| In this article about private investigators | | | | required. The requirements for licensing |
| we're going to discuss the training that's | | | | vary from state to state but seven states, |
| required as well as other | | | | Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, |
| qualifications.Unlike most other jobs there | | | | Mississippi, Missouri, and South Dakota, have |
| are no formal requirements for education to | | | | no licensing requirements. Some states have |
| get a job as a private investigator. In | | | | very few requirements. Many states however, |
| spite of this, many private investigators do | | | | have very strict requirements and it is very |
| have college degrees. Most private | | | | difficult in those states to get a private |
| detectives and investigators do have some | | | | investigator's license. A number of states |
| kind of related experience in another | | | | now have mandatory training programs. For |
| profession such as in law enforcement. Some | | | | example, in California a person must be 18 |
| may have worked for insurance companies, | | | | years old, must be educated in criminal law, |
| collection agencies, in private security or | | | | police science and justice, and have a |
| even as paralegals. Some may have served in | | | | minimum of 6,000 hours of investigation |
| some sort of government position such as a | | | | experience. Then on top of all of that they |
| federal intelligence job with the FBI or the | | | | have to pass a criminal history background |
| CIA. Many private investigators may have | | | | check by the California Department of Justice |
| even served in the military where many skills | | | | and the FBI. They then must take a 2 hour |
| are taught that come in quite handy when | | | | exam and pass with a minimum score. Then if |
| tackling the job of a detective.What is very | | | | they want to get a gun permit there are |
| common is for people who work in the public | | | | additional requirements for that as well.Then |
| sector, who are able to retire after 25 years | | | | to get hired, many firms look for people with |
| of service, to become private investigators. | | | | certain characteristics such as ingenuity, |
| These people are usually still relatively | | | | persistence, and assertiveness. Job |
| young, in their mid 40's, and find it hard to | | | | applicants can't be afraid of confrontation, |
| retire at that age. Those who have been | | | | should be able to communicate well and be |
| exposed to jobs that would assist them in | | | | able to think on their feet. They also need |
| becoming investigators find it an easy | | | | good interrogation and interviewing skills. |
| transition to go from the one job to the | | | | A good investigator also must be able to |
| other. For these people it is like starting | | | | present the facts in a detailed, organized |
| life all over and many of them find it quite | | | | manner as many times they will be called on |
| exciting and fulfilling. Some even go back | | | | to testify in court.In our next article we'll |
| to college to get additional training in | | | | cover where private investigators get their |
| order to be better prepared for an | | | | training, how they go about getting |
| investigator's job.In the United States, most | | | | employment, what the job outlook is for new |
| states require private investigators to be | | | | investigators and what investigators can |
| licensed even though no formal training is | | | | expect to earn. |