Private Detectives and Security Agency: FAQ
General Questions
More information about the Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies
Find out if a company has an active license Navigate to GOALS to register and login to the license portal >> There you can search for a facility / business license. Enter the requested information, click "search", and the license information should populate.
Verify a license status by visiting Navigate to GOALS to register and login to the license portal >>, and choose Individual Licensee from the menu. Enter the requested fields, click "search", and the data should populate.
Fees vary by the type of license for which one is applying. Refer to the Fee Schedule for a current listing of the various fees.
Once the Board approves candidates for examination, the approved candidates will be notified by PSI, which is the company that administers the exams. Candidates who are not approved for the exam will be notified within two weeks after the Private Detective and Security Agencies Board meeting at which the decision was made.
PSI is the administrator of the Private Detective Agency Licensure Examination, Private Security Agency Licensure Examination, and Private Detective & Security Agency Licensure Examination. When you are notified of your eligibility to take the exam by PSI, you will be provided with a link to the PSI website to schedule seating for the next available exam in the area of your choice. Exams are given frequently. However, PSI makes its own exam schedule. Please contact PSI for more information regarding the examination dates and times. The PSI website is http://candidate.psiexams.com. Additional information about the exams, including the candidate bulletin, can be found on PSI's website by clicking the link below for the exam that you are planning to take.
- Private Detective Agency Licensure Examination
- Private Security Agency Licensure Examination
- Private Detective & Security Agency Licensure Examination
No. The weapon permit issued by the Probate Court is not a valid permit while a private investigator or security guard is on duty. You must have a weapon permit issued by the Private Detective and Security Agencies Board to carry a weapon while on duty, unless you are an active peace officer working for a licensed private detective or security company.
View a list of active training instructors by clicking the tab labeled Search for a Licensee, choose Search for an Individual Licensee, choose the Board, License Type, and the Status from the drop-down menus, then click the Search button. You may also purchase a roster of active training instructors by completing the Roster Request Order Form which can be found under the button labeled Applications/Form Downloads.
All complaints must be submitted in writing. Verbal complaints are not accepted. Written complaints may be filed online by using the Online Complaint form on the Board's homepage. Complaints may also be mailed to the Georgia Board of Private Detective & Security Agencies, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217. If your complaint involves review of supporting documentation, such as written contracts, it is recommended that the complaint with documentation be MAILED rather than submitted online. Online complaints work best for complaints of unlicensed practice; however, the documents cannot currently be uploaded via the online complaint feature. Complaints are confidential by Georgia law in OCGA § 43-1-2 (k) (4) and OCGA § 43-1-19 (h) (2) and are not subject to the Open Records Act.
Review the application for Instructor/Trainer to make sure you meet the application requirements. Review the Board Rules for details on what information instructors must cover with students. Review the Sample Curriculum that is provided as a Reference under the "Applications and Forms" tab. Curriculum submissions must show the hourly break down of the topics covered.
The Board has Limited License Recognition Agreements with the following states: California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, and Alabama.
No. The application submitted for an employee license or registration must be submitted by the licensed company that the individual hopes to work for. Additionally, when any licensee or registrant transfers from one employer to another, the employer must submit a new application and the appropriate fee to the Board. Each employee license is tied to a particular employer.
Unarmed security guards are not required to be registered but are required to be trained in accordance with the Rules of the Private Detective and Security Agencies Board.
An Identification Card is perhaps the most visible and recognizable symbol of your profession. The Georgia Board of Private Detectives and Security Agencies is offering licensed Private Detectives and Security Agencies the opportunity to purchase a durable plastic Identification Card for $50.
Licensed Security and Detective companies/agencies may request a change of company/agency name and location by submitting the completed request form to the Board office. Please note that any change of ownership, change of designee, or change of business structure requires a new application and fee.
Yes, there are no exemptions for company / agency licensure.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-38-14, effective July 1, 2022, any person with a valid peace officer certification issued pursuant to Chapter 8 of Title 35, the "Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act," who is employed by or works as an independent contractor for a licensed private security business or private detective business is not required to obtain a license.
This exception does not apply to all valid P.O.S.T. certifications, only those that meet the definition of a Peace Officer, which is defined in O.C.G.A. § 35-8-2(8). This exception does not apply to any individual who was previously a P.O.S.T. certified Peace Officer, but no longer holds a valid certification. This exception does not apply to companies/agencies or their designees.
An individual who is a P.O.S.T. certified Peace Officer may still elect to be licensed under this chapter, but in that case, will be required to complete all required training, provide fingerprints for the required background check, and any other requirements to be licensed according to the current practice act and Board Rules.
Private Detective FAQ
Licenses in Georgia are issued only to companies. The holder of the company license must be an individual, either the owner, a partner, or an officer of the corporation or LLC, who is qualified by experience or education. Refer to the How to Guide: Apply for In-House Security Company Licensing page for more specific details regarding qualifications and requirements.
The experience required is two years - either in law enforcement or as a registered private detective employed by a licensed private detective company. The education required is a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, or a related field of study.
To be employed as an investigator with a licensed company, you must be at least 18 years of age and must meet the minimum requirements established by the Board, as detailed in O.C.G.A. 43-38-7. The company that hires you is responsible for your training by a Board-approved instructor However, you may attend Board-approved training classes on your own prior to being hired by a licensed company. The company must apply for Employee Registration on your behalf within 30 days of your hiring.
Yes. Computer forensics professionals are required to obtain a private detective company license if they own their own business that provides such services. The person is also required to obtain a registration to work as a private detective under the company license. Computer forensics meets the definition of “private detective business,” as defined in O.C.G.A. 43-38-3(3).
Yes. All applicants must take the exam for Private Detective and/or Security Agency. There are no exceptions for experience or for licensure held in other states.
The Board does not reciprocate with any other state for licensure. All applicants for company licensure in Georgia must take the examination for Private Detective and/or Security Agency. The Board has agreements with certain states for limited license recognition (see "What is a Limited License Recognition Agreement").
The agreement between Georgia and certain other states allows a licensed private investigator in another state to enter Georgia for a period not to exceed 30 days per case per year, to complete a case that originated in the state of licensure. A Georgia-licensed investigator would also be able to work in the other state for a 30-day period on a case that originated in Georgia. Currently, the Board has Limited License Recognition Agreements with California, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, and Alabama.
To work as a private investigator or armed security guard for another licensed company, the company must submit an Application for Employee Registration on your behalf, just as the company with whom you are presently employed did. The complete application must be submitted, including fingerprint results. If you will no longer be employed with the present company, you must turn in your registration to the company upon termination of your employment.
Yes. You may be employed by more than one company at the same time. Each company must apply for Employee Registration on your behalf.
Refer to the Fee Schedule for a current listing of the various fees.
Once the Board approves candidates for examination, the approved candidates will be notified by the administrator of the exams, PSI. Candidates who are not approved for the exam will be notified within two weeks after the Board meeting.
There are no study materials provided by the Board other than the Georgia Law and Board Rules.
Security FAQ
Licenses in Georgia are issued only to companies. The company must have an individual, either the owner, a partner, or an officer of the corporation or LLC, who is qualified by experience or education to be the holder of the license for the company. Refer to the How to Guide: Apply for In-House Security Company Licensing page for specific details regarding qualifications and requirements.
The experience required is two years - either in law enforcement or as a supervisor or administrator of a licensed private security company or in-house security operations. The education required is a four-year degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, or a related field of study.
Board-certified training instructors are issued a training instructor certification number, which may be verified online by accessing our License Verification page. You can search for Instructors by certification number or by name.
A complete list of active training instructors is available through our Navigate to GOALS to register and login to the license portal >> Choose the Board, License Type, and the Status from the drop-down menus, then click the Search button. You may also purchase a roster of active training instructors by completing the Roster Request Order Form.
To be employed as an armed security guard with a licensed company, you must be at least 21 years of age and must meet the minimum requirements established by the Board, as detailed in O.C.G.A. 43-38-7 and O.C.G.A. 43-38-10. The company is responsible for your training by a Board-approved instructor; however, you may attend Board-approved training classes on your own prior to being hired by a licensed company. The company must apply for Employee Registration on your behalf within 30 days of your hiring.
Licensed companies may be verified by accessing our License Verification page. Click on “Search for a Licensed Professional Entity” before entering information, if searching for a company.
Registered individuals may be verified by accessing our License Verification page.
Yes. All applicants must take the exam for Private Detective and/or Security. There are no exceptions for experience or licensure held in other states.
To work as a private investigator or armed security guard for another licensed company, the company must apply for Employee Registration on your behalf, just as the company with whom you are presently employed did. The complete application must be submitted, including the fingerprint results. If you will no longer be employed with the present company, you must turn in your registration to the company upon termination of your employment.
Refer to the Fee Schedule for a current listing of the various fees.
No study materials are provided by the Board other than the Georgia Law and Board Rules.
Training Instructor FAQ
Board-certified training instructors are issued a training instructor certification number, which may be verified online by accessing our License Verification page. You may search for Instructors by certification number or by name.
A complete list of active training instructors is available through our Navigate to GOALS to register and login to the license portal >> Choose the Board, License Type, and the Status from the drop-down menus, then click the Search button. You may also purchase a roster of active training instructors by completing the Roster Request Order Form.
Visit the How to Guide: Apply to be a Classroom Firearm Training Instructor page for more complete information on the application process.
You must apply for Training Instructor Certification, which must include:
- Original notarized documentation verifying that you are qualified by experience or education to teach the curriculum
- A complete lesson plan that encompasses the requirements detailed in Board Rule 509-3 for Security and Private Detective training.
NOTE: A lesson plan is a total training package. Outlines and course listings will not be accepted.
Refer to the Fee Schedule for a current listing of the various fees.
A minimum of seventy hours of classroom instruction is required in a basic training program for private detective license holders and registered private detective employees. Please refer to Board Rule 509-3-.06 for information on topics required in the course.
Instruction must be conducted by instructors who are licensed with the Board. Companies typically utilize licensed instructors on staff or as needed to conduct training for their employees. You may also search for licensed instructors on our website by using the License Verification feature.
A minimum of 24 hours of classroom instruction is required in a basic training program for private security officers. Refer to Board Rule 509-3-.02 for information on topics required in the course.
- Complete the 24-hour basic training curriculum as set out in Rule 509-3-.02
- Complete the requirements set forth in 509-3-.10.
- Employees trained in weapons in accordance with Board Rule 509-3-.10 must qualify with the weapon to be carried on duty with a minimum score of 80%.
Employees must have completed the required basic training before working as a private detective or security officer.
Temporary security employees must be trained prior to working. The training necessary is the basic security officer training in Rule 509-3-.02.
Refer to Rule 509-3-.08 for training information for shotguns.
Board Rule 509-4-.01 authorizes private detectives and security officers to carry a revolver of no greater caliber than a .357, or to carry a semi-automatic handgun of no greater caliber than a .45. In addition, upon written request from the employer being approved by the Board, a security officer will be authorized to carry a 12-gauge riot-type shotgun.
Yes. You can only care a concealed weapon with a written request from your employer justifying the need to carry a weapon concealed and after approval of the request by the Board.
Annually.
According to Rule 509-3-.12, private detective employees must obtain 16 hours of continuing education every two years, in addition to the weapon requalification requirements. There are associations, schools, and online providers that offer CE classes. Visit the Professional Associations Page for info.
According to Rule 509-3-.12, security officers must obtain 8 hours of continuing education every two years, in addition to the weapon requalification requirements.
Refer to Rule 509-3-.12 for approved education providers.