Reciprocity between states

How reciprocity works

Agreements by pair of states

What each state publishes

• Alabama

  Agreements with Florida (2025), Georgia (2020), and Tennessee. The investigation must begin in the home state, and the investigator may not solicit business in the other state.

  Alabama Private Investigation Board: APIB news and agreements Ala. Code § 34-25B-20

• Arkansas

  States that Arkansas “maintains reciprocal agreements relating to private investigator licenses issued by the states of Tennessee, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.” The page does not say what the agreements allow.

  Arkansas State Police, Regulatory Services Division: Arkansas State Police

• California

  The investigation must begin in the investigator’s home state. A notification form must be filed, and work may not begin until the Bureau approves it. Soliciting business, work unrelated to the original investigation, and carrying an exposed firearm are not allowed.

  Bureau of Security and Investigative Services: BSIS reciprocity Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 7520.5

• Florida

  The investigation must begin in the home state; no more than 30 days per case (15 for Tennessee). Rule 5N-1.121 also requires a current, unencumbered license held for at least a year without discipline and owning or working for a licensed agency, and prohibits advertising and carrying firearms in Florida. The page says Florida has agreements with “seven other states” but lists eight.

  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing: FDACS reciprocity Fla. Admin. Code R. 5N-1.121; § 493.6109, Fla. Stat.

• Georgia

  Lists limited license recognition agreements with Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia. They allow an investigator to complete a case that began in the home state, for no more than 30 days per case per year.

  Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies: Board FAQ O.C.G.A. § 43-38-6

• Kentucky

  Tennessee is the only agreement the board posts: 15 days per agency per case per year, the investigation must begin in the home state, no soliciting, and the investigator must be affiliated with a licensed agency.

  Board of Licensure for Private Investigators: Kentucky–Tennessee agreement (2014) KRS 329A.025(3)(m)

• Louisiana

  Lists limited (case-follow) reciprocity with nine states and full licensing reciprocity with Arkansas and Oklahoma. The page does not state conditions; they come from each agreement.

  State Board of Private Investigator Examiners: LSBPIE reciprocity La. R.S. 37:3518(B)

• North Carolina

  Covers agencies and individuals licensed and in good standing at home. The case must begin in the home state; no soliciting or opening an office. Limited to 30 days per agency per case, or 15 days in Tennessee; longer work must be handed to an investigator licensed in that state.

  Private Protective Services Board: PPSB reciprocal agreements N.C.G.S. ch. 74C

• Oklahoma

  We found no list of reciprocity partners on CLEET’s site. Instead it offers a temporary out-of-state license that “extends an existing states license to Oklahoma for 30 days within a calendar year” and has no firearms provision.

  Official source

• Oregon

  Form PI-24 must be filed with a copy of the home-state license and a temporary Oregon address. The license must be current and in good standing, and soliciting business in Oregon is not allowed.

  Department of Public Safety Standards and Training: Form PI-24 (May 2024) ORS 703.440

• South Carolina

  A limited agreement with North Carolina, dated March 13, 2001, allows up to 30 days per investigation, and the physical work must begin in the licensing state. SLED says South Carolina has no reciprocity with any other state.

  State Law Enforcement Division: SLED private investigators

• Tennessee

  Two programs. Limited license recognition lets an investigator follow a case that began at home, usually for 15 days per case per year (30 for Alabama), with no soliciting. Reciprocal licensing with Arkansas and Kentucky waives the exam and fingerprints for a Tennessee license.

  Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission: Tennessee reciprocity T.C.A. title 62, ch. 26

• Texas

  The Department of Public Safety states that “Texas has no reciprocal agreements with any other states for acceptance of private security licenses.”

  Official source

• Virginia

  Private investigators only. The investigation must begin in the home state; the agreements require affiliation with a licensed agency, consent to service of process, and no soliciting. The DCJS FAQ gives a flat 30-day limit and says DCJS must be notified of longer work, but the signed agreements say longer work must go to a licensed agency in the other state, and the Tennessee agreement sets 15 days.

  Department of Criminal Justice Services: DCJS reciprocity agreements Most agreements cite former Va. Code §§ 9-182 and 9-183

States not listed here