The Act: credentials, license classes and exemptions 14
An Arkansas company holds a Class C license for investigations and security work. What public liability insurance must it prove under § 17-40-308?Ark. Code § 17-40-308
An investigator licensed in another state applies for an Arkansas credential by reciprocity. What must be true of the other state under § 17-40-353?Ark. Code § 17-40-353
For how long may a private investigator licensed in another state work in Arkansas without an Arkansas credential?Ark. Code § 17-40-207
How far does the Arkansas exemption for a certified public accountant reach under § 17-40-103(a)(17)?Ark. Code § 17-40-103
How many credentialed individuals may an Arkansas Class D investigations company employ?Ark. Code § 17-40-102
Section 17-40-103(a)(4) leaves which kind of information business outside the Arkansas chapter?Ark. Code § 17-40-103
Section 17-40-309 describes the Arkansas Class D investigations license as:Ark. Code § 17-40-309
Section 17-40-309(9) makes the Arkansas Class G a general license for which operations?Ark. Code § 17-40-309
What interest may the Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police hold in an investigations company, under § 17-40-204?Ark. Code § 17-40-204
When are licensed insurance adjusters outside the Arkansas private investigator chapter, under § 17-40-103(a)(7)?Ark. Code § 17-40-103
When is a law firm's employee outside the Arkansas private investigator chapter under § 17-40-103?Ark. Code § 17-40-103
Which Arkansas license class is issued to an investigations company that employs one or more individuals, under § 17-40-309?Ark. Code § 17-40-309
Which of these is private investigator work under Arkansas Code § 17-40-102(27)?Ark. Code § 17-40-102
Who may be the "manager" of an Arkansas investigations company that is a partnership, under § 17-40-102(21)?Ark. Code § 17-40-102
Show all 62 questions (48 more)
Qualifications, the examination, fees and renewal 17
An Arkansas application is filed by a corporation. Whose photographs and fingerprints does § 17-40-307 require?Ark. Code § 17-40-307
An Arkansas investigations company is a corporation. Who must take the examination under 17 CAR § 350-1103(c)?17 CAR § 350-1103
How many hours of criminal law are in the Arkansas private investigator course of instruction, 17 CAR § 350-1102?17 CAR § 350-1102
Rule 17 CAR § 350-1103 makes a failed Arkansas investigator candidate sit out how long before a retake?17 CAR § 350-1103
Under 17 CAR § 350-1103, an Arkansas investigator candidate passes with what mark?17 CAR § 350-1103
Under whose supervision must an applicant for an Arkansas CPI credential work, by 17 CAR § 350-1101?17 CAR § 350-1101
What experience does Arkansas Code § 17-40-306 ask of an applicant for an investigations company license, or of the manager?Ark. Code § 17-40-306
What follows a second failed attempt at the Arkansas investigator examination, under 17 CAR § 350-1103?17 CAR § 350-1103
What happens to an Arkansas application that is still not complete 120 days after it was submitted, under 17 CAR § 350-212?17 CAR § 350-212
What is the fee to transfer an Arkansas credentialed private investigator from one company to another, under 17 CAR § 350-206?17 CAR § 350-206
What is the initial application fee for an Arkansas Class D license under § 17-40-302?Ark. Code § 17-40-302
What is the least number of questions on the Arkansas private investigator examination under 17 CAR § 350-1103?17 CAR § 350-1103
What may the Director charge for an initial application for an Arkansas credentialed private investigator, under § 17-40-302?Ark. Code § 17-40-302
Which of these is among the forty hours of "security functions" in the Arkansas investigator course, 17 CAR § 350-1102(6)?17 CAR § 350-1102
Which other background satisfies the experience rule for an Arkansas investigations company license under § 17-40-306(b)?Ark. Code § 17-40-306
Who is exempt from the Arkansas investigator examination under 17 CAR § 350-1103(g)?17 CAR § 350-1103
Who must complete the Arkansas private investigator course of instruction in 17 CAR § 350-1102?17 CAR § 350-1102
Duties, unlawful acts, penalties and hearings 17
A records check on an Arkansas applicant turns up an unresolved arrest. How long does the applicant have to return a disposition under 17 CAR § 350-209?17 CAR § 350-209
After an Arkansas hearing, how long does the hearing officer have to send recommendations to the Director, under 17 CAR § 350-709?17 CAR § 350-709
After the Division receives notice that an Arkansas company has lost its manager, how long does the license stay in effect under 17 CAR § 350-504?17 CAR § 350-504
An Arkansas investigations company closes for good. What must it return to the Division under 17 CAR § 350-401?17 CAR § 350-401
For how long must an Arkansas licensee keep an employee's file after the employee is terminated, under 17 CAR § 350-502?17 CAR § 350-502
How is the letter denying an Arkansas application sent, under 17 CAR § 350-213?17 CAR § 350-213
How long does an Arkansas credential holder have to request an administrative hearing after notice of adverse action, under 17 CAR § 350-701?17 CAR § 350-701
How much notice of an Arkansas administrative hearing must the person receive, under 17 CAR § 350-701(b)?17 CAR § 350-701
How must a person show the qualifications to act as manager of an Arkansas licensee, under § 17-40-314(b)?Ark. Code § 17-40-314
How often must the manager of an Arkansas investigations company be in a supervisory position with it, under § 17-40-314(c)?Ark. Code § 17-40-314
In an Arkansas hearing to revoke a credential, who carries the burden of proof under 17 CAR § 350-708?17 CAR § 350-708
The manager of an Arkansas investigations company quits. How long does the licensee have to notify the Director in writing under § 17-40-314?Ark. Code § 17-40-314
May an Arkansas credential holder subcontract part of a case to an uncredentialed individual, under § 17-40-301(h)?Ark. Code § 17-40-301
On good cause to believe a credential holder violated the rules, which actions does 17 CAR § 350-603 give the Division of Arkansas State Police?17 CAR § 350-603
What criminal penalty does 17 CAR § 350-201 attach to false answers on an Arkansas application?17 CAR § 350-201
What must appear on an Arkansas licensee's advertising under § 17-40-356?Ark. Code § 17-40-356
Who has the sole responsibility of submitting a written investigative report to a client under Arkansas Code § 17-40-301(c)?Ark. Code § 17-40-301
Investigations companies: contracts, reports and invoices 14
An Arkansas client asks for an itemized statement. Which item does 17 CAR § 350-1107 require on it?17 CAR § 350-1107
An Arkansas investigator asks for a retainer. What must the contract say about it under 17 CAR § 350-1109?17 CAR § 350-1109
An Arkansas investigator takes a case from an individual client. What form must the contract take under 17 CAR § 350-1109?17 CAR § 350-1109
An investigator licensed in another state begins a short case in Arkansas under 17 CAR § 350-1110. What must the investigator do?17 CAR § 350-1110
During surveillance an Arkansas investigator is spoken to by the subject by chance. What does 17 CAR § 350-1106 require?17 CAR § 350-1106
How do the investigator and the client show agreement to an Arkansas contract, under 17 CAR § 350-1109(e)?17 CAR § 350-1109
Midway through an Arkansas case the client asks for extra work. How are added services handled under 17 CAR § 350-1109(f)?17 CAR § 350-1109
Must an Arkansas credentialed private investigator wear the credential card in plain sight while working, under 17 CAR § 350-506?17 CAR § 350-506
What does 17 CAR § 350-1105 say about a badge or shield at an Arkansas investigations company?17 CAR § 350-1105
What must an Arkansas investigator's written report include, under 17 CAR § 350-1104(b)?17 CAR § 350-1104
What statement must appear, in a conspicuous place, on an Arkansas investigations company's contracts and invoices under 17 CAR § 350-509?17 CAR § 350-509
When must an Arkansas private investigator give a client a written report, under 17 CAR § 350-1104?17 CAR § 350-1104
Which of these must an Arkansas investigator's contract state, under 17 CAR § 350-1109(c)?17 CAR § 350-1109
Which word may an Arkansas Class D licensee not use in its name or advertising, under 17 CAR § 350-1108?17 CAR § 350-1108
How this list was compiled: The Private Security Agency, Private Investigator, and School Security Licensing and Credentialing Act, Arkansas Code § 17-40-101 et seq., in the copy the Division of Arkansas State Police publishes as "Act 393", marked effective August 5, 2025 (https://media.ark.org/dps/Act-393-Revised-8-5-2025.pdf), and the Code of Arkansas Rules, Title 17, Part 350, current through February 6, 2026, in the Division's copy (https://media.ark.org/dps/Code-of-Arkansas-Rules-%E2%80%93-Part-350.pdf), each read on October 16, 2026. Each question names its section and links to the document that holds it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the Act and the rules named under "source". Nothing comes from the Arkansas examination, a training course or a prep publisher.
How it works
This unofficial Arkansas private investigator license practice test asks the study material the State Police name: 62 of our own questions on Act 393 and its rules. Not affiliated with the Division of Arkansas State Police.
Read the full guide
What the Arkansas examination covers
Rule 17 CAR § 350-1103 sets at least 100 questions on the investigator course subjects, the rules, field note taking and report writing, and the Arkansas Criminal Code. The State Police page names Act 393 and the rules as the study material.
Credential, Class A and Class D
An individual investigator holds a credential and works under the manager of a Class A company. A Class D license is for one person operating alone as an investigations company (Ark. Code § 17-40-309; 17 CAR § 350-1101).
What is left out
The Arkansas Criminal Code, note taking, and the rules for alarm companies, security officers, firearms commissions and polygraph examiners.
Put every contract in writing or on an audible recording, with the fee and how it is computed (17 CAR § 350-1109).
No badge or shield for anyone at an investigations company (17 CAR § 350-1105).
Any contact with the subject, even by accident, goes in the case file (17 CAR § 350-1106).
Questions and answers
Is there an exam for an Arkansas private investigator license?
Yes. An applicant for a credential must pass an examination given by the Division of Arkansas State Police, in person (17 CAR §§ 350-1101 and 350-1103). Five consecutive years in law enforcement, current or within the last five years, exempts an applicant.
What score do you need to pass the Arkansas private investigator exam?
70% or above. After a failure you wait five working days and pay a $50 reexamination fee; two failed attempts cancel the pending application (17 CAR § 350-1103). Exam mode here runs 50 questions at 70%; the real examination has at least 100.
Where is the Arkansas private investigator exam given?
At State Police Headquarters in Little Rock, on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m., proctored, according to the State Police licensing page read on October 16, 2026. Applicants must bring proof of identification.
How much is a private investigator license in Arkansas?
The Act lets the Director charge $450 for a credentialed private investigator's first application and $150 to renew, $600 for a Class A company license and $300 for Class D (Ark. Code § 17-40-302).
How long is an Arkansas private investigator license good for?
Two years from the date of issuance. One not renewed within six months after it expires cannot be renewed, and the holder starts again as a new applicant (Ark. Code § 17-40-313).