PI Licensing: Virginia

[Legal Affairs]

The difference between:

A Registered Private Investigator (RPI):
Anyone can sign up as a Registered Private Investigator (RPI) to take academic classes and then go find a job working for a licensed private investigator under their licensed agency.
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An RPI is not a licensed private investigator and cannot advertise to the public to perform any of the regulated assignments as a private investigator in Virgina.

But an RPI can work for an agency or a firm. Or, an RPI can advertise themselves as a Case Examiner and work any of the unregulated cases in Virginia.

Or better, they can start their own national agency through IPIU by using a licensed sponsor and be set up within a few weeks to advertise for any cases.


A Licensed Private Investigator (LPI):
Can freely advertise for all regulated and unregulated cases.
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An LPI is a licensed private investigator and can advertise to the public to perform any of the regulated or unregulated assignments as a private investigator in Virgina.



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NO LICENSE IS REQUIRED IF you fall into the following:


9.1-140. (Effective October 1, 2001) Exceptions from article; training requirements for out-of-state central station dispatchers.

The provisions of this article shall not apply to:


NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator who is employed by a business who performs his duties for his employer.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A person engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual's financial rating. This exception shall not apply to private investigators as defined in § 9.1-138.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator employed by an attorney or certified public accountant licensed to practice in Virginia.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator mystery shopper, known as "shoppers," employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator who conducts investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Private investigator who (i) exclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator end user.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A private investigator products supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: A an employed as a security officer, or receiving compensation under the terms of a contract, express or implied, as a security officer, who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by § 9.1-101 and employed by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or § 56-353 while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers' affiliates, and other communications common carriers.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Members of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public service companies.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Any private investigator who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: Members of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: An out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security services business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station dispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: An officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official duties.

NO PI LICENSE NEEDED if: An end user.


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ORIGINAL CODE:

1. An officer or employee of the United States, the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision of either, while the officer or employee is performing his official duties.

2. A person, except a private investigator as defined in § 9.1-138, engaged exclusively in the business of obtaining and furnishing information regarding an individual's financial rating. This exception shall not apply to private investigators as defined in § 9.1-138.

3. An attorney or certified public accountant licensed to practice in Virginia or his employees.

4. The legal owner of personal property which has been sold under any security agreement while performing acts relating to the repossession of such property.

5. A person receiving compensation for private employment as a security officer, or receiving compensation under the terms of a contract, express or implied, as a security officer, who is also a law-enforcement officer as defined by § 9.1-101 and employed by the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions.

6. Any person appointed under § 46.2-2003 or § 56-353 while engaged in the employment contemplated thereunder, unless they have successfully completed training mandated by the Department.

7. Persons who conduct investigations as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster, by a claims adjuster who maintains an ongoing claims adjusting business, and any natural person employed by the claims adjuster to conduct investigations for the claims adjuster as a part of the services being provided as a claims adjuster.

8. Any natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9.1-139 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services business for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with the Department as required by this article.

9. Persons, sometimes known as "shoppers," employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment.

10. Licensed or registered private investigators from other states entering Virginia during an investigation originating in their state of licensure or registration when the other state offers similar reciprocity to private investigators licensed and registered by the Commonwealth.

11. Unarmed regular employees of telephone public service companies where the regular duties of such employees consist of protecting the property of their employers and investigating the usage of telephone services and equipment furnished by their employers, their employers' affiliates, and other communications common carriers.

12. An end user.

13. A material supplier who renders advice concerning the use of products sold by an electronics security business and who does not provide installation, monitoring, repair or maintenance services for electronic security equipment.

14. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by electric public service companies.

15. Any professional engineer or architect licensed in accordance with Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 to practice in the Commonwealth, or his employees.

16. Any person who only performs telemarketing or schedules appointments without access to information concerning the electronic security equipment purchased by an end user.

17. Any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness.

18. Members of the security forces who are directly employed by shipyards engaged in the construction, design, overhaul or repair of nuclear vessels for the United States Navy.

19. An out-of-state central station dispatcher employed by a private security services business licensed by the Department provided he (i) possesses and maintains a valid license, registration, or certification as a central station dispatcher issued by the regulatory authority of the state in which he performs the monitoring duties and (ii) has submitted his fingerprints to the regulatory authority for the conduct of a national criminal history records search.

20. Any person, or independent contractor or employee of any person, who (i) exclusively contracts directly with an agency of the federal government to conduct background investigations and (ii) possesses credentials issued by such agency authorizing such person, subcontractor or employee to conduct background investigations.

SOURCE LINK: Virginia Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+9.1-140)

OTHERWISE, you may apply for a license under the following:

9.1-139. (Effective October 1, 2001) Licensing, certification, and registration required; qualifications; temporary licenses.

A. No person shall engage in the private security services business or solicit private security business in the Commonwealth without having obtained a license from the Department. No person shall be issued a private security services business license until a compliance agent is designated in writing on forms provided by the Department. The compliance agent shall ensure the compliance of the private security services business with this article and shall meet the qualifications and perform the duties required by the regulations adopted by the Board. A compliance agent shall have either a minimum of (i) three years of managerial or supervisory experience in a private security services business; with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency; or in a related field or (ii) five years of experience in a private security services business; with a federal, state or local law-enforcement agency; or in a related field.

B. No person shall act as private security services training school or solicit students for private security training in the Commonwealth without being certified by the Department. No person shall be issued a private security services training school certification until a school director is designated in writing on forms provided by the Department. The school director shall ensure the compliance of the school with the provisions of this article and shall meet the qualifications and perform the duties required by the regulations adopted by the Board.

C. No person shall be employed by a licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth as armored car personnel, courier, armed security officer, security canine handler, private investigator, personal protection specialist, alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative or electronic security technician without possessing a valid registration issued by the Department, except as provided in this article.

D. A temporary license may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary license until (i) he has designated a compliance agent who has complied with the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board pursuant to subsection A of § 9.1-141 for compliance agents, (ii) each principal of the business has submitted his fingerprints for a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (iii) he has met all other requirements of this article and Board regulations.

E. A temporary registration may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary registration until he has (i) complied with, or been exempted from the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board, pursuant to subsection A of § 9.1-141, for armored car personnel, couriers, armed security officers, security canine handlers, private investigators, personal protection specialist, alarm respondents, central station dispatchers, electronic security sales representatives or electronic security technicians, (ii) submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (iii) met all other requirements of this article and Board regulations.

F. A temporary certification as a private security instructor or private security training school may be issued in accordance with Board regulations for the purpose of awaiting the results of the state and national fingerprint search. However, no person shall be issued a temporary certification as a private security services instructor until he has (i) met the education, training and experience requirements established by the Board and (ii) submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search. No person shall be issued a temporary certification as a private security services training school until (a) he has designated a training director, (b) each principal of the training school has submitted his fingerprints to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search, and (c) he has met all other requirements of this article and Board regulations.

G. A licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth shall not employ as an unarmed security officer, electronic security technician's assistant, unarmed alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, or electronic security technician, any person who has not complied with, or been exempted from, the compulsory minimum training standards established by the Board, pursuant to subsection A of § 9.1-141, except that such person may be so employed for not more than ninety days while completing compulsory minimum training standards.

H. No person shall be employed as an electronic security employee, electronic security technician's assistant, unarmed alarm respondent, central station dispatcher, electronic security sales representative, electronic security technician or supervisor until he has submitted his fingerprints to the Department to be used for the conduct of a National Criminal Records search and a Virginia Criminal History Records search. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to an out-of-state central station dispatcher meeting the requirements of subdivision 19 of § 9.1-140.

I. The compliance agent of each licensed private security services business in the Commonwealth shall maintain documentary evidence that each private security registrant and certified employee employed by his private security services business has complied with, or been exempted from, the compulsory minimum training standards required by the Board and that an investigation to determine suitability of each unarmed security officer employee has been conducted, except that any such unarmed security officer, upon initiating a request for such investigation under the provisions of subdivision 11 of subsection A of § 19.2-389, may be employed for up to thirty days pending completion of such investigation.

J. No person with a criminal conviction for a misdemeanor involving (i) moral turpitude, (ii) assault and battery, (iii) damage to real or personal property, (iv) controlled substances or imitation controlled substances as defined in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, (v) prohibited sexual behavior as described in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, or (vi) firearms, or any felony shall be (a) employed as a registered or certified employee by a private security services business or training school, or (b) issued a private security services registration, certification as an unarmed security officer, electronic security employee or technician's assistant, a private security services training school or instructor certification, compliance agent certification, or a private security services business license, except that, upon written request, the Director of the Department may waive such prohibition.

K. The Department may grant a temporary exemption from the requirement for licensure, certification, or registration for a period of not more than thirty days in a situation deemed an emergency by the Department.

L. All private security services businesses and private security services training schools in the Commonwealth shall include their license or certification number on all business advertising materials.

SOURCE LINK: Virginia Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+9.1-139)

Search License: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/ps/directory/businessSearch.cfm

[Wendy Divler]

Is IPIU an accredited training school to satisfy PI licensing requirements in Virginia or do I need to attend an accredited school there in addition to my training here at IPIU?
Thanks,
Wendy

[David Copeland]

Originally posted by Wendy Divler
Is IPIU an accredited training school to satisfy PI licensing requirements in Virginia
The International Private Investigators Union (IPIU) is a professional trade organization of private investigators and attorneys. IPIU accredits other courses for 3rd party certification of placement.


Originally posted by Wendy Divler
...do I need to attend an accredited school there in addition to my training here at IPIU?
Wendy, I merged your topic question to this Licensing Topic for Virginia. Please read the above Licensing Exemptions before pursuing a license. You may not need a license if you are not planning on advertising in Virginia as an independent private investigator.

If have already been placed by IPIU as a trainee, then you do not need to concern yourself with licensing at this stage. A free training manual will be shipped to you at a later stage. At that time you will have access to the Educational Forum for advanced studies, which does include accredited schools for private investigation.

In the meantime, you may wish to visit the Forum Member Introduction area and post your own introduction to acquaint yourself with the many members here who can help you. :)

[Adam D Bowers -]

In the state of VA. a P.I. or even a trainee must be registered with the Department of Criminal Justice Services(DCJS). Does the IPIU test count as the necessary training to acquire this registration or must I take an outside course?

Thanks for info,

Adam Bowers

[admin]

(Adam, this is the 5th time I have had to merge your New Thread into the existing thread that covers the specific area of discussion. :( If you read a topic and have a question or comment about that specific discussion, click on the button titled Post Reply http://www.ipiu.org/forums/images/reply.gif .)

Pertaining to your question, please read the first post in this topic for the Exemptions, that precludes trainees in those areas from having to apply for an individual license.

[Adam D Bowers -]

Admin,

I do apologize for that...I thought I just needed to post a question in the licensing laws forum...didn't know it had to be under VA. As far as five times...I didn't know it was that many! Apologies once again.


I have spoken with a PI who handles the supervising for all the PI's involved with Interprobe...a large local agency here. He stated that registration with DCJS and a license were two totally different things. He stated that I must be registered with them to work in this state and then I could work under their agency license. Is this totally true...legal affairs?...any input??....anybody, any input??

Thanks,

Adam

[Technical Support]

Originally posted by Adam D Bowers
He stated that I must be registered with them to work in this state and then I could work under their agency license.
For that particular agency, he is right.

If an agency is already licensed with the state, then the agency may required that all of their employees be registered.

But that is different than the many exempted agencies, companies, and firms that are listed in the first post in this topic.

As an example, if you were to speak to the director of investigations for a large law firm that employs 50 attorneys and 100 investigators, they would not insist you to be registered with the state because their business is exempted, like an insurance company is exempted from having their fraud investigators from being registered with the state PI division.

If you have a job offer with the company you spoke with, it would be good to pursue with registration (if you can).

[Adam D Bowers -]

Originally posted by Technical Support

For that particular agency, he is right.

If an agency is already licensed with the state, then the agency may required that all of their employees be registered.

But that is different than the many exempted agencies, companies, and firms that are listed in the first post in this topic.

As an example, if you were to speak to the director of investigations for a large law firm that employs 50 attorneys and 100 investigators, they would not insist you to be registered with the state because their business is exempted, like an insurance company is exempted from having their fraud investigators from being registered with the state PI division.

If you have a job offer with the company you spoke with, it would be good to pursue with registration (if you can).


I did not have an exact job offer, but a possibility. I was told by him if I got registered I would be able to run a case or two with him and if we were "compatible" with him and the agency then I would be hired. However, they hire their new guys at 14-15/hr. full-time due to the fact that they are inexperienced and might "lose someone on a surveillance or by getting stopped at a light".

Would I have a better chance of getting more full-time hours (not necessarily from one agency) if I were to locally look for agencies and law offices that would allow me to work on an as needed basis. Obviously, I wouldn't do this till I had a couple of cases under my belt. However, would this be a good idea to generate a larger case load a lot faster?

Thanks,

Adam

[Technical Support]

Originally posted by Adam D Bowers
Would I have a better chance of getting more full-time hours (not necessarily from one agency) if I were to locally look for agencies and law offices that would allow me to work on an as needed basis. Obviously, I wouldn't do this till I had a couple of cases under my belt. However, would this be a good idea to generate a larger case load a lot faster?

Do a search under the user name of Wayne Phillips, who did just what you are asking. But first, wait until you are fully processed and placed with some national firms to give you experience or credentials (that is what Wayne did). Looking now on your own has a high risk of "personal" rejection. After you are fully processed you will have more to bring to the table along with confidence and academic training and testing.

[Adam D Bowers -]

Originally posted by Technical Support

Do a search under the user name of Wayne Phillips, who did just what you are asking. But first, wait until you are fully processed and placed with some national firms to give you experience or credentials (that is what Wayne did). Looking now on your own has a high risk of "personal" rejection. After you are fully processed you will have more to bring to the table along with confidence and academic training and testing.

I will check Wayne out..thanks.

I planned on waiting till I had a couple of cases with IPIU under my belt first just for that reason...thanks.

Adam

[William L. Vass]

I am trying to understand the requirements for licencing in Virginia but I dont follow the technical stuff. I really would like to know the requirements in laymans terms. Thanks..

[admin]

Originally posted by William L. Vass
I am trying to understand the requirements for licencing in Virginia but I dont follow the technical stuff. I really would like to know the requirements in laymans terms. Thanks..
Welcome, William.

Please click here for instructions:
http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=5008

[Meriah Crawford]

Hiya,

This is the official Department of Criminal Justice Services page for security services training info: http://www.dcjs.org/trainingRegulatory/index.cfm. It includes a link with a list of accpeted training programs.

Be advised that schools are required to teach a certain number of hours in a set of broad topics (Like Interviewing and Criminal Law) but that the specific curriculum isn't defined by the department. What this means is that you need to pick your school carefully in order to get a solid education. If anyone wants specific info or translations for any of the regs, please ask.

Thanks,
Meriah Crawford...

[Latoya Averett]

I am a little confused because in the licences in virginia.do I have to wait 3-5 years to actually recieve a p.i. licence for virinia?I already read it a few times but I know that there are certain thing that I can do without it ,but I need to know if I can have it in less than that?thanks everyone,:)

[Meriah Crawford]

In oder to work as a PI in VA (exceptions aside) you need to be *registered* not *licensed*. Once you are registered (after completing a VA-approved training program and getting a background check done), you can work (as an employee) for a licensed personal security services company, or you can form your own licensed company.

To do the latter, you need to either employ or become a Compliance Agent. In order to be qualified to become a compliance agent, you need to have either 3 years of supervisory level experience in the military, law enforcement or a related field, or have 5 years of other experience in the military, law enforcement or a related field. Note that you may be able to use a wide range of experience to qualify for the 3 or 5 years.

Let me know if you still have questions.

Meriah...

[Latoya Averett]

I understand a little about the licencing ,but you said I only have to be registered,now does that mean registered in the state of virginia as a resident or something else?I just recieved the papers today to send in all the papers,but if you could,please clarify it a little better for me ?thank you

[Meriah Crawford]

Being registered means being registered with the DCJS (Department of Criminal Justice Services) as a Private Investigator. You will need to go through a training program in Virginia at school licensed by the DCJS in order to be registered. FYI, schools generally provide you will all paperwork that you need, including fingerprint cards. Have you started training yet?

Good luck,
Meriah...

[Latoya Averett]

Thanks Meriah for responding first of all!I haven't started training yet,but I did need to know that info.have you started training yet?I plan on sending my things in this week to get the ball rolling for all that needs to get processed,but thanks again for the helpful information!:)

[Meriah Crawford]

I completed my training through CTA (Central Training Academy), a really great school in Chantilly, VA, in early May. I was working *very* shortly after that, but it took a lot of hard work and networking. Have you selected a school yet?

Good luck,
Meriah...

[Cecil Reynolds]

In the Commonwealth of Virginia. Private Investigators are Registered, with the DCJS. In order to work in this field you must obtain a "Comliance Agent" registration or do your work "under the umbrella" of a Lawyer. All investigations must be covered by contract. P.I.s must have a minium of 1(one) million dollars of Insurance Coverage.

If I do an investigation, my Major will cover my contracts for a nominal percentage.

I also do process service for very few law firms, which is not covered by DCJS but is covered by Code of Virginia.

I hope this will clarify some of your questions.

Lt. Cecil Reynolds
Merry Christmas To All

[Robert Donovan]

Welcome!

Thank you for your comment.


Originally posted by Cecil Reynolds
In the Commonwealth of Virginia, Private Investigators are Registered . . . In order to work in this field you must obtain a "Compliance Agent" registration or do your work "under the umbrella" of a Lawyer. All investigations must be covered by contract. P.I.s must have a minium of 1(one) million dollars of Insurance Coverage.
Yes and no.

It is correct for all regulated private investigators, but no so for all unregulated private investigators.

Refer to the first comment posted, which includes 20 exemptions to regulation and licensing. And yes, one of those exemptions is working for a lawyer. :)

[Cecil Reynolds]

Mr. Donavan:
Thank you for your comments on P.I. Regulations. The Dept. of
Criminal Justice in Virginia recently revised Regulations Relating To
Private Security Services. If you or anyone else is interested in further clarification , the Code of Virginia covering these regulations is: 6 VAC 20-171. Effective November, 19th , 2003.
In the past security officers who were unarmed , were certified and armed security officers were registered.
With the onslaught of 9-11 all security officers armed/unarmed
have to be fingerprinted and a criminal history is ran through NCIC
(National Crime Information Center). This is a small example of the
constant changes that have been revised.

Thank You again Sir.
Cecil Reynolds.

[Marnisha E Mintlow]

I just wanted to make sure I understand everything correctly . . .

If I want to work under someone as a PI I only need to register with the DCJS, but if I want to work on my own and have my own business I would have to be licensed and go to an accredited school in VA. Is that right? Or do I need to go to the school no matter what?

Another question I have is should I start the classes ASAP or should I wait until after I start training?

Thanks for all the help.

[Ernest Perkins]

If I need to register with the DCJS, what good is the free manual and testing or me even being registered with IPIU at this point in time? Any classes that I must take should be taken first before I do anything else. Is that the Ideal move I should take (or should have taken)?

[Lisa Frye -]

Ernest,

Although you need to be registered with DCJS in Va you can still work under a licensed attorney. Now if you want to work for yourself, you must obtain a business license which runs about $800.00.

IPIU will definately benefit you in becoming more knowlegable in the private investigative field. There are still assignment you can perform through the IPIU.

In Va if you persue getting licenced, it doesnt take much time to do so. (If i remember correctly, its about 60 hours)

I recieved my license before i ever found this group and I have benefited from it tremendously!

I hope I have helped in some way.

Best of luck and I hope you will decide to join us full time here! :)

Lisa

[Ernest Perkins]

Thanks for the reply. When I signed up for this I was under the impression that I would just have to study the manual, take the free test and then start my on-the-job training. Would you happen to know how long the DCJS training is?

[Lisa Frye -]

Ernest I think maybe I worded things wrong in my last post. Let me see if I can clear this up.

In the state of VA you must complete 60 hrs of course training and pass the written exam given at the end of the course in order to obtain a Private Investigator License.

You may not contract to provide any private services without first obtaining a business License with the DCJS.

You may perform duties while employed by a licensed private business and only for the clients of the Licensee.

You may work for a Licensed Attorney or a Private Investigator company without having your PI License. When you gain experience through the IPIU you are more likely to obtain a position within a company without having a license.

Depending on where you go for training will depend on how long it would take. Some places take as little as a month. You would have to investigate your options.

I sure hope I did not confuse you any further. :o

Take care!
Lisa

[Ernest Perkins]

I guess where I get confused is what exactly happens next in the state of Virginia after I take the test. Do I then, start the on-the-job training? Licensing aside; I just want to know if things will be different for me as a trainee in Va.

This will all sink in soon. :confused:
Ernest

[Lisa Frye -]

Wow are we confusing eachother! :o

You don't have to have a license if you work under a licensed attorney.

I'm sure the more you read through the threads the more you will begin to understand. It does take some time and it can be confusing.

I sure hope I am giving you the correct information but if I'm not hopefully someone who knows the business more will come around and correct me.

But as far as I know, this is the way it works. I became licensed before I found the IPIU and these forums have tought me tremendously!

Hope this may have helped...keep reading..and again if you cant find your answers, post them inyour intro!

Good Luck and have fun!

Lisa

[Raoul P Sheridan]

All of that legal jargon is pretty confusing, as I am sure it is meant to be. But I have read the postings and, let me see if I have this right…
I credentials that I get from IPIU will allow me to work for Licensed Attorneys, and Private Investigations firms.
The license from DCJS is only necessary when I want to run my own contracts, start my own business. And in order to get that I have to go to some DCJS approved training which will last about 60 hours or so.
Now if all of that is true, are there any of the 52 areas of Private investigations that I will not be able to work in until I get the DCJS license? The reason I ask is because some of my main interests involve things like Bail Enforcement, Skip Tracing, Body guarding, and the like. The problem is that it seems that the legal mumbo jumbo in the first posting of this forum deals mostly with exactly that type of work.
Thanks for all of your help.
Oh and the website for DJS training is no longer active, is there a different one that I could check out?

[Lisa Frye -]

The credentials that I get from IPIU will allow me to work for Licensed Attorneys, and Private Investigations firms.

You do not need a license to work under a licensed attorney or PI firms, that is correct. IPIU will provide you will some very necessary skills and help you gain experience.


The license from DCJS is only necessary when I want to run my own contracts, start my own business. And in order to get that I have to go to some DCJS approved training which will last about 60 hours or so.

That is correct.


Now if all of that is true, are there any of the 52 areas of Private investigations that I will not be able to work in until I get the DCJS license? The reason I ask is because some of my main interests involve things like Bail Enforcement, Skip Tracing, Body guarding, and the like. The problem is that it seems that the legal mumbo jumbo in the first posting of this forum deals mostly with exactly that type of work.
Thanks for all of your help.
Oh and the website for DJS training is no longer active, is there a different one that I could check out?

I don't believe there are any areas that you can not work. I am providing you with the DCJS link so that you can read and obtain any info you are seeking.

This link is working. DCJS Virginia (http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/)

Hope this helps! ;)

Lisa

[Raoul P Sheridan]

Thank you Lisa.
I have looked over the licensing requirements on the DCJS website, and man does Virginia want you to have a lot of classes. IT will take some time to cmplete these I think, but I do appreciate your help.
One more question, it seems that in order to provied personal protective services in Virginia you also need a seperate liscense, or at the very least another type of class, is this correct or am I looking at the wrong thing?

[Lisa Frye -]

Thank you Lisa.
I have looked over the licensing requirements on the DCJS website, and man does Virginia want you to have a lot of classes. IT will take some time to cmplete these I think

It doesn't really take long to complete these classes. It's only 60 hours all together. I guess the length of time depends on where you take your classes.


One more question, it seems that in order to provied personal protective services in Virginia you also need a seperate liscense, or at the very least another type of class, is this correct or am I looking at the wrong thing?

Yes you are correct. That involves a whole seperate kind of training. I haven't really looked into that because it's not really one of my personal interests.

Keep in touch...doesnt seem to be too many of us in VA. ;)

Lisa

[Lisa Frye -]

Question:

If I'm registered in VA and am hired by a company in MA is it legal for me to do an interview for Permanent Disability in MA?

I have Licensed investigators that are telling me that it is not legal but the company told me it was. :confused:

I have already been involved somewhat in this case but am having second thoughts. My instinct is telling me to be cautious.

Please advise.

Thank you.

[Marsha Waters Fisher -]

I just completed a DJCS licensed training course and I am now registered as a Private Investigator in VA. I only need to take my letter of approval to DMV to get the picture ID.
Do I still need to take the test given by IPIU? (The manual arrived in the mail on Monday)
Thanks!
Marsha Waters-Fisher

[Marsha Waters Fisher -]

OOPS! I meant DCJS! :)
Marsha

[Lisa Frye -]

I just completed a DJCS licensed training course and I am now registered as a Private Investigator in VA. I only need to take my letter of approval to DMV to get the picture ID.
Do I still need to take the test given by IPIU? (The manual arrived in the mail on Monday)
Thanks!
Marsha Waters-Fisher

No. You wont need to take the IPIU exam. Email or fax a copy of your license to legal@ipiu.org. ;) (fax# 775-429-1529)

[Marsha Waters Fisher -]

Thanks, Lisa! I am on my way to DMV!
Marsha :D

[David Copeland]

I just completed a DJCS licensed training course and I am now registered as a Private Investigator in VA. I only need to take my letter of approval to DMV to get the picture ID.
Do I still need to take the test given by IPIU? (The manual arrived in the mail on Monday)
Thanks!
Marsha Waters-Fisher
Marsha,

I apologize for Lisa's instructions that she provided you mistakenly.

The Department of Criminal Justice Services(DCJS) registration is separate from the State of Virgnia's PI License. It is very imporatnt that you read PAGE 1 of this licensing topic to completely understand the two-steps involved.

You have completed the first of two steps. Therefore, you will need to take the IPIU exam that came with your training manual, or wait until you obtain your own PI License to have the choice of a waiver.

Currently, you are at Level 3. Level 4 is granted with either a PI License or a passing exam on the IPIU test for union members.

If you have any further questions, please email usa@ipiu.org where they have your records.

Thank you for your patience,

David

(Lisa: Sorry to butt in here, but we need to make sure that our procedures are in line with the state's preference)

[Marsha Waters Fisher -]

Thanks, David.
Marsha

[Ms. Laura Del Gaudio -]

Hi, I'm from NY, I am in a small business start up program. I just sent for the info. that a PI needs to receive a Lic. in NY. From the Dept. of the State of the State! I am presently doing Mystery shops or integrity investigations. I realize that I do not need to be lic. in order to do that. I am now what is considered an independent contractor.
I want to put a name to this Independant contractor business that I want to start up and register with NY.
What my concern is now, (I havn't spoken to NY lawyers about this or gotten the info in the mail yet) is when or if I do work ie. backround checks for an independent co. that does not require me to have a lic. besides experience, would or does that go towards time that I can rack up under the requirements for a lic.?
Thanks for any help you can give me in clarifying this.

[Lisa Frye -]

Thanks, David.
Marsha

Hi Marsha,

I apologize IF I gave you the wrong information. I must be misunderstanding what you are asking.

Sorry :o

Have a great evening and Good Luck! ;)

Lisa

[Marsha Waters Fisher -]

No problem, Lisa. We all make mistakes! I am reviewing the manual this week. I am on crutches :mad: so I have lots of time to "study" and take the test.
Marsha

[John Gielas]

No. You wont need to take the IPIU exam. Email or fax a copy of your license to legal@ipiu.org. ;) (fax# 775-429-1529)


Confused, confused, confused. I am a registered PI for Virginia having completed the 60 hours of training, but I have not completed the training necessary to become a licensed business. When I applyed for the position with Attorney Services I explained this but when I received my id and password for IPIU I noticed that I was referred to as a licensed PI. This is not correct. Also As I read and understand Virginia's law I cannot work for Attorney Services as a contractor, I have to be "employed". That is a significant difference. I have emailed them this same question and not received an answer. Can you help. Can I take on for example Anti Piracy assignments legally in Virginia with my current status. Thanks

[Legal Affairs]

I am a registered PI for Virginia having completed the 60 hours of training, but I have not completed the training necessary to become a licensed business. When I applyed for the position with Attorney Services I explained this but when I received my id and password for IPIU I noticed that I was referred to as a licensed PI. This is not correct.
John,

That was probably a normal response from the firm to believe that an applicant stating he/she is a registered PI by the state would be a licensed PI. Most firms think they are the same, but Virginia appears to be the only state that issues a state ID number as a registered PI which is not a licensed PI.

In any event, your User Title and Signature have been corrected.


As I read and understand Virginia's law I cannot work for Attorney Services as a contractor, I have to be "employed".
An employed person under a contractor agreement is still an employed person. The difference is primarily a tax issue. No state can dictate the employment agreement of any company. However, some states regard a 1099 filing as not viable for earning the applicant’s 2-3 year experience rating to become a licensed private investigator at a later date. They would much rather prefer that all experience was under the management and strict guidance of another private investigator. Nevertheless, even that restriction can be waived by the licensing board on a second hearing with adequate supporting evidence that the applicant is well qualified to become licensed through non-conforming work experience. (See appellant policy)

Attorney Services can employ you as an Auditor under the following statute:


8. Any natural person otherwise required to be registered pursuant to § 9.1-139 who is employed by a business that is not a private security services business for the performance of his duties for his employer. Any such employee, however, who carries a firearm and is in direct contact with the general public in the performance of his duties shall possess a valid registration with the Department as required by this article.

Further, the following statute regards mystery shoppers, also known as Auditors, to be exempted when pursuing a report on their client's goods or services. The client in this case is the broadcaster, such as HBO or Showtime. If the auditor is simply reporting on the client's signal availability and the use of the client's broadcast signal by way of purchasing a cover charge or a door charge for the client's signal, then the resulting report goes to the client for follow-up. The client can then determine if their signal was licensed or not, or if there was a breach of honesty as the statute states:


9. Persons, sometimes known as "shoppers," employed to purchase goods or services solely for the purpose of determining or assessing the efficiency, loyalty, courtesy, or honesty of the employees of a business establishment.

For the record, signal piracy auditors (non-licensed by Virginia) have been conducting these services since 1995. But to comply with Virginia's statutes, the auditor should not refer to themselves as a "private investigator" to insure compliance.

And last, there is no statute that precludes any company from hiring their own private investigators (without a PI license) to investigate the affairs, products, or services that they provide to the public. It is only if that same private investigator advertises to the public-at-large that they are a private investigator (which requires a PI license).

As for the firm not responding to your earlier email, there was a national holiday over the last several days, and I suspect they are getting caught up on their correspondence.

[John Gielas]

Thank you very much for your response and clearing up my confusion.

[Hugh Goodwyn]

If you are a Compliance Agent then can I work as a PI with a License in VA?

[Hugh Goodwyn]

Is it true when they told me that some of IPIU Training can give me credit towards my PI License?

[James Devino]

I am not in the private investigator field, rather I am a federal agent assigned to VA and joined IPIU for the networking and training opportunities in preparation for transitioning into the private sector upon my retirement from government service.

What I have picked up from reading the various threads is this:

1. You don't need a PI license from VA if you investigate work assigned to you by a member of the VA Bar (a lawyer).

2. The same applies if you work as an Insurance Investigator for an insurance company.

3. Finally, if you work as an investigator for a licensed PI who owns his/her own company, you don't need a license.

4. You do, however, require a license if you decide to contract investigative services to a client. In other words, if you hire yourself out as an investigator, you need a license.

5. You require a license if you own your own investigations company and hire other non-licensed investigators, or contract licensed investigators.

I know this probably requires a new threat; however, if as a federal agent I wanted to pick up part-time trainee work via this Union, how would I go about acquiring assignments?

Jim

[Hugh Goodwyn]

I would go through the 4 levels and take the test for IPIU.When you pass this you will be able to work assignments.In VA if you want to know more about how to get your PI license in VA then call DCJS and they can give you more information.Try to get as much extra training on Homeland Security and other topics that a PI will have to have.Move softly but strong takeing your time do not jump the gun.Try to find out as much as you can from people and network.

[James Devino]

When you say the four levels; what are they, specifically. I have yet to hear that term, "four levels." I plan to take an Executive Protection course as a refresher; I was a State Department agent back in the late eighties and protected many visiting foregn dignitaries. Thanks Hugh.

[J Ginsberg -]

Hi James. We'd like to know more about you, so could you go to the "Forum Member's Introduction Lounge" forum and author an introduction thread about yourself, please. Also, the explanations of the levels are found in either the membership benefits or technical support forums. You could use the "search" function and find out where this specific thread is. Welcome to IPIU. Thanks for posting.

Johnny

[Robert Donovan]

What I have picked up from reading the various threads is this:

1. You don't need a PI license from VA if you investigate work assigned to you by a member of the VA Bar (a lawyer).

2. The same applies if you work as an Insurance Investigator for an insurance company.

3. Finally, if you work as an investigator for a licensed PI who owns his/her own company, you don't need a license.

4. You do, however, require a license if you decide to contract investigative services to a client. In other words, if you hire yourself out as an investigator, you need a license.

5. You require a license if you own your own investigations company and hire other non-licensed investigators, or contract licensed investigators.

I know this probably requires a new threat; however, if as a federal agent I wanted to pick up part-time trainee work via this Union, how would I go about acquiring assignments?

Jim


Jim, that is correct.

Most "basic" investigations do not require a PI License if you choose to work within the statutes as you described.

Your next step is to complete all of your IPIU paperwork that was mailed to you, which can lead to your Level 4 access where the assignments and other jobs are posted.

But also, once you obtain Level 4 access here, then I suggest you go to the Level 4 forum titled OBTAINING YOUR LICENSE and allow IPIU help you in qualifying for your PI License or agency license before retiring. With your background, there is much we can do for you.

When you are ready for the link, post your question in your Introduction Topiuc where the moderators can direct you.

All my best to you,

Robert

[Joe Samuel]

Robert, thanks for clearing up several questions and concerns I had about working as a PI in Virginia. I just passed my IPIU PI exam and look forward to getting my feel wet in the field.
Joe

[Hugh Goodwyn]

I have a question since I have a Security Officer license that is issued by VA DCJS can I work uder this license as a PI and not be in the red.I say this because I have read Legal Affairs exeptions to the code the first rule?

[Hugh Goodwyn]

does anyone know if I need a license in VA to serve papers?

[Steven Lofing]

Jim, that is correct.

Most "basic" investigations do not require a PI License if you choose to work within the statutes as you described.

Your next step is to complete all of your IPIU paperwork that was mailed to you, which can lead to your Level 4 access where the assignments and other jobs are posted.

But also, once you obtain Level 4 access here, then I suggest you go to the Level 4 forum titled OBTAINING YOUR LICENSE and allow IPIU help you in qualifying for your PI License or agency license before retiring. With your background, there is much we can do for you.

When you are ready for the link, post your question in your Introduction Topiuc where the moderators can direct you.

All my best to you,

Robert


Hello Robert,

I live in a state where there are no provisions for PI Licensing, that is to say they do not offer or require a license here.
With that being said, i have sent/faxed my dues and am awaiting my test booklet, i have completed several Mystery Shops for different clients lately. I have my photo Credentials from IPIU and wonder if there is something else i'm overlooking other than waiting for my CWP , i know of nothing else i need for legal purposes. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Thanks for all you do,
Steven Lofing

[Hugh Goodwyn]

I would ask this question in the Mississipppi Forem.Maybe there somone can help you.

[Steven Lofing]

Thanks Hugh,

I tried to find a forum for Miss. The only links i find are for 2 companies that are here and neither return my e-mails.

[Hugh Goodwyn]

Go to the license forum Steven.

[Steven Lofing]

Thanks again Hugh,

It seems i'm the typical puppy chasing it's tail. I went to the licensing forum, to the Mississippi.gov site, to the Mississippi insurance site and if this is all there is, i'm living in a very loose restrictions area..... just don't want to get caught with my pants down. Unlike the restrooms in Houston...lol:confused:

[Hugh Goodwyn]

If you still have questions then call the police nonemergency
to see if they can help you more.

[Ozcan Ozdemir]

I just completed a DJCS licensed training course and I am now registered as a Private Investigator in VA. I only need to take my letter of approval to DMV to get the picture ID.
Do I still need to take the test given by IPIU? (The manual arrived in the mail on Monday)
Thanks!
Marsha Waters-Fisher

Hi Marsha
where did you get your courses at??which school?
are you license to run your own PI business now?

[Cain N Jones]

I'm new, but I believe I got this right through ipiu and upon completing training I can work for any company with out having a licence long as i am not soliciting my own work, but somewhere down the road i need to be registered which takes 2 to 6 weeks ,Is the intern ship offered the same as going to school to be registered?

[Alyssa Edds]

Can anyone tell me which schools have the best training classes for a PI license? Several people I know have recommended Central Training Academy. Are there any other schools that anyone would recommend and can anyone tell me how much these classes cost? Thanks so much for the info!
Alyssa

[John McCarty]

Can anyone tell me which schools have the best training classes for a PI license? Several people I know have recommended Central Training Academy. Are there any other schools that anyone would recommend and can anyone tell me how much these classes cost? Thanks so much for the info!
Alyssa

He runs class once a month and has been around a long time. He also teaches a number of other items. Here is the web address:

http://www.millerserve.com/

John

[Jenifer Jewell]

There is no legal status in the State of VA that someone can act as an unlicensed Private Investigator without first being legally licensed through Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice ( DCJS) To become licensed you have to submit to a background check though the state, take and pass PI classes certified eligible in the state and the pay state fees. Even with all of this, a PI in VA cannot act on their own behalf ( own business ) without a class "11" license which takes 5 years of verified documented experience. Online classes do not qualify for the state certified training. The only time a person does not need a DCJS license is if they were an 'in house investigator" for a company such as a Target loss prevention employee. Technically this person is not a licensed private investigator but an in house employee acting on behalf of their company. In Virginia, to present one's self as a PI ( unlicensed) is a criminal act worthy of prosecution.

[Legal Affairs]

There is no legal status in the State of VA that someone can act as an unlicensed Private Investigator without first being legally licensed through Virginia's Department of Criminal Justice ( DCJS)
As a whole, this is incorrect. Rather than use the term licensed or unlicensed private investigators, we use the terms regulated or unregulated private investigators.

The Virginia statutes include several areas of unregulated private investigations that do not need a registration card. They are listed in the following link:

http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3249


The only time a person does not need a DCJS license is if they were an 'in house investigator" for a company such as a Target loss prevention employee.
There are twenty (20) areas of unregulated private investigations that are approved by Virginia statute in the above link.


In Virginia, to present one's self as a PI ( unlicensed) is a criminal act worthy of prosecution.
Private Investigators who advertise regulated services to the general public without the benefit of working lawfully within the twenty (20) exemptions are required to be registered.

Private Investigators who simply perform both regulated and unregulated services with the benefit of working lawfully within the twenty (20) exemptions are not required to be registered.

(One example is to present a business card as "John Smith, Private Investigator, Law Offices of Susan Jones"). In this example, John Smith can lawfully present himself as a private investigator in the course of his work for Susan Jones, who is a licensed attorney and who is exempted from being separately registered as a private investigator)

[Jenifer Jewell]

There is so much confusing information here.

The State of Virginia for private security services including Private Investigations can be found here: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/

As far as I am aware, no one can set themselves forth as a "private investigator" without being legally registered with the state which requires that you attend a DCJS certified course ( 60 hours) have fingerprints and a background check completed and passed and pay required fees to DCJS. Once you are registered, you can ONLY open your own business if you complete the requirements of a "compliance agent" which requires a person to have 5 years full time previous experience in the security field, such as being a retired police officer before they are able to apply for such a business license. If you can get someone to act as your compliance agent and you are DCJS registered, then you can operate as a partnership in a PI business at any time once you are registered.
There are more requirements in addition to this in order to open your own PI business in Virginia including possessing insurance etc
Any work done by a person possessing a "99" registeration ( the 60 hours etc) must work under someone who carries a "11" license which is a Private Investigators business license. No Private Investigative Agency in this state will ever hire an unlicensed person for private investigative work.

For those "exceptions" previously posted here are for conditions of employment where you are working in house for your employer and not as "private investigator". If you call yourself a private investigator in this state, you'd better have a DCJS registration or face the long arm of the law.
There are some states which do not require all the prelicensing regulations but Virginia is not one of them.
Jenifer Jewell
DCJS registered Private Investigator
Virginia

[Michael Newman]

Funny how someone not from Virginia can advise someone on our state laws.

Antony, you are new to this forum and I think you need to re-read the Oath, Code of Ethics, Forum Rules, and Mission Statement you signed. What you mocking does not stand up against what you signed to obtain a Guest Account here.

Here's the link > http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6688

The Mission Statement you and everyone at this site agreed to has a section titled "LICENSING, REGULATED & UNREGULATED EXEMPTIONS, TRAINING, NEWCOMERS".

Is there any part of that you no longer agree to?


Everyone, if you have any question as to if you need a registration or not, CALL Virginia Dept. of Criminal Justice and ask them. No one on this site can provide a true answer to your question. The only answer that really matters is what DCJS tell you.Phone calls are "okay", but IPIU has always encourages newcomers to the profession not to rely on a telephone conversation that does not have full accountability. We are to rely on our Mission Statement which in part says "We promote all interested parties to pursue obtaining government licensing for our profession whenever the entire evidentiary facts of an interested party's individual circumstances dictate such a need or requirement.", as well as being fully versed in the statutes that govern the telephone response from any government worker.


If you think you fall within the 20 ways, but the state says you are not, you could be charged with a crime and loose any chance of being an investigator. You may also be fined up to $2500 and get up to 1 year in jail.There has never been a single account of any IPIU member ever being fined or jailed for working within the exempted areas of the statutes. When I joined IPIU there were not nearly the 40,000 + members there are today. Let's not throw out warnings about fines and jail time to those who know they're within their rights to work in those areas without the extra license. I know of several criminal private investigators who work for some of the largest law firms in the country, and they have never sought the extra expense to license themselves for the work they are already busy in.

In my opinion, I would never encourage anyone to call the Virginia Department without first becoming fully acquainted with the entire statutes. And if someone needs additional interpretation, then they probably should not become a PI. The statutes are, for the most part, in plain English.

[Michael Newman]

As far as I am aware, no one can set themselves forth as a "private investigator" without being legally registered with the state
What do you mean by "set themselves forth"? Do you mean as in business for themselves or as a private investigator who works for someone else who is exempted?


requires that you attend a DCJS certified course ( 60 hours) have fingerprints and a background check completed and passed and pay required fees to DCJS. Once you are registered, you can ONLY open your own business if you complete the requirements of a "compliance agent" which requires a person to have 5 years full time previous experience in the security field, such as being a retired police officer before they are able to apply for such a business license.

That is correct for those who wish to conduct regulated cases, as Legal Affairs stated. But it is not required for unregulated cases.


Once you are registered, you can ONLY open your own business if you complete the requirements of a "compliance agent" which requires a person to have 5 years full time previous experience in the security field, such as being a retired police officer before they are able to apply for such a business license. If you can get someone to act as your compliance agent and you are DCJS registered, then you can operate as a partnership in a PI business at any time once you are registered.In other states this is referred to as either a sponsor for your agency license or a qualifying manager for your agency license. The partnership is not required if the applicant is a corporation and the president hires a compliance manager to oversee the cases.


Any work done by a person possessing a "99" registeration ( the 60 hours etc) must work under someone who carries a "11" license which is a Private Investigators business license. No Private Investigative Agency in this state will ever hire an unlicensed person for private investigative work.
Yes and no. If a portion of a case, such as investigating court records or using certain generic skills (including the internet) to locate a target, does not require a licensed PI, then an unlicensed operative can be hired without the need of a license.

A famous licensed PI once said he uses his license to get 100 cases a week, of which 50-90 of those cases did not require him to use his license because they fell within the unregulated areas of the statutes.


For those "exceptions" previously posted here are for conditions of employment where you are working in house for your employer and not as "private investigator". Any company can employ someone and titled them a private investigator for the affairs of the company employer without a license. That is one of the exemptions.

A licensed Pi or an unlicensed "person" can charge a fee for obtaining background records for a client.

A licensed Pi or an unlicensed "person" can charge a fee for conducting an undercover video covert assignment for a mystery shopping company.

Is it confusing? It can be if we limit our reading and our understanding of the entire statutes. That is why we must first agree to the Oath and Mission Statement:
http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=6688

[Donna Reagan]

Time out, everyone. :)

IPIU and the Private Investigator Forums is a big tent, covers many states and countries, and includes all professionals whether they are regulated or not regulated, licensed or not.

Let's all take a deep breath and agree that everyones comments has some merit.

As Michael mentioned, we all agree with our Mission Statement which includes promoting lawful investigations within the law, which does not mean that the law always regulates.

So let's try to have a better understanding of the what the law does regulate and leave the remainder to another discussion.

Donna

[Brian Acors]

In VA, to start your own firm, after you obtain your Reg. to become a PI. You must pay $800 + other fees, to obtain a "License". If I purchased the PI AGENCY CORPORATION LICENSE Though IPIU, would that technically be saying my business is out of CO?

[John McCarty]

No you still have to have a license from Virginia. Go to
http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/ to view the laws.

John

[Brian Acors]

I have read about the CO Corp Plan in other forums. If this is the case, what would be the advantage of this plan in Virginia? Any?

[John McCarty]

The plan with IPIU dose not cover any state laws with regards to licensing requirements that the states may have.

What you are getting with IPIU is a community of like minded people and business contacts that you may be able to turn into work.

Please feel free to contact me at (see Moderator's Reply)

[Brian Acors]

Thanks For the help!!

[Legal Affairs]

Brian,

Allow me first to formally address how the IPIU Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) can be used to gain approval to work as a licensed PI Agency in Virgina. (Then I will formally answer John's posts)


In VA, to start your own firm, after you obtain your Reg. to become a PI. You must pay $800 + other fees, to obtain a "License".

If I purchased the PI AGENCY CORPORATION LICENSE Though IPIU, would that technically be saying my business is out of CO?
Technically speaking, yes. Virginia statutes allow a license to be issued to a PI Agency who is headquartered in Colorado (or any other state or country) as long as a local Virgina licensed PI will sponsor the Virginia Agency Application for the out-of-state firm. The only additional requirement for the Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) (aside from insurance and fees) is they have to file for an authorization with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (http://www.commonwealth.virginia.gov/) (Virginia) to lawfully do business within Virginia. (The office I work at with IPIU performs these types of filings every week)


I have read about the CO Corp Plan (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) in other forums. If this is the case, what would be the advantage of this plan in Virginia? Any?
The advantages are:

You, as the personal owner of all of the stock in your Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584), will never be revealed through any public record anywhere in the world, not even the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virgina (unless you choose to reveal it). This is the single greatest benefit to the Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) through IPIU.


The personal names, addresses, and other vital statistics of the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) will never be revealed through any public record anywhere in the world, not even the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virgina - (unless you choose to reveal it)


IPIU can arrange for your local Virgina sponsor (a licensed private investigator) through proprietary resources and methods - once you upgrade your IPIU account to a Lifetime Professional Membership (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?cPath=67&products_id=1400) (LPM) account. LPM's are typically a corporate owner already and just need the extra sponsor to get their local agency licensed.

As a side note, we just completed a very similar request for a sponsor for an LTP member. Although the documents and preparation took a week, we received over 50 applications from potential licensed private investigator sponsors within 8 hours. Of the 50, the corporation owner is meeting with the sponsor tomorrow and will in all likelihood have his PI Agency License in hand in just a short time. Otherwise, his only option was to locate an agency who would hire him an an employee for several years before he would have the experience needed for his own license. The route he chose to take, by incorporating and allowing IPIU to help, will enable him to start licensed work in just a very short time, while documenting his experience for the next few years - at which time he will no longer need a sponsor).


Until such time you are financially prepared to set up your own local licensed agency in Virginia, your Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) is authorized to accept any type of PI Assignment from anywhere in the nation through your headquarter's office in Denver, which permit you to speak to clients on a toll free number wherever you are. How to actually handle potentially regulated cases which require a licensed PI in Virginia is taught through our free corporation owner's forum. For any and all other unregulated cases, you are taught how to manage them without the need of a licensed private investigator.

For expert advice, call Jerry at 406-534-0251 from 10AM to 7PM Eastern Time

[Legal Affairs]

No you still have to have a license from Virginia. Go to
http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/ to view the laws.
Yes and no.


For regulated PI Cases only in Virginia where his Colorado Corporation is performing the cases themselves, then the Colorado PI Corporation needs to acquire a Virginia license (which can be acquired with the aid of a Virginia Licensed Pi performing as a sponsor). Once the Colorado PI Corporation has acquired a Virginia license, then the agency owner (Brian) can work under his agency license - which will remain headquartered in Denver.


For unregulated PI Cases only (http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3249) in Virginia where his Colorado Corporation is assigning the cases to unlicensed case examiner contractors, then the Colorado PI Corporation and the Virginia case examiners who perform the assignments do not need to acquire a Virginia PI license (Click Here (http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=3249)- for the 20 different areas of unregulated private investigatrors who do not need a personal Virginia PI License)


And to Brian's original question - if a Colorado PI Agency Corporation were to be licensed to do investigations in both states, including Virginia, could he assume that his "business is out of CO?" - The answer is Yes. His parent PI Corporation will remain in Colorado, while he seeks to expand its corporate charter to other states to operate lawfully. (See my earlier answer to him)



The plan with IPIU dose not cover any state laws with regards to licensing requirements that the states may have.
That is an incorrect read from this link (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584).


The Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) does include the ability to accept all cases at the Denver office - no matter what state the case may lead to - and then to provide the lawful dispatch of either licensed private investigators or unlicensed case examiners - within the other states regulatory statutes to complete the assignment.


If, however, you were attempting to state that the Colorado PI Agency Corporation License (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) does not give automatic authority to handle regulated PI cases in Virginia, then that is correct. But it does not preclude the Colorado PI Agency Corporation (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/product_info.php?products_id=1584) to earn client retainers and to dispatch all Virginia assignments lawfully by using the IPIU program as outlined in the Corporation Owners Forum (http://www.ipiu.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=369).



What you are getting with IPIU is a community of like minded people and business contacts that you may be able to turn into work.That is certainly one of the hundreds of other membership benefits members enjoy.

If members are not getting the work they seek, there is more than one proven IPIU plan that can (and does) improve the success of a private investigator.

Some unsolicited comments by members (using their real names and locations) are here: Click Here (http://www.ipiu.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=48)

<hr>
On a side note, John, if you reinstate your expired union membership, you will have personal access to the Level 4 forums where these methods are available free to those wish to expand their business, or seek a sponsor for a new business.

To renew, Click Here (http://www.privateinvestigators.cc/index.php?cPath=67) . As a licensed private investigator, you need only to choose the Economy Plan.

[Brad Foster]

New photos of the difference between a "Registered PI" versus the "Licensed PI" in Virginia have been added in Post #1 of this topic. Go, go to the following link:

http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?3249

[Jeff Nester]

I have been reviewing the VA DCJS site and this thread.

Has anything changed for VA since the last information posts here?

I also would like clarification on how the Denver plan would work for me here in VA.

Assuming I:

Take the DCJS approved class,
Register,
Gain the appropriate levels and membership in IPIU.
I then buy into the Denver corp. plan, and
Get sponsorship to operate in VA,

... then I basically work for myself in the Denver co. and then after 5 years I can apply to open in VA?

Does that allow me to contract, and advertise, myself out in VA? Or am I still subject to the limitations?

[Legal Affairs]

Has anything changed for VA since the last information posts here? Answer: No




I also would like clarification on how the Denver plan would work for me here in VA.

Assuming I:

Take the DCJS approved class,
Register,
Gain the appropriate levels and membership in IPIU.
I then buy into the Denver corp. plan, and
Get sponsorship to operate in VA,

... then I basically work for myself in the Denver co. and then after 5 years I can apply to open in VA?

Answer: The items in the list are correct, but they are out of order. With a sponsor program, you wait on Items 1 and 2.

Also, there would be no five year waiting period. After we help you with your Virginia sponsor, you would simply start working your agency out of Virginia where your "branch office" would be approved. You maintain your headquarters in Denver, and have an approved branch office and Virginia PI License.

If your aim is to obtain your Virginia PI License, then the steps would be:


Join IPIU as a Lifetime Corporate Member
Request the Headquarter Corporation Package in Denver
Complete the documents and application forms our office provides you to use a sponsor
After you choose the sponsor you want, then your Virginia PI Licenses are preapproved, and the hard copies are processed for your to start promoting, advertising, and working your agency.

[Jeff Nester]

My goal is to start working asap, and when I can justify the expense, go for the lifetime membership and corporation packages. My plan was to pick up a union plan tomorrow to get started. Can I still find work in VA through IPIU without being registered in VA? If not, would taking the class and getting registered cause any problems in the future when trying to open a branch here?

[Brad Foster]

My goal is to start working asap, and when I can justify the expense, go for the lifetime membership and corporation packages.
You have several options:

You could request the Professional Package #1 to start working unregulated cases in Virginia at the following link:
http://www.privateinvestigator.cc/product_info.php?cPath=67&products_id=1600


You could then request the Headquarter Corporation Package in order to start working national cases at the following link:
http://www.privateinvestigator.cc/product_info.php?cPath=163&products_id=1584

Then you could upgrade to a Lifetime Corporate Plan.

Or, call the office today at 406-534-0251 for details.

[Jeff Nester]

Thanks for the info Brad. That looks like the best option for me right now. I hope to pick up that package by the end of the week!

[Danielle Bosley]

So I've scoured the regulations and exemptions for this state... I notice nothing about conducting missing persons investigations or genealogy in Virginia that require a PI license- am I wrong?

[J Ginsberg -]

Danielle, I have posted your question in my moderation journal for an administrator to assist with your question as soon as is practicable. Thank you for your patience as your question is answered. :)

[Danielle Bosley]

On the DCJS website for Va- (http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/pss/howto/index.cfm) All I see is mention of registration to be a PI (which has only a few eligibility requirements- including 60 hours of training). There is no mention of an actual PI "License". Can anyone clarify this for me? Is this "registration" all that is required to operate and advertise as a Virginia PI? Is it really that simple? Just 60 hours of training? No 3,4, 5 etc years experience??

[David Copeland]

On the DCJS website for Va- (http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/pss/howto/index.cfm) All I see is mention of registration to be a PI (which has only a few eligibility requirements- including 60 hours of training). There is no mention of an actual PI "License". Can anyone clarify this for me? Is this "registration" all that is required to operate and advertise as a Virginia PI? Is it really that simple? Just 60 hours of training? No 3,4, 5 etc years experience??Read Post Number 1 in this topic. You will see a picture and description of the Registered PI card versus the Licensed PI card.