Who is a Professional Investigator and Your Guide to Becoming One

Have you always been fascinated by detective movies, and is Sherlock Holmes your biggest inspiration? If you think being a professional investigator is anywhere near what you see in the movies, you are terribly mistaken. These movies are nothing more than fiction, and reality is far from that.

The key responsibility of a professional investigator is to perform undercover investigations, surveillance activities, documenting the results of investigations, and interviewing people. This is exactly what Sherlock Holmes did. But what separates these fictional characters from a professional investigators is that the latter is licensed to practice in the state in which they work. So having strong analytical skills and observational power cannot suffice if you want to pursue a career as a professional investigator.

Where do Professional Investigators Work?

The expertise of a skilled investigator is utilized in many areas, including computer forensics services, criminal investigation services, personal investigations, and missing person services. Some professional investigators also streamline their careers to work in specialized fields, recognized by the United States Association of Professional Investigators. These include criminology and behavioral sciences, insurance investigation, terrorism, and intelligence.

Professional investigators also work in more general capacities like performing background checks, conducting marital investigations, and finding missing persons.

How to Become a Professional Investigator?

To pursue a career as an investigator, the primary prerequisite is to have a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. This is because most employees look for professionals who have a background in law enforcement or criminal justice.

Today, 43 states in the US require a professional investigator to have a state license. So to get a liscene, you must get investigative training, and it is only upon its completion you can earn a certificate from your state of residence. The procedure of earning a license varies from state to state. Some states require passing a state jurisprudence examination prior to becoming licensed, while others demand the completion of continuing education during every license renewal period.

There are plenty of online private investigation training courses available to help you learn the foundations of investigating.

Becoming a professional investigator is not about adorning flappy coats and a hat but gaining considerable work experience and having extensive knowledge about the field. If you want to get investigation training online, check out Investigation Education Consultants.