How to Become a Private Investigator

Private investigators and detectives offer many services, including executive, corporate, and celebrity protection; pre-employment verification; and individual background profiles.

As a private detective, you'll investigate computer crimes, such as identity theft, harassing e-mails, and illegal downloading of copyrighted material. You may also provide assistance in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, missing persons cases, and premarital screening.

Training in subjects such as criminal justice and police science is helpful to aspiring private investigators. Most corporate investigators must have a bachelor's degree, preferably in a business-related field. Some corporate investigators have a master's degree in business administration or a law degree, while others are CPAs.

Many private investigators have college degrees plus previous experience in a related field, although some jobs may not require a formal criminal justice education. Some work initially for insurance or collections companies, in the private security industry, or as paralegals. Many investigators enter the field after serving in law enforcement, the military, government auditing and investigative positions, or Federal intelligence jobs.

The following schools offer accredited criminal justice degrees which can help you gain the skills to become an Private Investigator:

Criminal Investigations Associate's

Everest University Online offers the Criminal Investigations Associates Degree in a friendly online environment Students can attend class anytime, anywhere, 24/7. No campus attendance is ever required. full degree description

Advanced Start B.S. in Criminal Justice/Crime Scene Investigation

Learn about the practices and tools used to analyze and measure crime and explore the processes of psychological profiling, crime mapping, and intelligence gathering. full degree description

Bachelor of Science in Economic Crime Investigation

Utica College - This online degree program offers extensive career opportunities to students who have an interest in criminal justice, forensic accounting, fraud auditing and computer science. full degree description

Click here to veiw All Criminal Justice Bachelor Degrees
Explore accredited online criminal justic degree opportunities and request free no obligation information from any that interest you. CJ Degrees

Earnings
Median annual earnings of salaried private detectives and investigators were $32,110 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,080 and $43,260. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,470. Earnings of private detectives and investigators vary greatly by employer, specialty, and geographic area.

Job Outlook
Employment of private detectives and investigators is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. In addition to growth, replacement of those who retire or leave the occupation for other reasons should create many job openings.

Private Investigator Job Board
Point and click your way to an exciting, rewarding career as a Private Investigator- new listings posted daily. Browse the job board by location, then search and apply online.

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