In Wisconsin, if you wish to work as either a private detective or what's called a “private security person” (one who works for a private detective or works for a private police force, or someone who guards or stands watch for security purposes) you must obtain a license to do so. The process is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. In this guide, we'll show you how to obtain and keep in good standing your Wisconsin private security permit.

Obtaining a Permit

Happily, the process is a fairly simple one. The forms you're going to need can all be found by way of the links on this page. Let's take a look at the steps:

• First, even before you file an application, you must submit to a fingerprinting for a background check. Wisconsin uses the company FieldPrint to do its fingerprinting, and the fee you must pay at the time of reservation is $39.25.

• Within 14 days of submitting to the fingerprinting, hand in an application. This involves filling out at least two forms: the application itself, and the permission for the state to access any information on you held by the FBI. The fee to submit this form is 75 dollars. After creating an account, all of this can be done online through this site. If you have any prior criminal convictions or pending charges, you'll have to fill out an additional form, also available at the above link. Yes, it is possible, though not definite, that past or pending crimes can lead to a rejection of your license.

That's the basic process, though there are a few addenda to note. If you want to carry a firearm while performing your job, you'll have to separately apply for a permit to do so, which you can do here. Unfortunately, Wisconsin has no provisions in the law allowing you to transfer a security license from another state – all must comply with the above requirements. Finally, Wisconsin does grant temporary security permits, good for 30 days, which is useful for performing security at a temporary “gig” of some kind. The application process is the same, just be sure to check “temporary” in the form's box. The fee is quite a bit less, and the application will be processed quicker – it costs 10 dollars to file, and an additional 8 dollars for the background check.

Maintaining a Permit

Wisconsin private security permits expire on August 31 of even-numbered years, regardless of when the permit was granted. So, if you received the permit on August 1 of 2014, you're still going to have to renew that month. The renewal fee is 115 dollars if you have not yet expired, and 140 dollars if you have. During renewal, which can be done online here, another background check will be performed, and you will have to be employed by a licensed security or detective agency for the renewal to be valid.

Related to the above: it is very important for all private security persons to self-report to the state any criminal convictions, either prior to applying for the license or while you hold the license. This will not necessarily cause you to lose the license! However, failing to disclose is considered a serious violation. Learn more about conviction self-reporting at this link.

The complaint process in Wisconsin is roughly the same for all licensed professionals, and it begins with a complaint filed online by a member of the public here. The disciplinary process is also governed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services, which will conduct an investigation into any complaints, and reserves the right to suspend or revoke a private security license.