Licensed Private DetectiveA licensed private detective is an investigation professional who offers a plethora of specialized services to potential clients. Private investigation is typically a well regulated industry, with local, state and federal governmental criteria which must be met in order to possess a valid private investigator license.
Many areas do not require specialized formal educational requirements for licensing professional investigators. Of course, comprehensive
training
and a college degree are always advantageous to have, as they create an extensive educational background and generally offer valuable life skills to graduates. However, some states and countries do regulate investigators by forcing them to complete internships with
licensed private investigators.
This on-the-job training insures that junior investigators will grow in their knowledge and abilities before being eligible for licensing as independent professionals. Many states require additional educational requirements, such as specific course completion, a certificate or other proof of training for some specific types of licenses, such as
bounty hunter,
process server
or notary public.
Although every state has its own unique requirements for licensing private investigators (except South Dakota, Alabama, Idaho, Colorado, Mississippi, Missouri and Alaska, which do not offer licenses at all…), most necessitate
insurance
coverage and a
surety bond
in order to hold an investigator’s license. Some states also require a clean criminal record or other personal criteria, such as fingerprinting. Many foreign countries have similar licensing requirements, while other countries have no special criteria which must be met in order to work as a private detective. Be careful when considering work abroad, since private investigation is illegal in some areas of the world and may carry stiff legal penalties…
Licensed Private Detective AdviceI like the idea of a more formalized licensing structure and commend states, like California, which have raised the bar for license holders. This prevents much of the fraud and abuses which can occur within the investigation arts. I always advise any client seeking to hire a private investigator to require proof of licensing from any detective they are considering for the assignment. If no licensing requirements exist in your geographic area, then at least make sure that your investigator has a good reputation, checkable recommendations from credible sources and enough experience to guarantee good results. If at all possible, check to see if they have any criminal record or a history of past complaints with the local Better Business Bureau or equivalent consumer protection association.Licensed Private Detective to Private Investigator |
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