North Dakota Private Investigator License Requirements

North Dakota requires 2,000 hours as a registered employee of a detective agency before you can hold your own license, and you must pass the Board’s exam within 12 months before you apply.

North Dakota PI license at a glance

Item	Detail
Regulator	North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board (NDCC chapter 43-30)
Age	18, high school graduate or equivalent
Experience	2,000 hours of private investigative services as a registered employee of a detective agency
Exam	Board-conducted or supervised exam, passed within the 12 months before applying
License rule	An individual must hold a license unless registered as an employee of a licensed agency and working within that employment
Criminal history	No qualifying felony or certain misdemeanors; report convictions to the Board within 14 days
Contact	701-222-3063

What’s different here: the exam has a 12-month shelf life.

North Dakota PI license FAQ

Can I get my own license right away?

No, you first need 2,000 hours as a registered employee.

How soon must I report a conviction?

Within 14 days.

Verified against: ND PISB Eligibility and Licensing Requirements for Private Investigators and N.D.C.C. chapter 43-30, 12.1-15-02 and 44-04-18. Last verified October 23, 2026.

Who regulates private investigators in North Dakota

The Private Investigation and Security Board licenses private investigators, detective agencies and registered employees under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-30. The North Dakota Legislature reviewed the law in 2025, so check the Board’s site for current rules.

North Dakota PI license types

License or credential	Who it is for
Licensed private investigator	Individuals who meet the experience and exam requirements
Licensed detective agency	Businesses registered with the Secretary of State
Registered employee	Employees of agencies, building toward a license

How to get licensed in North Dakota: step by step

1. Register as an employee of a licensed detective agency.
2. Log 2,000 hours of investigative work.
3. Pass the Board exam.
4. Apply within 12 months of the exam with fees and fingerprints.
5. For an agency, register with the Secretary of State and submit fingerprints for managers and 10% owners.
6. Renew every year by September 30.

Carrying a firearm as a North Dakota investigator

North Dakota investigators who carry firearms on duty must meet the Board’s firearm requirements. Check with the Board before carrying.

What a private investigator in North Dakota can and can’t do

A PI license is a business license, not police authority. In North Dakota, 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.

On recording, North Dakota is not on the list of all-party consent states in a 2024 legal summary by the law firm Kilpatrick, which generally means one party to a conversation can record it. That does not allow recording conversations you are not part of, and other privacy laws still apply.

North Dakota licenses, registrations and exemptions

N.D.C.C. 43-30-05 bars providing private investigative or security services without a Board license, and “license” includes a registration (43-30-01). The statute exempts some work (43-30-02), including government investigators acting in their official duties, attorneys and their paralegals, credit-reporting-only work, public-records-only research, specialized experts such as accident reconstruction and handwriting analysis, and mystery shopping. Read the list before assuming you are covered.

North Dakota fees and term (N.D.C.C. 43-30-16)

The statute sets an exam fee of $150. An investigator license costs $225 initial or renewal, with a $75 monthly late fee. An agency license costs $150 to apply and $450 to issue or renew, with a $150 monthly late fee. An employee registration costs $45, with a $15 monthly late fee, and an armed certificate costs $45 a year. All licenses expire September 30 each year, with fees prorated (43-30-11). The Board sets age and experience rules by regulation (43-30-04), and members of the armed forces who were not dishonorably discharged are treated as meeting related experience. Confirm current amounts with the Board at 701-222-3063.

North Dakota penalties, recording and public records

Providing investigative or security services without a current license is a class B misdemeanor, and a court can also issue an injunction (43-30-10). The Board can issue citations of up to $250, $500 and $1,000 for a first, second and later violation (43-30-10.1), and licensees face up to $2,500 per violation (43-30-12).

On recording, N.D.C.C. 12.1-15-02 makes intentionally intercepting a wire or oral communication with a device a class C felony. It is a defense if you were a party to the communication or one party gave prior consent, unless the purpose was a crime or other unlawful harm. For public records, 44-04-18 sets no fixed deadline, but access that is denied or unreasonably delayed is a violation. Locating fees are capped at $25 an hour after the first hour, and paper copies at 25 cents.

Building a career as a North Dakota investigator

Knowing the rules in North Dakota is only the first step. Our guide to becoming a private investigator covers what comes after: building qualifying experience, choosing a niche, a realistic first year, writing reports clients trust, and the most common reasons license applications get delayed. For earnings, see our private investigator salary guide.

Starter gear. A practical starting point for surveillance work is a long-zoom camera such as the Nikon Coolpix P1000 and a pair of binoculars like the Vortex Diamondback HD 10×42. Our private investigator equipment list covers the rest of a starter kit.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a license to be a private investigator in North Dakota?

Yes. North Dakota requires private investigators and detective agencies to be licensed by the Private Investigation and Security Board.

How long does it take to become a PI in North Dakota?

Industry guides say you need 2,000 hours as a registered employee (about a year), plus the exam.

How often do North Dakota PI licenses renew?

Every year; licenses and registrations expire September 30.

What does a North Dakota PI license cost?

The statute lists $225 for an investigator license (initial or renewal) and a $150 exam fee, plus $45 for an employee registration. Agencies pay $150 to apply and $450 to issue or renew (N.D.C.C. 43-30-16). Confirm current amounts with the Board.

Is working as a PI without a license a crime in North Dakota?

Yes. It is a class B misdemeanor, and the Board can also issue citations (N.D.C.C. 43-30-10 and 43-30-10.1).