Applying for an Individual Private Investigator License

Registration of your business structure is a separate registration from your Private Investigator license and may be filed online through the One Stop Business Portal.

• If you will be a sole proprietorship, you may want to wait to apply for the business registration certificate with the State Tax Department until after your private investigator license is approved.
• If you prefer to establish a legal entity such as a corporation or LLC, you should at least file a Name Reservation (Form NR-1) to reserve the business name through the Secretary of State before you apply for a license, to make sure the name on your license application and the name under which you will do business are the same.

Use one of the following methods:

• Download the application form
• Request the application packet by email at licensing@wvsos.gov
• Call (304) 558-8000 to request an application packet with the correct fingerprint instructions

Get one (1) required photograph taken within the last year. Have a passport size color photo taken by a photographer — a colored background such as light blue or gray works best. Attach the one (1) photo to your application.

Choose one (1) of the following methods of proof of bond:

• Surety bond — Find a surety company authorized to do business in West Virginia who will agree to issue a surety bond of $5,000 naming you, the applicant, as principal. Take the surety bond form and instructions (included in the application) to the agent representing that company. Your signature as principal must be notarized. The agent's signature must be notarized, and a power of attorney must be attached.
• Liability insurance — Provide sufficient proof of liability insurance as required by the Secretary of State.

Provide a blank character reference letter form (included in the application) to five reputable citizens who have known you for five years and who are not related to you by blood or marriage. Ask them to complete and sign the reference and return it to you. Do not mail or deliver your application until you have five completed references.

Provide copies of documentation proving you have met the training and/or experience requirements. Documentation may include:

• A copy of your diploma from an accredited college or university showing graduation from a two or four year program in criminal justice, criminal investigation, law enforcement or a related investigative field; or
• A transcript showing successful completion of at least sixty hours of credit in investigative studies; or
• A sworn statement (under penalty of false swearing) signed by one of the principals of a licensed private investigative firm specifying the time you were employed (hours per week and number of weeks), the skills you acquired, and your competency; or evidence of equivalent law enforcement employment. If all requirements are met by experience, the work must include a minimum of 32 hours per week for 100 weeks; or
• A combination of transcripts and experience. To determine if requirements are met, divide the number of appropriate college credits by sixty to determine the percentage met by education. For example: 24 credit hours ÷ 60 hours = 40% met by education, leaving 60% to be met by experience (60% × 100 weeks = 60 weeks minimum at 32 hours per week); or
• Verification of training received during military service relating to the private investigator and/or security guard business.

A $50 non-refundable application processing fee is included in the total fee. If your license is denied, the remainder will be refunded. The initial license is valid for two (2) years. If it is not renewed after the initial two-year period and you wish to do private investigations, you must register as a new applicant. After the initial two-year term, the license may be renewed each subsequent year for an effective term of two (2) years by filing the renewal application. The fee for an individual license is:

• $150 — West Virginia Resident
• $550 — Non-Resident of West Virginia

Submit your application, photograph, references, surety bond or proof of liability insurance, documentation of qualifications, and fee to:

If your license is approved, complete your business registration as outlined in Step 1 above.