The Ultimate Guide to

Introduction: Launching Your Investigative Career in the Peach State

The field of private investigation offers a compelling career path for those with an inquisitive mind, a dedication to uncovering the truth, and a desire for a dynamic professional life. From corporate due diligence and insurance fraud to domestic cases and criminal defense, private investigators play a crucial role in the civil and criminal justice systems. For aspiring professionals in Georgia, entering this field requires navigating a specific and rigorous set of state-mandated regulations designed to ensure public safety and maintain high professional standards.

This guide serves as the most comprehensive and up-to-date resource for becoming a private investigator in Georgia. The information is based directly on the official laws and rules set forth by the state’s governing body, the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. A fundamental understanding of the state’s unique regulatory structure is the first and most critical step. In Georgia, the path to becoming a professional investigator is not a single track; it is a dual-pathway system that makes a clear distinction between working as a registered employee for an established firm and obtaining a license to operate an agency. Understanding this core concept is essential for charting a successful course into this demanding and rewarding profession.

The Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies: Your Regulatory Partner

All aspects of the private investigation and private security industries in Georgia are governed by one entity: the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. This board, operating under the office of the Georgia Secretary of State, is the sole authority responsible for setting the qualifications for licensure and registration, administering examinations, granting licenses, and regulating professional conduct. Its primary mission is to safeguard the citizens of Georgia by ensuring that all private investigators are appropriately vetted, trained, and held accountable to a stringent code of ethics and professional standards.

Aspiring investigators must work directly with the Board throughout their careers, from initial application to renewal. All official applications, renewals, and status checks are now handled digitally through the Board’s online portal.

Official Licensing Authority Contact Information:

• Agency: Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies
• Address: 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-3858
• Phone: 404-424-9966
• Official Website: sos.ga.gov/board-private-detectives-and-security-agencies

The Board’s website is an indispensable resource. Key sections for applicants include the Georgia Online Application & Licensing System (GOALS) portal for submitting all applications, the “How-To Guides” for company and employee licensure, and the official “Board Rules” and “Board Laws” sections, which contain the complete, unabridged regulations governing the profession.

Georgia’s Licensing Framework: The Critical Distinction

A common point of confusion for newcomers is the structure of Georgia’s licensing system. Individuals do not receive a personal “private investigator license.” Instead, the state’s framework is built on a two-tiered system: investigation companies are licensed, and the individual investigators who work for those companies are registered with the state under their employer’s agency license.

This “agency-licensed, employee-registered” model effectively creates a de facto apprenticeship system. To qualify for an agency license, one of the primary prerequisites is two years of verified experience working as a registered private detective employee. This means that for most individuals who do not have prior law enforcement experience or a specific four-year degree, the journey begins by working for and learning from an established, licensed agency. This structure is not merely a bureaucratic formality; it is a deliberate system designed to promote mentorship and ensure that anyone who opens their own agency has a foundation of practical, supervised, real-world experience. This framework elevates the professional standards of the industry by ensuring that agency owners are not just skilled investigators but also have experience with the operational and ethical demands of the profession.

Path 1: How to Become a Registered Private Investigator (Employee)

This is the most common entry point into the private investigation field in Georgia. It involves meeting state requirements, completing mandatory training, and securing employment with a licensed agency that will sponsor the state registration.

Step 1: Meeting Foundational State Requirements

Before an individual can even consider training or employment, they must meet a set of non-negotiable personal criteria as mandated by Georgia law, specifically O.C.G.A. § 43-38-6. An applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Be a United States citizen or a registered resident alien with a legal right to work in the U.S..
• Be of good moral character, which is assessed through a comprehensive background investigation.
• Have no convictions for a felony or any crime involving the illegal use of a dangerous weapon or any crime of moral turpitude. A criminal background check, including fingerprint submission, is a mandatory component of the application process.

Step 2: Completing the Mandatory 70-Hour Basic Training Course

The educational cornerstone for every new private investigator in Georgia is the successful completion of a 70-hour basic training course. This comprehensive curriculum is designed to provide aspiring PIs with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to conduct investigations ethically and legally.

The course curriculum is extensive and covers a wide range of essential topics, including Georgia administrative board rules, laws of arrest, search and seizure, rules of evidence, surveillance techniques, interviewing and interrogation, case management, report writing, and professional ethics. This training is available through various providers in both online and traditional classroom formats, offering flexibility for applicants.

Crucially, the course must be provided by an instructor or school that is certified by the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify the instructor’s credentials through the Board’s official “License Verification” portal before enrolling in any course.

Step 3: Securing Employment with a Licensed Agency

An individual cannot register with the state independently. The registration process is tied directly to employment. An aspiring PI must first be hired by a private investigation agency that holds a valid company license in Georgia. The hiring agency is then legally responsible for submitting the employee registration application to the Board on the new hire’s behalf within 30 days of the start of employment. To find potential employers, applicants can consult professional directories of private investigation agencies in Georgia.

Step 4: Navigating the Online Application Process (GOALS Portal)

The state of Georgia has modernized its application procedures, and all submissions must now be made digitally through the Georgia Online Application & Licensing System (GOALS). The Board no longer accepts paper applications.

Applicants and their sponsoring agencies must prepare a complete package of required documentation for upload to the portal. A complete application for a Private Detective Employee registration includes the following:

• The completed, signed, and notarized application form (submitted via the GOALS portal).
• The required application fee (see table below).
• Background Check: This requires the applicant to schedule an appointment and submit fingerprints through the Georgia Applicant Processing Service (GAPS), which is operated by Idemia.
• Proof of Training: A certificate of completion from the board-approved 70-hour basic training course.
• Affidavit of Employment: A form completed and signed by the hiring agency, confirming employment.
• Secure & Verifiable Document: Proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or passport.
• Affidavit of Citizenship: A sworn statement confirming citizenship or legal residency status.
• For Armed Registration: If the PI will be armed, a Weapon Permit Form and proof of qualifying range scores from a board-approved firearms instructor must also be submitted.

Georgia PI Employee Registration Fees

Path 2: How to License Your Own Private Investigation Agency

Transitioning from a registered employee to an agency owner is a significant professional step that comes with a much higher level of responsibility and, consequently, more stringent state requirements. This path is designed for experienced professionals ready to take on the legal and financial obligations of running a business. The state’s requirements for agency licensure are focused not just on investigative competence but on business management, legal accountability, and financial stability.

Step 1: Fulfilling Advanced Experience or Education Mandates

Before an individual can apply to open an agency, they must qualify to sit for the Georgia Private Detective Agency Examination. To be deemed eligible by the Board, an applicant must meet at least one of the following three criteria:

1. Experience Path: Possess two years of verifiable, full-time experience working as a registered private detective for a licensed agency.
2. Law Enforcement Path: Possess two years of verifiable, full-time experience in a law enforcement role with a federal, state, county, or municipal agency.
3. Education Path: Hold a four-year degree in Criminal Justice or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.

Step 2: Passing the Georgia Private Detective Agency Examination

This examination is a mandatory requirement for the individual who will be designated as the company’s license holder. The exam is administered by a third-party testing service, PSI Services, LLC. Once the Board reviews an agency application and determines the applicant is eligible, PSI will contact the applicant directly with instructions on how to schedule the exam.

The exam is designed to test an applicant’s knowledge of the practical and administrative aspects of running an investigation agency.

Georgia PI Agency Exam Content Outline

Step 3: Meeting Financial Security Requirements

To protect the public from potential financial harm resulting from an agency’s negligence or misconduct, Georgia requires all licensed PI agencies to maintain a significant level of financial security. After successfully passing the PSI examination, the applicant must provide the Board with proof of one of the following:

• A $25,000 Surety Bond issued by a reputable bonding company.
• A $1,000,000 General Liability Insurance Policy that names the Georgia State Board of Private Detective & Security Agencies as a certificate holder.

This requirement ensures that clients have a clear path to financial recourse in the event of a valid claim against the agency.

Step 4: The Agency Application and Approval Process

The application for a “Company/Agency License” is also submitted through the GOALS portal. The initial application fee is $100. Upon passing the exam and providing proof of financial security, an additional license fee must be paid to the Board to finalize the process and issue the agency license.

Armed Registration: Carrying a Firearm as a PI in Georgia

The regulations for carrying a firearm while on duty as a private investigator in Georgia are strict and explicit. A standard Georgia Weapons Carry License, issued by a local probate court, is not valid for on-duty work. PIs who wish to be armed must obtain a separate armed employee registration and weapon permit issued directly by the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies.

The requirements for obtaining this permit include:

• The employing agency must submit the weapon permit application on the employee’s behalf.
• The applicant must complete a Board-approved firearms training course, which includes both classroom instruction and live-fire range qualification.
• The applicant must achieve a minimum qualifying score of 80% on the range, supervised by a Board-certified firearms instructor.
• This firearms qualification is not a one-time event. To maintain an armed registration, the investigator must requalify on the range annually.

Maintaining Your Professional Standing: Renewal and Continuing Education

Obtaining a registration or license is not the final step; maintaining it requires ongoing professional development and adherence to the Board’s renewal cycle.

Renewal Cycle

All licenses and registrations in Georgia are valid for a period of two years. The renewal deadlines are staggered:

• Employee Registrations (including weapon permits) expire on August 31 of odd-numbered years.
• Company/Agency Licenses expire on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

All renewals are processed online through the GOALS portal.

Continuing Education (CE) Mandate

To ensure that investigators remain current on laws, techniques, and ethical standards, the Board requires all registered private detectives to complete 16 hours of continuing education (CE) during each two-year renewal period. The Board specifies the subject matter for these hours to guarantee a well-rounded professional education.

PI Continuing Education Breakdown (16 Hours Total)

These CE courses must be taken from a Board-approved provider. Staying current with these requirements is essential for maintaining an active registration and avoiding penalties. For more information on this topic, it is helpful to understand the importance of ethics in private investigations.

The Georgia PI Career: A Statistical Snapshot

The demand for qualified private investigators remains strong, driven by the persistent needs of the legal, corporate, and private sectors. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for private detectives and investigators will grow by 6% nationally from 2024 to 2034, a rate faster than the average for all occupations.

Salary expectations in Georgia vary significantly based on experience, location, specialization, and employment status (employee vs. agency owner). An analysis of available data reveals a broad income spectrum, which reflects the career progression from an entry-level registered employee to a seasoned specialist or successful business owner. While the statewide average salary provides a baseline, the earning potential for top-tier investigators, particularly in major metropolitan areas like Atlanta, is substantially higher. This vast range underscores how the career path outlined in this guide—starting as an employee and potentially advancing to agency ownership—directly correlates with the path to higher earning potential. The highest salaries are typically achieved by those who have built a strong reputation, developed specialized skills like computer forensics or surveillance analysis, and successfully managed their own profitable agencies.

Private Investigator Salary in Georgia

Essential Resources and Next Steps

Embarking on a career as a private investigator in Georgia requires careful planning and access to the right information. The following resources are essential for any aspiring PI:

• Official Governing Bodies:
  • (https://sos.ga.gov/board-private-detectives-and-security-agencies)
  • (https://goals.sos.ga.gov/)
  • (https://candidate.psiexams.com/) (For Agency License Applicants)
• Legal and Regulatory Information:
  • (https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-43/chapter-38/)
  • (https://sos.ga.gov/board-private-detectives-and-security-agencies)
• Professional Networking and Development:
  • Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators (GAPPI)
• Further Educational Materials:
  • Additional (https://www.einvestigator.com/private-investigator-training-2/) can supplement state-mandated courses and provide specialized knowledge.

Conclusion: Embarking on Your Investigative Path

The path to becoming a licensed private investigator in Georgia is clearly defined, demanding, and structured to produce highly competent professionals. The state’s dual-track system, which distinguishes between a registered employee and a licensed agency owner, provides a clear career ladder from apprenticeship to entrepreneurship. The journey begins with meeting foundational personal requirements and completing the mandatory 70-hour basic training course. From there, an investigator can build a career as a valued employee of an established firm or, with the requisite experience or education, take the steps to launch their own agency.

While the regulatory hurdles are significant—involving comprehensive training, background checks, examinations, and continuing education—they exist to protect the public and uphold the integrity of the profession. For those who are diligent, ethical, and committed to the pursuit of truth, navigating these requirements is the first step toward a challenging and deeply rewarding career in the state of Georgia.

Sources

• https://www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/private-investigations/salary/
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/protective-service/private-detectives-and-investigators.htm
• https://bondinvestigations.com/georgia-private-investigator-detective/how-to-be-a-pi/
• https://goals.sos.ga.gov/
• https://investigativeacademy.com/online-courses/georgia-private-detective-pre-licensing-course/
• https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2020/title-43/chapter-38/
• https://privateinvestigatoredu.org/georgia/
• https://sos.ga.gov/board-private-detectives-and-security-agencies
• https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-apply-be-private-detective-employee
• https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/31%20Application%20-%20Agency%20%28Company%29%20License.pdf
• https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/31%20Form%20-%20Continuing%20Education%20Audit.pdf
• https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/31%20Reference%20-%20Fee%20Schedule.pdf
• https://sos.ga.gov/sites/default/files/forms/31%20Reference%20-%20Sample%20Curriculum_0.pdf
• https://www.gappi.org/
• https://www.harborcompliance.com/georgia-private-investigator-license
• https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/georgia/Ga-Comp-R-Regs-R-509-3-.12
• https://www.suretybonds.com/states/georgia/private-detective-security-agency-bond
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Private-Investigator-Salary–in-Georgia