How to obtain an application package

To obtain an AGENCY, INDIVIDUAL, APPRENTICE or JOURNEYMAN application you need to request an application in writing.

Completing the application

Please read ALL of the following information carefully and complete the entire application either by typing or printing the answers to all of the questions. When sending in your application, you must send everything required on the instruction sheet in order for it to be processed. If everything is not sent in, the application will not be processed and will be returned, and you will be charged a $20.00 processing fee..

State statutes do not permit refunding of fees.

The Board staff will be happy to answer any questions you might have concerning the application and suggest that you contact the Board office at 225-763-3556 Or (800) 299-9696.

The Board encourages you to attend all Board meetings as often as time permits.

LA. R.S. 37:3507: QUALIFICATIONS OF LICENSEES

1. Is of legal age (18)
2. Is a citizen of the United States or a resident alien holding a proper documentation to work in the United States
3. Has not been convicted in any jurisdiction of any felony or of crime involving moral turpitude
4. Has not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease which has not been restored
5. Is not a practicing alcoholic or drug addict
6. If a corporation, shall be incorporated under the laws of this state or shall be duly qualified to do business within this state with a valid certificate of authority issued by the Secretary of State, and shall have an agent for service of process designated as required by law
7. If, in the discretion of the Board, the applicant provides inadequate information to allow the Board to ascertain whether the applicant satisfied the qualifications for licensure, the applicant shall be required to provide additional information for the purpose of the application, or may be required to present himself/herself for an interview for this purpose
8. "Private investigation agency license" issued to any person or entity, as defined in RS 37:3503 (8), where the individual seeking license or the partner of the partnership seeking licensure or the principle corporate officer of the corporation seeking license
   1. has at least three (3) years experience within the last ten (10) years either working as a private investigator or in an investigative capacity
   2. satisfies all other requirements for licensing

LA. R.S. 37:3509: EXAMINATION; CONTENT. TRAINING CLASS REQUIRED

1. All applicants shall attend and successfully complete a Board approved, 40 - hour Basic Private Investigation Prepatory course. For Exemptions please refer to LA.R.S. 37:3510
2. All applicants shall take a Board administered examination and successfully pass with a 75% score. Applicants may retake the examination after 30 days. Retake fee is $25.00

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• You may also choose to purchase a manual for the cost of $50.00 plus $15.00 shipping and handling ($65.00 total). Please call the Board office if you wish to purchase a manual
• To register for the 40 - hour Basic Private Investigator Course, call the college or university of your choice

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AGENCY APPLICATION

If you are forming your own company, planning to work independently, or going to do contract work for others, you must apply for an Agency level license. This license will allow you to work for yourself and for other agencies. You must fill out the INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION and the AGENCY APPLICATION. You also need:

1. Any person applying for agency must show documentation of 3 years investigative experience per R.S. 3507.2 (A)(1)(a)
2. A fully complete application. Please print or type. Fill out the three-page (3) Individual Information, the two-page Agency Application (both applications need to be notorized), and the attached forms and requested information as listed below. While incorporation is not required, if you choose to incorporate, please furnish copies of your Articles of Incorporation
3. Occupational License for your agency physical address.
4. One 5" x 7" color glossy, original photograph. Please review the Application package example and submit a similar photo. A close-up shot of your head and shoulders with white or light-colored background is preferred. No other photo/image will be accepted.
5. Two FBI fingerprint cards in the Application package. See instructions regarding fingerprints.
6. Please fill out the 2 Criminal Identification information forms submitted in the application packet.
7. Enclose a copy of your driver's license with the application.
8. A check or money order for statutory fees; made payable to: Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners or LSBPIE.
9. 15 questions required and has to be notarized
10. Affidavit from your employers regarding your 3years experience

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• To contact the Louisiana Secretary of State Office for information or application for the Certificate of Authority for foreign Corporations:

Agency Associated Fees

Sort Order	Title	Applys to Type	Amount
4	Total fees to apply for agency license	AGENCY	393.00
5	Agency annual renewal fees	AGENCY	300.00

INSTRUCTIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION

If you are working for a licensed agency, fill out the INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION. Please furnish name of the Agency under which you are getting your license, their address & phone number (nos. 1 & 5 on the Individual Application). You also need:

1. Two fingerprint cards supplied by the office of LSBPIE.
2. Please fill out the 2 Criminal Identification information forms submitted in the application packet.
3. One current color (5" x 7") photograph of face & shoulders, light color background preferred.
4. Copy of your current driver's license.
5. Sponsor Form as enclosed in Application package.
6. Statuatory fees in the form of a check or money order made payable to Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners or LSBPIE.

Individual Associated Fees

Sort Order	Title	Applys to Type	Amount
7	Total individual initial fee	INDIVIDUAL	243.00
8	Individual license renewal	INDIVIDUAL	150.00

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPRENTICE APPLICATION

Apprentice is a license that allows an individual to serve one year only under the sponsorship of a licensed Louisiana investigative agency. This registration is non-renewable. Within that year, if the apprentice intends to continue as an investigator, they must attend the Basic Training Course and pass the course exam. Upon completion of all other requirements, the apprentice may request transfer of license status.

When submitting an apprentice application, you MUST furnish ALL of the following:

1. A fully complete Apprentice application. Please print or type. Three pages of personal information. (Items 1 & 5 refer to the agency/employer/sponsor as agency name, address and telephone number.) This form must be notarized.
2. One 5" x 7" color glossy photograph. Please review the example in the Application package and submit a similar photo. A close-up shot of your head and shoulders with light-colored background is preferred. No other photo/image will be accepted.
3. Two FBI fingerprint cards. See instructions regarding fingerprints in the Application package.
4. Please fill out the 2 Criminal Identification information forms submitted in the application packet.
5. Enclose a copy of your driver's license on a separate sheet with the application.
6. Sponsor Form as enclosed in Application package.
7. Statuatory fees in the form of a check or money order made payable to Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners or LSBPIE.

Individual Associated Fees

Sort Order	Title	Applys to Type	Amount
10	Total fees to apply for apprentice license	APPRENTICE	243.00

INSTRUCTIONS FOR JOURNEYMAN APPLICATION

You have been provided an application so that you may apply for a private investigator journeyman level license. You must complete the entire application, being extremely detailed when providing information.

The journeyman application is a three page document and affidavit. Both sections must be completed in detail and must be notarized. Do not leave any questions unanswered.

The fingerprinting should be performed by someone competent in the area of fingerprinting. If there are smudges and smears, the cards are likely to be rejected and your application process will be stalled. Also, both cards must be properly filled out, providing all information on the cards.

The required COLOR photograph must be clear and precise and must be a 4 X 6 or a 5 X 7. Passport photographs are not acceptable as well as digital photographs. Reproductions and copies are also not acceptable. YOUR PHOTO MUST LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE EXAMPLE IN THE BACK OF THIS PACKET.

The State Police documents and the fingerprint cards must be returned in the application package. You must provide a clear and concise copy of your driver's license.

The licensing fees are $393.00 and are non-refundable.

If you are currently licensed as an INDIVIDUAL private investigator and are applying for a JOURNEYMAN level license, the fee is $300.00. The old individual license number is not transferable. You will be issued a new license number and new expiration date.

After receiving your application, your finger prints will be sent to the State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

If you do not prepare the application in detail and as requested, it will be returned to you, thus stalling your application process.

Journeyman license definition: An individual license authorizing the individual to provide contract private investigator services to any agency licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners.

Journeyman license qualifications: A journeyman applicant shall meet the same qualifications as an individual license holder and shall have successfully completed the forty hour basic private investigators course and subsequent examination.

Journeyman license standards: Journeyman license holders shall maintain ajob log concerning each investigation they perform. The job log shall contain the following items:

1. Name of managing agency
2. Reference
3. Dates investigations were performed
4. Total number of hours worked during the investigation

Journeyman license application: The Journeyman license applicant is required to submit an affidavit acknowledging and accepting the Journeyman's license limitations. Those limitations include the following:

1. A Journeyman license holder shall only provide investigative services to agencies licensed under the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigative Examiners
2. The Journeyman shall not provide direct investigative services to the general public, private businesses or government agencies

Journeyman management: Each agency employing the services of a Journeyman shall supervise the activities of the journeyman in the same manner they would an apprentice or individual license holder.

Each agency employing the services for a journeyman shall also maintain and provide upon request of the Journeyman or Board, the total number of hours ajourneyman worked each year.

Agency licensing for Journeyman: In order to transfer from a Journeyman license holder to an agency, the Journeyman shall prove their qualifications by providing documentation that clearly demonstrates their experience as a private investigator. This experience must demonstrate at least three years of full time employment as a licensed private investigator.

Journeyman fees: Fees for a journeyman license shall be equivalent to the fees for an agency license.

Journeyman identification card: The identification card of a journeyman shall have the words Not an Agency printed on the face of the card.

Journeyman Associated Fees

Sort Order	Title	Applys to Type	Amount
12	Total journeyman license free	JOURNEYMAN	393.00
13	Journeyman license renewal	JOURNEYMAN	300.00

Sort Order	Title	Applys to Type	Amount
1	Application fee	AGENCY, INDIVIDUAL, APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN	50.00
10	Total fees to apply for apprentice license	APPRENTICE	243.00
12	Total journeyman license free	JOURNEYMAN	393.00
13	Journeyman license renewal	JOURNEYMAN	300.00
14	Study Guide - Add an additional $15.00 if mailed	AGENCY, INDIVIDUAL, APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN	50.00
15	Transfer from apprentice to individual	INDIVIDUAL, APPRENTICE, ALL	50.00
16	Transfer from agency to another	AGENCY, ALL	50.00
17	Transfer from agency to another	AGENCY, ALL	50.00
18	Private Investigator list	ALL	5.00
19	Private Investigator labels	ALL	100.00
2	Criminal background check	AGENCY, INDIVIDUAL, APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN	43.00
20	Private Investigator mailing list	ALL	50.00
21	Lost, stolen, or mutilated card or certificate	ALL	25.00
22	Name/Address change	ALL	30.00
23	Exam fee	ALL	100.00
24	Exam re-take fee	ALL	50.00
25	Late fee - If you are one day passed your expiration date you are delinquent and must pay the late fee. Agencies are also required to pay $20 for each licensed investigator.	ALL	100.00
26	Processing Fee - Returned Items	ALL	20.00
27	Application Packet	ALL	10.00
4	Total fees to apply for agency license	AGENCY	393.00
5	Agency annual renewal fees	AGENCY	300.00
7	Total individual initial fee	INDIVIDUAL	243.00
8	Individual license renewal	INDIVIDUAL	150.00

Welcome Home - Act 253

In accordance with Act 253 of the 2024 Louisiana Legislative Session, the Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners (LSBPIE) will now offer licensure by endorsement to applicants currently licensed in another state. Licensure by endorsement in Louisiana allows applicants who hold a current and valid PI license in another state to expand their career opportunities within Louisiana. Whether you’re moving to Louisiana or already residing here, this process recognizes your qualifications and facilitates professional growth. To qualify for licensure by endorsement, applicants must meet the following requirements:

To indicate your intention to apply for licensure via the Welcome Home Act, please notify the office when submitting your application.