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Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission

 

Private Investigation Company Requirements

 

 

It is unlawful for any person to act as an investigations company or private investigator without first having obtained a license from the Commission. If the company is a partnership each partner must qualify. If the company is a corporation an agent must be nominated to qualify.

 

License Requirements

  • Be at least 21 years of age.
  • Be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien.
  • Not suffer from habitual drunkenness or narcotics addiction or dependence.
  • Not have been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease - UNLESS subsequently declared competent by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  • Be of good moral character.
  • Must meet examination requirements.
  • Must submit three classifiable fingerprint card for process through TBI and FBI for criminal history check.

Experience Requirements

    • Effective July 1, 2009 applicants for a Tennessee Private Investigation Company are required to meet the following experience requirements in order to qualify for a company license:

    • Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-26-206(a) On and after July 1, 2009 each individual applicant; or, if the applicant is a partnership, each partner; or, if he applicant is a corporation, the qualifying agent, must:

      (6) (A) Possess, or employ at least one (1) person who possesses, at least two thousand (2,000) hours of compensated, verifiable, investigative experience satisfactory to the commission; or have one (1) year of applicable, related experience or education in a related area of study approved by the commission, and

      (B) Pass an examination to be administered at least twice annually by the commission designed to measure knowledge and competence in the investigations field.

      (b) The provisions of subsection (a)(6)(A) shall not apply to any person who has been issued an investigations company license prior to the effective date of this act and such a license may continue to be renewed in accordance with the provisions of this part or any rules      and regulations promulgated by the commission in effect prior to July 1, 2009.

    • Experience Requirement Documentation

Examination Requirements

  • Pass an examination designed to measure knowledge and competence in managing a private investigation company.
  • Effective April 1, 2013  Private Investigator, Private Investigation Company, Polygraph Intern and Polygraph Examiner licensing examinations will be temporarily unavailable for scheduling.  We are working to get a new proctor in place to conduct the examinations.  A notice will be posted as soon as a new examination proctor has been established.

Renewal Requirements

  • License must be renewed every two years. Click Here for a schedule of fees.

Applications & Fees