Minnesota
Minnesota private detectives are licensed by the Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services. The commissioner of public safety appoints its licensed and public members.
At a glance
- Authority
- Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services: the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or an assistant superintendent the superintendent designates, plus four members appointed by the commissioner of public safety: one licensed private detective, one licensed protective agent, and two public members (Minn. Stat. 326.33)
- Statute
- Minn. Stat. 326.32 to 326.339
- Rules
- Minn. R. ch. 7506
- Who is licensed
- Individuals and corporations. Partnerships can no longer apply as of August 1, 2026.
- Qualifications
- At least 6,000 hours of employment as an investigator with a licensed private detective agency, a U.S. government investigative service, a city police department or sheriff’s office, or in an occupation the board finds equivalent (Minn. Stat. 326.3382)
- Renewal
- Every two years (Minn. Stat. 326.3381). Private detective renewal fees run from $540 to $1,220 depending on the number of employees (fee schedule).
- Continuing education
- 6 hours a year of board-certified continuing training for license holders, qualified representatives, Minnesota managers, and employees, plus 6 more hours a year for anyone armed (Minn. Stat. 326.3361). Training years follow the license period, not the calendar year.
- Bond and insurance
- A $10,000 surety bond, plus proof of financial responsibility such as a certificate of liability insurance (Minn. Stat. 326.3382, subd. 3)
Changes, 2023 to 2026
Partnerships removed; corporate officers must qualify
Removes partnerships from the parties that can apply for or hold a private detective or protective agent license. For a corporate applicant, the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, qualified representative, and any Minnesota manager must each meet the licensing requirements, including the fingerprint-based criminal history check. Before this change, only one member had to qualify. The House says the change gives the board full access to FBI criminal records to vet applicants.
For licensees: Corporate license holders should expect fingerprinting and background checks for the CEO and CFO as well as the qualified representative and Minnesota manager.
Prisoner transport brought under protective agent licensing
Private companies that provide guards to transport prisoners or people arrested on a warrant now need a protective agent license. The board must revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or reissue a license if the license holder or its staff commits criminal sexual conduct or uses unreasonable force on a person being transported, with a minimum $10,000 administrative penalty per act. A 2025 law (ch. 35, art. 7, sec. 14) added transfers by people employed by a federal law enforcement agency to the transport exceptions.
For licensees: No change for private detectives who do not transport people.
FBI fingerprint checks for license applicants
Amends Minn. Stat. 326.3381, subd. 3. Applicants must submit fingerprints and consent to a criminal history check by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the FBI. The board decides whether the results show a disqualifying offense. A separate section of the same law (art. 20, sec. 15) added carjacking to the list of disqualifying offenses.
For licensees: New applicants should plan for a national fingerprint check.
Board enforcement powers; training certificates belong to employees
The board may investigate and refer for prosecution criminal violations and unlicensed activity. Prior unlicensed operation became grounds to deny, suspend, or revoke a license. Employee identification cards must be presented on request. Preassignment training completed with another Minnesota licensee within the past three calendar years now counts, and an employer must give a current or former employee a free copy of the training certificate on request.
For licensees: Accept valid preassignment training certificates from other Minnesota licensees, and provide certificate copies to employees at no charge.
No amendments to Minn. R. ch. 7506 were found from 2023 to 2026. 2026 House File 4066, which would set training requirements for protective agents based on the functions they perform, was referred to the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on March 9, 2026, with no further action recorded as of October 15, 2026 (HF 4066 status).
Last updated October 15, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & Investigation