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New York State · Licensed & Vetted

Find A Private Investigator
You Can Trust.

Every investigator in this directory holds a New York State license. We check it. We vet their record. Then we stand behind the badge.

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Every License Checked
Three Credential Tiers
Free For The Public
The three New York Investigators credential badges — silver Verified, gold Certified and the Fellow rosette — joined by a ribbon
The Credential

Three Tiers. One Standard.

A license is the floor, not the ceiling. Our tiers show how far a member has gone past it — and every claim on a badge is one we checked ourselves.

Tier One
NYI Verified

The entry mark. It proves the basics are real.

  • Current NYS private investigator license
  • Liability insurance on file
  • No unresolved state discipline
  • Business identity confirmed
Tier Two
NYI Certified

The working standard. Proven skill and a clean record over time.

  • Everything in Verified
  • 5+ years licensed and in business
  • Client and attorney reference check
  • Passes the NYI ethics exam
Tier Three
NYI Fellow

The highest honor. Few earn it, and that is the point.

  • Everything in Certified
  • 15+ years licensed and in business
  • Peer nomination and case record review
  • Standing reputation in the field
See The Full Criteria
How We Grade

Badges Earned Three Ways.

Tiers tell you who an investigator is. Badges tell you what they have done. Members earn them across three tracks.

01

Time In Business

Longevity is proof. Members earn the Established badge at 5 years, Veteran at 10 and Legacy at 20. The years must be licensed years — we check the record, not the story.

02

Reputation

The Top Rated badge goes to members with strong, real client reviews across public platforms. We read them, confirm them and re-check every year. Paid reviews end a membership.

03

Skills

Specialty certifications in surveillance, background checks, skip tracing, digital forensics, insurance fraud and litigation support. Each one requires documented casework.

Featured Members

Investigators Who Set The Bar.

New York Intelligence Agency
Manhattan · New York City
NYI Fellow Legacy 20+ Top Rated

Certified in: Surveillance, Background & Due Diligence, Litigation Support

Est. 1989View Profile →
95+ Firms Listed Statewide
NYC · Long Island · Hudson Valley · Upstate
Unverified Listings

Every New York PI we found in public records, searchable by city — ranked below our vetted members until they earn the badge.

Public DataSearch The Directory →
Your Firm Here
Any City · New York State
NYI Verified NYI Certified

Membership is open. Pass the vetting and your firm ranks above every unverified listing in your region.

Apply FreeStart The Vetting →
Browse The Full Directory
How It Works

From Application To Badge.

Apply

An investigator submits their NYS license number, insurance and business details.

License Check

We confirm the license with the NYS Department of State and verify the insurance is active.

Record Review

We review discipline history, references and public reviews. Higher tiers get a deeper look.

Badge Issued

The member gets a public profile, a tier badge and yearly re-checks to keep it.

Hiring A PI? Start Here.

Anyone can buy a slick website. Not everyone can pass a license check. Before you hire an investigator in New York, run through this list — or skip it and pick from a directory that already did.

  • Ask for the license number — every real NY PI has one from the Department of State
  • Confirm insurance — a licensed pro carries liability coverage
  • Check the years — time in business under the same license matters
  • Read real reviews — look for detail, not just stars
  • Get the fee in writing — hourly rate, retainer and expenses, up front
3
Credential Tiers

Verified, Certified and Fellow — each one checked, none for sale.

6
Skill Certifications

From surveillance to digital forensics, backed by casework.

62
Counties Covered

Members from New York City to Buffalo and everywhere between.

1x
Yearly Re-Check

Every license and badge is re-verified every single year.

Questions

Straight Answers.

Are all investigators in the directory licensed?

Yes. Every member must hold a current New York State private investigator license from the NYS Department of State. We check the license before a profile goes live, and we re-check it every year.

What do the NYI badges mean?

Badges show what we verified. Verified means the license and insurance check out. Certified adds five or more years in business, a reference check and an ethics exam. Fellow is our highest honor, reserved for veteran investigators with a proven record. Members also earn badges for time in business, client reputation and specialty skills.

Does it cost anything to search the directory?

No. The directory is free for the public. You can search by region and by specialty, then contact any investigator directly.

How does an investigator join?

Apply on our Join page with your license number and business details. We verify your license, insurance and record. Most applications are reviewed within two weeks.

Licensed In New York? Earn The Badge.

Membership is open to every licensed PI in the state. The vetting is free to start.

Apply For Membership