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Private Detective License
Individual & Corporate Application General Information
To file original application, submit to Clerk of Courts (see 22 P.S. § 14):
A hearing will be scheduled approximately 8-12 weeks after the date the Petition is filed. You will be notified of the hearing date and must be present in Court for the hearing. Prior to the hearing, a member of the Chester County Detectives will contact you for an interview.
After the court issues an order approving your license application and before your license is issued, you must:
To file original application, submit to Clerk of Courts (see 22 P.S. § 14):
- Petition -one original plus one copy
- Fingerprint cards -three per corporate officer (Blank cards MUST be from Chester County Clerk of Courts. Go to the agency of your choice to be fingerprinted; cost varies by police department/agency.)
- Photographs -two passport size photographs per officer
- Two original certifications (notarized) confirming required experience plus one copy of each
- Five original certificates of approval (notarized) plus one copy of each.
- Check for $26.00 payable to "Clerk of Courts" (filing fee)
- Check for sum of $17.50 per officer payable to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" [Pennsylvania State Police fingerprint investigation]
A hearing will be scheduled approximately 8-12 weeks after the date the Petition is filed. You will be notified of the hearing date and must be present in Court for the hearing. Prior to the hearing, a member of the Chester County Detectives will contact you for an interview.
After the court issues an order approving your license application and before your license is issued, you must:
- For Individual License
- obtain a private detective's bond and file the ORIGINAL BOND with Clerk of Courts
- pay a license fee of $200.00 (payable to "Clerk of Courts") for a 2-year license. The Clerk of Courts will issue your certificate and ID card after you have filed your bond and paid the license fee.
- Corporate License
- obtain a private detective's bond and file the ORIGINAL BOND with Clerk of Courts
- pay a license fee of $300.00 (payable to "Clerk of Courts") for a 2-year license. The Clerk of Courts will issue your certificate and ID card after you have filed your bond and paid the license fee.