The FSPD is the oldest professional association for private detectives in Switzerland. It was founded in Zurich in 1952 under the name of the Association of Swiss Private Investigators (VSP) and received its current name in 1970.

Together with the Bund Deutscher Detektive (BDD) and the Austrian Detective Association (ÖDV), the FSPD is a founding member of the International Commission of Private Investigators (IKD), which was founded in 1964 and acts as the umbrella organisation of the European professional associations.

As early as 1952 it was a declared aim of the FSPD founding members to raise the quality standard in this non-regulated profession. These minimum standards are still valid today.

In 1992, the FSPD also introduced a written examination, the successful completion of which is one of the requirements for admission as an active member.