The Executive Suite: How to Become a Private Investigator in Oklahoma

Monday, September 23, 2013

How to Become a Private Investigator in Oklahoma

Private investigators in Oklahoma are licensed and regulated by the state. The Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) issues several different types of private investigator (PI) licenses, and requirements vary. However, license requirements generally include educational training, passing a formal exam, submitting an application, and undergoing a background check. There are continuing education and license renewal requirements as well

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Decide on the type of license you'll need. Oklahoma offers three basic types of individual private investigator licenses: (1) PI-unarmed (2) PI-armed, and (3) Combination license, private investigator and security guard, armed.

There is also a separate license for establishing a private investigator agency. You will not need this if you are being hired (or hope to be hired) by an existing licensed investigation firm. You will need this license (in addition to an individual license) if you are not affiliated with an existing firm.
You can find the details of the different license types on the website of CLEET--the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training--which is part of Oklahoma state government. The link is included in the References section.
Get the required training. A private investigator license in Oklahoma requires a minimum of 55 hours of training for an unarmed PI, and an additional 32 hours of firearms training for an armed PI.

Training must be done by a state-certified school, and applicants must pass a statewide exam.
The list of certified training schools, and details of training requirements, can be found at the Training and Education link in the References section.
Submit an application, properly notarized, along with the appropriate fee.
Submit all required paperwork as well, including a police department record check, proof of training, photographs, and numerous other documents
The application form, fees, and full paperwork requirements can be found at the link to the Private Investigators (New application process) website, in References.
Stay up to date. A private investigator in Oklahoma has continuing education requirements during the period of his license, along with license renewal requirements. See the Training and Education, and the License Renewal Requirement links in References for full details.