Take a look at some of the questions and answers about becoming a PI

·        What is the job of a private investigator?

Private investigators gather information from record searches and interviews. The information obtained from these efforts provides an investigator details and provides clear evidence to his client by way of documents, photographs and video.

·        Do I have the skills to become an investigator?

If you possess qualities such as detail-oriented, organized, persistent, aggressive and professional then you possess the basic skills needed to begin a career as an investigator.

·        What kind of money can I make as a PI?

On average an intern field investigator can make anywhere from $18.00 to $25.00 per hour and seasoned investigators range from $ 25.00 to $50.00 per hour. Once you become a seasoned investigator, you could eventually manage or own your own agency making up to $150.00 per hour in some areas.

·        What kind of training will I need to be a PI?

In this manual you will learn nearly all you need to secure a job as an intern private investigator. As an intern you will most likely ride with a seasoned investigator who will “show you the ropes” and help you fine tune what you have learned in this manual. You may have heard about schools that teach private investigator courses. Thousands of dollars in cost to attend theses classes are not always beneficial and a possible waste of time and money. In the course of this type of training, usually you are taught a little of everything. In order to be the best of the best, it is my suggestion to concentrate on one specialized field of investigations such as personal injury, criminal or civil investigations at a time.

·        What about private investigator licensing?

In most states you must be at least 18 years old, have no criminal convictions on record and be of sound mind and body. There are approximately eight states that do not require you to have a private investigator license to perform this job. You will need to contact your local state division of licensing department for the information pertaining to the state within which you wish to work. You may also need to contact some of the local and county licensing departments. In the State of Florida an individual obtains his training then applies with an agency to sponsor him as an intern. He then applies for his “CC” license with the state of Florida and can then begin working as an investigator intern for a period of two years. The exception to the two year requirement would be someone with a criminal justice degree or with applicable documented experience in other fields such as law enforcement or in the military. With a criminal justice degree, your internship time frame is minimized to a one-year internship. Following the internship, the investigator then applies for his “C” license which is a fully licensed private investigator.

·        Is this a good career for women?

The answer is YES. When I first started in this industry 20 years ago our office was comprised of only male investigators. As I moved up in rank to a Chief investigator position I interviewed a young female that was very determined to enter into this field. During the interview, I was very convinced that she would be a good candidate for the position. Truth be told, she excelled beyond many of the seasoned investigators due to her determination and methodical methods. I found that her note taking was very detailed, her searches were diligent and she was not perceived as much of a threat to claimants as males were. People feel more relaxed and trusting when talking to females. Since hiring this female my agency was very open to employing female investigators.

 Your goal is to become your own boss owning your own agency and we can help you do that.