Effective 1/1/2025, all Professional Licensing applications (including Security Guard, Private Detective, Security System Technician, Special Police, Railroad Police, Security Guard Agency, Security Guard Employer, Private Detective Agency, Dual Agency, Security Systems Agency and Bullet Proof Body Armor) and application fees shall be submitted electronically in the Licensing Portal. Additional information, issued Advisories, training videos and a registration link for virtual training can be found on the Security Guard page at the following link: Security Guard
Application Process Changes/Updates
- January 2025 - All Professional Licensing applications are converted from a paper application submission process and fee collection to an electronic submission and fee collection process in the Licensing Portal.
Who Should Apply
Any person who wishes to be employed as a private detective in Maryland. A private detective is an individual who is at least 18 years of age and is employed by a private detective agency to provide private detective services. Private Detective services include, but are not limited to: conducting investigations, securing evidence for use before any investigating committee or board of arbitration, non-uniformed personal protection, and locating or apprehending fugitives from justice.
A certified private detective may only be employed by a licensed private detective agency and may not offer private detective services outside the scope of his sponsoring agency. For more information, refer to Business Occupations and Professions Title 13.
Qualifications For Certification as a Private Detective
- be at least 18 years old
- meet the standards set by the Secretary (COMAR 29.04.08.03)
- be an employee of or an applicant for employment with a licensed private detective agency.
Prerequisites to Apply for Security Private Detective
- LIVESCAN FINGERPRINTS - Prior to submitting a Private Detective Certification application, the applicant is required to submit Livescan fingerprints for a background investigation. The applicant must provide a receipt from the Livescan vendor documenting the submission of Livescan fingerprints to Maryland CJIS and the FBI under the Private Detective Certification authorization code. This receipt is valid for 30-days from the date the Livescan fingerprints are submitted and will be required to be uploaded into the Private Detective Certification application in the Licensing Portal. The Private Detective Certification authorization code and additional information regarding the fingerprinting process is available here.
All applicants are REQUIRED to sign and date the FBI PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT
PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THEIR FINGERPRINTS
- COLOR PASSPORT STYLE PHOTOGRAPH - The applicant will be required to upload a color passport style photograph into the Private Detective Certification application in the Licensing Portal. A photo editor and complete instructions will be found on the photograph page of the Private Detective Certification application. It is not necessary to purchase passport style photographs for this process.
How To Apply
The Maryland State Police application for Private Detective Certification can ONLY be completed through the Licensing Portal. Applicants for Private Detective Certification will be required to submit the above prerequisites and required documentation.
Application Process
Once a Private Detective Certification applicant has submitted Livescan fingerprints, they should access the
Licensing Portal and begin the application for Private Detective Certification.
Applicants who do not have a Licensing Portal account will be required to create one in order to access the Private Detective Certification application.
You are required to have your own personal account in the Licensing Portal. Do Not Share Your Portal Account with anyone - there are specific details tied to the expiration of YOUR licenses and YOUR demographic information. Once you have created your account, you will be able to login and start your Private Detective Certification application. Upon completing and submitting the applicant portion of the Private Detective Certification application, you will receive a confirmation email with your application number and PIN number. Both the application number and PIN number will be required by your Private Detective Agency.
You will need to provide your Agency with certain information for them to access your application via the Licensing Portal. The Agency will access the Private Detective Certification application and verify the identity of the applicant, the application data entered, reaffirm the application questions with the applicant and submit the application along with the required fees to the Licensing Division.
The Licensing Division will review the application for completion and accept all complete applications. Should an application not meet the minimum requirements for acceptance, the application will be sent back to the applicant or agency for corrections. After the corrections have been made, the application can be resubmitted for review and acceptance.
Accepted applications will be submitted into the queue for a criminal history background investigation to be completed on the applicant. During the course of this investigation, the applicant may be contacted by a background investigator to schedule an interview if necessary.
Once the background investigation is complete, the Licensing Division will render a final disposition on the application and the applicant will be notified via email of the final disposition. If the notification email states that the final disposition is approved, your Private Detective Certification application has been approved and you will receive your certification in the mail within 14 days. If the notification email states your final disposition is disapproved, you may contact the Maryland State Police Licensing Division for more information regarding the disapproval and appeals process. The applicant for a Private Detective Certification may log into their Licensing Portal to view the current status of their application at any time.
Please allow 90 days for completion of the application process.
The Private Detective Certification identification card is valid for employment only with the Private Detective Agency listed on the application. A Private Detective working for multiple Private Detective Agencies is required to possess a separate Private Detective Certification for each Private Detective Agency that they are employed with.
The Private Detective Certification identification card remains the
property of the State and shall be returned to the state within five days after:
- the private detective certification is voluntarily surrendered
- the private detective certification is revoked by the State Police
- the private detective is convicted of a prohibiting crime
- death of the private detective
- the private detective is terminated by the private detective agency through which the certification was obtained
When Should I Renew
A Private Detective Certification expires three (3) years after its date of issuance and upon the date the Secretary of State Police sets. By regulation, the Secretary shall stagger the terms of the certification. The license may be renewed for an additional 3-year term.
The renewal process is the responsibility of the applicant and should be started no less than 90 business days from expiration of the license. Timely renewal is the responsibility of the license holder.
The Private Detective Certification renewal application and any required documentation must be submitted via the Licensing Portal at least 90 business days before a certification expires.
if a complete renewal application is not received by the State Police at least 30 calendar days before the certification expires, the State Police will assess a late fee of $5 per day until the application is received by the State Police, unless the applicant did not make timely renewal because of incapacity, hospitalization, being called to active military duty, or other hardship. The maximum late fee shall not exceed $150.
Prerequisites for Renewal
Private Detective Certification Renewal applications require:
- a properly completed renewal application
- Livescan fingerprints
- the renewal fee
- any applicable late fees
.
Renewal Application Process
The Private Detective Certification renewal application process closely mirrors the original application process. The applicant will log into their Licensing Portal account and begin the Application for Private Detective Certification. The applicant should select RENEWAL as the type of application. The Licensing Portal The system will recognize that the applicant has a current Private Detective Certification and adjust the application accordingly.
Upon completing and submitting the applicant portion of the Private Detective Certification renewal application, you will receive a confirmation email with your application number and PIN number. Both the application number and PIN number will be required by your Private Detective Agency.
You will need to provide your Agency with certain information for them to access your application via the Licensing Portal. The Agency will access the Private Detective Certification renewal application and verify the identity of the applicant, the application data entered, reaffirm the application questions with the applicant and submit the application along with the required fees to the Licensing Division.
The Licensing Division will review the application for completion and accept all complete applications. Applications that are incomplete or missing required information and/or documentation will be sent back to the applicant for corrections. Corrected applications can be resubmitted for acceptance by the Licensing Division. Accepted applications will have a criminal history background check completed and a final disposition assigned as outlined above in the APPLICATION PROCESS section.
Please allow 90 days for completion of the renewal application process
IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING PRIVATE DETECTIVE CERTIFICATION RENEWALS
Renewal applicants must be entitled to be certified. If a prohibiting conviction or event has occurred since receiving the previous license, the renewal will not be granted.
Application Fees
Application fees will be collected electronically in the Licensing Portal.
Acceptable forms of payment include Visa and MasterCard.
Original/Initial – $15.00 – Fingerprint Fees not included
Renewal – $10.00 – Fingerprint Fees not included
For a complete list of MSP application fees, please see the Licensing Division Fee Schedule.
Application fees are non-refundable.
How Long is the Application Process
APPLICANT - Once Livescan Fingerprints have been completed, the Private Detective Certification application can be completed in the Licensing Portal within 30-60 minutes. Renewal applications can be completed in the Licensing Portal within 15-30 minutes.
PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY - The verification of applicant's identity, review of the application and documentation, and submission of the application fees can be completed in the Licensing Portal within 10-20 minutes.
LICENSING DIVISION PROCESSING TIME - Once the Licensing Division electronically receives the completed Private Detective Certification application and the required application fees, the applicant will be notified of the final disposition within 90 days.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS - Applications received by the Licensing Division will typically be reviewed for completeness within 5-10 business days. Applicants who submitted incomplete applications will be notified of the status of their application via email within 5 business days of the review.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MAY BE EMAILED TO THE LICENSING DIVISION PROFESSIONAL LICENSING UNIT
Frequently Asked Questions
