How to Become a Licensed Private Investigator Online

Many options exist for students wishing to become a private investigator, including online courses and programs in private investigation and on-campus programs in police science and criminal justice. Although students cannot become licensed online, they can take advantage of licensing exam prep courses available online and on campus.

How Do I Become a Licensed Private Investigator Online?

Training

While you can't become a licensed private investigator online, there are a number of avenues to take, including online private investigation courses and programs and on-campus courses and degree programs in private investigation, criminal justice or police science. Private investigation courses and programs include certificates, license exam prep courses and basic training courses. Topics of study include investigation and interview techniques, information gathering, state and federal laws, crime scenes, surveillance and undercover work.
License exam prep courses focus on subjects such as gathering and using information and basic investigative techniques. These courses prepare students to take the licensing exam and are often required in order to obtain a license in the state in which the student resides.
Criminal justice and police science degree programs often offer courses in private investigation and provide the background necessary for a career as a private investigator. General course topics include introduction to private investigation, criminal investigation, the U.S. criminal justice system, statistics, research methods and criminology.

Licensure

Most states require private investigators to be licensed. Only seven states do not have statewide licensing requirements. These states include Mississippi, Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, Alabama, Idaho and South Dakota. For those states that do have licensing requirements, those requirements vary from state to state. Many states require private investigators to be at least 18 years old, drug and alcohol free, have a combination of education and work experience, pass a criminal background check and pass a written examination.

Salary Information and Job Outlook

As noted by PayScale.com, the median salary for private investigators varies by how many years an individual has been on the job. Median salaries in 2010 by years of experience include:

• Less than one year $28,091-$38,000
• 1-4 years $30,039-$44,198
• 5-9 years $34,849-$56,839
• 10-19 years $41,202-$68,438
• 20 or more years $38,794-$75,834

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private investigators can expect a 22% employment growth between 2008-2018 (www.bls.gov). This growth will be attributed to increased security concerns and the desire to protect property and private information.