How to Become a PI in Delaware | 2026 License Guide

Written by David M. Harlan, Licensed Private Investigator, Last Updated: May 8, 2026

To become a licensed private investigator in Delaware, you must be at least 21, have no disqualifying criminal history, and be hired by a licensed PI agency before you can apply. There’s no required education or pre-licensing training, except for a 40-hour firearms course if you plan to carry. Licenses are issued by the Delaware State Police Professional Licensing Section.

A private investigator holding a camera, watching a couple walk down a path holding hands

Most states will let you start the licensing process on your own and figure out the employment piece later. Delaware doesn’t work that way. Before you can submit a single piece of paperwork, you need a job offer or an active position at a licensed PI agency in the state. It’s a built-in quality-control mechanism that shapes how everyone enters the profession here.

Licensing is handled by the Delaware State Police Professional Licensing Section, which defines a private investigator as “any person who engages in the business or accepts employment to obtain or furnish information to conduct investigations.” That’s a broad mandate, and Delaware’s PIs use it broadly, from corporate due diligence and insurance fraud to domestic cases and defense investigations.

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Step 1. Meet General Criteria for Licensure as a Private Investigator in Delaware

Review this checklist against the state’s licensing statutes (Title 24, Chapter 13) before you start your application. All of these must be true before you can be licensed:

You are at least 21 years old
You have a firm offer of employment or have been hired by a licensed private investigative agency in Delaware
You have never been convicted of a felony
You have never been convicted of a misdemeanor involving drug offenses, moral turpitude, or theft
You have not had Assault III convictions in the past three years
If you plan to carry a firearm on the job, you’ve completed the required training through a DSP-approved instructor and will apply for a firearms permit

One thing worth knowing up front: Delaware does not have provisional licensing, and it does not currently maintain reciprocity agreements with other states. If you hold a PI license elsewhere and want to work in Delaware, you’ll need to apply for a Delaware license from scratch.

Step 2. Satisfy Training and Experiential Qualifications for Licensed Private Investigators in Delaware

Training

Delaware does not require formal education or pre-licensing training for most applicants. The one exception is if you want to carry a firearm. In that case, you must complete a 40-hour Firearms Qualification course through a DSP-approved firearms instructor. To keep your firearms qualification current, you must requalify three times per year, with at least 90 days between sessions, as required by DSP regulations.

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Experience

Delaware has no pre-licensing experience requirement for individual investigators. What it does require is that you be employed by or have a firm offer from a licensed Delaware PI agency before your application can be processed. You are generally licensed under a single agency at a time.

If your goal is to open your own agency, the bar is considerably higher. Agency license holders must have five years of investigative experience, five years of police officer experience, or other qualifying law enforcement training as recognized by the Delaware State Police. See our guide to establishing an independent PI agency for a broader look at the process.

Step 3. Submit Licensing Application(s) and Documentation to the Delaware State Police

The Delaware State Police handles all private investigator licensing through its Professional Licensing Section. Depending on your situation, you may be filing for a PI employee license, a firearms permit, or an agency license — or all three at once. Here’s what each process involves.

Private Investigator Employee Licensure

Complete the Private Investigative and Private Security Employee application. Check the boxes for New Application and Private Investigator at the top of the form.
Pay the application processing fee (verify the current fee at dsp.delaware.gov prior to submission, as fees are subject to change). An additional $20 fee is due when your ID card is issued.
Submit your application and have your fingerprints (one set) and photo taken in person at one of these locations:
- State Bureau of Identification, 655 South Bay Road, Suite 1B, Dover, DE 19901. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., no appointment needed.
- Delaware State Police Troop 2, 100 Lagrange Ave, Newark, DE 19702. By appointment only; call (302) 739-2528.
If additional documentation is required, the SBI will notify you. It must be submitted within 30 days, or your application becomes void.
When your ID card is ready, SBI will contact you to pick it up at one of the above locations, at which time the $20 fee will be due.

Processing typically takes at least two weeks but may take longer depending on background checks and documentation. Confirm current timelines directly with the Professional Licensing Section when you submit.

To reach the Professional Licensing Section directly: call (302) 739-5991, email [email protected], or write to Professional Licensing Section, P.O. Box 430, Dover, DE 19903.

Firearms Permit

If you’re applying for a firearms permit at the same time, check the appropriate box on the employee application and include a copy of your 40-hour firearms course completion certificate. The Professional Licensing Section will notify you if additional documentation is needed.

Private Investigative Agency Licensure

Review the Private Investigative and Private Security Agency Licensing Procedures first. Agencies fall into two classes:

Class A: Private Investigative Agency (in-state or out-of-state)
Class C: Private Investigative and Private Security Agency (in-state or out-of-state)

The application process requires several concurrent submissions. Note that agency applications require two sets of fingerprints for the license holder, the Delaware manager, and any corporate officers or partners to be taken in person at one of the SBI locations above.

Complete the Private Investigative Agency application (Class A or Class C). Agency licensing fees are as follows:

Agency Class	Location	Employees/Officers	Fee
Class A	In-state or out-of-state	No employees	$230
Class A	In-state or out-of-state	With employees and partners/officers	$345
Class C	In-state or out-of-state	Any	$520

Also, complete the License Holder/Delaware Manager application. Fees for this application are:

Agency Class	Location	Fee
Class A	In-state	$69
Class A	Out-of-state	$230 + $69
Class C	In-state	$69
Class C	Out-of-state	$345 + $69

Obtain a surety bond from a Delaware-authorized surety company using the Private Investigative and Private Security Agency Bond Form, payable to the State of Delaware. Required bond amounts are:

Agency Class	Location	Bond Amount	In Whose Name
Class A	In-state	$5,000 (no employees) or $10,000 (with employees)	Agency
Class A	Out-of-state	$10,000 (agency) + $5,000 (Delaware manager)	Agency and Delaware manager separately
Class C	In-state	$15,000	Agency
Class C	Out-of-state	$15,000 (agency) + $10,000 (Delaware manager)	Agency and Delaware manager separately

Obtain a one million dollar per occurrence liability insurance policy. Use this address for the Certificate Holder: Delaware State Police, Professional Licensing, P.O. Box 430, Dover, DE 19903.
The license holder and Delaware manager (if applicable) must each submit five letters of reference attesting to good character and five letters of investigative or law enforcement experience.
All other owners, corporate officers, or partners must each complete the Owner/Partner/Corporate Officer application.
Two sets of fingerprints are required for the license holder, Delaware manager, and any corporate officers or partners, taken in person at one of the SBI locations above.
Once all materials are complete, contact the Licensing Specialist at (302) 672-5304 to schedule your submission appointment.

Step 4. Now that You’re a Licensed Private Investigator in Delaware

You’ll receive a renewal notice by mail when it’s time to renew. Licenses renew annually, and the renewal packet includes the application form, fee schedule, and instructions for updating insurance, surety bonds, and fingerprints as needed. Delaware does not require continuing education to renew, with one exception: if you hold a firearms permit, you must requalify three times per year, with at least 90 days between sessions, as required by DSP regulations.

As a licensed PI, you are generally licensed under a single agency at a time. If you change employers, you’ll need to update your license according to the DSP’s Professional Licensing Section.

If you’re building a career here rather than just getting licensed, consider connecting with the Delaware Association of Detective Agencies (DADA), the state’s PI professional association. It’s a practical network for agency referrals, industry updates, and peer connections in a state where the investigative community is tight-knit.

Delaware Private Investigator Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private investigators in Delaware earned a median annual salary of $49,400 as of May 2024, with a mean annual wage of $55,500. Top earners at the 75th percentile earned $59,120 annually, and those at the 90th percentile earned $71,520. For the national context, the median annual wage nationally was $52,370 for the same period.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Delaware have reciprocity with other states for PI licenses?

Delaware does not currently maintain reciprocity agreements with other states. If you hold a PI license in another state and want to work in Delaware, you’ll need to apply for a Delaware license and complete the full application process through the Delaware State Police Professional Licensing Section.

Do I need experience before applying for a Delaware PI license?

Not for an individual employee license. Delaware has no pre-licensing experience requirement for investigators working under an agency. You do need to be hired by or have a firm offer from a licensed Delaware PI agency before your application can be processed. If you want to open your own agency, you’ll need five years of investigative experience, five years as a police officer, or other qualifying law enforcement training as recognized by the Delaware State Police.

How long does it take to get a PI license in Delaware?

Processing typically takes at least two weeks but may take longer depending on background checks and documentation. If the SBI requests additional materials, those must be submitted within 30 days of your application, or it becomes void. Getting your employment confirmation and supporting documents in order before you apply is the best way to minimize delays.

Is a firearms permit required to work as a PI in Delaware?

No. Carrying a firearm is optional, and most PI work doesn’t require it. If you do want to carry, you’ll need to complete a 40-hour Firearms Qualification course through a DSP-approved instructor, apply for the permit alongside your PI license, and requalify three times per year with at least 90 days between sessions, as required by DSP regulations.

When does a Delaware PI license need to be renewed?

Delaware PI licenses renew annually. The DSP will mail you a renewal notification with the application, fee schedule, and updated instructions. There are no continuing education requirements for renewal unless you hold a firearms permit, in which case your annual requalification schedule serves as the ongoing training requirement.

Key Takeaways

Employment comes first: You must be hired by or have a firm offer from a licensed Delaware PI agency before your license application can be processed.
No training or experience required: Delaware doesn’t mandate pre-licensing education or investigative experience for individual employee licenses. The 40-hour firearms course is only required if you plan to carry.
No current reciprocity: Delaware does not currently maintain reciprocity agreements with other states. Out-of-state PI license holders must apply from scratch.
Agency licensure has higher standards: Opening your own agency requires five years of investigative or law enforcement experience, or other qualifying law enforcement training recognized by the DSP.
Salary context: BLS May 2024 data shows a Delaware PI median annual wage of $49,400 and a mean of $55,500, with top earners at the 90th percentile reaching $71,520.
Annual renewal, no CE: Licenses are renewed by mail each year. No continuing education is required except the DSP-mandated requalification schedule for firearms permit holders.

Ready to start your PI career in Delaware? Find criminal justice programs that can help you build the background agencies are looking for.

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David M. Harlan, Licensed Private Investigator

David M. Harlan is a licensed private investigator with over 12 years of hands-on experience in the field. He began his career conducting background checks and surveillance for a regional investigations firm before moving into corporate fraud, insurance claims, and family law matters, including child custody and marital investigations. David holds a California Private Investigator license and has worked both as an in-house investigator for agencies and on independent contract assignments supporting insurance companies, HR departments, and attorneys. He is passionate about helping people understand the realities of private investigations and the steps required to enter this evolving profession responsibly.

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