How to Become a Private Investigator in Texas

Texas is a great place to become a private investigator. Texas is a large a very, very large state with an area covering 268,597 square miles.  And Texas as a population of 28.3 million people as of 2017. The major cities in Texas include Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.  There are other large cities in Texas but the ones mentioned are most recognizable.  I am a firm believer that large cities equal more opportunity for work as a private investigator and a great place to begin a career.  

The median pay according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) for private investigators in 2017 was approximately $50,000 a year or around $24.00 an hour. The number of investigator jobs in 2016 was 41,400 which is quite impressive.  The job outlook from 2016 to 2026 is likely to see a positive increase of 11% or 4,400 jobs. Here are some other private investigator salaries to reference.

They BLS believes the increase in jobs for the investigation industry is directly related to security concerns and the need to protect confidential information.  

So now is a good time to become licensed and start working in Texas while the investigation industry is on the rise.

Regulating The Private Investigation Industry in Texas

Nearly every state in the United States is regulated by some state authority and Texas is no different.  The Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau (PSB) is the authority in Texas.

It is a violation of the Texas Occupation Code to sell services as a private investigator without properly being licensed in the state of Texas.  Violation of that code allows for civil penalties and possible criminal filings.

What is interesting about Texas is that you can start a private investigation company without any experience as long as you have a qualified manager with at least 3 years of experience, you pass a written exam and have liability insurance.  We will get into the more it a bit but for starters let’s discuss the Texas private investigator licensing requirements.

Texas Private Investigator Licensing Requirements

Basic Requirements to Become a Private Investigator in Texas

Like any state with licensing requirements, there is always a minimum that an applicant must meet.  Below are basic requirements to become a private investigator in Texas:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• You can not have been convicted of a felony in any jurisdiction
• You can not have been convicted of a Class A misdemeanor or anything equivalent to that (in any jurisdiction)
• You can not have been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor or anything equivalent (in any jurisdiction) in the past 5 years of applying to become a private investigator
• You can not be currently charged with a class A or class B misdemeanor
• You are not under indictment for a felony for a Class A misdemeanor
• You have not been found by a court to be incompetent from a mental defect disease and not have not been restored to competency
• You are not registered as a sex offender in any state
• You have not been dishonorably discharged from the armed services

The complete list of requirements can be found in the Texas Occupations Code 1702.113.

Working for a Private Investigation Company as an Employee

If you would like to work for a private investigation company as an employee, a company can hire you as long as you meet the above basic requirements above.  The company will responsible for training you as a private investigator.

It is highly recommended that before beginning your journey as an investigation business owner that you first work for an investigation company to learn about the industry first hand and build practical private investigation experience.  You will learn core investigation skills that will serve you well when beginning your own private investigator business.

With that being said there are some ways to make yourself a desirable private investigation employee candidate which I have discussed in the past.  Some companies say they prefer candidates with a college education but understand that it will not necessarily get you the job if you have a college degree.  So before you spend thousands of dollars on a degree be sure to investigate what companies in Texas are looking for.

And because I want you to fully know what you are getting yourself into when working for a company I created an extensive list of questions to ask a private investigation employer during the interview process.

After You are Hired

After you are hired by a private investigation company there is still some more work to do.  You will need to register with the state and provide your information as well as the company that has hired you.  You or the company you work for will also be required to pay fees.

In order to complete an application to begin working for a company, go to the Texas Online Private Security (TOPS) and click on the red button that says “Start Individual Application”.  From there please follow the steps provided which can be found here.   You will need the business license number of the company that has agreed to hire you.

Fees

• License Fee  $30.00
• Pocket Card Fee $5.00
• Subscription Fee $2.00
• FBI Background Fee $25.0
• Total Fees    $62.00

You may be prompted to pay the fees via credit card at after submitting your application.

Starting a Private Investigation Business in Texas

We touched briefly on the requirements to start a private investigation business in Texas.  And if you are worried as to what it will cost to start a private investigation business, it isn’t as much as you might think.

Two Ways to Do it

In Texas, there are basically two ways to start a business.  One way is with the owner of the business having all the necessary experience and one without.

As previously stated to operate a private investigation agency in Texas, the P.I. Agency must have a qualifying manager that supervises the daily operation of the company as well as the investigators within the company.  

Requirements for a Qualifying Manager

A manager must meet one of the following qualifications

• Have 3 consecutive years of investigation related experience
• Have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice
• Have a bachelor’s degree with an additional 6 months of investigation experience
• Have an associates degree in criminal justice with 12 months of investigation experience
• Have an associates degree in criminal justice with 200 hours of specialized approved coursework

After you meet the above qualifications to be a manager you have to register to take a managers exam with the Private Security Bureau.  Assuming you successfully complete the exam you must show proof of liability insurance (assuming you are the manager of your own business).

Once you are qualified as a manager, you can hire other private investigators that meet the requirements as stated above for your company or for the company you work for.

Registering Your New Private Investigation Business in Texas

Like registering as a private investigator working for a company you will be required to go to the Texas Online Private Security (TOPS) and click on the red button that says “Start Business Application.” From there please follow the steps provided which can be found here.

During the application process you will need to identify the following:

Company Information (Company name, address, ownership type, owners, shareholders, stakeholders and qualified managers information) and make the necessary payments.

Stakeholders will also have to fill out an application as well and the instructions for that can be found here.

Work as a Private Investigator

Being a private investigator can be a stressful but rewarding occupation.  If you haven’t already gone through the licensing process I would recommend reading/listening to What it is Like to be a Private Investigator.

Regardless of where you are in the process of becoming a private investigator I wish you much success.

Additional Information For Those Who Become a Private Investigator in Texas

Here are some additional links and information you may find useful during this process.

Texas Department of Public Safety (Frequently Asked Questions)

Texas Association of Licensed Investigators