Apply In Person:

1. To Apply for a Private Investigator License, the applicant has to approach the United States Capitol Police link
2. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer or the applicant has to write a complaint letter A4 sheet.
3. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
4. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
5. The applicant has to attach photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting it.
6. The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as requested by the authority.
7. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
8. An acknowledgment receipt will be provided. Please save it for future reference.
9. Then the application will be processed further.
10. Once the process gets completed, the applicant gets a call from the office regarding the application.
11. The applicant requires passing a written examination to test his/her knowledge of private investigation techniques, ethics, and applicable laws. The licensing board will provide information on the examination process, including study materials, exam dates, and locations.
12. Private investigator licensing often involves undergoing a thorough background investigation. This typically includes fingerprinting, criminal history checks, and verification of the applicant’s personal and professional background.
13. After obtaining the private investigator license, the applicant may be required to fulfill continuing education requirements to keep the license active.
14. This entire process can be completed within 2- 3 weeks or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

• Application form
• ID proof (Birth Certificate, national Identity card, etc)
• Address proof – (Driving license, passbook, utility bill, etc)
• Fee receipt
• Education and Training Certificates
• Work Experience Documentation
• Background Check
• Passport size photographs
• Any other documents (if required)

United States Capitol Police
119 D Street, NE
Washington, DC 20510
Phone - (202) 224-9806
Email - uscapitolpolice@uscp.gov
Contact link

The requirements for obtaining a private investigator license in the United States vary from state to state.

However, some common requirements include:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Complete a training program approved by the state
• Pass a criminal background check
• Pass a written exam
• Obtain a surety bond

• The applicant has to pay the prescribed fee as requested by the authority.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The complaint registration is done instantly and the process of the investigation and closure of the complaint depends on the case proceeding and finds.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Applicants must complete the application form before submitting it. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Applicants must provide genuine information while applying for this procedure.

• Name of the applicant
• Address of the applicant
• Parent’s name
• Details about complaint
• email ID
• Mobile number
• Fax
• Mailing address
• Nationality
• Declaration
• Date
• Signature

• A private investigator license in the United States is a credential that allows individuals to legally work as private investigators, also known as private detectives or PIs. Private investigators are professionals who are hired to conduct investigations, gather information, and provide various investigative services to clients.

• The purpose of a private investigator license is to ensure that individuals engaged in investigative work meet certain standards of competence, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• The license is typically issued by a state regulatory authority or licensing board that oversees private investigators and regulates their activities.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help.

Private investigators are commonly hired for a range of services, including:

• Surveillance: Monitoring and documenting activities of individuals or groups for various purposes, such as gathering evidence for legal cases or uncovering suspected fraudulent activities.
• Background Checks: Investigating and verifying the personal and professional backgrounds of individuals, such as employment history, criminal records, financial standing, and other relevant information.
• Missing Persons and Skip Tracing: Locating and finding missing persons, including missing family members, witnesses, or debtors.
• Corporate Investigations: Conducting investigations for businesses and corporations, such as uncovering employee misconduct, theft, fraud, or intellectual property violations.
• Insurance Investigations: Investigating insurance claims to determine their validity, including conducting interviews, gathering evidence, and documenting facts for insurance companies.
• Legal Support: Assisting attorneys and law firms in gathering evidence, locating witnesses, and conducting research for legal cases.