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In Texas, the Department of Public Safety Private Security Program requires every individual investigator to be licensed and affiliated with a licensed company. The company requirement is the part that catches new applicants. The manager of an investigations company must also pass an open-book exam on the Texas Occupations Code and Administrative Code.
Texas PI license at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulator | Texas DPS, Private Security Program |
| Company license | Class A (Private Investigation Company); Class C combines investigation and security contractor |
| Manager experience | One of: 3 consecutive years of investigation experience; a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related; bachelor’s plus 12 months; associate degree plus 24 months; or a 200-hour university investigations course |
| Exam | Open-book, 2 hours, 50 true/false and multiple-choice questions, 70% to pass; covers Occupations Code Ch. 1702 and Texas Administrative Code Ch. 35; $100 re-exam fee |
| Individual affiliation | Must be licensed and affiliated with a licensed company |
What’s different here: You cannot work independently as an individual. You must be affiliated with a licensed company, and the manager exam is open-book.
Texas PI license FAQ
Is the Texas exam open-book?
Yes. The company manager exam is open-book.
Can I work independently?
Individuals must be affiliated with a licensed company.
Can I retake the exam?
Yes, within the 90-day application window, at $100.
Verified against: Texas DPS Company Representative Experience and Examination page and Types of Individual Licenses page. Reviewed October 13, 2026.
Who regulates private investigators in Texas
The DPS Private Security Program licenses investigations companies, their representatives and individual investigators under Texas Occupations Code Chapter 1702 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 35. Applications are filed online, and Texas has no reciprocity agreements with other states, though experience legally obtained elsewhere may count.
Texas PI license types
| License or credential | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Investigations company license | Businesses providing private investigation services |
| Company representative (manager) | The qualifying person who meets experience requirements and passes the exam |
| Private investigator license | Individual investigators employed by a licensed company |
How to get licensed in Texas: step by step
- Get hired by a licensed investigations company and apply for your individual PI license.
- Build three consecutive years of investigation-related experience, or complete a qualifying degree.
- To open a company, apply online for the company license and representative.
- Pass the representative exam.
- Provide proof of the required insurance.
- Renew company licenses yearly and individual licenses every two years.
Carrying a firearm as a Texas investigator
Carrying a firearm while working is governed by Chapter 1702 and Texas firearms law, and armed private security work generally requires additional DPS training and commissioning. Check the DPS Private Security Program requirements before carrying on duty.
What a private investigator in Texas can and can’t do
A PI license is a business license, not police authority. In Texas, 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, Texas 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.
Building a career as a Texas investigator
Knowing the rules in Texas 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 Texas?
Yes. Texas requires investigators to be licensed through the DPS Private Security Program and to work for a licensed investigations company.
How long does it take to become a PI in Texas?
You can start fairly quickly as an employee of a licensed company. Opening your own company requires three years of experience or a qualifying degree plus the exam.
Does a degree replace experience for a Texas PI company?
Yes. A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or a related field can qualify you as a company representative without the three years of experience.
Sources
- Texas DPS — Company representative experience and examination
- Tex. Occ. Code § 1702.114
- Tex. Occ. Code § 1702.124 — Insurance
- Harbor Compliance — Texas PI license fees (2026)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Private Detectives and Investigators
- Kilpatrick — Wiretap laws in the United States (2024)
Verified against the sources above in October 2026. Requirements and fees change; confirm with the regulator before applying.
Legal disclaimer: This page is for general information and education only. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Security Dogma is not a law firm. Laws, licensing rules and court decisions vary by state and change often, and what is written here may not match your situation or be current when you read it. Before you act on anything here, check the official rules from your state licensing agency, follow your employer’s and client site’s policies, and talk to a licensed attorney in your state for legal questions. See our Terms and Conditions and how facts are checked in our Editorial Policy.
Firearms and weapons disclaimer: This page discusses firearms or other weapons for general information only. It is not legal advice, not firearms training, and not a recommendation to buy, carry or use any weapon. Laws on owning, carrying, transporting and using firearms, stun guns, pepper spray, batons and knives vary by state, county and city. They change often, can be different for security work, and breaking them can lead to criminal charges. Before you carry or use any weapon, confirm the current law where you are, get any required permit or license, train with a certified instructor, and follow your employer’s, client’s and property owner’s rules. You alone are responsible for how you buy, carry, store and use any weapon. Security Dogma and its authors accept no liability for any injury, loss, damage or legal consequence that results from acting on this information. A product link does not mean the item is legal where you live, so check local restrictions before you buy.
Looking at security guard work instead? See Texas security guard licensing. For nearby states, see the Oklahoma private investigator license guide and Louisiana’s PI requirements.