Private investigator licensing in New York
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in New York.
The New York Department of State licenses private investigators, and the licence holder must be a principal of the business. Employees file employee statements and are not separately licensed. Applicants must be 25, have 3 years of qualifying investigative experience (or 20 years as a police officer or fire marshal), pass the state exam within the previous two years and post a $10,000 surety bond.
25
3 years
Yes
$10,000 bond
How to get licensed
- 1
Check you meet the age (25), principal and experience rules
- 2
Pass the written PI exam (register at the test centre on exam day; $15)
- 3
Get fingerprinted electronically through IdentoGO and submit within 5 months
- 4
Obtain a $10,000 surety bond on the Department of State form
- 5
Mail the Private Investigator application with fees to the Division of Licensing Services in Albany
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in New York.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- The agency (staff are registered under it)
- Experience
- 3 years' qualifying investigative experience or equivalent position, or 20 years as a police officer or fire marshal (GBL §72; at least one member of a firm must qualify)
- Bond or insurance
- $10,000 surety bond
- Citizenship
- No citizenship rule in GBL §72; non-resident applicants must file a written consent to the jurisdiction of New York courts (GBL §74)
- Fees
- Application/licence $400 individual or $500 corporate/business for 2 years; branch office $400/$500; written exam $15; fingerprinting through IdentoGO (fee set by IDEMIA)Fees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- Not published by the regulator
- Renewal
- Every 2 years (GBL §74); renewal fee $400 individual, $500 corporate or business; $100 late renewal penalty
- Firearms
- The PI licence gives no right to carry; a separate New York pistol licence is needed from the county licensing officer (NYPD License Division in New York City)
- Reciprocity
- No reciprocity or temporary-work provision appears in GBL Article 7; anyone doing PI work in New York needs a New York licence.
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 dos.ny.gov
- 2 newyork.public.law
- 3 nysenate.gov
- 4 nysenate.gov
- 5 dos.ny.gov
- 6 dos.ny.gov
- 7 nysenate.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 York
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in New York?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in New York. The New York Department of State licenses private investigators, and the licence holder must be a principal of the business. Employees file employee statements and are not separately licensed. Applicants must be 25, have 3 years of qualifying investigative experience (or 20 years as a police officer or fire marshal), pass the state exam within the previous two years and post a $10,000 surety bond.
Who licenses private investigators in New York?+
New York Department of State – Division of Licensing Services, under General Business Law Article 7.
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in New York?+
At least 25.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in New York?+
3 years' qualifying investigative experience or equivalent position, or 20 years as a police officer or fire marshal (GBL §72; at least one member of a firm must qualify)
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in New York?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
Do private investigators in New York need a bond or insurance?+
$10,000 surety bond
How often does a New York PI licence need renewing?+
Every 2 years (GBL §74); renewal fee $400 individual, $500 corporate or business; $100 late renewal penalty
How much does a private investigator licence cost in New York?+
Application/licence $400 individual or $500 corporate/business for 2 years; branch office $400/$500; written exam $15; fingerprinting through IdentoGO (fee set by IDEMIA)
How do you get a private investigator licence in New York?+
1. Check you meet the age (25), principal and experience rules 2. Pass the written PI exam (register at the test centre on exam day; $15) 3. Get fingerprinted electronically through IdentoGO and submit within 5 months 4. Obtain a $10,000 surety bond on the Department of State form 5. Mail the Private Investigator application with fees to the Division of Licensing Services in Albany
Does New York accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
No reciprocity or temporary-work provision appears in GBL Article 7; anyone doing PI work in New York needs a New York licence.
Can a private investigator record phone calls in New York?+
New York is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in New York
Associated Licensed Detectives of New York StateALDONYS
Society of Professional InvestigatorsSPI
International Intelligence NetworkNational
National Council of Investigation & Security ServicesNational
National Association of Legal InvestigatorsNational
National Association of Professional Process ServersNationalInvestigator events in New York
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