Private investigator licensing in Rhode Island

Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Rhode Island. Rhode Island requires private detectives to hold a licence under state law, but there is no state licensing office: you apply to the town council or city licensing authority where your principal place of business is located, and the local police department carries out the background check. Applicants need five years' experience as an investigator or police officer, five years working for a private detective, a criminal justice degree or equivalent training, plus a clean felony record and a $5,000 surety bond. The licence is issued to an individual, costs $150 a year and must be renewed annually.

5 years as an investigator or police officer with a government police or investigative agency, 5 years employed as an investigator by a private detective, a criminal justice degree from an accredited college, or substantively equivalent training or experience (5-5-3)

No state exam is required.

$5,000 surety bond (individual), delivered to the local licensing authority (5-5-14)

Annual: each licence expires one year after issue and the renewal application must reach the local licensing authority at least 30 days before expiry (5-5-8)

Licence $150 a year set by statute (5-5-9); some towns add an application fee (e.g. Newport $50)

1. Check you meet the 5-5-3 qualifications (citizenship, no felony, good character, and the experience or criminal justice degree route) 2. Get the private detective application from the town or city clerk where your principal place of business is located 3. Complete it with your qualifications and character references and have it notarised 4. Obtain a $5,000 surety bond from a surety company authorised in Rhode Island 5. Submit the application, bond and $150 fee; the clerk sends it to the police chief for a background check 6. The town or city council votes on the application and the clerk issues your licence and ID card

A detective from another state may enter Rhode Island for a temporary period on a specific matter without a Rhode Island licence (5-5-21)

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