To get a private investigator license in New Hampshire, you’ll apply through the NH Division of State Police with no written exam required. There are three license types: PI Employee, Individual PI, and PI Agency. The individual license requires at least two to four years of qualifying experience plus a $50,000 surety bond and a $150 application fee. New Hampshire projects 8.7% job growth for PIs through 2032.
New Hampshire is one of the more accessible states for breaking into private investigations — there’s no state exam, no continuing education requirement for unarmed licensees, and the experience pathways are broad enough to fit most law enforcement, insurance, and security backgrounds. Whether you’re a former police officer looking to take your investigative skills independent, a firefighter with arson investigation credentials, or someone already working at a PI agency who wants to get licensed, New Hampshire has a pathway for you.
The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of State Police, licenses all private investigators, PI employees, and PI agencies in the state. The licensing unit is located in Concord and handles all applications in person, with no mail-in submissions accepted.
Understanding New Hampshire’s Three PI License Types
Before you start the application process, it’s worth knowing which license applies to your situation. New Hampshire issues three types:
- PI Employee License: Allows you to work as an investigator for a licensed PI agency. This is the entry point for people without the qualifying independent experience required for an individual license. The education and experience requirements that apply to individual applicants are waived for PI employees. The supervising agency assumes responsibility for oversight of investigative work.
- Individual PI License: The license for independent investigators operating without employees and not under a licensed agency. This requires meeting the experience thresholds detailed in Step 2.
- PI Agency License: Required to operate a private investigative business with employees. Agency applicants must also hold an individual PI license.
New Hampshire defines “private investigators” specifically as independent professionals with no employees who are not employed by any PI agency. If you’re planning to work for an existing firm, the PI Employee license is the right starting point. According to the Department of Safety’s Permits and Licensing Unit, properly credentialed PIs in New Hampshire are authorized to conduct investigations and surveillance related to unsolved crimes, insurance claims, civil litigation, missing persons or property, and fugitive location.
Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements in New Hampshire
To qualify for a private investigator license in New Hampshire, you must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be a resident of the United States
- Certain criminal convictions may disqualify applicants, including felony convictions, domestic violence or abuse convictions, and misdemeanor convictions related to theft, honesty, fraud, or the sale or use of controlled substances. The commissioner of safety has the authority to evaluate each applicant’s record
New Hampshire does not require a written examination for PI licensure. That distinguishes it from many other states and makes the licensing process more straightforward for candidates who meet the experience thresholds.
Step 2. Obtain the Necessary Experience and/or Education in New Hampshire
The experience and education requirements apply to Individual PI license applicants. PI Employee applicants are exempt from these requirements. If you’re applying to work for an agency, you can skip ahead to Step 4.
For individual licensure, you must satisfy one of the following pathways:
- At least 4 years of full-time experience in one of the following roles:
- Director of security or senior officer of a company, corporation, or licensed security service
- Full-time adjuster, risk manager, or claims investigator for an insurance carrier or adjusting company
- Full-time law enforcement officer for a county, state, federal, college, university, or municipal police department
- Full-time investigator for a licensed private investigator or agency
- Full-time firefighter with certification from the International Association of Arson Investigators
- At least 2 years of full-time employment as an investigator for a licensed private investigative agency, combined with one of the following:
- An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or fire service from an accredited college or university
- Certification from ASIS International in security operations
- Certification from the National Association of Legal Investigators as a Certified Legal Investigator
- Certification from ASIS International in security operations, plus at least 2 years of experience in that role
- Certification from ASIS International in executive protection, plus at least 2 years of experience providing those services
A criminal justice degree or professional certification can cut the required experience from four years to two. If you’re currently working for a licensed NH PI agency and pursuing a degree at the same time, you can stack that experience toward your individual license before the degree is finished.
Step 3. Complete Firearms Training in New Hampshire
Carrying a firearm as a private investigator in New Hampshire is optional, not required. If you choose to carry, you’ll need to complete an approved firearms training course and submit a Firearms Proficiency Certification with your application. Unarmed applicants skip this step entirely and are not subject to annual firearms recertification requirements during renewal.
For armed status, you must complete one of the following courses (or an equivalent approved by the Department of Safety):
- Firearms instructor school through the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- National Rifle Association police firearms instructor course
- Police Standards and Training Council firearms instructor school (or equivalent from another state’s POST agency)
- Firearms instructor school through SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, or Ruger
Step 4. Apply for your New Hampshire License
Individual and Employee applicants must submit their applications in person at the Department of Safety. Do not mail forms. Agency applicants should confirm their submission method directly with the Permits and Licensing Unit, as the process may differ. Download and complete the appropriate application before your appointment:
- Employee Application for Private Investigator
- Individual Application for Private Investigator
- Agency Application for Private Investigator
- Firearms Proficiency Certification for Private Investigator (armed applicants only)
- Bond for Private Investigator
Along with your completed application, you’ll submit the following fees and documents:
| Fee | Amount | Who Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee — Individual PI | $150 | Individual license applicants |
| Application fee — PI Agency | $350 | Agency license applicants |
| Application fee — PI Employee | $5 | Paid by the employing agency |
| Criminal record check | $25 | All applicants |
| Background investigation | $10 | All applicants |
| Fingerprinting | $26.50 | Armed status applicants only |
| Surety bond (2-year) | $50,000 | All individual and agency applicants |
Armed applicants must schedule fingerprinting before dropping off the application. Call 603-223-3873 to make the appointment. Unarmed applicants do not need to be fingerprinted.
Submit your completed application in person to the Permits and Licensing Unit:
Department of Safety
Room 106 (Permits and Licensing)
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, New Hampshire 03305
Phone: 603-223-3873
Email: [email protected]
Step 5. Network and Maintain your New Hampshire License
The New Hampshire League of Investigators is the state’s professional association for PIs. Membership connects you to local networking groups, industry events, and state legislative updates, worth considering once you’re licensed, especially if you’re building an independent practice.
All NH PI licenses renew every two years. The renewal application, renewal fee, and proof that your surety bond is still in force are required at each renewal cycle.
| License Type | Renewal Fee | Additional Required Fees |
|---|---|---|
| PI Employee | $5 | $10 background investigation + $25 criminal record check |
| Individual PI | $150 | $10 background investigation + $25 criminal record check |
| PI Agency | $350 | $10 background investigation + $25 criminal record check |
Renewal forms:
- Individual and Employee Renewal Application for Private Investigator
- Agency Renewal Application for Private Investigator
Unarmed PIs have no continuing education requirement at renewal beyond the application and fee. Armed PIs must demonstrate annual firearms proficiency, meeting at a minimum a passing score on the practical police course or tactical revolver course (75% or higher) plus four hours of instruction covering firearms techniques and safety, laws on the use of deadly force, and the moral and ethical use of force.
Private Investigator Salary Information for New Hampshire
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private investigators in New Hampshire earned a median annual salary of $51,990 as of May 2024. The state employed approximately 230 PIs, a small market where referral networks and specialty expertise matter more than volume. BLS data projects 8.7% job growth for NH private investigators between 2022 and 2032 — an above-average outlook, with roughly 20 job openings per year.
| Area | Median Annual Salary | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $51,990 | $65,390 | $72,810 |
| Manchester-Nashua metro | $65,260 | $71,620 | $79,550 |
The Manchester-Nashua metro area runs significantly above the state median. The region’s concentration of corporate and insurance clients tends to support higher-volume investigative work — and with 70 employed PIs in that metro alone, it’s where most of the state’s PI activity is concentrated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Hampshire require a written exam to get a PI license?
No. New Hampshire does not require a written examination for any PI license type. Your qualifications are assessed through the application, background check, and documentation of experience, not a state test. This makes NH one of the more accessible licensing processes in the Northeast.
What’s the difference between a PI Employee license and an Individual PI license?
A PI Employee license lets you work as an investigator for a licensed NH agency. You don’t need to meet the experience thresholds that individual licensees do. The agency you work for takes on accountability for the investigative work. An Individual PI license is for independent investigators who want to work for themselves or run their own client relationships. You’ll need two to four years of qualifying experience before applying for the individual license, depending on your educational credentials.
How long does it take to get a New Hampshire PI license?
Processing times vary depending on application volume at the Division of State Police. Getting your documentation in order before you go (proof of experience, surety bond, and fingerprint appointment for armed applicants) is the most reliable way to avoid delays. Individual and Employee applicants must submit in person at the Department of Safety in Concord.
Do I need to carry a firearm as a licensed PI in New Hampshire?
No. Carrying a firearm is optional for NH private investigators. Unarmed PIs skip the firearms proficiency certification and fingerprinting at application, and have no annual firearms recertification requirement at renewal. If you later decide to add armed status, you’ll need to complete an approved firearms training course and submit the proficiency certification to the Department of Safety.
Can I work as a PI in other states with my New Hampshire license?
Not automatically. New Hampshire does not have reciprocity agreements with other states, so working across state lines generally requires meeting the licensing requirements of each state where you operate. If your caseload takes you into Massachusetts, Maine, or Vermont regularly, check each state’s licensing board for its requirements. Some states allow short-term work under a non-resident license or permit.
Key Takeaways
- No exam required. New Hampshire has no written test for PI licensure, which simplifies the path compared to many other states.
- Three license types. PI Employee, Individual PI, and PI Agency each have different requirements and allow different scopes of work.
- Experience pathways are broad. Law enforcement, insurance adjusting, security management, arson investigation, and PI agency work all count toward the experience threshold.
- Armed status is optional. Unarmed PIs face fewer application requirements and no annual recertification obligation.
- Applications in person only. All individual and employee applications go to the Division of State Police in Concord. No mail-in submissions are accepted.
- Licenses renew every two years. Renewal requires the application, fee, and proof of an active surety bond.
Ready to take the next step toward your NH PI license? Find criminal justice programs in New Hampshire that can help you meet the education and experience requirements.
May 2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Private Detectives and Investigators reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed May 2026.