The State of Missouri requires all Private Investigators to be licensed. Missouri Private Investigators are governed by Missouri State Law and regulated by the the Missouri Board of Private Investigators and Examiners. One of the first questions you should ask before retaining a Private Investigator is “are you licensed?”. You can check for individual and agency licenses at the Missouri Division of Professional Registration website: Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners (mo.gov).
The Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) recently published a Public Service Announcement on the hazards of retaining an unlicensed investigator. As in Texas, Missouri licensing ensures a basic level of competency, insurance requirements are met, and government oversight.