If you are considering a P.I. job, here is some insight on what it would take to become a private investigator.
You have seen them on television. A private investigator sitting outside of someone's home all night, conducting surveillance and waiting to see if he or she can catch the person with someone else. After hours of waiting, the private investigator finally gets a break and sees Mrs. X with someone else's Mr. X. The investigator snaps a few pictures, takes a video and writes up a report. After a long night of sitting in their car, the detective heads home. This might seem easy enough to do.
On film, the media makes the life of a private investigator or detective seems exciting and thrilling. The reality is investigators work long hours and have to travel wherever the person is they are watching regardless if it is outside their home, office, at a bar, or at an event. The work can be time consuming and stressful. Another investigator may look at computer activities to check for illegal computer crimes. Some investigators conduct technical surveillance or run background checks. Investigators must always make sure not to do anything illegal or trespass into someone’s home.
Though there is not a set education requirement, many private investigators have some college education and work experience. Law enforcement, military and legal experience is helpful. Corporate private investigators usually have four- year degrees and experience related to the investigation, including legal or law enforcement experience in domestic cases, criminal justice, insurance fraud, accounting fraud, computer investigation, workers’ compensation or forensic science. Loss prevention detectives may need specific training from the store they are working at. If you want to get into a specific investigative field, there are certifications available from community colleges that are background specific such as legal investigation, computer forensics, accident investigation and criminal justice degrees. You can also find a variety of online investigative courses.
Many states require a person to have a private investigator license. You would need to check with your state to see what the requirements are as they differ from state to state. The majority require that the applicant has to be 18 years of age or older, pass a criminal history background check, and be able to get a permit to carry a firearm. Some states also require applicants to pass a specific private investigator test.
Once licensed, a private investigator may get a job as a solo investigator, seek employment with a law firm, a corporate entity, or work with a team of investigators. Due to the negative image that some private investigators have had, the trend now is to refer to them as professional investigators. Investigators do not typically work with government agencies. Investigators make anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on if they work independently or with another company.
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