Private investigators in Georgia perform surveillance, background checks, skip tracing, corporate due diligence, and digital investigations. All investigators and agencies must be licensed by the Georgia regulatory board; eligibility commonly involves experience, education, and board-approved training. Employers must comply with staff training and reporting rules. Armed investigators need a firearms endorsement and certified training. Out-of-state work is governed by the laws where the investigation occurs. Verify license numbers, insurance, and references before hiring.

What private investigators do today

Private investigators (PIs) in Georgia handle a wide range of civil and commercial matters: insurance-fraud investigations, pre-employment and vendor background checks, surveillance for family-law cases, skip tracing for creditors, corporate due diligence, and digital investigations such as social-media checks and basic device triage.

Modern investigators combine field work - surveillance, interviews, public-record searches - with digital techniques: open-source intelligence (OSINT), GPS and vehicle data analysis, social-media mining, and coordination with digital-forensics specialists when needed.

Licensing overview

All individuals and agencies offering private investigation or security services in Georgia must be licensed by the state's regulatory board. Licensing is intended to ensure minimum training, accountability, and consumer protection.

Georgia offers licensing tracks for agency owners, individual private investigators, and armed personnel. Typical routes to licensure include documented investigative experience, formal education in criminal justice or a related field, and completion of board-approved training courses. Specific eligibility details and required documentation are set by the Georgia Private Detective and Security Agencies Board and state statute.

Starting a business and employee rules

To operate a PI business in Georgia you must hold the required agency license. Employers are responsible for ensuring staff meet the board's experience and training requirements and for keeping employee records current. Some states require new hires to be reported to the board within a defined period; confirm Georgia's current reporting timeline. 1

Individual investigators may work as employees of a licensed agency or as the licensee running their own firm. In many situations an investigator can be contracted by more than one licensed agency, but the business relationship and supervision rules vary; check the board rules for details. 2

Firearms and working across state lines

If an investigator will carry a firearm on duty, Georgia requires the appropriate armed-security endorsement or permit and certified firearms training. Verify the exact training hours and permit process with the board. 3

Investigators performing work that crosses state lines must follow the laws of the state where the work occurs. Some states limit out-of-state investigative activity or impose time limits for working without a local license; confirm any interstate limitations that might apply to Georgia licensees. 4

Skills, ethics, and hiring a PI

Successful investigators combine attention to detail, discretion, persistence, and digital literacy. When hiring a PI, ask for their Georgia license number, proof of insurance, references, and a written scope and cost estimate. Verify credentials through the Georgia regulatory board and insist on written reports and chain-of-custody procedures for any evidence collected.

Finding the right investigator means balancing experience in your case type (insurance, corporate, family law) with clear, documented procedures and state-compliant licensure.

  1. Confirm current licensing eligibility requirements (experience years, acceptable degrees, and training) with the Georgia Private Detective and Security Agencies Board and Georgia statutes.
  2. Verify whether Georgia requires employers to report new hires to the board within 30 days or a different timeframe and what records are required.
  3. Confirm rules about investigators working for multiple licensed agencies in Georgia.
  4. Check the exact firearms endorsement/permit requirements, including training hours and certification process in Georgia.
  5. Verify interstate limitations for Georgia licensees, including any time limits (such as a 30-day rule) for working in other states and whether reciprocity exists with which states.
  6. Locate the Georgia board's official license lookup or verification process and URL. [[CHECK]]

FAQs about Private Investigator Georgia

How do I verify a private investigator's license in Georgia?
Ask for the investigator's license number and verify it with the Georgia Private Detective and Security Agencies Board. The board's website should provide license lookup or contact details.
Can a Georgia private investigator carry a gun on duty?
Carrying a firearm while working typically requires an armed-security endorsement or permit and completion of certified firearms training. Confirm current training and permitting requirements with the state board.
Do I need to hire a licensed agency, or can I hire an individual investigator?
You can hire an individual investigator who holds a personal license or hire an investigator employed by a licensed agency. Make sure whoever you hire is properly licensed and insured in Georgia.
Can Georgia investigators work in other states?
Investigators must follow the laws of the state where the work occurs. Some states restrict out-of-state investigators or require temporary registration; always check the destination state's licensing rules before work begins.