Licensing Authority
Private investigator licensing in Kansas is managed by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, Private Detective Licensing Unit.
Important Note: Kansas is one of the few states that does not strictly require previous law enforcement or investigative experience to obtain a license. Instead, competency is determined primarily through a written examination.
Contact Information
Kansas Attorney General Attn: Private Detective Licensing Unit 120 SW 10th Ave., 2nd Floor Topeka, KS 66612
- Phone: (785) 296-4240
- Email: ksagpi@ag.ks.gov
- Website: ag.ks.gov/divisions/civil/licensing-inspections/private-detective-licensing
General Requirements
To obtain a Private Detective license, the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Age: Must be at least 21 years of age.
- Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States.
- Education: Must have a High School Diploma or GED.
- Criminal History: Must not have been convicted of a felony. Must not have been convicted within the last 10 years of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, assault, battery, or weapon offenses.
- References: Must provide five (5) personal references from U.S. citizens who have known the applicant for at least five years.
- Examination: Must pass a written examination administered by the Attorney General’s office (usually covering the Private Detective Licensing Act and lawful use of force).
Experience Requirements
- No Experience Requirement: Unlike most other states, Kansas does not mandate a specific number of years of previous investigative or law enforcement experience. The barrier to entry is the successful completion of the written exam and the background check.
Insurance & Bonding Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility by providing one of the following:
- Corporate Surety Bond: In the amount of $100,000.
- General Liability Insurance: A policy providing combined single-limit coverage for bodily injury and property damage in the amount of $100,000.
- Cash Deposit: A deposit of $100,000 with the State Treasurer (rarely used).
Fees
- Initial Application Fee: Approximately $250.00 (Fees may vary slightly based on whether you are applying as an individual, an agency, or an employee).
- Renewal Fee: Approximately $175.00 (Renewable every two years).
- Firearm Permit Fee: Additional fees apply if you wish to carry a firearm (requires 16 hours of training and a separate permit).
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Michael Kissiah is the owner of Brandy Lane Publishing, LLC, which owns and operates eInvestigator.com. Michael created eInvestigator.com over 25 years ago, after working as a private investigator in the state of Florida. Since that time, he has become an expert at finding information online and has written over 1000 articles on topics related to the investigation industry. In addition, he is the author of the "Private Investigator Licensing Handbook", available at Amazon.com.
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The Kansas Bureau of Investigation no longer handles licensing for Private Investigators. This is now through the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Please update your website with the following information.
Private Detective Licensing Unit
120 SW 10th Ave., 2nd Floor
Topeka, KS 66612-1597
(785) 296-4240
Fax: (785) 368-6468