A Private Investigator is a person who engages in the business or accepts employment to obtain or furnish information with reverence to: a crime or wrong done or threatened against the United States or any state or territory of the United States; the identity, habits, conduct, business, occupation, honesty, integrity, credibility, knowledge, trustworthiness, efficiency, loyalty, activity, movement, whereabouts, affiliations, associations, transactions, acts, reputation, or character of a person; the location, disposition, or recovery of lost or stolen property; the cause or responsibility of fires, libels, losses, accidents, damages, or injuries to persons or to property; or the securing of evidence to be used before a court, board, officer, or investigating committee. Requirements: 1) Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. 2) Must not be suffering from habitual drunkenness or from narcotic addiction or dependence. 3) Must not have been discharged from the United States Armed Services under dishonorable conditions. 4) Must not have been adjudicated as mentally incompetent or have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution or mental health treatment facility. 5) Must not be a registered sex offender or be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997. 6) Must not have been found guilty of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to one or more of the following in any court in the State of Arkansas or to a comparable offense in another state, or in a military or federal court for which a pardon has not been granted: a. A felony, b. A Class A misdemeanor involving theft, sexual offenses, violence, an element of dishonesty, or a crime against a person as determined by the department. c. An attempted felony or solicitation or conspiracy to commit a felony that is classified as a Class A misdemeanor. 7) An individual shall not be denied issuance of a license or credential or renewal of an existing license or credential if the individual by any court has been found guilty of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any misdemeanor if the person was found guilty of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to the misdemeanor 10 or more years before the date of the application for issuance or renewal. 8) The state and national criminal background check shall include a record of all offenses that have been previously sealed or expunged by any court. 9) Must have two consecutive years of experience before the date of the application in the investigative field as an agent, employee, manager, or owner of an investigations company; two years of experience as a licensed bail bondsman; and a baccalaureate degree from a four-year institution of higher education; Satisfied other requirments as may be set by the director. 10) Must be in compliance with any other reasonable qualifications that the Director of the Department of Arkansas State Police may set by rule. Examination (Applicants who have 5 years of consecutive experience in law enforcement and are either currently employed in law enforcement or retired or former law enforcement within the last 5 years are exempt from examination requirements. A P.I. Affidavit must be included.): No fee ($50.00 re-exam), License fee: $300.00, Renewal fee: $150.00 every 2 years, Background check fees: $36.25 every 2 years
