How to Become a PI
If you think you'd like staying up for hours on end keeping an eye on unfaithful spouses, digging into insurance fraud, and solving other intriguing mysteries, you just might want to explore becoming a private investigator. If you're good at gathering clues and finding crucial information discreetly, a decent training course and some textbooks will point you in the right direction.
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Instructions
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First you need to find out what the Private Investigator requirements are in your state, country or general locality. Certain states in the U.S. don't require a license specifically for private investigations. You will still need a business license though. Every state is different, and some have other legal requirements like proof of comprehensive training or certifications. Multiple states additionally require you to pass a test to get your private investigator license. If you plan to run your business in more than one state or locale, you may want to consider getting licensed in all states and areas where you foresee yourself having to operate.
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Brush up on your legal knowledge if you don't already have a law enforcement background as many private investigators typically do. You may be doing a great deal of work for legal professionals who would rather just push the paperwork and appear in court, leaving you to dig up the real dirt of a case. Know civil and criminal law, especially in relation to the divorce court system and evidence-gathering constraints in criminal and civil cases in your area. It is not uncommon for private investigators to have law degrees, but this is not usually a requirement. A bachelor's degree can often be enough and is sometimes more than enough.
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Training to be a private investigator can be done to a certain degree with books and courses. Check your local colleges and search online for home courses and books on the subject if you want to teach yourself. Still, it always helps to have actual experience solving mysteries or crimes. Start by getting involved somehow in assisting a real legal case, or find some other way to immerse yourself in some of the actual work of a private investigator. Previous police or military work in the field of criminal justice or investigative operations would be a perfect prerequisite to getting licensed as a PI.
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If you are a true do-it-yourself type of person, go to Beaprivateeye.com and learn how to get your own agency going. The course offerings will also allow you to learn how to land a private investigator job if you're not bold enough to forge your own path. While this is not the only site or course offering out there, it's one of the most popular and easiest sites to relate to on the subject.
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Specialization in a particular field like computer forensics might increase your odds of being needed for real world investigation work. If you are classically trained in business and finance, you may want to concentrate your studies and your job hunt for corporate and/or financial investigation work. Multitasking is a given in PI circles, but there are some things that the average private investigator will not want to spend too much time trying to figure out. Even the most analytical and multi-talented private investigators might not know everything there is to possibly know about hiding information on a computer that might be crucial to a case. He or she will use a specialist to uncover encrypted information and data every time because becoming an expert in that field could take years of schooling. On the other hand, becoming a private investigator could be done in your spare time with the right approach.
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Let the professionals handle your development. The easiest way to get licensed and/or certified is to be hired by a licensed investigative agency. Employees of these agencies must be properly registered with the state licensing authority. You'll be a full-fledged, 100-percent legal private investigator as soon as you are registered with the state and/or city.
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Tips & Warnings
When seeking PI training online, avoid sloppy-looking websites that promise too much. The more professional the site's layout appears, the better chance of the company having a good budget. This means they typically have enough to spend on making sure the product is worth buying. If there are email contacts for the teachers, ask questions before you buy. Shop around. There are multiple online resources to find out what your state requires and where to get all-inclusive PI training.
