Each individual applicant for a license as a private investigator shall meet all of the following criteria :

(1) Is at least 21 years of age.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 34-25B-12

  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(2) Has successfully completed a criminal history background check based on criteria established by the board.
(3) Has not been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease unless a court of competent jurisdiction has subsequently declared the applicant competent.
(4) Has not been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, with the board having the final determination on the interpretation of moral turpitude.
(5) Has not been convicted of a felony crime.
(6) Has passed an examination administered by the board designed to measure knowledge and competence in the investigation field and in state civil and criminal privacy laws.

(7) Has a minimum of two years’ experience, education, or training, or a combination thereof, including 120 hours of practical field experience directly related to private investigation, in any of the following areas:

a. Special investigations, consisting of special investigative experience in insurance, fire or arson, banking, legal, or similar setting, or other special investigatory experience as determined suitable by the board.
b. Law enforcement, consisting of experience as a sworn law enforcement officer, investigative experience as a detective or investigator at the federal, state, or local level, or other investigative experience as determined suitable by the board.
c. Education, consisting of a minimum of a two-year degree in a field of study directly related to private investigation including, but not limited to, criminal justice, political science, criminology, or law enforcement.
d. Internship, consisting of successful completion of a private investigator apprenticeship pursuant to Section 34-25B-12.1.