Private investigator licensing in Wisconsin
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Wisconsin.
DSPS issues individual private detective credentials and separate private detective/security agency licences, and an individual detective must be employed by a licensed agency; anyone working for themselves also needs an agency licence. There are no education or experience prerequisites, but applicants must pass a DSPS open-book exam on Wisconsin law (84% pass mark), and anyone with an unpardoned felony conviction anywhere is barred outright. Agencies need a $100,000 bond or liability policy.
—
None
Yes
$100,000 bond + insurance
How to get licensed
- 1
Get an employment offer from a licensed private detective/security agency (or apply for your own agency licence too)
- 2
Apply on LicensE choosing Private Detective, Licensure by Examination, and pay the exam fee
- 3
Pass the open-book exam on Wisconsin statutes and code (84% to pass; results valid one year)
- 4
Upload Form 2687, a recent photo and the agency's Form 3038, plus Form 225X if you have convictions
- 5
Complete digital fingerprints when DSPS sends instructions
Licensed somewhere else?
See whether you can take a case in Wisconsin.
How to qualify
- Who holds the licence
- Individuals and agencies
- Experience
- None: DSPS states there are no pre-application education or experience requirements
- Bond or insurance
- Agency: $100,000 bond or liability policy (DSPS Forms 1482/1483); individual detective: $2,000 bond where the agency uses a bond rather than insurance
- Fees
- Private detective credential $8 initial and $8 renewal; agency licence $8 initial and $8 renewal; $25 late fee; exam fee charged per attemptFees change often: check the regulator's current schedule before you pay.
- Processing time
- Materials reviewed within about 10 days of a complete submission (DSPS's stated review time; some take longer)
- Renewal
- Every 2 years: individual credentials by 31 August of even-numbered years, agency licences by 31 August of odd-numbered years; no CE requirement
- Continuing education
- None required
- Firearms
- Separate DSPS firearms permit needed to carry a firearm while acting as a private detective, valid one year from the last firearms training; holders of a Wisconsin concealed carry licence and qualifying current or former law enforcement officers are exempt
- Reciprocity
- Military reciprocity route available
Rules in the field
Recording conversations
One-party consent
You can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Sources
Reference information, not legal advice. Confirm with the regulator before taking on work. Out of date? Tell us.
Questions about PI licensing in Wisconsin
Do you need a licence to be a private investigator in Wisconsin?+
Yes. Private investigators need a licence in Wisconsin. DSPS issues individual private detective credentials and separate private detective/security agency licences, and an individual detective must be employed by a licensed agency; anyone working for themselves also needs an agency licence. There are no education or experience prerequisites, but applicants must pass a DSPS open-book exam on Wisconsin law (84% pass mark), and anyone with an unpardoned felony conviction anywhere is barred outright. Agencies need a $100,000 bond or liability policy.
Who licenses private investigators in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), under Wis. Stat. § 440.26; Wis. Admin. Code SPS 30-35.
How much experience do you need to be a PI in Wisconsin?+
None: DSPS states there are no pre-application education or experience requirements
Is there an exam for a private investigator licence in Wisconsin?+
Yes, applicants must pass an exam.
Do private investigators in Wisconsin need a bond or insurance?+
Agency: $100,000 bond or liability policy (DSPS Forms 1482/1483); individual detective: $2,000 bond where the agency uses a bond rather than insurance
How often does a Wisconsin PI licence need renewing?+
Every 2 years: individual credentials by 31 August of even-numbered years, agency licences by 31 August of odd-numbered years; no CE requirement
How much does a private investigator licence cost in Wisconsin?+
Private detective credential $8 initial and $8 renewal; agency licence $8 initial and $8 renewal; $25 late fee; exam fee charged per attempt
How long does it take to get a PI licence in Wisconsin?+
Materials reviewed within about 10 days of a complete submission (DSPS's stated review time; some take longer)
How do you get a private investigator licence in Wisconsin?+
1. Get an employment offer from a licensed private detective/security agency (or apply for your own agency licence too) 2. Apply on LicensE choosing Private Detective, Licensure by Examination, and pay the exam fee 3. Pass the open-book exam on Wisconsin statutes and code (84% to pass; results valid one year) 4. Upload Form 2687, a recent photo and the agency's Form 3038, plus Form 225X if you have convictions 5. Complete digital fingerprints when DSPS sends instructions
Does Wisconsin accept PI licences from elsewhere?+
Military reciprocity route available
Can a private investigator record phone calls in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin is a one-party consent state: you can generally record a conversation you are part of without telling the others.
Associations for investigators in Wisconsin
Investigator events in Wisconsin
No upcoming events listed in Wisconsin right now. Know of one? Submit it free.
Meet investigators in Wisconsin
Join Investigator Events free to see who's going to the conferences and AGMs near you.
Join free