Requirements: Private Investigator Trainees

[Reginald Tyler -]

What are requirements to work in New Jersey?

[William Brassfield]

What are requirements to work in New Jersey?

Glad you asked.

Check out the Licensing laws forum. There you'll find the laws for all 50 states.

[Brian Cannon--]

Hi

I am here in FL and I would like to know the necessary steps it would take to become a fully licensed PI. Please let me know any thoughts and suggestions you have on this topic. I do know I would need to intern with someone and I am ready to go to work ASAP as well.

Thanks

Brian

[William Brassfield]

Hi

I am here in FL and I would like to know the necessary steps it would take to become a fully licensed PI. Please let me know any thoughts and suggestions you have on this topic. I do know I would need to intern with someone and I am ready to go to work ASAP as well.

Thanks

Brian

Glad you asked.

Check out the Licensing laws forum. There you'll find the laws for all 50 states.

best of luck to you.

[Hyunjin Jang]

I have just completed the fingerprinting and I will be mailing it in ti IPIU very soon. But it also asks for a photo for the id? Do we have to send in the photo now? or can we hold off until a bit later?

[Edward Dixon]

Hyunjin, to receive your photo credentials from IPIU you will need to submit your photo's. Re-read all the information in your packet and submit all that's on your list.

[Karen O'Toole]

I am from Nebraska. After receiving all the information, passing the tests through the union, getting my badge I found out I have to have 3,000 hours of on the training before I can even apply for a license in this state. I'm frustrated as I cannot find any agency in Omaha or law office that will do training. Can you give me and anyone else in the this state advise as to how we can get this mandetory 3,000 hours. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. At this time my frustrations are beyond frustation. I feel I have thrown my money away to get all that I thought I would need. NE I have to be licensed to practice. Thank you. Karen badge#11571

[Michelle Adams]

Anyone know the fax # to fax our tests

[Lynne Knight]

Anyone know the fax # to fax our tests

Hello Michelle ~ This question would be better asked in your introduction thread. The fax & phone numbers, email addresses, etc, are all located here> http://www.ipiu.org/contact.php I hope this helps.

[Daniel Villar -]

I am from Nebraska. After receiving all the information, passing the tests through the union, getting my badge I found out I have to have 3,000 hours of on the training before I can even apply for a license in this state. I'm frustrated as I cannot find any agency in Omaha or law office that will do training. Can you give me and anyone else in the this state advise as to how we can get this mandetory 3,000 hours. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. At this time my frustrations are beyond frustation. I feel I have thrown my money away to get all that I thought I would need. NE I have to be licensed to practice. Thank you. Karen badge#11571

Hello Karen.

Do not be discouraged. The same thing happened to me in NYS, where I need 3 years experience to get my license. Since the only way to get those hours is working, you might apply for an entry level position at any agency in your state. Some of those agencies are willing to hire unexperienced investigators. Any previous experience you might have, will be good for the job (any), so take that into consideration when applying for jobs. Find all the agencies in your area and send them your CV and a letter explaining your goals and your interest about this field. They know you need experience to get your license. I am sure someone will hire you.
I did the same thing and I've already got to go to a few interviews and I will probably be hired soon.
The fact that I became member of the Union helped me a lot (and I haven't even received my credentials yet!). Most of those agencies have heard about IPIU and their reputation, so I don't think you have thrown your money away. Actually, I think you are one more step closer to your goals.

Good luck.
Daniel Villar

[Michelle Adams]

Hi Karen and welcome
Don't get discouraged - In time all will work out for you.
Ohio needs 4000 hours! It takes time to gain knowledge and experience to become the best of the best.

Don't give up!

[Karen O'Toole]

Daniel and Michelle,
Thank you for the encourgement. This is why I look over the different forums. I guess things aren't so bad in NE after all. I have just been looking for assistance through attorney's offices not even thinking of PI agencies. My big mistake. Thank you again.
Karen

[Daniel Villar -]

Daniel and Michelle,
Thank you for the encourgement. This is why I look over the different forums. I guess things aren't so bad in NE after all. I have just been looking for assistance through attorney's offices not even thinking of PI agencies. My big mistake. Thank you again.
Karen

Please, let us know how your career progresses. As I said before, being a member myself has already opened lots of doors for me. Never give up!

[Pedro Santiago -]

I am in the process of exploring the forums and deciding whether or not I want to register in the trainee program.

Meantime, my daughter's fiance', who is a police officer in (and citizen of) Australia, is coming to the U.S. and is interested in the PI training. He is not a U.S. citizen. Can he do the training?

Some criticism: As a former adjunct university professor, journalist, book author, and law graduate, I am finding these forums very scattered and confusing. After weeks of exploring these topics, I still have no clear idea what the best route is for me to take. There are simply too many choices and no clear route to learning. As a professional, honestly, give me my choices on the home page: let me pick which route I want to pursue (with the option to backtrack or go back to the home to select another option) and go from there. The difficulty is not a matter of knowing how to navigate. I'd appreciate one place where my choices are all spelled out.

She can actually become a PI after getting the proper training here at IPIU

Best wishes

Pedro

[Joseph Szkolka -]

This forum started out to be clear, in that I knew what the forum is about and then suddenly it goes scattered all over the board... Am I the only one who finds this frustrating ? It seems to be this way in a few of the forums... Lets help each other out by being consistant !

[John G -]

This forum started out to be clear, in that I knew what the forum is about and then suddenly it goes scattered all over the board... Am I the only one who finds this frustrating ? It seems to be this way in a few of the forums... Lets help each other out by being consistant !

Joseph, I have posted your concern in my moderator journal. Someone more seasoned then I am will answer you shortly.

Sometimes things get "off the wall" here. That happens. There are so few of us that it's hard for us to keep things clear. But your concern has been noted, and will be answered in as timely a manner as possible. Please...be patient. Thank you.

Johnny Ginsberg
(Spare time Moderator)

[Michael Harris]

Joseph Szkolka,

I understand your concern. Getting too far afield is always a problem with any kind of forum. I am in graduate school and our forums are very specific and only for one module (my program is one week per module, but the school of education has two weeks per module). This makes it easier to stay on track. Since the moderators are volunteers (with some of the more experienced ones on leave), it is often hard for them to 'herd cats' the way they would like to.

One thing that might help is for someone to go through the thread documenting questions and answers in a condensed form. Then a moderator or administrator could weed out the non-conforming posts and put them somewhere else (I have seen this done a few times here in the IPIU forums as I may have been one of the offenders).

You might be a good candidate for this task as you have a vested interest in it. I am only a short way into my PhD program in Criminal Justice (a full-time program) and I do not have the time to do it.

[Petra Post -]

This forum started out to be clear, in that I knew what the forum is about and then suddenly it goes scattered all over the board... Am I the only one who finds this frustrating ? It seems to be this way in a few of the forums... Lets help each other out by being consistant !

Joe,

I've seen that you been a part of IPIU since March of this year but I've only seen you post in different areas of the forums 13 times. We've all been a bit lost at first, the more you post and browse the forums, the easier it will get for you. One part of investigations, is to do 'research' and browsing the forums would get you better at that

Yes, we grow bigger and badder by the New York minute and we don't want to 'get rid' of some of the older topics, i.e. post because they all help newcomers to succeed and get their questions answered. I hope this helped you a bit and gives you a new boost to keep going in the forums.

[Michael Harris]

To All:

Petra is correct. We all get lost in the IPIU forums at first (I still do sometimes). If I had done what Petra did--looking at Joe's count, I may have given a different answer.

[Matthew Sage -]

Because I am former Law Enforcement and have all of my POST Certificates as well as all of my certificates from being on the Sheriffs SWAT Team and Gang Enforcement Deputy, can I obtain my credentials now from this organization?

[Kathie Evans]

Hyunjin, to receive your photo credentials from IPIU you will need to submit your photo's. Re-read all the information in your packet and submit all that's on your list.

Hello, I wanted to ask, I was a member in 2004, I was going to College, I did have my Badge and paid my dues etc, done fingerprinting, photo and also a few Piracy Assignments.. Anyways..I am wanting to get started again, do I have to redo the fingerprinting or any tests? Or can I simply just renew and pay fee ta get my badge in which I lost it somwhere. Please help...Thanks!!

[John G -]

Kathie, when you have some time, please call 406-534-0251 and ask for Tim. He'll give you more info.

Thanks.

Johnny

[John G -]

P.S. Please call at 10-10:30 AM EST to Close of Business at about 7 PM EST. Thanks.

[Donna Reagan]

Congratulations to the new members.

Donna

---

Donna Reagan
Licensed Private Investigator
DHS Certified

[Tammy Rowling]

I was wondering if someone can help me with the requirements I would need to become a full licensed PI to go on to have my own investigative business. I have a BS degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice (double major) and Certification in Advanced Crime Analysis, and the American Court System. I was told here in MT I would have to work under another investigator for another 1 1/2 to have all reguired years of training. According to what I was told by MT licensing I had 1 1/2 years credit due to my education. Could anyone help me with the next steps to get going. I currently work a fulltime job in Helena, MT working with Adult Male offenders and would rather get into investigations instead and have my own business in near future. I am assuming it is best to get as much as experience as possible before having a business of my own so any suggestions would be welcomed. This process is all so new to me and I am anxious to get started in quickest way possible.

Thank you,
Tammy Rowling

[Eriberto Maisonave--]

Do, I need to request for a free password account? Even if I’m logged in with current my user name and password.

[Edward Dixon]

Tammy, I see you joined us recently. Welcome. Try to browse as many forums as you have permission to enter. You will find that there are questions that have been answered already in the forums. This will also help you to learn how to get around in the forums. After doing due diligence and you still have trouble finding answers, then go to the bottom of this or the forum page you have a question and use the contact us button provided and ask your question there. The moderator's and administrative staff are the greatest here when it comes to assisting. Try to make sure that your question will relate to the topic of the forum you are in, again you can always use the contact us button for assistance.

- - - Updated - - -

Eriberto, welcome to IPIU. If you do not get an answer to your question in the very near future, refer to my response to Tammy at the top of this forum.

[Dr William Harrison--]

Valuable information...

[Todd Heddleson]

do i need a degree to be a private investigator

[David Copeland]

do i need a degree to be a private investigator

Todd, I answered your question in the following link:

http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthrea...063#post546063

[Michael Harris]

Todd--Welcome to the IPIU forums. Many, if not most, of your questions have been answered. I spent my few months reading as much as I could--that was a few hundred thousand posts ago, but you get my point. Private investigation requires a few things such as, logical thinking, patience, analytic skills, patience, research skills, patience, and did I mention patience. You will need to be able to use the internet and databases for research. Writing reports is a major plus--the current police chief in my town owes his success to his report writing ability. There are many things that you need, but having a college degree is not one of them.

My suggestion to you is that you read a few threads every day--that means starting at the first posting down to the most recent one. after a couple of weeks, you should start posting. Having read the entire thread will prevent you from asking a question that has been asked and answered in that thread.

Good luck and happy reading.

[Marcus Fletcher]

This info was very informative thanks.

[Kenneth Rippy]

How do I get involved in the PI trainee program this looks interesting to me.

[John Sanderson]

How do I get involved in the PI trainee program this looks interesting to me.

Welcome Kennith!

I've answered your question in the link below. Would you please follow me there?
http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthrea...duction-Lounge

Thanks.

[Kenneth Rippy]

What do I need to do to join the PI union and can I join now even though I am employed in law enforcement and can I take the training to eventually become a PI.

[John Sanderson]

What do I need to do to join the PI union and can I join now even though I am employed in law enforcement and can I take the training to eventually become a PI.

Kenneth,

Please follow me to your personal thread for some information suitable to your specific situation.
http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthrea...351#post546351

[Richard Kendrick]

Hey I have a question I just became a paid member so what do I click to access level 4 or whatever level paid members get?

[Ted Menard]

Hello Richard; I can not tell if you have completed your IPIU training yet. If you have completed the training, you will get a message that you can then access the Level 4 information. Until that time, you will not have access to level 4. Your access level increases as your training levels increase.

[John Sanderson]

Hey I have a question I just became a paid member so what do I click to access level 4 or whatever level paid members get?

Hello Rick,

Please follow me to your introduction thread. I've answered your question there.
http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthrea...chard-Kendrick

[Stuart Smith -]

Hi, thanks for sharing http://www.ipiu.org/forums/showthrea...-%28Revised%29

I have gone through there.

Even the Q/As sound good.