Maryland Private Detective

Certification Course

SHALLBE GLOBAL SECURITY TRAINING ACADEMY

Become a Maryland Private Detective through Training and Certification

We look forward to training and working with you!


Meet Basic Qualifications for Private Investigators in Maryland

There are a few basic requirements that all applicants for private detective registration must meet before becoming registered to work in Maryland:

  • You must be at least 21 years old
  • You must have good moral character and reputation
  • You must pass a criminal background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Maryland State Police (MSP)
  • You must be employed by/have an employment offer from a licensed private detective agency in Maryland
  • If applying for licensure for a private detective agency, you must meet experience requirements.  This starts with the training provided in the Private Investigator Academy.
  • If applying for handgun permit, you must meet the handgun permit training requirements

Complete Training and Experience Requirements for Private Investigators in Maryland

You must complete your Private Investigator training from an accredited state-certified Private Investigator Agency, like ShallBe Global Security. This 40-hour course will grant you the necessary training and experience needed for your state-certified Private Investigators license. 


Sign up for our Maryland Private Investigator/Detective Course right on this page. 

Just click the "Register Now" button and follow all the necessary prompts.


We look forward to training and working with you. 

Submit Maryland Private Detective Registration Application and Supporting Documentation

Maryland Private Detective Registration


To become a registered private detective in Maryland, you must:

  • Submit the Multiple Licensing Application, having pages 7 and 13 notarized
  • Submit one set of completed fingerprint cards (one purple CJIS fingerprint card and one blue and white FBI fingerprint card)
  • Submit two recent (taken in the last month) passport-type photos of yourself with a white background
  • Submit a private detective registration fee of $15 via check or money order payable to Maryland State Police
  • Submit background check fee of $37.25 via check or money order payable to Maryland State Police
  • If requesting a handgun permit along with your private investigator registration, you must also submit the following:
  • Two additional recent (taken in the last month) passport-type photographs of yourself with a white background
  • $75 application fee via separate check/money order payable to Maryland State Police
  • Certificate of qualification with a handgun from a Maryland State Police Certified Handgun instructor on a Maryland State Police form
  • Copy of form letter (obtained by your private detective employer) supporting good and substantial reasons why you need a handgun permit, weapon ownership, and handgun location.

Mail all of the above to Maryland State Police, Licensing Division, 1111 Reisterstown Rd, Pikesville, MD 21208. It may take up to 90 days for the background check to be completed and for your application to be approved. Once approved, you will receive a private detective identification card. This is valid for employment only with the private detective agency listed on your application. If you change employers, you must surrender your card to the Maryland State Police and register to work for another agency.


Now that You’re a Registered Private Detective in Maryland

Well done! You have completed all the requirements to become a registered private detective in Maryland!


You must renew your registration certification every three years. You will be mailed renewal information from the Maryland State Police 90 days before your certification expires. Instructions on renewal will be included. Generally, you must submit another FBI fingerprint records check and fees, along with renewal application fee (total of $69.25, check or money order payable to the Maryland State Police). , fees, anda 


If you have a handgun permit, you must also submit a certificate of completion from a one-hour handgun re-certification class given by a Maryland State Police Certified Handgun instructor.


What Is Included In The Maryland Private Detective Certification Course?

  • Your private detective training requirements for your Private Investigators license in the state of Maryland.
  • We help you with all of the necessary documents to apply for your Private Investigators license in Maryland.

Why Should We Take Your Course?

This is not your everyday training course. This course combines the 5 core classes that were listed above under "What is included in this course?" We offer a certification heavy course in a 3-day class to meet busy people's demands everywhere.


This class has been built from the ground up by current private investigators and military personnel. We have taken every measure to ensure you receive the valuable training you so desire. Our training course exceeds all training requirements by the state of Maryland and the Maryland State Police.


We will continue to be a resource for you as you grow in your PI and security career. We do not disappear as so many do after you receive your certifications. We offer additional training courses and may have from time to time career placement opportunities. We offer these to students who have graduated from our courses on a first-come-first-serve basis.


We will assess your firearms experience on day 1 of the course and provide extra assistance in the form of training to those who may need it. This is to ensure everyone who takes the class is given every opportunity imaginable to succeed in receiving their certifications. Our instructors may pull you aside on a break and give you some one-on-one attention at no extra charge.


We provide your fingerprinting via LiveScans, your passport photos, and application preparation within the class schedule. You will not have to go elsewhere or try to navigate the difficult paperwork and MSP training portals. We are with you every step of the way as we want to ensure you receive the value you deserve for the course.

Define Private Investigator

A private investigator means any individual who engages in the business of, or accepts employment to make, investigations to obtain information on crimes or civil wrongs; the location, disposition, or recovery of stolen property; the cause of accidents, fires, damages, or injuries to persons or to property; or evidence to be used before any court, board, officer, or investigative committee.

Reasons To Become A Private Investigator In Maryland

With an economy thriving and fully plugged-in to the pipeline of federal funding and job opportunities bolstered by a high-tech industry that includes more than 9,000 aerospace and defense contractors that serve the more than 60 federal agencies with operations in the state – Maryland is a hot spot for private investigators.


Whether they’re performing employee background checks related to DoD security clearances, gathering evidence and conducting witness interviews as hired guns for local law offices, or investigating cases of fraud and embezzlement through the Office of Inspector General, there is more investigations work on the table here than almost anywhere else in the country.


According to the Maryland Department of Labor, the state was home to a 1,180 licensed PIs as of 2019. But there’s no risk of oversaturation in a market this jam packed with opportunities. In fact, numbers are expected to continue to rise based on demand, with projections showing about 120 new PIs joining the field every year.


All private investigators in Maryland must be registered with the Maryland State Police and must work for a licensed private detective agency. Private investigators who run their own agencies must also become licensed.

Private Investigator Salary Information For Maryland*

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Maryland private investigators earned an annual, average salary of $59,560 as of May 2019. Those with the most extensive backgrounds in investigations and the most impressive credentials earn at or near the top 10%, where the average PI salary was $96,320 during this time.


Private Investigator Salaries in Baltimore:

The median-top 10% salary range for PIs in Baltimore was $64,860-$100,090 in May 2019, which is higher than the state average.


*Salary and employment data compiled by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in May of 2019. Figures represent accumulated data for all employment sectors in which private investigators work. BLS salary data represents state and MSA (metropolitan statistical area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. 


2019 job growth projections from the Maryland Department of Labor are aggregated through the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource, Projections Central. Employment conditions in your area may vary. 


All salary and employment data accessed May 2020.

Maryland Handgun Wear & Carry Permit

The ShallBe Global Private Investigator Certification Training Course will give you all the tools necessary to be a private investigator in the state of Maryland. The only thing that is missing is personal protection in the line of duty. That is where the Maryland Wear and Carry permit comes in to play. This is a separate course offered by the ShallBe Global Security Training Academy. As a working Private Investigator, this permit is considered a part of your “PI Go Bag”. 


Click here for further detail on the Handgun Safety Training Maryland CCW Handgun Permit Course.


If you want to be able to apply for your Handgun Safety Training Maryland CCW Handgun Permit through the Maryland State Police you will need to take our certification course. You can sign up for this course on the event page by clicking the Register Now button below and choosing Handgun Safety Training Maryland CCW Handgun Permit Training Course. 

What Are The Additional Fees For This Course?

Several permit applications are required by Maryland State Police to include live fingerprint scans. The cost of obtaining fingerprints is not included in our course price but is offered by ShallBe Global Security Training Academy via Guntry of Maryland for $75 per set of prints. If you are applying for your Maryland Private Investigator certification and your Maryland Wear & Carry permit you will need 2 sets of prints for a total of $150. This will need to be paid to Guntry of Maryland via a credit card or cash on the first day of class.


Fees paid to Maryland State Police in the form of a check or money order are required by the applicant and not included in the course price. See below for a list of these fees:

Wear and Carry permit - No money order required, online payment available. Original/Initial $75.00 fee, renewals and subsequent $50.00 fee

Security Guard Certification - Original $15.00 fee, renewal $10.00 fee

Private Investigator - Original $15.00 fee, renewal $10.00 fee

HQL - No money order required, online payment available. $50.00 for Original, $20.00 for Renewal

Need Help? 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What would disqualify me from being a Private Investigator in the State of Maryland?

    Individuals desiring employment by a private detective agency to provide services as outlined above must meet the following criteria. Any individual employee of a private detective agency wishing to act as a private detective should submit an application.


    The following conditions will disqualify you from becoming a private detective:

    • Has been convicted of a violent crime (abduction, arson, burglary, escape, housebreaking, kidnapping, manslaughter, mayhem, murder, rape, robbery, sodomy, or an attempt to commit any of the above offenses, or assault with intent to commit any other offense for which the court sentenced imprisonment for more than 1 year)
    • Has been convicted of a felony;
    • Is a habitual drunkard;
    • Is a fugitive from justice, which is defined as a person who has fled from a sheriff or other peace officer within this State, or who has fled from any state, territory, or the District of Columbia, or possession of the United States, to avoid prosecution for a crime of violence or to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceeding;
    • Is addicted to or a habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, or amphetamines;
    • Has been confined to a mental institution for treatment of a mental disorder or disorders, unless there is attached to the application a physician's certificate, issued within 30 days before the application, certifying that the applicant is of no danger to the applicant or others;
    • Has falsified any information on the applicant's application; or
    • Has been convicted of any criminal act directly related to the applicant's employment with a detective agency licensed or required to be licensed by the State Police.
    • Is an active medical cannabis patient

  • Do you guarantee that I will receive my Private Investigators license?

    Due to many elements of the process such as qualifying and disqualifying factors we can guarantee your Private Investigators license. However, we can guarantee our training will qualify you for the education and experience needed for the application process. 

  • What is covered in the price of every course?

    • State Certified Instructor time both in classroom and at the range
    • Complete walkthrough of the application process including package assembly when necessary
    • All necessary rental weapons, ammunition, and eyes/ears protection for the range
    • Photograph Printing for all required permits

  • What is NOT covered in the price of any course?

    • Fees paid to Maryland State Police in the form of a check or Money Order are required by the applicant and not included in the course price. See below for a list of these fees.
    • Maryland State Police require several permit applications to include live fingerprint scans. The cost of obtaining fingerprints is not included in our course price but is offered by the ShallBe Global Security Academy. 

  • What are the additional fees to Maryland State Police?

    Check or Money Order payments made out to Maryland State Police are required in your application for the following amounts per permit:

    • Wear and Carry permit - Original/Initial $75.00 fee, renewals and subsequents $50.00 fee
    • Security Guard Certification - Original $15.00 fee, renewal $10.00 fee
    • Private Investigator - Original $15.00 fee, renewal $10.00 fee
    • HQL - No money order required, online payment available. $50.00 for Original, $20.00 for Renewal

  • How long do the permits last before they need to be renewed?

    • Wear and Carry - 2 years
    • Security Guard Clearance Card - 2 years
    • Private Investigator License - 2 years
    • HQL - 10 years
    • HC/OC/Baton - 3 years

  • What do I need to bring with me before class?

    On your first day:

    • Bring information for 3 references (name, phone number, address, employment) which is required for the Maryland State Police application. 
    • Bring payment in the form of cash or credit card. 
    • Your employment history over the past 5 years (including company names, phone and addresses) will also be asked about in the application. 
    • Bring your Driver's License or other ID
    • If you have served in the military please bring your DD214
    • If you were born overeas you will need your green card or naturalization papers.
    • Wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that does not leave any skin exposed (bullet casings can be very hot and land anywhere). 
    • We provide all necessary firearms, ammunition, and eye/ear protection but feel free to bring your own eye/ear protection if you have it available. 

  • What do I need to bring with me before the range?

    Bring your Driver's License or other ID, wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that does not leave any skin exposed (bullet casings can be very hot and land anywhere). We provide all necessary firearms, ammunition, and eye/ear protection but feel free to bring your own eye/ear protection if you have it available. 

  • What are the full eligibility requirements of a Wear and Carry permit?

    Please consult the Maryland State Police website for the full requirements.

  • What are the full eligibility requirements of a Security Guard Clearance Card?

    Please consult the Maryland State Police website for the full requirements.

  • What are the full eligibility requirements of the HQL?

    Please consult the Maryland State Police website for the full requirements.

  • What are the restrictions for when I can or can not carry with a permit?

    • Security Guards and Private Investigators - Only while actively engaged on the job.
    • Business Owners - No extra restrictions, wear and carry 24/7.
    • Wear and Carry of a firearm is prohibited in the State of Maryland in the following locations:
    1. On school property (CR 4-102)
    2. Within 1,000 feet of a demonstration in a public place (CR 4-208)
    3. In legislative buildings (SG 2-1702)
    4. Aboard aircraft (TR 5-1008)
    5. In lodging establishments where the innkeeper reasonably believes individuals possess property that may be dangerous to other individuals, such as firearms or explosives (BR 15-203)
    6. On dredge boats, other than two 10 gauge shotguns (NR 4-1013)
    7. In or around State-owned public buildings and grounds (COMAR 04.05.01.03)
    8. On Chesapeake Forest Lands (COMAR 08.01.07.14)
    9. In State Forests (COMAR 08.07.01.04)
    10. In State Parks (COMAR 08.07.06.04)
    11. In State Highway Rest Areas, unless properly secured within vehicle (COMAR 11.04.07.12)
    12. In community adult rehabilitation centers (COMAR 12.02.03.10)
    13. In child care centers, except for small centers located in residences (COMAR 13A.16.10.04)

  • How long will it take to recieve my permits?

    Once your paperwork is submitted, your waiting time is entirely dependent on the Licensing Division of Maryland State Police. There is nothing ShallBe Global Security can do to speed up the process or inquire about how much longer your wait will be. Typical waiting times can range from 4 to 6 weeks in our experience, and the official time frame advised by MSP is up to 90 days after your interview.

  • How do I get a Fingerprint scan?

    Fingerprint Scans must be obtained separately from any local third-party fingerprinting company you choose. Most classes we will offer this as an extra service for our students. 


    If not we recommend to ask your instructor during class for recommendations. 

  • Will I be guaranteed employment?

    ShallBe Global Security does not guarantee employment with any of our permits or courses. Our sponsorship is intended to be temporary, as many employers desire their students to have their permits ahead of time despite the fact that a sponsoring employer is required for the application itself. When we receive notification of available contracts, the information is dispersed out to all students equally with the expectation that you will be putting in your own effort to reach out and make contact with prospective employers.

  • Do I need to be a United States Citizen?

    No, but you must bring with you documentation that proves you are here legally such as your naturalization papers, passport, work visa, or green card in order to fill out your permit applications.

  • Do you offer any discounts on your courses?

    Since ShallBe Global Security is owned and operated by veterans and current military, we offer a 10% discount on all of our courses as long as you can prove your service with an ID card or your DD214 on the first day of class. 


    Please get in touch with us for the discount code. 


    Disclaimer: All discounts must be utilized during the checkout process via a coupon code. There will be no refunds given after the checkout process. 

  • Do you offer any referral discounts or bonuses?

    If you are a graduating student of one of our courses, we will offer you a referral bonus of $25 NEW student who signs up and pays for one of our courses. This can be collected unlimited times as a thank you for helping us get the word out about professional Security and PI training courses. 


    The new student must mention you by full name during the checkout process via the form. Not on the first day of class.