A business charges a fee to find the heirs to estates. Under A.R.S. § 32-2401 that work is:A.R.S. § 32-2401
A firm sends paid observers into stores to evaluate customer service. Which condition must hold for the exemption in A.R.S. § 32-2409(10)?A.R.S. § 32-2409
A licensed collection agency's employee locates a debtor's property while collecting a claim. Under A.R.S. § 32-2409 the work is:A.R.S. § 32-2409
A paralegal employed by a practicing attorney investigates a case the attorney was retained on. Does the chapter apply?A.R.S. § 32-2409
A private process server delivers a summons. When is that work outside the chapter?A.R.S. § 32-2409
A.R.S. § 32-2402(A) gives the job of administering Title 32, Chapter 24 to whom?A.R.S. § 32-2402
An applicant pleaded no contest and the judgment was later set aside. Is that a "conviction" under the chapter?A.R.S. § 32-2401
At a minimum, what must "adequate records" on a client show?A.R.S. § 32-2401
Besides gathering information and evidence, which work does A.R.S. § 32-2401(16)(c) put inside the term "private investigator"?A.R.S. § 32-2401
In A.R.S. § 32-2401, what is an "agency license"?A.R.S. § 32-2401
May the department issue a private investigator registration to a reserve peace officer?A.R.S. § 32-2414
Show all 101 questions (90 more)
Definitions, exemptions and who must register, continued
To act lawfully as a private investigator in Arizona, a person must be registered and must also be:A.R.S. § 32-2411
Under a reciprocal agreement, how long may an out-of-state investigator spend on one case in Arizona?A.R.S. § 32-2413
What is a "letter of concern"?A.R.S. § 32-2401
What is the offense of knowingly acting as a private investigator in violation of A.R.S. § 32-2411?A.R.S. § 32-2411
What makes a worker an "employee" under A.R.S. § 32-2401(10)?A.R.S. § 32-2401
What may a city or town do under A.R.S. § 32-2410 about businesses that recover property sold under conditional sales agreements?A.R.S. § 32-2410
What must an investigator working in Arizona under a reciprocal agreement give the department?A.R.S. § 32-2413
Which investigations does an Arizona reciprocal agreement cover?A.R.S. § 32-2413
Which of these is "unprofessional conduct" under A.R.S. § 32-2401(21)?A.R.S. § 32-2401
Which of these is exempt from the chapter under A.R.S. § 32-2409?A.R.S. § 32-2409
Who is a "registrant" under A.R.S. § 32-2401?A.R.S. § 32-2401
Who is an "associate" under A.R.S. § 32-2401?A.R.S. § 32-2401
Who is left out of the definition of "private investigator" in A.R.S. § 32-2401(16)?A.R.S. § 32-2401
The agency license and the qualifying party 30
A former employer has gone out of business and cannot certify the applicant's experience. What may the applicant offer?A.R.S. § 32-2422
A would-be qualifying party has been indicted for a felony and awaits trial. Under A.R.S. § 32-2422(A)(3) that person:A.R.S. § 32-2422
A.R.S. § 32-2425(A) says each agency license "shall be issued for a period of" how long?A.R.S. § 32-2425
A.R.S. § 32-2453(B) says the certificate the department issues to an agency hangs where?A.R.S. § 32-2453
After a notice that an agency application lacks documents, A.R.S. § 32-2423(E) gives the applicant how long to supply them?A.R.S. § 32-2423
After the director revokes an Arizona agency license, A.R.S. § 32-2407(D) lets a new application be accepted when?A.R.S. § 32-2407
An agency's surety bond is cancelled. What does the department do?A.R.S. § 32-2423
An applicant asks a former employer in writing to certify past work experience. How soon must the employer provide it?A.R.S. § 32-2422
An Arizona agency moves its office. Under A.R.S. § 32-2425(D), when is written notice to the director due?A.R.S. § 32-2425
An associate leaves the agency and hands in the identification card. How soon must the licensee send it to the director?A.R.S. § 32-2425
Before an original or renewal agency license issues, A.R.S. § 32-2423(B) requires a surety bond of:A.R.S. § 32-2423
The department notifies an applicant that the agency license is ready for issuance. How long is there to complete the process?A.R.S. § 32-2425
For a corporation, who is the qualifying party?A.R.S. § 32-2421
For a sole proprietorship, who is the qualifying party?A.R.S. § 32-2421
For how long must the surety bond run?A.R.S. § 32-2423
For whose benefit does the agency's surety bond run?A.R.S. § 32-2423
How far back does the misdemeanor bar in A.R.S. § 32-2422(A)(4) reach?A.R.S. § 32-2422
How many physical locations must each licensed agency have?A.R.S. § 32-2453
How much investigative experience must a qualifying party have?A.R.S. § 32-2422
In a partnership, what must the partners other than the qualifying party do?A.R.S. § 32-2421
In whose name is a branch office certificate issued?A.R.S. § 32-2426
The owner of an Arizona agency sells the business. May the agency license go to the buyer under A.R.S. § 32-2425(F)?A.R.S. § 32-2425
Under A.R.S. § 32-2407(B), what may an agency do in the gap between the expiration of its license and the renewal?A.R.S. § 32-2407
What does a licensee need before doing business under a name other than the licensee's own?A.R.S. § 32-2452
What does a licensee pay for the identification card issued with the agency license?A.R.S. § 32-2425
What is the minimum age of a qualifying party for an agency license?A.R.S. § 32-2422
What must a licensee have before opening a second office?A.R.S. § 32-2426
Which citizenship rule does A.R.S. § 32-2422 set for a qualifying party?A.R.S. § 32-2422
Who carries the burden of proving the minimum years of experience?A.R.S. § 32-2422
Who sets the fees for agency licenses and registrations?A.R.S. § 32-2407
Employee registration and identification cards 16
A new investigator joins an agency midway through its license period. For what period is the investigator's original registration certificate valid?A.R.S. § 32-2442
A registered employee is terminated. When must the employee surrender the identification card to the qualifying party?A.R.S. § 32-2443
A registered employee offers to work cases for the agency as an independent contractor, outside its authority. Under A.R.S. § 32-2457 the agency that permits this:A.R.S. § 32-2457
A terminated employee refuses to surrender the identification card. What must the qualifying party do?A.R.S. § 32-2443
An agency's license is revoked. What happens to its employees' registration certificates?A.R.S. § 32-2442
An applicant's application for registration is incomplete and 45 calendar days pass with no reply. What happens?A.R.S. § 32-2442
An Arizona registrant's card shows a name, a photograph and an expiration date. What else does A.R.S. § 32-2461 put on it?A.R.S. § 32-2461
An unregistered office assistant at an Arizona agency mishandles a client matter. Under A.R.S. § 32-2460(A), who answers for that conduct?A.R.S. § 32-2460
Does an employee registration require the three years of investigative experience asked of a qualifying party?A.R.S. § 32-2441
May a licensee employ unregistered persons?A.R.S. § 32-2460
What is the minimum age for an associate or employee registration certificate?A.R.S. § 32-2441
What must the employer have on file before an employee registration certificate is issued?A.R.S. § 32-2442
What record of employees must every licensed agency keep?A.R.S. § 32-2460
Which agency employees need no identification card?A.R.S. § 32-2443
Whose authorization must an application for an employee registration certificate carry?A.R.S. § 32-2442
Why does an applicant for registration submit fingerprints?A.R.S. § 32-2442
Conduct rules, the hearing board and discipline 31
A client demands the results of a finished investigation. When must the licensee divulge them?A.R.S. § 32-2455
A client wants to complain about an Arizona registrant. In what form does A.R.S. § 32-2456(E) require the complaint?A.R.S. § 32-2456
A licensee takes a second job that harms investigations under way for the agency's clients. Under A.R.S. § 32-2457 this is:A.R.S. § 32-2457
A person holds both a private investigator registration and a security guard registration. A revocation under A.R.S. § 32-2457 applies to:A.R.S. § 32-2457
A person seeking a good cause exception has evidence to present. When must it reach the department?A.R.S. § 32-2412
A registered private investigator is arrested. How soon must the investigator notify the employer agency?A.R.S. § 32-2462
After an agency learns of a registrant's arrest, how soon must it notify the department?A.R.S. § 32-2462
After claiming to be a private investigator, to whom must a registrant display the identification card?A.R.S. § 32-2451
Apart from § 32-2411, what is the offense when a licensee, associate, registrant or employee violates any provision of the chapter?A.R.S. § 32-2458
The department denies an applicant's identification card. What may the applicant ask of the hearing board?A.R.S. § 32-2459
For a felony offense, when may the board grant a good cause exception?A.R.S. § 32-2412
For how long must a licensee maintain records of regulated activities?A.R.S. § 32-2456
How does the department send notice of a board hearing on a violation?A.R.S. § 32-2457
How many members of the hearing board must be qualifying parties licensed under the private investigator chapter?A.R.S. § 32-2404
How many members sit on the private investigator and security guard hearing board?A.R.S. § 32-2404
Is a letter of concern a public document?A.R.S. § 32-2457
May a registrant show a badge together with the department identification card?A.R.S. § 32-2451
Members of the private investigator and security guard hearing board serve staggered terms that begin on the third Monday in January. How long is a term?A.R.S. § 32-2404
To whom may a registrant release the contents of an investigative file?A.R.S. § 32-2455
What does the hearing board do with a disciplinary case it has heard?A.R.S. § 32-2405
What is the longest suspension the board may recommend to the director?A.R.S. § 32-2457
What may the director do when a registrant is arrested for an offense that would disqualify an applicant?A.R.S. § 32-2457
What must a licensee's display or broadcast advertising contain?A.R.S. § 32-2454
What rank must the two peace officer members of the hearing board hold?A.R.S. § 32-2404
What vote does the hearing board need to take an action?A.R.S. § 32-2406
When does the department have access to an agency's investigative files?A.R.S. § 32-2455
Where is a final administrative decision under A.R.S. § 32-2457 appealed?A.R.S. § 32-2457
Which dealing with lawyers does A.R.S. § 32-2457(A)(10) make a ground for discipline?A.R.S. § 32-2457
Which fact about an applicant is a ground to deny an agency license under A.R.S. § 32-2459(A)?A.R.S. § 32-2459
Which letterhead does A.R.S. § 32-2457(A)(2) make a ground for discipline?A.R.S. § 32-2457
Which of the department's own records on licensees is not open to public inspection?A.R.S. § 32-2402
How this list was compiled: Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 24, Private Investigators (A.R.S. §§ 32-2401 to 32-2462), read on October 15, 2026 on the Arizona Legislature's site (https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=32); and the Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing page of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (https://www.azdps.gov/services/public-services-center/licensing), read the same day. Each question names its section and links to it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the statutes named under "source". Nothing comes from an examination, a sample test, a testing company, a training course or a prep publisher.
How it works
Arizona names no private investigator examination: a qualifying party shows three years' experience and employees register. This unofficial Arizona private investigator license practice test asks 101 of our own questions. Not affiliated with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Read the full guide
The hearing board
Seven members and an alternate hear discipline cases and recommend to the director. The board itself decides good cause exceptions (A.R.S. §§ 32-2404, 32-2405 and 32-2457).
What is left out
Statute only. The department's rules in the Arizona Administrative Code, fee amounts, the security guard chapter and firearms law are not asked.
Arrested: tell your agency within 48 hours; the agency tells the department within 24 (A.R.S. § 32-2462).
No badge of any type, with the identification card or alone (A.R.S. § 32-2451).
Agency records stay at the principal place of business for five years (A.R.S. § 32-2456).
Questions and answers
Is there an exam for an Arizona private investigator license?
No. Title 32, Chapter 24 sets age, work authorization, criminal history and experience requirements and a bond, and names no examination for the agency license or the employee registration.
How do I become a private investigator in Arizona?
Register as an employee of a licensed agency: be at least 18, a citizen or legal resident authorized to work, clear of the listed convictions, and fingerprinted. Knowingly working outside a licensed agency is a class 1 misdemeanor (A.R.S. §§ 32-2441 and 32-2411).
What are the requirements for an Arizona private investigator agency license?
A qualifying party at least 21 with a minimum of three years of full-time investigative experience, no felony conviction, a $2,500 surety bond and workers' compensation insurance if applicable (A.R.S. §§ 32-2422 and 32-2423).
How long is an Arizona private investigator license good for?
An agency license is issued for four years (A.R.S. § 32-2425). An employee's registration certificate runs to the expiration date of the agency license it is issued under (A.R.S. § 32-2442).
Can a police officer be a private investigator in Arizona?
Not while serving. The department may not license or register a peace officer or reserve officer, except retired officers and officers who are accident reconstructionists or fire origin and cause investigators (A.R.S. § 32-2414).