AZ requirements to be a licensed investigator employee: investigator & security employees must be at least 18 years of age and have a clean record to be licensed in Arizona. You must be licensed through D.P.S. if you work for a private investigation agency, a security guard / executive protection company, or law enforcement. Currently you may work without D.P.S. licensing as an investigator or security - LP employee for private companies handling only their internal investigative affairs. All documented investigative hours worked apply towards investigation agency licensing. If you have any questions as to what past problems may preclude you from being licensed, please call the D.P.S. licensing unit at (602) 223-2361.

AZ PI ID issued by D.P.S.

AZ requirements to be a licensed agency: one investigator must have the required minimum of 6,000 hours of documented employee investigative experience, and a clean record. This person will be the qualified party or "QP" of an Arizona state licensed investigation agency. The QP is responsible for overseeing all operations of the investigation agency including making sure that all personnel are trained and operate within all local, state, and federal laws pertaining to investigations and ethical best business practices. The required 6,000 hours can come from any verified investigative time worked for any employer. The hours do not have to come from private investigations or law enforcement employment. Professional Investigator class hours may be applied towards AZ D.P.S. agency licensing requirements of 6,000 investigative hours, and may as well be eligible for other state requirements.

Other States licensing requirements: each state has it's own requirements so it is important to look them up. Most states require a minimum of a clean record, and either a test, accumulative hours that vary from 2,000 to 6,000 in the field of investigations, or both a test and hours like California that has a 4 hr state test along with a minimum of 6,000 investigative hours. There are very few states left that have no licensing requirements. 

Testing: None required for Arizona. However, our Professional Investigator course prepares you to pass most state licensing tests. California for years has been considered the most difficult licensing test for investigation agency licensing. It Covers all areas of law and investigation that pertain to investigators and investigation agencies to ensure an investigation agency candidate has a well rounded knowledge of the investigation business as a whole. 

CE requirements: None required for Arizona licensing. However, this is something the industry is promoting, the government is looking into, and will most likely be coming. Many professional organizations require CE to be a member in good standing.