How To Get A Private Investigator License

Any individual who performs the services of a private investigator must have a Class "C" license.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a license, you must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a citizen or legal resident alien of the United States or have been granted authority to work in this country by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Experience

An applicant for the Class "C" Private Investigator License must have two years of lawfully gained, verifiable, full-time experience to qualify for the license. This experience can be acquired through a combination of:

Private investigative work or related fields of work that provided equivalent experience or training;
College coursework related to criminal justice, criminology or law enforcement administration, or successful completion of any law enforcement-related training received from any federal, state, county or municipal agency, except that no more than one year may be used from this category; and
Work as a Class "CC" licensed private investigator intern. This internship is done at a licensed private investigative agency.

Examination

An applicant for the Class "C" license must pass an examination.

This examination will cover those parts of Florida law that deal directly with the business practices of the private investigative industry and the legal responsibilities of the individuals and agencies that work in that industry (sections 493.6100 through 493.6203, and Section 493.6301(5), Florida Statutes).

You must pass the exam before applying for licensure and submit proof of having passed the exam with your application.

We have contracted with Prometric Inc., a third-party testing company, to provide exam services. Anyone who needs to take the exam should contact our Public Inquiry Center at (850) 245-5300. One of our team members will preregister you with Prometric. You will then receive an email from registrations@isoqualitytesting.com with instructions on how to schedule your exam either online or at one of Prometric's facilities across the state and the nation. A $63 exam fee is required and paid directly to Prometric Inc.

Please note: Although Prometric does offer the convenient option to complete the exam remotely, if you have any technology-related concerns, it may be to your advantage to schedule an in-person exam at one of Prometric's locations.

View Questions and Answers About the Examination [ pdf 172.3 kB ] .

Application Instructions

Complete a Class "C" Private Investigator License Application[ application/pdf ].

Submit your application to:

The Regional Office nearest you or
Mail it to: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing, P.O. Box 5767, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5767

Note to Military Veterans

The initial application and license fees for a veteran shall be waived if the application is received within 24 months of the applicant being discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Please include a copy of your DD 214.