ND Private Investigator
North Dakota Private Investigator License
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The North Dakota Private Investigator credential is issued by the Private Investigation and Security Board (NDPISB), the state body that licenses private investigators and agencies alongside security providers and agencies. The Board administers its licensing framework under Chapter 43-30 and Title 93, and it publishes the private investigator requirements, application forms, and a FAQ on its official site at nd.gov/pisb. This credential is for people who intend to work as private investigators in North Dakota, and for the agencies that employ or register them. Applicants should expect the licensing process to involve a Board application form and a fingerprint-based criminal history record check, because the Board's fee notices tie the application total directly to that record check. Fee amounts changed on October 1, 2026, so candidates must confirm the current figure and use the current form posted on the Board's website rather than an older copy. Preparation should center on the Board's own materials: the Private Investigator Requirements page, the Application Forms page, the FAQ, and the news items that announce fee and form updates. Reading Chapter 43-30 and Title 93 gives the regulatory context the Board applies when reviewing applications and administering licenses. Renewal-season notices also matter, since the Board posts a renewal application each year and sets when armed officers and investigators may begin annual qualifications. Always verify details against the Board's site before submitting anything.
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About ND Private Investigator preparation
Which agency issues the North Dakota private investigator license?
The Private Investigation and Security Board, of North Dakota (NDPISB). Its site hosts the private investigator requirements, application forms, FAQ, license holder listings, meeting notices, and news updates. The Board describes its scope as licensed private investigators and agencies plus licensed security providers and agencies, operating under Chapter 43-30 and Title 93.
What does the licensing process involve?
The Board publishes private investigator requirements and application forms on its website, and its fee notice links the new registration application total to a fingerprint-based criminal history record check processed through ND BCI. Start with the Private Investigator Requirements page, then download the current application form rather than relying on a saved copy.
How much does a new application cost?
As of October 1, 2026, the new registration application total is $88.00, up from $85.00, and the criminal history record check total is $43.00, up from $40.00, after a $3.00 FBI fingerprint fee increase. Confirm the current amount on the Board's site before paying, since figures change.
Can I submit an older version of the application form?
The Board states that if an agency or applicant submitted an application using the old page 2 form, the Board will work with them by email to update it to the current form. The safer approach is to download the form fresh from the Board's website immediately before submitting, so the fee structure and pages match current requirements.
How should I order my studying?
Begin with the Board's Private Investigator Requirements page and FAQ, since those describe what the Board actually expects from applicants. Then read Chapter 43-30 and Title 93 for the regulatory framework the Board administers. Finish with recent news items and meeting notices, which carry fee changes, form revisions, and renewal-season timing.
What are the most common mistakes candidates make?
Using a stale application form or an outdated fee amount is the clearest trap, given the October 1, 2026 changes. Others include ignoring renewal-season deadlines and missing Board announcements about qualifications timing. Check the news section and calendar before acting, and email the Board's office when a requirement is unclear rather than assuming.
How do I keep my license current after it is issued?
Watch for the annual renewal application, which the Board posts to its website each renewal season, and note the date armed officers and investigators may begin annual qualifications. The Board advises contacting its office directly if you do not intend to renew or have questions about the renewal process.
Where can I get help if something is unclear?
Contact the Board's office directly. The Board lists its address as 513 East Bismarck Expressway, Suite 5, Bismarck ND 58504, with phone and fax at 701-222-3063. Board meetings, including special and regular sessions held by Zoom conference, are also posted on the site with dates and start times.