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