- Passing score is 80%; a passing result stays valid for two years under Nebraska rules.
- Individual license/application fee is $50, plus a separate $38 criminal-history charge.
- Experience routes: 3,000 hours generally, 2,500 with an associate degree, or 2,000 with a bachelor's.
- Exams run the third Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m., at 1201 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln.
Quick Facts Snapshot
If you only have five minutes before you walk into the Nebraska Secretary of State's Licensing Division testing room, this is the page to skim. Every figure below comes straight from the governing rules for the Nebraska Private Detective License Exam (NE-PD) - nothing borrowed, nothing generic. For the full breakdown of how these numbers fit together, see the NE-PD Requirements 2026 guide.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Administering Body | Nebraska Secretary of State, Licensing Division |
| Passing Score | 80% |
| Application/License Fee | $50 (individual) |
| Criminal History Charge | $38 (initial) |
| Surety Bond Coverage | $10,000 |
| Minimum Age | 21 |
| Exam Schedule | 3rd Wednesday, monthly, 10 a.m. |
| Exam Location | 1201 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, NE 68508 |
| Score Validity | 2 years |
| Retake Wait | 21 days minimum |
| Attempt Limit | 3 attempts (Section 007.02 bar after) |
| License Expiration | June 30 of first even-numbered year after issuance |
| Renewal Fee | $50 (individual) |
Fees, Bond, and Application Mechanics
The individual application and license fee is $50 under Section 008, and applicants also pay a separate $38 initial criminal-history investigation charge - these are two distinct line items, not one combined fee. A full cost breakdown, including how these figures compare to renewal pricing, is available in the NE-PD Certification Cost 2026 breakdown.
You'll also need to secure a $10,000 surety bond before licensure. Remember: $10,000 is the bond's coverage amount, not the premium you pay to purchase it. Domain 4 on the exam tests your understanding of this distinction directly, so don't confuse coverage limits with purchase cost when answering scenario-based questions.
Your application packet must include:
- At least four nonrelative personal references
- Employer and experience information documenting qualifying hours
- Two fingerprint cards
- Two passport photographs
Eligibility review happens before you're cleared to test - the Licensing Division checks your paperwork, character/background standing, and experience documentation first. Only after that review clears do you schedule your seat for the written exam.
Experience Hour Routes
Nebraska gives applicants three paths to satisfy the experience requirement, and Domain 5 of the exam is built entirely around knowing these thresholds cold.
Domain 5: Minimum Hours of Experience
Candidates must document one of three qualifying experience routes before applying for a detective license.
- 3,000 hours - standard route, no degree required
- 2,500 hours - with a qualifying associate degree in criminal justice or a closely related field
- 2,000 hours - with a qualifying bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a closely related field
The reduced-hour routes only apply if the degree comes from an appropriately accredited institution and is in criminal justice or a closely related discipline - a general studies degree won't automatically qualify. If you're unsure whether your background meets the threshold, the NE-PD Requirements 2026 guide walks through documentation specifics in more depth.
15-Domain Cheat Sheet
The written exam draws its non-exhaustive topic list from 433 NAC Chapter 3, Section 007.01A. Below is a condensed pass through all 15 domains - treat this as your final-day refresher, not your first exposure to the material. For deep-dive coverage of each area, use the NE-PD Exam Domains 2026 complete guide.
Domain 1: Provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-3201 through 71-3213
The foundational statutory language of the Nebraska private detective licensing act. Know section numbers loosely and what each governs.
Domain 2: Basic Requirements to Become a License Holder
Age (21+), U.S. citizenship, character/background standards, and experience documentation combine here.
Domain 3: Debt Collection Restrictions
Understand where private detective work overlaps with - and is restricted from - debt collection activity under Nebraska law.
Domain 4: Surety Bond Requirements
The $10,000 coverage bond requirement and its role in maintaining licensure.
Domain 5: Minimum Experience Hours
Covered above - 3,000, 2,500, or 2,000 hours depending on degree route.
Domain 6: Disqualification for Application
Factors that can bar an applicant from licensure, tied to character and background review.
Domain 7: Expiration Date of All License Holders
Licenses expire June 30 of the first even-numbered year following issuance - a fixed calendar cycle, not an anniversary date.
Domain 8: Restrictions on Duties of Plain Clothes Investigators
Know how this separate license category's scope differs from the individual Private Detective license.
Domain 9: Advertising for Private Detective Services
Rules governing how licensees may represent themselves and their services publicly.
Domain 10: License Renewal Requirements
Renewal ties directly to the $50 fee, continued eligibility, and ongoing bond compliance.
Domain 11: Interception of Wire or Electronic Communications
Wiretapping boundaries - a frequently tested legal-limits topic given how central surveillance is to investigative work.
Domain 12: Trespassing
Legal boundaries investigators must respect when conducting fieldwork or surveillance on private property.
Domain 13: Carrying a Concealed Weapon
Rules and limitations tied to concealed carry in the context of licensed investigative work.
Domain 14: Provisions of the Licensing Rules and Regulations
The broader 433 NAC Chapter 3 regulatory framework beyond the core statute.
Domain 15: Intrusion
Privacy-tort concepts governing what constitutes unlawful intrusion during an investigation.
Key Takeaway
Domains 11, 12, 13, and 15 cluster around legal limits on investigative conduct - study them together since exam questions often test the boundary between lawful surveillance and unlawful conduct in a single scenario.
Exam Day Logistics
The written exam is offered on a fixed public schedule: the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m., held at 1201 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. You must arrange testing with the Licensing Division before showing up - this isn't a walk-in exam. For a month-by-month planning view, check the NE-PD Exam Dates 2026 scheduling guide.
Because eligibility review precedes testing, submit your application materials - fingerprint cards, references, photographs, experience documentation - well ahead of your target test month. A late or incomplete packet can push your seat to the following month's date.
Retake Rules and Score Validity
The minimum passing score is 80%. If you fall short, Nebraska requires a wait of at least 21 days before you can retest. More importantly, Section 007.02 bars another attempt after three failed tries - so treat each sitting with the seriousness of a limited resource, not a casual first pass. If you want a realistic read on how candidates typically perform, see the NE-PD Pass Rate 2026 data breakdown.
Once you pass, that score remains valid for two years. This matters if there's any gap between passing the exam and finalizing the rest of your license application - plan your bond purchase and remaining paperwork inside that window.
Renewal and Expiration
Individual licenses expire on June 30 of the first even-numbered year following issuance - not on a rolling anniversary. Renewal costs $50 and requires continued eligibility plus ongoing bond compliance, meaning your $10,000 surety bond needs to stay active and in good standing, not just present at initial licensure.
Because the expiration date is tied to the calendar rather than your issuance date, two licensees issued months apart in the same cycle can share the same expiration date. Mark this on your calendar early rather than relying on a renewal notice alone.
One-Week Final Review Plan
If your exam date is one week out, don't restart your studying from scratch - use this compressed schedule to reinforce weak spots. For a fuller multi-week preparation plan built around all 15 domains, see the NE-PD Study Guide 2026.
Statute and Structure
- Re-read Domains 1, 2, and 6 - the statutory backbone and disqualification criteria
- Confirm you can state the three experience-hour routes without notes (Domain 5)
Conduct and Legal Limits
- Drill Domains 11, 12, 13, and 15 together - wiretapping, trespassing, concealed weapons, intrusion
- Work through advertising restrictions (Domain 9) and debt collection limits (Domain 3)
Administrative Details
- Memorize fee figures: $50 application/renewal, $38 criminal history, $10,000 bond coverage
- Review renewal cycle (Domain 10) and expiration timing (Domain 7)
- Take practice questions on the main practice test platform to check retention
Light Review Only
- Skim this cheat sheet one final time
- Avoid cramming new material - confirm logistics for the third-Wednesday test date and location
For candidates who want a broader gauge of how demanding this exam actually is relative to their background, the How Hard Is the NE-PD Exam? Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down what tends to trip people up. And if you're still weighing whether the licensing path fits your career goals, Is the NE-PD Certification Worth It? covers the return on the time and fees involved, while the NE-PD Salary Guide 2026 looks at earnings considerations for licensed private detectives in Nebraska.
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum passing score is 80%, as set by the Nebraska Secretary of State's Licensing Division rules for the individual Private Detective license exam.
The individual application/license fee is $50, plus a separate $38 initial criminal-history investigation charge. You'll also need a $10,000 surety bond, which represents coverage rather than purchase price.
You need 3,000 hours generally, 2,500 hours with a qualifying associate degree, or 2,000 hours with a qualifying bachelor's degree in criminal justice or a closely related field.
Section 007.02 bars another attempt after three failed tries. Each failed attempt also requires a wait of at least 21 days before retesting, so plan your preparation carefully before each sitting.
The exam is scheduled the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m., at 1201 N Street, Suite 120, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508. You must arrange testing with the Licensing Division in advance.