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Thread: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

  1. #41
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    Question on PA PI License

    UPDATED 2012:

    To qualify to be a Private Investigator in Pennsylvania, the law requires:

    1) Three (3) years of investigative experience

    2) Each license is issued by the County Judge.

    3) Applicants should contact their Clerk of Courts for detailed information and procedures

    4) If a member of the International Private Investigators Union does NOT have the required three years of experience, then they can upgrade their membership to a Lifetime Corporate Membership to make a request for a licensed PI to sponsor their agency license for them.

    Source links:
    http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI.../HTM/22/22.HTM

    http://www.pali.org/docs/Pennsylvani...ct_of_1953.pdf

    To order a Lifetime Corporate Membership in order to request a sponsor:
    http://www.privateinvestigator.cc/pr...roducts_id=998

  2. #42
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    Thumbs up Licensing Laws

    Hello,everyone:
    I had some questions, too, about licensing laws in Pennsylvania. Reading the posts here has answered a lot of them and I want to thank you all for your help.
    These forums are great and I am doing alot of reading and learning here and I am really looking forward to starting a new career.
    Good luck to all of you.

  3. #43
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    Note to all:

    There are now a dozen (12) exemptions now posted that allow private investigators to perform investigations without a state PI License, providing the investigations fall into the 12 areas as described.

    To read them, go to Page 1 of this topic - or, click here:
    http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=552

  4. #44
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    Does the state of PA require you to be a resident of the state before obtaining a license?

  5. #45
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    Question Three Years of Experience

    I recently spoke to a P.I. in Philly, and I had the same question. Apparently it's three years of service or at least
    five days a week for three years straight.

    What I would do is get more feedback on the matter, because the P.I. I talked to was very impatient and didn't really take time out to answer many of my questions.

    I hope this helps.

  6. #46
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    I recently spoke to a P.I. in Philly and he told me that it was
    three years straight or five days a week for three years.

    What I would do is get more feedback on the matter because the P.I. that I talked to was very impatient and didn't take the time to answer many of my questions.

    I hope this helps.

  7. #47
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    Suppose You Dont Have Three Years Experience Working As A Detective,
    But Do Have 4 Years Experience As A Security Police Officer In The
    Air Force; Does That Count?

  8. #48
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    According to what I read yes that would count.

  9. #49
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    Are you certain about the "3" years experience in the field> I thought I remembered reading "2" years.

  10. #50
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    I am a Pgh native and trained as a Pi in CA. As of last year, a license was not necessary to do case examiner work. However, you have to watch the semantics. There are 'Acts" Act 235: lethal weapons certification, which is a week long class in policew procedure and shooting a 38 special taking a test and "voila!you have it. THIS IS NOT A CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT. For that, ypou need top go to the Shwriffs dept with 2 ID's: a Driver's Lic in PA and a Voter Reg from PA or car reg...they don't take a IPIIU icense. You pay the fee they ask why you need it, do a background check and if all is ok, they issue you a 5 year concealed permit.
    Police training is "Act 120" or the Academy, which has a cut off age of 36.The only agencies that require this is police departments. There are tons on ads..lots of corruption in small towns. I was really disappointed that they didn't respect IPIU more..they are not really aware of what we do. They need to be educated.

  11. #51
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    This Thread was extremely helpful to me. Thank you all.

  12. #52
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    How many hours is the 3 years

    How many hours do they consider the 3years?

    "...for the period of not less than three years"

  13. #53
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    Exclamation ?????

    The 2 years is probably an arbitary set up by some company...it is NOT the law. Check out the pa.dos website
    Annie

  14. #54
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    PA is county regulated for investigators. I contacted the Clourt of Common Pleas Criminal Division and they sent me application information plus the regulations. When I was on the phone with them I asked if working in Loss Prevention and/or as a Secret Shopper if they would count toward the 3 year experience requirement to be licensed. They told me it would not and told me to look at the requirements paper I received in the mail.

    After reviewing the requirements information I found that I do not have the experience they say I need. And since the Anti Piracy and Loss Prevention do not count .....what now?

    Help?
    Richard L. Johnson
    Pennsylvania - USA

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  15. #55
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    Exclamation

    I have a few questions:
    What do want to do in PA?
    Where in PA?
    OK, Now, don't get discouraged because PI's donot fall under the same category as Police Officers.I don't know where this stuff is coming from,but I will find the reference and post it in the appro. forum.
    If you want to start a business, all you need is a business license, which is NOT obtained at the court.
    I live in Pittsburgh, and work Loss Prevention and Piracy etc,and do work for attorneys and it is perfectly legal.
    WE fall more under private security than police. If you ever worked security in PA, did you require a license? The answer is "no".

  16. #56
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    Question How did you get your license?

    Quote Originally Posted by Anne Friedland
    I have a few questions:
    What do want to do in PA?
    Where in PA?
    OK, Now, don't get discouraged because PI's donot fall under the same category as Police Officers.I don't know where this stuff is coming from,but I will find the reference and post it in the appro. forum.
    If you want to start a business, all you need is a business license, which is NOT obtained at the court.
    I live in Pittsburgh, and work Loss Prevention and Piracy etc,and do work for attorneys and it is perfectly legal.
    WE fall more under private security than police. If you ever worked security in PA, did you require a license? The answer is "no".
    Anne,
    Thanks so much for the response. Tell me, how did you get licensed. From what I read in the PA 1953 License Laws it states that if you start an agency one of the members has to have a minimum of 3 yrs military, investigation or police experience. How did you get around that? And did you just get a business license to start? Or did you go through your county courhouse?

    Your help is appreciated.

    Thank you,
    Richard L. Johnson
    Pennsylvania - USA

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  17. #57
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    Hi,
    I have the sames quiestions on.
    I am on York, PA
    I am not on any Licence State Laws experience.
    How can I get my PI Licence without any experience on, and how can I start my business, I am loss and ??????
    Make it and happen!

  18. #58
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    We will be posting some new instructions for licensing in the next week or so.

  19. #59
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    Re: 8 states that do not have State PI licensing!

    hi so i am reading here that in pa you dont need a state license but you need a county license in the county that you live in is that right?

  20. #60
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    so you are saying i dont need a pi license doing workers comp claims?

  21. #61
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    Re: 8 states that do not have State PI licensing!

    hi .so let me see as long as i get put on the payroll of an agency that all ready has a license i dont need one in the state of PA . am i wrong can anybody help me on this on .

  22. #62
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Thomas Roberson
    so you are saying i dont need a pi license doing workers comp claims?
    Thomas, read Page 1, Post 1 of this topic and you will see that no PI license is needed to perform investigations for an insurance company. But if you are not employed by an insurance company, then you may need a PI License as an independent contractor.

    Donna


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  23. #63
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    Re: 8 states that do not have State PI licensing!

    Quote Originally Posted by Thomas Roberson
    hi so i am reading here that in pa you dont need a state license but you need a county license in the county that you live in is that right?
    Thomas, please read Page 1, Post #2 that mentions the counties are responsible for the issuing of a PI License that is good for all of Pennsylvania.

  24. #64
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    ok thanks alot.....

  25. #65
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    One of the posts here refers specifically to 3 years of hours. Does that mean 365 days per year x 24 hours per day x 3 years = 26, 280 hours worth of work, or does it mean three years worth of regular activity? 26K seems like an awful lot. That would mean if I worked 5 hours per day after work, it would take me 14.4 years to get the hours I need.

  26. #66
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Christopher,

    In the US, a business year is generally 2,000 for calculations. In many businesses, the number of work hours in a calendar year is 1,880. This is 2,080 hours (52x40) minus 80 (vacation) minus 80 (holiday) minus 40 (sick). In apprenticeship programs, the schedule is 2,000 per year.

    I would stick with the 2,000 hours.
    Michael E. Harris

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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Thank you! That's encouraging. I am fully licensed for another line of highly regulated 'at risk' type of occupation and it took only one year of experience. I thought I might be off a bit on this one!

  28. #68
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Hello everyone, I am probably asking something that has been answered but i missed it in the thread somehwere. I have 3 years working experience for private companies that fall under the exemptions. Does this count for the time frame or would I need to be working under another License to count.

    Thanks
    Mike

  29. #69
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael D. Ritz View Post
    I have 3 years working experience for private companies that fall under the exemptions. Does this count for the time frame or would I need to be working under another License to count.
    It depends. The requirements generally ask for investigative experience, regardless of working for an attorney (which is an exemption) or other type.

    I suggest you complete your IPIU processing and gain Level 4 access to get personal help. Once you have Level 4 access, go to the following private forum:

    Obtaining Your Private Investigator License or Agency License forum

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  30. #70

    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    How can I get the three years experience when I have none?

  31. #71
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Roberta States View Post
    How can I get the three years experience when I have none?
    Using your Colorado PI Agency, you can apply for a Pennsyvania Agency License which will allow you to hire a sponsor. Then after three years as owner of the agency, you can apply for your individual PI License.

    Read the following IPIU Member's Only free help link:

    Obtaining Your Private Investigator License or Agency License!
    Legal Affairs comments are not intended to be and should absolutely not be taken as legal advice. If you should require legal, tax, or financial advice, you must first enter into a written agreement with only a licensed professional for legal, tax, or financial services, signed by both you and the licensed professional, and paid a retainer in good funds. Legal Affairs is not, nor intends to be, nor solicits to be your licensed professional. Members accessing comments by Legal Affairs are required to be bound by their Terms of Use Agreement regarding Legal Affairs.

  32. #72
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Hey hi, I am on the same sitiation I'm in Pennselvenia state I do not have a license only I have a Diploma in recognition of successful copletion of the promagram of Private Investigator from September 06, 2001. How we can use Colorado PI Agency or how can I get a Colorado PI Agency if I am in Pennsylvania.
    Make it and happen!

  33. #73
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Martin Betancourt View Post
    Hey hi, I am on the same sitiation I'm in Pennselvenia state I do not have a license only I have a Diploma in recognition of successful copletion of the promagram of Private Investigator from September 06, 2001. How we can use Colorado PI Agency or how can I get a Colorado PI Agency if I am in Pennsylvania.

    Follow this link to find out more about the Colorado Program and how it works. http://www.ipiu.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=248

  34. #74

    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Moderator, Please post a link for downloadable forms for a PI Agency License.

  35. #75
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Roberta States View Post
    Moderator, Please post a link for downloadable forms for a PI Agency License.
    Roberta,

    Go here: http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1590

    and follow the steps in post #1.

  36. #76

    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Sorry

  37. #77
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    There must be a difference between a private detective and a private investigator. Is there?

  38. #78
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    My question is in regards to the PI License requirement in Pennsylvania. There appears to be none required. However, they do require at least 3 years experience? Am I missing something or does this not make sense? If no license is required to become a PI in Pa. then why does one need 3 year experience with an agency to become a PI?

    Since you don't have creditentials to show your a PI, why couldn't one just state they have been a PI for over 3 years? Sorry if I'm missing something on this? Any information would be very much appreciated. Thanks

  39. #79
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeffrey Barbieri View Post
    My question is in regards to the PI License requirement in Pennsylvania. There appears to be none required. However, they do require at least 3 years experience? Am I missing something or does this not make sense? If no license is required to become a PI in Pa. then why does one need 3 year experience with an agency to become a PI?
    Pennsylvania has no "state licensing", but the state does have a statute requiring the County Judges to handle the approval of private investigators. And before a county will approve a license, someone applying has to have the three required years of previous experience.

    Therefore, you need three years experience, and it must be applied for at the county level.

    (Please see Post #1 above. I have revised it for you and others)

    Quote Originally Posted by Jeffrey Barbieri View Post
    Since you don't have creditentials to show your a PI, why couldn't one just state they have been a PI for over 3 years?
    Each county issues a license on a county level. That is the credential needed to advertise in Pennsylvania as a private investigator or agency.

    The application for a county license includes verification of work records for 3 years as a private investigator.

    However, if you are an IPIU member, you can upgrade to a Lifetime Corporate Membership in order to obtain a free benefit of acquiring a license private investigator to sponsor you and your agency in any state. The pre-approval takes approximately 5 weeks (saving you three years).
    Legal Affairs comments are not intended to be and should absolutely not be taken as legal advice. If you should require legal, tax, or financial advice, you must first enter into a written agreement with only a licensed professional for legal, tax, or financial services, signed by both you and the licensed professional, and paid a retainer in good funds. Legal Affairs is not, nor intends to be, nor solicits to be your licensed professional. Members accessing comments by Legal Affairs are required to be bound by their Terms of Use Agreement regarding Legal Affairs.

  40. #80
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    Re: PI LICENSING: Pennsylvania

    You need to have three years of experience and apply through the county you live in or where the office is located. I'm from NJ in the process of obtaining my NJ and NY licenses but for PA is difficult because I need a residence or office there and have neither. I called and asked if you have open a Post Office box and use that but the clerk said no.

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