While the reality of being a private investigator may not be quite so glamorous and exciting as it looks in fictionalized accounts, it is still a profitable, and necessary, job.
Becoming a private investigator means that you will be able to likely earn a decent living. After all, private investigators, who do not necessarily have to have college degrees, make a decent wage and do so while carrying out an enjoyable job that does not keep them chained behind a desk.
So, if you decide that you have an interest in becoming a private investigator, how do you go about accomplishing that goal? Well, the process is fairly simple, although it may change depending on where you live and work.
Here is how to become a PI, also known as a private investigator.
Understand The Local Private Investigator Requirements
The first big task of becoming a private investigator is to understand the local requirements. Some cities, states, etc. require that you have certain education under your belt. Others require that you work under a licensed Private Investigator for a certain amount of time.
Understanding what you might need to enter the profession can vary, but is important. This can range from almost no requirements to requiring classes from the local police academy in order to do things like perform surveillance or legally carry a handgun.
Understand Local Laws
While you’re learning about local requirements, it’s in your best interest to spend some time learning about the local laws and how they will impact your line of work.
For example, what are regulations concerning video surveillance?
Understanding the local laws is also very important regarding evidence collection and understanding what evidence is admissible in court.
Decide What Kind of PI You Want To Be
When it comes to private investigation, you have choices:
- Do you want to work surveillance jobs, helping to catch unfaithful spouses, workers compensation hoaxers, or help to find missing persons?
- Are you interested in trial work, working with law firms to acquire information and present it to juries?
- Do you want to work to recover deleted emails and files on computers, hoping to find evidence that a suspect thought they deleted?
- Do you want to investigate accounting crimes, like embezzlement and fraud?
There are many ways to help your community as a private investigator. Figuring out the one best suited to your particular set of skills (which you may or may not honed over many years) is a good way to make sure your work is profitable.
Receive PI Training
This is not necessarily something you will have to do, but if there are gaps in your knowledge, training is a good idea.
If you’re hired by a private investigations firm, they will likely tell you what you need to learn. If you decide to start your own firm, you should spend as much time receiving training as you can.
Gaining a solid understanding of all the fundamentals involved in this line of work could give you the competitive edge when searching for work. It shows potential employers/clients that you have done your research and are knowledgeable in the field.
Get a Private Investigator License (Where Required)
In states that require a license to be a private investigator, it is in your best interest to earn one as soon as you can. You may be able to work as a PI for a company run by a licensed PI without having your own license, but if you want to be able to find other work, or to be able to run your own PI business, you will have to get your own license.
Understanding Both Legal and Ethical Considerations
Private investigators often walk a tightrope, having to do things that may be unethical to some, but that should not be illegal. If you become a private investigator, you are NOT above the law. Quite the opposite; the things you do may often receive extreme scrutiny.
You must seek to understand how to do your job, but do it without breaking laws. This means understanding laws as they now exist, but also keeping an eye on the PI laws as they change.
A life as a private detective can be interesting and profitable. However, it is important that you understand what the job will entail before setting off on a life as a PI.
How To Become A Private Investigator With No Experience
If you want to know how to become a PI but have no previous experience, you can still work at a private investigative firm. However, getting a job could be difficult. Thankfully, most private investigation firms will hire a small number of workers with no previous experience. For these entry-level positions, all you need to get a job is a high school diploma.
Depending on where you live, you might not be able to become a fully licensed PI until you take classes, earn a degree, or pass a local licensing exam.
If you want to strengthen your job application for work in a PI office, you can take coursework at a police academy or community college, work as a private security guard, or become a bodyguard.
Furthermore, any previous experience with surveillance of any kind will make you a more desirable candidate for work at a PI firm. All of these workplaces are good ways to gain preliminary experience PI firms look for when considering applicants. This previous experience is what will set your application ahead of other candidates.
Skills Needed When Learning How to Become a PI
To be successful as a private investigator, you need a varied range of skills and traits. These include experience with practical tasks such as public surveillance, running background checks, and searching public records. However, there are other valuable qualities that contribute to effectiveness in this field.
Patience
When getting started as a private investigator, you may be eager to swiftly solve cases and provide clients with answers. However, the reality is that investigations are not always straightforward, and finding conclusive evidence can take longer than anticipated.
To get an idea of how long it can take to investigate, let’s consider a surveillance job. This task alone requires several days of observing the subject and gathering information about their activities. Therefore, patience is an essential quality to be successful in this field. Diligence and timing are key to becoming a great private investigator.
Clear Communication
Effective communication is a crucial skill for private investigators. Throughout their career, they engage in several interviews, cooperate with outside agencies like police or insurance providers, and present findings in court. Thus, strong verbal skills are necessary to ask direct questions and actively listen during these interactions. They may even have to write up case reports depending on what they are investigating.
In addition, PIs must display empathy and consideration toward individuals facing challenging circumstances. For example, many private investigators may take up surveillance on a cheating spouse or even investigate missing persons cases. These situations greatly affect the personal lives of the people hiring the PI, so they require extra care.
Legal Knowledge
Having a solid understanding of different laws is vital for private investigators. Private investigators must familiarize themselves with specific legal boundaries and constraints to avoid any infringement on criminal or privacy laws.
For example, most PIs cannot make arrests or collect certain types of evidence. Therefore, maintaining a thorough knowledge of the relevant federal, state, and local laws is essential to ensuring you act ethically.
Organization
While some private investigators may only work on one case at a time, most do not. This means that being able to organize evidence in a logical, legal way while also prioritizing your time is essential to the job.
Some investigations may require more time than others, and you may need to decide if you have enough time to take on more work. Thus, understanding how to manage your time and schedule is crucial.
Technological Literacy
Private investigators often rely on tracking software and other online resources. This means they should possess a working knowledge of computer forensic software systems and tools. Whether it’s GPS or voice analysis software, technology plays a major role in many investigations.
For example, many PIs use a variety of cameras during surveillance or may even use specialized equipment like drones. While not every private investigator job has the same requirements, almost all of them end up using some kind of technology for their operations.
Day-to-Day Work as a Private Investigator
Once you become a private investigator, no two days on the job are the same. Some days are used for surveillance while others are spent researching for cases you are assigned. As a PI, you are mainly investigating court cases, so you need to know the laws in your area regarding evidence collection. The more you know about law enforcement, the better you will be at your job as a PI.
Frequently Asked Questions on Becoming a PI
Over the course of your own research on how to become a PI, you may have even more questions than when you began. After all, private investigation has a lot of different requirements depending on where you live. However, we’re here to help. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about how to become a private investigator and some background on the process.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Private Investigator?
When considering a job as a PI, applicants often wonder, how long does it take to become a private investigator?
Typically it can take anywhere from 6 months to 4 years to become a fully licensed PI. Taking PI coursework does not necessarily equate to having a higher education degree.
Some of the various requirements to become a PI can include:
- Coursework,
- An apprenticeship program,
- Required number of hours in the field, and
- A licensing test.
Your location will determine the rules for how to become a PI in that area. Luckily, in some areas, you will be able to complete a few of these requirements simultaneously.
Do You Need a Degree to Become a PI?
You do not necessarily need a degree to become a PI.
However, you will greatly improve your job prospects by having a degree in fields like criminal justice, behavioral science, or criminal analysis.
Generally, any field of study related to the criminal process will aid you in becoming a PI. You can also get a job as a PI by completing a training or certification course. Often, PI firms will pay for their employee’s training to keep everyone up to date on current best practices.
Are Private Investigators Paid Well?
Private investigator pay completely depends on several factors, including the industry you are employed in, the years of experience you have, and your location. That being said, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average salary for private investigators is $59,400 as of May 2022. However, the median salary was $52,120, which means that half of private investigators earned more than that amount, while the other half earned less.
In addition, data shows that private investigators who work for government agencies or in high-demand areas such as cities typically earn higher wages. Those with advanced skills and expertise in specialized areas such as financial investigations seem to make the most, topping out at an average salary of $106,700.
What Is the Job Outlook for Private Investigators?
Information from the BLS suggests that private investigator opportunities are expected to grow fairly well. According to the most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook, PI jobs should increase by 6% between 2021 and 2031. That is an additional 2,100 job openings over the next decade. This is slightly faster than the national average growth rate for all occupations, which is 5%.
Are Many Private Investigators Self-Employed?
There are no official estimates from the BLS regarding self-employed private investigators. However, many sources provide widely ranging estimates, from 6-25%. However, it’s safe to assume that most private investigators are not self-employed based on BLS data.
Enroll in a Private Investigator Class Today
There are courses online and at some local schools that will help better equip you to start such a career. There are also online courses, such as those as Stratford Career Institute offers, that can help you to prepare for an interesting new career.
It may not be the life of a Dick Tracy or the hardboiled detectives of old, but PI’s provide a very real and necessary service.
Check out our online private investigator course today!
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