300 per 3-year term (renewal $300); company licence $300; late renewal $100; fingerprint fee set by the Department of Public Safety vendor
How long does it take to get a PI licence in New Mexico?+
One to three weeks from receipt of the application (RLD FAQ); background issues can delay it
How do you get a private investigator licence in New Mexico?+
1. Check you meet the age and 6,000-hour experience rules 2. Have past employers complete the Certificate in Support of Experience form 3. Get fingerprinted through IdentoGO using ORI NM920250Z (service code 2BH2BY) 4. Register on the RLD online licensing portal and start the private investigator application 5. Pass the online jurisprudence exam inside the application (retakes allowed) 6. Upload your documents and pay the fees online
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in New Mexico?+
An investigator licensed in another state may work a case in New Mexico for up to 30 days if it began in their home state, without soliciting business or setting up a business or residence here (16.48.2.24 NMAC)
Does New Mexico accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
Licence by reciprocity for applicants licensed for at least a year in another state with similar or better requirements and no discipline in the last year (16.48.2.25 NMAC)
Can a private investigator record phone calls in New Mexico?+
New Mexico is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
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