Your 21-Day Minnesota PI and Protective-Agent Deadline Calculator
Choose the role and training status, then enter days since hire and days elapsed in the current licence year. The result separates the 21-day pre-assignment window from annual training duties.
Days remaining in 21-day window
14
Within the documented windowKeep the completion record with the employee training records.
- Pre-assignment hours required
- 12
- Pre-assignment hours to repeat after selected gap
- 0
- Annual continuing-education hours
- 6
- Additional annual armed-training hours
- 0
- Total annual training hours for selected armed status
- 6
- Approximate days left in licence year
- 180
Assumptions
- The hire date is treated as day 0, so the displayed pre-assignment result is 21 minus days since hire.
- The tool uses a 360-day planning year, made from twelve 30-day months, to estimate days left in the licence year.
- The tool does not calculate the Initial Armed Training calendar date because Minnesota DPS sets that deadline as before armed licensable service, not by hire date.
- An exactly three-year prior industry gap requires confirmation with the Minnesota Board.
By Sharon DeCet, Founder · Reviewed 16 Sept 2026
In brief
Minnesota private detectives and protective agents need 12 hours of pre-assignment training within 21 days of hire. Annual training follows the licence year, and armed work adds a separate six-hour annual requirement. Use this checker to turn those rules into a deadline and hours checklist.
Worked example at the defaults
With role at 0, days since hire at 7 days, prior industry gap at 0, armed status at 0, days elapsed in current licence year at 180 days:
- Pre-assignment hours required
- 12
- Days remaining in 21-day window
- 14
- Pre-assignment hours to repeat after selected gap
- 0
- Annual continuing-education hours
- 6
- Additional annual armed-training hours
- 0
- Total annual training hours for selected armed status
- 6
- Approximate days left in licence year
- 180
Minnesota DPS states that PPA and PPD pre-assignment courses are 12 hours, must be completed within 21 days of hire, and must be repeated after an industry gap longer than three years. DPS also states that annual requirements follow the licence year, all employees need six hours of annual continuing education, and armed employees need six additional annual armed-training hours that include approved first aid. Source checked September 2026: Minnesota DPS training guidance.
The Minnesota Training Sequence
The pre-assignment-hours output is fixed at 12. Days remaining in the hire window equals 21 - days_since_hire. Repeat hours equal gap_over_three * 12, so the result is 12 only when the selected gap is over three years. Annual continuing education is fixed at 6. Additional armed hours equal armed_status * 6, and total annual hours equal annual CE plus additional armed hours. Approximate licence-year days left equal 360 - license_year_days_elapsed.
Related resources
Frequently asked
Minnesota protective-agent employees must complete at least 12 hours of pre-assignment training within the first 21 days of employment. The relevant course type is Pre-assignment Protective Agent, or PPA.
For an employee hired during year one of the licence year, Minnesota DPS says pre-assignment training satisfies the year-one training requirement. The employee still needs six hours of continuing education during year two.
Yes. Armed employees need the six annual continuing-education hours required for all employees plus six additional annual armed-training hours. The armed-training requirement includes an approved first-aid course.
No. Minnesota DPS says continuing education and continuing armed training follow the licence year, not the calendar year or the employee's hire date. Use the licence-year end date shown in the employer's records.
Do not let an automated result decide an exactly three-year gap. This checker flags only gaps over three years for repetition, and an exactly three-year situation should be confirmed with the Minnesota Board.
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