Delaware Private Investigator License Requirements

Delaware charges a $105 fee for a five-year license that expires on your birthday. You must already be working for a licensed agency, and Delaware accepts no other state’s license.

Delaware PI license at a glance

Item	Detail
Regulator	Delaware State Police, Professional Licensing
Age	21
Criminal history	No felony; misdemeanor, juvenile, military discharge and law-enforcement membership limits also apply
Employer	Must be employed by a licensed private detective agency
Training	No outside training required
Fee	$105, initial or renewal, non-refundable, paid through IdentiGO
Term	5 years, expiring on your birthdate
Reciprocity	None: “Delaware does not have reciprocity with any other states”

What’s different here: the license is tied to an agency employer, so you need the job before the license.

Delaware PI license FAQ

Can I use my out-of-state license?

No.

How long is it valid?

Five years.

Verified against: Delaware State Police Private Investigator FAQ. Contact (302) 739-5991. Reviewed October 13, 2026.

Who regulates private investigators in Delaware

The Delaware State Police Professional Licensing Section processes private investigator licenses (issued as ID cards) and agency applications under Title 24, Chapter 13 of the Delaware Code and the regulations at 24 Del. Admin. Code 1300.

The Board of Examiners of Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies meets quarterly and must approve new agency licenses and agency changes, so plan your timing around its schedule.

Delaware PI license types

License or credential	Who it is for
Individual private investigator license (ID card)	Investigators employed by a licensed Delaware agency
Private investigative agency license	Businesses providing investigative services; approved by the Board

How to get licensed in Delaware: step by step

1. Get hired by a licensed Delaware private investigative agency.
2. Complete the individual application, noting your employing agency.
3. Get fingerprints and a photo ID through IdentoGO using the Delaware service code listed by the State Police.
4. Submit the application and the $105 fee to Professional Licensing.
5. Pick up your license in Dover (typically 3 to 5 business days after approval) or allow at least 10 business days for mail.
6. Carry your ID card whenever you work, and report any arrest within five business days.

Carrying a firearm as a Delaware investigator

Delaware agencies must keep a record book listing the weapons or items each employee is qualified to carry, with certification dates and scores. If you plan to carry a firearm while working, confirm the State Police and Board requirements for armed licensing and qualification.

Agency recordkeeping rules

Class A agencies must submit employee rosters quarterly (by the 10th of January, April, July and October), listing each employee’s name, date of birth, race, sex, license expiration and position code. They must also keep a record book at the business location covering employee names, positions, assigned locations, IDs, the weapons or items each is qualified to carry, and certification dates and scores.

What a private investigator in Delaware can and can’t do

A PI license is a business license, not police authority. In Delaware, as everywhere in the U.S., private investigators generally cannot:

• Impersonate law enforcement or claim official authority.
• Trespass on private property to watch or photograph someone.
• Obtain bank, phone or other protected records by pretexting, which federal law prohibits.
• Hack accounts, read someone else’s email or install spyware.
• Place a tracking device on a vehicle where state law forbids it.
• Detain or arrest anyone beyond the citizen’s arrest rights every person has.

Recording is a particular trap in Delaware. A 2024 legal summary by the law firm Kilpatrick lists Delaware among the states that require the consent of all parties for at least some recordings of conversations. Never record a conversation you are not part of, and get legal advice before recording calls or private conversations.

How to build qualifying experience in Delaware

Most new investigators get their start in jobs that teach investigative skills and, in licensing states, count toward experience requirements. Common routes in Delaware include:

• Working for a licensed private investigation agency, often doing surveillance or records research.
• Insurance claims or special investigations unit (SIU) work.
• Retail loss prevention; see our loss prevention officer guide.
• Law enforcement, corrections or military police service.
• Investigative roles for attorneys, public defenders or government agencies.

Keep records as you go: dates, hours, duties and a supervisor who can verify them. Regulators often ask for signed employer statements, and reconstructing years of work later is painful.

Choosing a niche as a Delaware investigator

Most successful investigators specialize. The most common niches are insurance work (workers’ compensation and liability surveillance), legal support for civil and criminal defense attorneys, background and pre-employment screening, corporate investigations (fraud, theft, misconduct), domestic cases, and online research. Each needs different skills and tools. Surveillance requires patience, a reliable vehicle and a good camera; legal work rewards interviewing and writing; background work depends on databases and records access; corporate work favors people with loss prevention, audit or HR experience.

Look at who hires investigators where you live. In larger metro areas, law firms and insurers generate steady work; in smaller communities, a general practice that takes a mix of cases is more realistic. Whatever you choose, your reputation with a handful of repeat clients will matter far more than advertising.

A realistic first year

• Months 1 to 3: learn the rules, shadow experienced investigators and master report writing.
• Months 3 to 6: handle routine surveillance or records work under supervision.
• Months 6 to 12: take on cases independently, build a portfolio of clean reports and keep a log of your hours for future licensing upgrades.
• Throughout: invest in training on privacy law, interviewing and online research.

Writing reports Delaware clients trust

Your report is the product your client pays for, and in court it may be the only part of your work a judge ever sees. Strong investigative reports share a few habits: they are chronological, time-stamped and factual; they describe what you saw and heard rather than what you concluded; they identify every photo and video clip by time and location; and they note anything that interrupted your observation. Write notes as events happen, using a notebook or a voice recorder, and turn them into the report the same day while details are fresh.

Our daily activity report guide covers note-taking habits that carry straight over to investigations, and our AI report-writing guide explains how to use AI tools to organize notes without adding details you didn’t observe or exposing confidential information.

Why applications get delayed

• Missing or unsigned employer verification of experience.
• Fingerprints rejected as unclassifiable, which means a new set and a new wait.
• Undisclosed criminal history, even old or minor offenses. Disclose everything; see our criminal record guide.
• Bond or insurance certificates that don’t match the business name on the application.
• Business registration not completed before the agency application.
• Outdated forms; always download the current version from the regulator.

Pay and job outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a national median pay of $51,220 a year for private detectives and investigators in May 2025, about 39,500 jobs, and 5% growth from 2025 to 2035. Pay in Delaware depends on local demand, your specialty and whether you work for an agency or run your own. Insurance, legal and corporate work usually pays better than general surveillance, and established independent investigators bill hourly rates well above employee wages.

Gear and books for Delaware investigators

New investigators don’t need much to start. These are the tools we recommend first; each button shows the current price.