If you love to research and be in the middle of excitement, you may be wondering how do I become a private investigator. The fact is that a career as a PI can take a lot of work, but it is well worth the efforts you will need to put forth.
When you become a private investigator, each day is going to be completely different from one day to the next. One day, you may be investigating a crime; the next day could be spent following someone to find out if they are cheating on their spouse. However, a PI career is not all excitement. There may be times you are on a stake out that will last for hours and you will have to sit in one spot the whole time you are investigating. As long as you can deal with the sedentary times, a career in this field can provide you with a lot of benefits.
The majority of states will require you to have a license before you can become a private investigator. In order to obtain a PI license, you must have a clean background and have no felonies on your record. Experience is also a must for most states, and this can usually be obtained by interning with a licensed agency. Many states will also consider experience in law enforcement as relevant for a career as a PI. It may also be required that you pass a state examination to qualify for a license.
To become fully educated in this field, it is strongly recommended that you enlist in a training course specific to the field. There are several detective training programs available that will teach the ins and outs of managing a career as a private investigator. From teaching you how to conduct basic surveillance to locate missing people, these programs are well worth the investment and will help to advance your career as a PI. While most states do not require this particular type of educational requirement, it is highly recommended, especially for those individuals who have little or no hands-on experience.
When you become a private investigator, you should expect to earn a salary of more than $40,000. As you first start out in your career, you should expect the number to be on the lower side. Experience will only help you to increase your salary. In fact, many of the more experienced investigators may earn a triple-digit salary. However, these numbers cannot be expected when first starting out. Many often start out by working for other agencies, doing a wide variety of jobs, from investigating insurance fraud to simple surveillance jobs. As you become more experienced, you will have more options, including going out on your own and starting your own investigation business. The important thing to remember is that you must be licensed in order to legally work as a private investigator, and the contacts you make in your career can help you to build your future in the business.