| Becoming a private investigator is an option | | | | licensing remains a non issue. A check online |
| more and more people are turning to today and | | | | for your particular states licence |
| while it's a profession that in the past may | | | | authorities will answer whether it's a |
| have contained a little of the "shady" | | | | requirement in your case. As far as training |
| element, today, the private investigation | | | | is concerned, no you don't need any formal |
| business offers career opportunities to those | | | | training but in all honesty, if you are |
| seeking something a little out of the norm. | | | | completely new to this business then it would |
| | | | make good sense to get some type of formal |
| First of all, disseminating the difference | | | | education related to the P.I. business "under |
| between private investigator and private | | | | your belt." In turn, having some educational |
| detective is vitally important. Each state in | | | | experience either from a live class situation |
| the US has different laws regarding the use | | | | or from a correspondence course will give you |
| of either moniker and examining it a little | | | | an advantage over an applicant with no |
| more closely, there is a subtle difference. | | | | training at all when applying for your first |
| It seems in some states, the use of the word | | | | position. |
| detective is a little precious with the | | | | |
| ability of people to get the two terms | | | | At the other end of the scale, former law |
| confused highly likely. Police detective and | | | | enforcement detectives are being attracted to |
| private detective are two different | | | | the private investigation business because of |
| occupations and this is where the confusion | | | | their specialized training. In their case, |
| comes in. | | | | then extra training would not necessarily be |
| | | | advantageous. But don't get the idea that |
| Did You Know? | | | | they will have any great advantage over you |
| | | | when chasing a job. |
| In several states, the use of the term | | | | |
| private investigator is preferred by the | | | | Getting My First P.I.Job |
| professions licensing authorities over the | | | | |
| term private detective and in fact, in some | | | | Obviously, running ones own private |
| instances, using the latter has been | | | | investigation business will be the ultimate |
| challenged with legal steps being put into | | | | aim of many people getting into this area of |
| place to prevent it's use. | | | | work. Whether you are self-employed or have |
| | | | grand visions of setting up a major company |
| So what are your first impressions of | | | | with many employees, the bottom line is |
| becoming a private investigator? Many people | | | | earning a good and comfortable income from |
| could be excused for thinking along the lines | | | | what you do. Be careful not to jump into |
| of a Philip Marlowe type character but the | | | | anything major from the start. Get some |
| simple fact is, it's a career choice that can | | | | experience. Get hired by an agency and "learn |
| offer many benefits and rewards. Starting out | | | | the ropes." Take it from some of the best |
| requires a little due diligence but once you | | | | private investigators in the business; |
| get over the initial steps then it's onwards | | | | experience counts for a lot and you could set |
| to a life in the P.I. business. | | | | yourself up for a big fall if you attempt to |
| | | | "put the cart before the horse" too early. |
| Where Do You Start? | | | | |
| | | | On the job training will give you a clearer |
| Licence requirements are compulsory in most | | | | insight into what is required to run a |
| states however, there are still a few where | | | | successful business. |