How to Become a Private Investigator
If you're thinking about becoming a private investigator, you need to be aware of laws and rules that regulate the profession as well as make sure you have the skills required to be successful. The following five steps will have you on your way to becoming a professional PI.
1) Research state licensing requirements - The first thing you need to find out is if your state requires you to have a private investigator license. There are only a handful of states that do not require private investigators to have a license.
If your state does require you to obtain a license in order to become a private investigator, you must ensure that you meet the prerequisites needed before applying. Keep in mind that some states offer different types of licenses for not only individual private investigators but also interns, investigative agency managers, investigative agencies, and private investigative agency branch offices. Florida, for example, provides for these various types of licenses. If you are going to be working in one of these capacities, as opposed to working as a self-employed private investigator, you will still need to obtain a private investigator license.
To find these requirements, you must locate the government body in your state that regulates the profession. Regulating bodies vary from state to state, but they usually include departments of public safety, departments of consumer affairs, licensing boards, state police, and city and county governments.
While states' regulations vary for someone applying for a private investigator license, the following requirements are mandatory under most states' rules:
- A minimum age requirement ranging from 18-25 years old
- A requirement of U.S. citizenship or legal residency
- A minimum number of years of investigative or security work experience ranging from 2-5 years
- A minimum education requirement of at least a high school diploma or a 4-year degree in criminal justice or other related field of study
- The passing of a written exam
In addition, some states require the following for applicants:
- No prior felony convictions
- No dishonorable discharge from military service
- No mental defect or incompetence
- No alcohol or drug addiction
2) Get your license (if required) - This step is fairly self-explanatory. Once you have conducted your research to find out your state’s licensing requirements, you will have to take any required exams and prove your experience and other qualifications.
3) Get a business license and other necessary credentials - Keep in mind that even if you live in a state that doesn’t require licensing, cities and counties in these states require a business license and may regulate the profession in other ways. So if you live in one of these states, you will need to make sure you obtain the proper business license.
4) Join a PI practice or start your own - Whether you work as an independent investigator or join an established private investigator firm is your decision. There are pros and cons to each option, which you will have to weigh. Examples of factors to consider include the business savvy it takes to run a company, start-up costs and the benefits of working with other experienced investigators.
5) Once you obtain your license, keep your license - In order to keep your license and ensure that you are operating completely within the law, you must remain educated and informed. These steps will help you to stay in good standing as a private investigator:
- Join an association - Becoming a member of a state and/or national association will put you in touch with experienced investigators with whom you can network, share industry knowledge and discuss current legislation news. Associations are also great sources of continuing education credits, which you may need as part of your licensing requirements.
- Know the laws in your state - You must also observe all laws that pertain to your profession, including surveillanceand firearm laws. Even after you obtain your private investigator's license, you could lose it if you do any of the following:
- Carry a firearm without the required state license
- Impersonate a law enforcement officer
- Commit fraud, deceit, or misconduct during your investigations
- Know the laws in other states - If you need to conduct an investigation in another state, you must find out if you will need to obtain a private investigator's license in that state. In some states, "reciprocity agreements" are recognized between states. These agreements allow a private investigator to conduct an investigation in another state without having to obtain a license in that state. You will need to check with your state and the state you wish to conduct an investigation in to find out if a reciprocity agreement exists.
- Operate ethically at all times - You must remember to always be honest and ethical in your investigative work. That includes being honest with your clients and anyone else you must work with or seek information from.
Conclusion
Becoming a private investigator can be the beginning of a long and fascinating career. In order to keep the word “professional” in front of your title of private investigator, you’ll need to make an ongoing commitment to improving knowledge and following the rules.
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