Private Investigators

Apply for a Private Investigator License

If you currently hold a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Private Investigations license, that license remains valid until the expiration date DPS assigned to it. You can apply for a new DOPL Private Investigations license up to 60 days before your DPS license expires. Your DPS license will count as an endorsement that satisfies the educational and experience requirements for the same license classification. Once your DOPL license is approved, you will receive a DOPL license number and a new ID card.

Review the Private Investigator Exam Information webpage for exam information.

Applicants who have a Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree or are POST (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certified may use those credentials to satisfy all or part the experience requirements.

The following requirements must be met for a Private Investigator Apprentice license:

$157 non-refundable application fee
Verification of Supervision for Private Investigator Apprentice
Criminal Background Check - refer to the "Manual Fingerprint Submission" instructions on our fingerprinting webpage

The following requirements must be met for a Private Investigator Agent license:

$157 non-refundable application fee
5,000 hours of approved investigative experience
Surety Bond in the amount of $10,000
Criminal Background Check - refer to the "Manual Fingerprint Submission" instructions on our fingerprinting webpage

All new applicants for a Private Investigation Agent license must successfully pass a division-approved licensing exam. Exam scores are automatically reported directly to DOPL by the division's testing provider.

The following requirements must be met for a Private Investigations Agency license:

$215 non-refundable application fee
Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $500,000 with DOPL (160 E. 300 S., Salt Lake City, UT., 84111) listed as the certificate holder
Surety Bond in the amount of $10,000
Workers' Compensation Insurance information or Waiver information
Unemployment Insurance information

All applicants for a PI Agency license must hold an active Private Investigator Agent license in Utah.

Apply Online