A credit reporting bureau mainly furnishes information on business and financial standing. What does section 23 say of it?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
A department store's own employee investigates theft by its staff and is never hired out to anyone else. Does she need a private detective license?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
A firm investigates suspicious fires for hire and also sells alarm equipment. Does the second line of business take it out of the definition of private detective?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
A homeowner hires someone only to look over the outside of an empty house for storm damage. Is that person covered by section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
A paid investigator in Lowell only gathers evidence for lawyers to use in civil trials. Does section 22 count that as private detective work?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
A Quincy man with no license prints flyers offering "discreet investigations" but has not yet taken a case. Has he violated section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
A woman earns her living tracing family trees for clients. Does section 23 require a private detective license for that?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
Show all 83 questions (76 more)
Who needs a license, continued
An assistant works cases for a licensed Massachusetts private detective. Does section 23 require the assistant to hold a license too?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
An engineer licensed by the commonwealth is hired to find why a machine failed and stays within engineering. What keeps her outside section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
An insurance company employee investigates claims for the company. How does section 23 treat that work?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
An unlicensed company sells investigations under the name "research consulting". Does the name keep it outside section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
For a fee, a Springfield man runs lie-detector tests on a warehouse's staff to report on their honesty. How does section 22 treat him?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
For pay, a Worcester woman finds out where a client's former business partner now lives and whom he deals with. Is that an investigation section 22 names?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
In Massachusetts General Laws chapter 147, what does the term "private detective business" take in?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
What is the punishment for doing private detective business in Massachusetts without a license?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
When is a corporation outside the license requirement of section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
Which of these is exempt from the license requirement by name in section 23?M.G.L. c. 147, § 23
Who is a "licensee" as sections 22 to 30 use the word?M.G.L. c. 147, § 22
Application, license, fee and bond 24
A client is harmed by the wilful and wrongful act of a licensee. What does section 26 let the client do about the bond?M.G.L. c. 147, § 26
A licensee is convicted of violating section 99 of chapter 272, the interception statute. What happens to the license?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
A licensee lets the license lapse and applies to renew eight months after it expired. What fee is due?M.G.L. c. 147, § 26
A police officer in good standing who never rose above patrolman wants a private detective license. How long must the police employment have lasted?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
An applicant asks her sister's husband to sign as one of her certifying citizens. Does section 24 allow it?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
An applicant was convicted of a felony in Ohio twenty years ago. What does section 25 say?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
Besides detectives and police officers, whose background does section 24 name for a private detective license?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Chapter 147, section 25 grants a license for what period before the colonel must renew it?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
For how long must each certifying citizen have personally known the applicant?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
How many reputable citizens must certify an application under section 24?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
On the State Police's page for applying or renewing, what does an original private investigator application cost?Massachusetts State Police, Apply for or renew a private investigator or watch guard license
Section 24 lets an applicant qualify by regular employment as a detective doing investigating work. For how long?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Section 24 of chapter 147 says the facts stated in an application are given in what way?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Section 25 has the licensee post the license. In which spot?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
What bond does each Massachusetts licensee give?M.G.L. c. 147, § 26
What must come before the colonel revokes a license for cause?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
When the applicant is a corporation, who must be of good moral character and have the experience?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Where must the certifying citizens live or have a tie, under section 24?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Which applicant does section 24 excuse from showing investigative or police experience?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Which former police officers does section 24 name without the ten-year term?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Which proposed business name runs against section 25?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
Who must approve the name under which a licensed business is conducted?M.G.L. c. 147, § 25
Who signs the bond as surety?M.G.L. c. 147, § 26
With whom is an application for a Massachusetts private detective license filed?M.G.L. c. 147, § 24
Employees, badges and records 20
A former employee of a licensee tells a newspaper what he learned on a client's case. What does section 28 provide?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
A licensee tells a client that a well-known retired detective is on his staff, which is false. What does section 28 make of it?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
A man falsely tells customers he used to be a licensed private detective. What is the punishment?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
A plainclothes private investigator wants to carry a badge to identify herself. What does section 29 say?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
An employee is authorized to carry a firearm on duty. What does section 29 say about its condition?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
An employee uses an identification card on the job. Whose signatures does section 29 require on it?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
An employee wilfully hands his employer a false report on a surveillance job. Is that an offence under section 28?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
Before a licensee employs anyone, what must that person furnish?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
How many years of past occupation does the new employee's sworn statement cover?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
May a licensee or employee carry an imitation firearm on duty?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
Section 28 forbids an employee to pass on what a case turned up. Which setting does it except?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
What does a licensee do with the employees' sworn statements?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
What is the punishment for violating section 29 on badges, cards, weapons and vehicles?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
What may a guard's badge not contain?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
What must the daily records of a watch, guard or patrol agency show about guns?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29A
When may a licensee not employ a minor as an investigator or guard?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
Where does a uniformed guard or watchman wear the badge?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
Which words may not be displayed on a motor vehicle used in a licensee's business?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
Who decides which weapons and equipment a licensee or employee may carry?M.G.L. c. 147, § 29
Whom may a licensee not knowingly employ in any capacity?M.G.L. c. 147, § 28
Labor disputes: prohibited acts 9
A licensee mails employers a letter offering to get rid of their unions. What does section 30 say?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
A licensee pays a worker for reports on what coworkers lawfully do to organize. How does section 30 treat the payment?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
A licensee sends an operative to pose as a factory worker and report on a union drive. What does section 27 say?M.G.L. c. 147, § 27
A licensee tells an employer which job applicants belong to a union so that they will not be hired. Is that a prohibited act?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
During a strike, a licensee is asked to supply armed guards on the highways for one side of the labor dispute. What does section 30 say?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
What comes before a suspension under section 27?M.G.L. c. 147, § 27
What is the punishment for knowingly doing an act section 30 prohibits?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
Which of these does section 30 forbid a licensee to furnish to employers?M.G.L. c. 147, § 30
Which purpose for entering a place of employment does section 27 forbid to a licensee?M.G.L. c. 147, § 27
Secret recording law 12
A business uses an ordinary office intercom system in the ordinary course of its work. Is that a violation of section 99?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
A client hires someone else to plant a hidden recorder in a spouse's car. Is the client covered by section 99(C)(1)?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
A Massachusetts investigator secretly records his own phone call with a witness, who does not know. Is that an "interception" under chapter 272, section 99?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
A person edits a recording and offers it in a court case without saying what was changed. What does section 99 say?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
An investigator did not make an illegal recording but knowingly passes its contents to a client. What does section 99 provide?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
How does section 99 define "oral communication"?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
In section 99's preamble, what does the general court say about private individuals and surveillance devices?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
Section 99(Q) gives an aggrieved person a civil cause of action. What does it entitle that person to?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
What does chapter 272, section 99A forbid?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99A
What does section 99 say of possessing an intercepting device under circumstances showing an intent to intercept unlawfully?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
What is the heaviest punishment section 99 sets for wilfully committing an interception?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
Which of these is not an "intercepting device" as section 99 defines it?M.G.L. c. 272, § 99
Massachusetts sets no examination for a private investigator license, so this unofficial Massachusetts private investigator license practice test is law practice: 83 questions of our own from General Laws chapter 147. Not affiliated with the Massachusetts State Police.
Read the full guide
What the State Police read in place of a test
The Certification Unit's page asks for a notarized application, a $5,000 surety bond, a signed release, the business filing, and a certificate from three citizens of the applicant's community who are not relatives.
Detective and investigator are one license
Chapter 147 licenses the "private detective business", which takes in private detectives, private investigators and watch, guard or patrol agencies (section 22). Guard agencies need no investigative experience.
What is left out
Statute only. The State Police's list of crimes of moral turpitude, firearms licensing under chapter 140 and court decisions are not asked.
A business name may not contain "police" or "fire" (M.G.L. c. 147, § 25).
Only a guard or watchman in uniform may use a badge, worn on the left breast (§ 29).
An employee who tells anyone but the employer what a case turned up risks a $500 fine or a year in jail (§ 28).
Questions and answers
Is there an exam for a Massachusetts private investigator license?
No. Chapter 147, section 24 sets a sworn application, experience and character, and names no examination. The State Police Certification Unit's requirements and application pages list no test.
How do I become a private investigator in Massachusetts?
Apply to the colonel of the state police with three years of regular employment as a detective doing investigating work, or the police or federal service section 24 names. A felony conviction in any state bars a license (section 25).
How much does a private investigator license cost in Massachusetts?
The State Police page lists $550 for an original application and $150 for a renewal. A renewal sought more than six months after the license expired costs the original fee (M.G.L. c. 147, § 26).
Can a private investigator record conversations in Massachusetts?
Not secretly. Chapter 272, section 99 makes it an interception to secretly hear or record a conversation without prior authority from all parties, and a conviction under it means a license is refused or revoked (c. 147, § 25).
How long is a Massachusetts private investigator license good for?
One year. The colonel of the state police may renew it annually, and may revoke it at any time for cause after notice and a hearing (M.G.L. c. 147, § 25).