Georgia PI Requirements
Private Investigators are regulated by that state’s Secretary of State Department. They have a very informative website with information including fees. You can research the current license status of all private detectives within the state. The agency investigates any complaints registered against a licensed agency and/or individual. If you would like to review the information about private investigator requirements they have a nice FAQ page: https://sos.ga.gov/page/private-detectives-and-security-agency-faq#Private%20Detective%20FAQ
How to become a PI
There is also a Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators – that you might want to check out as well. They have a wealth of information and a listing of members who have been vetted.
GAPPI is a self-governing association of Private Investigators. The organization was created to educate members, enforce a code of ethics, and establish mutual feelings of trust and friendships among its members and other investigative agencies throughout Georgia and the United States of America. We also strive to monitor and educate members about legislative issues that directly affect the investigative industry.
Florida PI Requirements
The Private Investigator’s License is issued by the Department of Agriculture. The site has a booklet you can download on their site that is extremely informative along with the current fee schedule.
The Florida Association of Private Investigators, Inc. is a professional organization created to provide a voice for licensed private investigators. They regulate professionals within the State of Florida and throughout the United States. FAPI was originally formed in 1963 and is the oldest Private Investigator’s Association in Florida. FAPI offers its members extensive networking opportunities with other experienced investigators nationwide, and a place to share referrals, questions, sources of information and more in a friendly, non competitive, yet professional atmosphere through our members only discussion group and forums.
Alabama PI Requirements
The Alabama Private Investigation Board – Mission – To regulate and license the practice of private investigation for the purpose of public protection. They have online applications and license check sections. They also provide a handbook and listing of official training centers that you can download.
The Alabama Private Investigators Association is a 501(c)(6) organization that promotes and encourages the highest standards of professionalism among licensed private investigators through legislative action, education, training, membership support and networking.
Why do Writers Want to Know
The main reason some writes will need to know the requirements for becoming a private investigator in their state is that they are writing about private investigators and should know what is required of them to get licensed. Some states are easier to get started than others. Some require a couple of years and training and almost all of them require some kind of license fee to be paid at one government agency or another.
It may also help to “shadow” an investigator for a day or two, interview a couple of different ones to get different perspectives and mostly, it really helps in creating these characters if you spend some time with a few.
If you are a private investigator and would be willing to give a talk to a writers group or two, please contact me, I have a podcast and several websites that I would love to interview you about procedures as well as several writers groups in my area who are looking for speakers. CLICK HERE
