A collection agency licensed by the Indiana secretary of state traces a debtor's whereabouts. Does it need a private investigator firm license?IC 25-30-1-5
A consumer reporting agency furnishes information for employment and credit decisions. How does IC 25-30-1-5 treat it?IC 25-30-1-5
A corporation licensed as an investigator firm in another state applies in Indiana. Besides a license certification letter from each state, what must it furnish under 874 IAC 1-2-3?874 IAC 1-2-3
A firm licensed in another state wants to take cases in Indiana. What does IC 25-30-1-14 require?IC 25-30-1-14
A person looks into a neighbor's missing boat and accepts a set of golf clubs in return. Is that work "for hire or reward" under 874 IAC 1-1-1?874 IAC 1-1-1
How far does the law enforcement exemption in IC 25-30-1-5(1) reach?IC 25-30-1-5
When is an insurance adjuster exempt from the Indiana Private Investigator Firm License Law?IC 25-30-1-5
Which act is unlawful under IC 25-30-1-3 without a private investigator firm license, even if no case is ever taken?IC 25-30-1-3
Which registered professional need not hold a private investigator firm license for an investigation incident to that profession (IC 25-30-1-5)?IC 25-30-1-5
Which service is part of the "private investigator firm" business under IC 25-30-1-2 when it is provided for hire or reward?IC 25-30-1-2
Show all 77 questions (67 more)
The board and the licensing agency 7
IC 25-30-1-5.2 fixes the size of Indiana's licensing board for investigator firms and guard agencies. What is it?IC 25-30-1-5.2
The Indiana board has business to vote on. What is the fewest members who can act as a quorum under IC 25-30-1-6.5?IC 25-30-1-6.5
One of the governor's four appointees to the Indiana board speaks for the public. What does IC 25-30-1-5.2 require of that member?IC 25-30-1-5.2
What limit does IC 25-30-1-5.5 put on the Indiana board's rules about qualifications for licensure?IC 25-30-1-5.5
When does the Indiana board elect its president and vice president?IC 25-30-1-5.3
Which body performs the administrative functions for the Indiana board?IC 25-30-1-6
Which seat on the Indiana board is filled by office, with no appointment by the governor?IC 25-30-1-5.2
Qualifying: experience, application and insurance 24
874 IAC 1-1-1 defines a "qualifier" for an Indiana firm license. Who is it?874 IAC 1-1-1
A change in ownership leaves an Indiana firm with no one who meets the qualifications of IC 25-30-1-8. What happens to its license?IC 25-30-1-8.5
A corporation applies for an Indiana private investigator firm license. Who must meet the personal qualifications of IC 25-30-1-8(a)?IC 25-30-1-8
A licensed Indiana firm lets its insurance lapse. What does IC 25-30-1-15(c) provide?IC 25-30-1-15
After how long does the Indiana licensing agency treat an unfinished license application as abandoned?Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information
An applicant ran an unlicensed investigator firm in Indiana 18 months ago. What does 874 IAC 1-2-4 leave to the board?874 IAC 1-2-4
An application for an Indiana private investigator firm license is filed eight months before the next quadrennial expiration date. What is the fee?874 IAC 2-1-1
An Indiana firm's insurer decides not to renew the liability policy. Under IC 25-30-1-15, how long before that takes effect must the board have it in writing?IC 25-30-1-15
How many years back must a qualifier's city, county and state criminal history information reach under 874 IAC 1-2-2?874 IAC 1-2-2
How much employment experience satisfies 874 IAC 1-2-1 for an Indiana private investigator firm license?874 IAC 1-2-1
The Indiana licensing agency's instructions ask for experience shown on a W-2. Which experience does the board not accept?Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information
Law enforcement service counts as experience under 874 IAC 1-2-1. Which officers does the rule leave out?874 IAC 1-2-1
What does the Indiana board charge for a petition asking whether a past conviction may disqualify a person, before that person applies?874 IAC 3-1-6
What is the application and issuance fee for an Indiana private investigator firm license filed a year or more before the next quadrennial expiration date?874 IAC 2-1-1
What is the least general liability coverage an applicant for an Indiana private investigator firm license must show?IC 25-30-1-15
What is the youngest an individual may be and still be issued an Indiana private investigator firm license?IC 25-30-1-8
What may stand in place of the employment experience for an Indiana private investigator firm license?874 IAC 1-2-1
Which coverage must an Indiana private investigator firm's insurance include under IC 25-30-1-15(b)?IC 25-30-1-15
Which exclusion may an Indiana private investigator firm's insurance policy NOT contain?IC 25-30-1-15
Which item must an application for an Indiana private investigator firm license include under IC 25-30-1-7?IC 25-30-1-7
Which job counts toward the 4,000 hours of experience under 874 IAC 1-2-1?874 IAC 1-2-1
Which misdemeanor conviction may support denial of an Indiana private investigator firm license under IC 25-30-1-8(c)?IC 25-30-1-8
Which showing may the Indiana board require of an applicant before it issues a license (IC 25-30-1-8(c))?IC 25-30-1-8
Who must be listed as an additional insured on the certificate of insurance, according to the Indiana licensing agency's instructions?Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information
Running the firm: employees, advertising and renewal 18
After an Indiana licensee's death, on what ground may the board authorize the firm to continue past the first period?IC 25-30-1-9
An Indiana firm license expired more than three years ago. What does the licensing agency charge to reinstate it?Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information
An Indiana firm starts doing business under a new name. What deadline does IC 25-30-1-10 set for telling the board?IC 25-30-1-10
An Indiana private investigator firm license is revoked. By when must the pocket card reach the board for cancellation?IC 25-30-1-10
An individual Indiana licensee dies. For how long may the surviving spouse carry on the firm without further authorization from the board?IC 25-30-1-9
Does 874 IAC 1-1-2 treat an Indiana firm's invoices as advertising that must carry the license number?874 IAC 1-1-2
How long must the qualifier of an Indiana firm keep copies of the limited criminal history check obtained for renewal?874 IAC 1-1-4
How many unlicensed persons may an Indiana licensee employ to assist in the business of the firm?IC 25-30-1-11
On what cycle do Indiana private investigator firm licenses expire?874 IAC 1-1-3
The owner of an Indiana private investigator firm sells the business. May the license be assigned to the buyer?IC 25-30-1-10
What does IC 25-30-1-17 say about the fees collected under the Indiana Private Investigator Firm License Law?IC 25-30-1-17
What must a licensed Indiana firm provide at the board's request under IC 25-30-1-11(c)?IC 25-30-1-11
What must an Indiana licensee present when a client asks for it (IC 25-30-1-10(e))?IC 25-30-1-10
What must the qualifier of a licensed Indiana firm obtain for a renewal under 874 IAC 1-1-4?874 IAC 1-1-4
Which four items must any advertisement by an Indiana licensee contain under 874 IAC 1-1-2?874 IAC 1-1-2
Which of these may an Indiana firm's advertising NOT contain under 874 IAC 1-1-2(b)?874 IAC 1-1-2
Which record must an Indiana licensee keep on each employee under IC 25-30-1-11(b)?IC 25-30-1-11
Who is civilly responsible for the good conduct of an Indiana firm's unlicensed employees while they act on its behalf?IC 25-30-1-11
Discipline and penalties 18
According to the Indiana licensing agency's FAQ, does holding a private investigator firm license authorize the licensee to arrest an individual?Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information
After a hearing, the Indiana board finds that an unlicensed person is doing work that requires a license. What may the board issue?IC 25-30-1-22
After mitigating factors are weighed, what is the lowest fine or civil penalty the Indiana board may set under 874 IAC 2-1-2?874 IAC 2-1-2
An Indiana investigator firm sues a client for unpaid fees. What must it allege and prove under IC 25-30-1-19.5?IC 25-30-1-19.5
An Indiana licensee lets an employee pose as a city utility worker to get information. Is the licensee open to sanctions under IC 25-30-1-18?IC 25-30-1-18
An unlicensed person takes six separate investigation jobs in Indiana. How does IC 25-30-1-21 count them?IC 25-30-1-21
Besides any other fine, what must an Indiana court fine a person convicted of unlicensed private investigator firm business?IC 25-30-1-21
Does a conviction of concern always bar an Indiana applicant under 874 IAC 3-1-2?874 IAC 3-1-2
Does an Indiana private investigator firm license authorize the licensee to carry a handgun?IC 25-30-1-19
For how long may the Indiana board summarily suspend a license when a practitioner is a clear and immediate danger to the public?IC 25-1-11-13
The Indiana board revokes a license under IC 25-1-11. When may the individual apply for a new one?IC 25-1-11-15
What is the most the Indiana board may assess a business entity as a civil penalty for each violation under IC 25-1-11-12?IC 25-1-11-12
What offense does a person commit by knowingly engaging in the private investigator firm business in Indiana without a license?IC 25-30-1-21
Where does the Indiana board's rule set a fine or civil penalty before mitigating and aggravating factors are weighed?874 IAC 2-1-2
Which act lets the Indiana board impose sanctions on a licensee under IC 25-30-1-18(b)?IC 25-30-1-18
Which fact is an aggravating factor, not a mitigating one, under the Indiana board's rule on fines?874 IAC 2-1-2
Which offense is on the Indiana board's list of convictions of concern in 874 IAC 3-1-4?874 IAC 3-1-4
Who may file an action for an injunction against unlicensed private investigator firm business in Indiana?IC 25-30-1-22
How this list was compiled: Indiana Code 25-30-1, the Private Investigator Firm License Law, and IC 25-1-11 (Indiana Code 2026), read on October 16, 2026 on the Indiana General Assembly site (https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/25#25-30); the rules of the Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, 874 IAC Articles 1, 2 and 3, read the same day in the Indiana Administrative Code (https://iar.iga.in.gov/code/current/874/1); and the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency page "Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing Information" (https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/private-investigator-and-security-guard-home/private-investigator-and-security-guard-licensing-information), read the same day. Each question names its section or rule and links to it. Licence: Own work. Every question, wrong choice and explanation was written for this site from the text of the law and the state page named under "source". Nothing comes from an examination, a sample test, a testing company, a training course or a prep publisher.
How it works
Indiana licenses private investigator firms without a test. This unofficial Indiana private investigator license practice test asks 77 questions of our own on IC 25-30-1. Not affiliated with the Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board.
Read the full guide
A firm license, not a personal one
Indiana licenses the firm, not each investigator. One person, the qualifier, meets the experience rule for it: the individual owner, one partner or one corporate officer (874 IAC 1-1-1).
What is left out
The security guard agency chapter, the polygraph examiner chapter and Indiana criminal statutes are not asked.
Tell the board within 30 days of a new address, business name, officer or partner (IC 25-30-1-10).
Every advertisement, down to invoices and business cards, carries the license number (874 IAC 1-1-2).
Unlicensed work is a Class A misdemeanor, and each transaction is a separate offense (IC 25-30-1-21).
Questions and answers
Is there an exam for an Indiana private investigator license?
No. IC 25-30-1-8 asks the qualifier to show the necessary knowledge and skills as the board determines, and the board's rule accepts experience or a degree. The licensing agency's application instructions list no examination.
How do I become a private investigator in Indiana?
Work for a licensed firm, which may employ unlicensed persons, or license a firm of your own: age 21, two years and 4,000 hours of qualifying work or a related bachelor's degree, background checks and $100,000 of liability insurance.
How much is a private investigator license in Indiana?
$300 to apply, or $150 when the application is filed less than a year before the next renewal date (874 IAC 2-1-1). Renewal every four years is $300.
How long is an Indiana private investigator firm license good for?
Up to four years. Every license expires on October 1 of the same fourth year, whenever it was issued (874 IAC 1-1-3); the licensing agency's page gives 2023 and 2027.
Can a private investigator carry a gun or make arrests in Indiana?
Not by virtue of the license. IC 25-30-1-19 says the chapter authorizes no licensee to carry any weapon, and the licensing agency's FAQ says the statutes give licensees no arresting authority.