Nevada is a state known for excitement, and if you’re looking for one of the most exciting careers this state has to offer, look no further than private investigation. In both the public and private sphere, private investigators are in increasingly high demand and perform important tasks such as fraud investigation and fugitive location.
Like the majority of states across the country, Nevada requires that private investigators working in the state obtain a license. In Nevada, licenses are issued by the Private Investigator’s Licensing Board, and you must comply with all of the Board’s requirements before your license will be granted.
Nevada Private Investigator License Requirements
Minimum Requirements
- Age: Nevadans who want to become private detectives must be at least 21 years old.
- Citizenship: You can be a US citizen or an alien allowed to work in the United States to receive a private investigator license.
- Multiple Background Checks: Applicants must be able to pass background checks performed by the FBI, the Nevada Department of Public Safety and the California Department of Justice if you’ve ever worked or lived in California.
- Military Career: While a military career may be useful for a private investigator, it has no bearing on your application.
- Finances: In Nevada, a candidate’s personal finances are not examined for a private investigators license.
- Mental Health or Defect: You will not need to undergo a mental health examination to earn your license.
- Insurance: After passing the licensing examination, you will need to secure $200,000 worth of insurance coverage from a company licensed in Nevada.
- Automatic Denials: Felony convictions, convictions due to moral turpitude and convictions caused by the illegal use or possession of a firearm will prevent you from becoming a licensed private investigator.
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Education and Experience
- Acquiring Education and Experience: The Nevada Private Investigator’s Licensing Board requires applicants to gain 10,000 hours of work experience before licensure. This experience should take place over 5 years, with 2,000 hours being acquired each year. Education can be used for part of this requirement. Associate degrees in political science or criminal justice equal 1,333 hours; bachelor’s degrees equal 3,000 hours.
- Licensing Exam: You will be eligible to take the licensing exam after you have submitted your application and received Board approval. Scoring 70% constitutes a passing grade.
Nevada Private Investigator Training
Receiving proper training is a crucial step in becoming a successful private investigator. While the Board has no specific requirements for certified training courses, they do prefer candidates with political science or criminal justice degrees. Additional degrees you should consider for your career include forensics and investigation.
Discover online private investigator programs in Nevada that are a match for you!
Forms Needed for a Private Detective License in Nevada
- Fees: You will need to pay a $20 application processing fee, a $500-dollar initial licensing fee, and a $750 deposit for your background check. There is also a processing fee for your fingerprinting, which costs $37.50. The licensing exam costs $100.
- Private Investigator Registration Process: Having your application approved includes providing the right documentation. In addition to the required fees, you must submit proof of citizenship, three fingerprint cards, three notarized certificates supporting your work experience, three notarized certificates of personal reference, education transcripts, three years of tax returns, and proof of child support payment, if applicable.
- License Maintenance: You must renew your license each year for a fee of $500.
Nevada Private Investigator Salary
In the most recent report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it was stated that there were 210 private investigators employed in Nevada in May of 2015. The yearly salary for these licensed private investigators was $44,300.
Links to State Resources and Professional Organizations
Nevada Private Investigator’s Licensing Board Requirements
Nevada Society of Professional Investigators
Salary and Employment Numbers from the BLS
Private Investigator Programs and Schools in Nevada
Private Investigator Programs and Schools in Nevada
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Choose your area of study and receive free information about programs you are interested in. Private investigators are used by law firms, law enforcement, insurance companies, as well as individuals to conduct investigations to build criminal and civil cases. A degree related to criminal justice could benefit an aspiring private investigator greatly. Request information from multiple schools to find the best program and educational opportunity for you!