Requirements

In order to apply for a Tennessee Private Investigator license, an applicant must:
Each applicant for a private investigator license must:
(1) Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age;
(2) Be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien;
(3) Not have been declared by any court of competent jurisdiction incompetent by reason of mental defect or disease unless a court of competent jurisdiction has since declared the applicant competent;
(4) Not be suffering from habitual drunkenness or narcotics addiction or dependence;
(5) Be of good moral character; and
(6) Pass an examination designed to measure knowledge and competence in the investigations field. Examination information can be found here

Purpose

Tennessee state laws stipulate that a person may not act in this field without first obtaining a license issued by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. To be licensed, you must pass an examination to confirm that you have attained at least a minimum level of knowledge regarding the principles, practices, statutes, and regulations relating to private investigations, private investigation companies and polygraph examiners.

Mission

The mission of the Private Investigation and Polygraph program is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare through the regulation of individuals and companies providing private investigation or polygraph services.