Private investigator licensing in Vermont
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Vermont.
Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation licenses private investigative agencies and licensed private investigators, who act as the qualifying agent for an agency or practise independently, and agencies must register their investigative employees. A licensed PI must be of the age of majority, have at least two years' investigative experience, complete a 40-hour approved training course and pass the Vermont jurisprudence exam. Registered employees complete an 8-hour approved course, and anyone carrying a firearm at work needs OPR's armed certification.
18
2 years
Yes
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How to get licensed
- 1
Check you have two years' investigative experience (or apply as a registered employee of an agency instead)
- 2
Complete a 40-hour OPR-approved training course
- 3
Apply through OPR's online services and pay the application fee
- 4
Upload two character references, experience verifications and the course certificate
- 5
Complete the Vermont jurisprudence exam and the VCIC and FBI background checks
- 6
To carry a firearm, add the armed specialty after firearms training with a Vermont-licensed instructor
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Vermont.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- 2 years' investigative experience to practise independently or head an agency (e.g. as a licensed PI elsewhere, agency investigator or sworn law enforcement); none for registered employees
- Training
- Licensed PI (qualifying agent): 40-hour approved training programme; registered employee: 8-hour approved programme
- Fees
- Licensed PI (unarmed): application $175, renewal $140; armed: application $230, renewal $205. Registered employee (unarmed): application $70, renewal $95. PI agency: application $390, renewal $345. Transitory permit $70Fees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Renewal
- Every 2 years, by 31 May of odd-numbered years
- Firearms
- Separate armed certification (specialty) needed: approved firearms training with a Vermont-licensed instructor plus an FBI background check; licensees may not carry a firearm on the job without it (3175c, 3176)
- Reciprocity
- Out-of-state licensed PIs with no Vermont base can get a transitory permit for up to 30 days a year (3176a). Fast Track Endorsement is available to anyone licensed in good standing elsewhere for at least 3 years.
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 sos.vermont.gov
- 2 legislature.vermont.gov
- 3 sos.vermont.gov
- 4 sos.vermont.gov
- 5 outside.vermont.gov
- 6 outside.vermont.gov
- 7 sos.vermont.gov
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Vermont
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Vermont?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Vermont. Vermont's Office of Professional Regulation licenses private investigative agencies and licensed private investigators, who act as the qualifying agent for an agency or practise independently, and agencies must register their investigative employees. A licensed PI must be of the age of majority, have at least two years' investigative experience, complete a 40-hour approved training course and pass the Vermont jurisprudence exam. Registered employees complete an 8-hour approved course, and anyone carrying a firearm at work needs OPR's armed certification.
Who licenses private investigators in Vermont?+
Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation (OPR), under 26 V.S.A. Chapter 59 (Private Investigative and Security Services).
How old do you have to be to become a private investigator in Vermont?+
At least 18.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Vermont?+
2 years' investigative experience to practise independently or head an agency (e.g. as a licensed PI elsewhere, agency investigator or sworn law enforcement); none for registered employees
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in Vermont?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
How often does a Vermont PI licence need renewing?+
Every 2 years, by 31 May of odd-numbered years
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Vermont?+
Licensed PI (unarmed): application $175, renewal $140; armed: application $230, renewal $205. Registered employee (unarmed): application $70, renewal $95. PI agency: application $390, renewal $345. Transitory permit $70
How do you get a private investigator licence in Vermont?+
1. Check you have two years' investigative experience (or apply as a registered employee of an agency instead) 2. Complete a 40-hour OPR-approved training course 3. Apply through OPR's online services and pay the application fee 4. Upload two character references, experience verifications and the course certificate 5. Complete the Vermont jurisprudence exam and the VCIC and FBI background checks 6. To carry a firearm, add the armed specialty after firearms training with a Vermont-licensed instructor
Can an investigator licensed elsewhere work a case in Vermont?+
A PI licensed in another state or country, with no Vermont residence or place of business, can get a transitory permit ($70) for up to 30 days in a calendar year
Does Vermont accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
Out-of-state licensed PIs with no Vermont base can get a transitory permit for up to 30 days a year (3176a). Fast Track Endorsement is available to anyone licensed in good standing elsewhere for at least 3 years.
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Vermont?+
Vermont is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in Vermont
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