# RCW 18.165.050: RCW 18.165.050: Private investigator agency license—Requirements, restrictions—Assignment or transfer

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S050

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 18.165.050
- **Heading:** RCW 18.165.050: Private investigator agency license—Requirements, restrictions—Assignment or transfer
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 18 / Chapter 165 / Section 050

## Text

(1) In addition to meeting the minimum requirements to obtain a license as a private investigator, an applicant, or, in the case of a partnership or limited partnership, each partner, or, in the case of a corporation, the qualifying agent must meet the following additional requirements to obtain a private investigator agency license: (a) Pass an examination determined by the director to measure the person's knowledge and competence in the private investigator agency business; or (b) Have had at least three years' experience in investigative work or its equivalent as determined by the director. A year's experience means not less than two thousand hours of actual compensated work performed before the filing of an application. An applicant shall substantiate the experience by written certifications from previous employers. If the applicant is unable to supply written certifications from previous employers, applicants may offer written certifications from professional persons other than employers who, based on personal professional knowledge, can substantiate the employment. (2) An agency license issued pursuant to this section may not be assigned or transferred without prior written approval of the director. (3) No license to own or operate a private investigator company may be issued to an applicant if the name of the company portrays the company as a public law enforcement agency, or in association with a public law enforcement agency, or includes the word "police."

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 18.165.010 RCW 18.165.010: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S010.md)
- [RCW 18.165.020 RCW 18.165.020: Exemptions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S020.md)
- [RCW 18.165.030 RCW 18.165.030: Private investigator license—Requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S030.md)
- [RCW 18.165.040 RCW 18.165.040: Armed private investigator license—Requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S040.md)
- [RCW 18.165.050 RCW 18.165.050: Private investigator agency license—Requirements, restrictions—Assignment or transfer.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S050.md)
- [RCW 18.165.060 RCW 18.165.060: Armed private investigator license authority—Registration of firearms.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S060.md)
- [RCW 18.165.070 RCW 18.165.070: Investigation of applicants.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S070.md)
- [RCW 18.165.080 RCW 18.165.080: License cards and certificates—Issuance and requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S080.md)
- [RCW 18.165.090 RCW 18.165.090: Preassignment training and testing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S090.md)
- [RCW 18.165.100 RCW 18.165.100: Agency license—Surety bond or certificate of insurance required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S100.md)
- [RCW 18.165.110 RCW 18.165.110: Regulatory provisions exclusive—Authority of the state and political subdivisions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S110.md)
- [RCW 18.165.120 RCW 18.165.120: Out-of-state private investigators operating across state lines.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S120.md)
- [RCW 18.165.130 RCW 18.165.130: Required notice of certain occurrences.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S130.md)
- [RCW 18.165.140 RCW 18.165.140: Out-of-state private investigators—Application—Fee—Temporary assignment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S140.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T18_C165_S050. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.