Arizona Private Investigator License: How to Verify

If you are hiring a private investigator in Arizona, the first thing to check is whether they are properly licensed. Arizona regulates private investigators at the state level, and working as a private investigator without the right credential is a crime.

This guide explains how Arizona PI licensing works, in plain English, and how you can check a private investigator before you hire them.

Who licenses private investigators in Arizona?

The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) licenses private investigators through its Licensing Unit. The rules are in Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 24 (starting at A.R.S. 32-2401).

Under A.R.S. 32-2411, a person may not act as a private investigator, or claim to be one, unless they are registered and working within the scope of their job for a licensed agency. Knowingly breaking this rule is a class 1 misdemeanor.

What counts as private investigation in Arizona?

Arizona's definition (A.R.S. 32-2401) is broad. It covers people who, for pay, investigate things such as:

• A person's background, habits, conduct, whereabouts, associations, reputation or character.
• Crimes against the United States or any state.
• The credibility of witnesses.
• The location of missing people, heirs, or owners of abandoned property.
• Lost or stolen property.
• The cause of, or responsibility for, fires, accidents, losses and injuries.
• Gathering evidence for use in court cases, arbitration and similar proceedings.
• Threats of violence, and protecting people from serious injury or death.

The definition excludes insurance adjusters and peace officers acting in their official duties.

Agency license versus employee registration

Arizona has two main levels.

Private investigator agency license

An investigation agency must hold an agency license. Every agency must have a qualifying party, the person responsible for managing it. In a one-person business that is the owner.

What that means for you: someone at the agency has had to show the state real experience and a clean background. Under A.R.S. 32-2422, the qualifying party must be at least 21, have no felony conviction or pending felony indictment, and have at least three years of full-time investigative experience (or an equivalent amount) that they can prove.

The agency must also carry a surety bond and workers' compensation insurance, according to DPS.

Private investigator employee registration

Individual private investigators who work for a licensed agency must be registered with DPS. Under A.R.S. 32-2442, an employee's registration runs together with the employing agency's license. It ends when that agency license expires, and it is canceled if the agency license is canceled or revoked.

What this means for you: an Arizona private investigator should be able to tell you which licensed agency they work for, and both the agency and the private investigator should show up as current.

How to verify an Arizona private investigator license

DPS directs people to check license and registration status through its Public Services Portal:

DPS Public Services Portal: license status

To check a private investigator:

1. Get their full legal name and the name of the agency they work for. Ask for the agency license number and their registration number.
2. Look up both on the DPS portal and confirm each is current.
3. Make sure the names match. The business name on the website or invoice should match the licensed agency.
4. Do not rely on a photocopy or photo of a card. DPS itself says a photocopy of an ID card is not proof that a registration is valid. Check the live record.
5. If you cannot find them, call the DPS Licensing Unit at (602) 223-2361 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., per DPS) and ask.

If a private investigator cannot or will not give you this information, consider that a warning sign.

What a license does and does not mean

A license tells you the agency's qualifying party met state requirements for experience and background, and that the agency and its private investigators are registered with the state. It does not mean:

• The private investigator is skilled in your specific type of case.
• The private investigator can do things the law forbids, such as trespass, hacking or impersonating police.
• The private investigator can give legal advice.

Ask about experience with your kind of matter, how they report findings, and how they price their work. See our guide on what a private investigator can and cannot do.

Questions to ask an Arizona PI before hiring

• What is your agency's name and license number, and your registration number?
• Have you handled cases like mine?
• What will you deliver: a written report, photos, video?
• Will you testify if my case goes to court?
• How do you charge (hourly, flat fee, retainer), and what costs extra?
• How do you keep my information confidential?

Is a process server the same as a private investigator in Arizona?

No. They are separate credentials from separate agencies. Private process servers are certified through the Arizona Supreme Court and the county Superior Court clerk. Private investigators are licensed through DPS. Some people hold both. If you need someone located and then served, ask whether the provider holds the right credential for each part of the job. See our Arizona process server rules guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Arizona require private investigators to be licensed? Yes. Agencies must be licensed by DPS, and individual private investigators must be registered and work for a licensed agency.

Can I look up an Arizona PI online? Yes. DPS points to its Public Services Portal for status checks. If you cannot find a record, call the DPS Licensing Unit.

Can an out-of-state private investigator work my case in Arizona? Licensing is state by state. Ask the private investigator whether they hold an Arizona license or work with a licensed Arizona agency, and verify it with DPS.

What should I do if someone is working as a PI without a license? Contact the DPS Licensing Unit. Unlicensed private investigation is a crime in Arizona.

This is general information, not legal advice. Licensing rules change, so confirm current requirements with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.