Are you inquisitive and logical, and do you have a keen eye for detail? Take the next step in your career with our online private investigator course.
Our flexible training programme is ideal for those who want to become a PI, those already working in a related area of law and justice and those who wish to carry out their own personal private investigations rather than hiring a PI. They are also designed for those looking to advance their skills in a range of other professions, from fraud prevention to journalism.
Explore our course breakdown below or enrol now to get started.
Course Outline
When you enrol on our private investigator course, you’ll be taught the tricks of the trade and discover what normally takes years of on-the-job experience to learn.
You will complete the following units of study:
1 Criminal Psychology - Comprehending Crimes through Psychology
2 Locating People / Factual Inquires - How to Locate and Track People Down
3 Starting an Investigation - Assessing the Matter
- The Complainant
- Objectives
- Investigation Plan
4 Obtaining Results - Consulting Experts
- Examinations
- Surveillance
- Scene Inspection
5 Tracing Missing Persons - Why People Disappear?
- Tracing Methodologies
6 Matrimonial and Domestic Cases - Means Reporting
- Child Care and Custody Matters
- Adoption Enquiries
- Peace of Mind Reports
7 Counter-Espionage & Counter-Surveillance - Detecting Surveillance
- Methods of Surveillance
- Team Surveillance Techniques
- De-bugging
8 Commercial Espionage - Areas of Vulnerability
- Classification
- Handling, Storage, Disposal Procedures
- Clean Desk Policy
- Access Limitation
- Electronic Surveillance Countermeasures
- Computer Security & Hacking
9 Statement Taking and Reporting - Report Writing
- Statement Taking
- Interviewing Witnesses
10 How to Investigate Different Cases - Personal Injury Cases
- Malpractice Suits
- Investigating Workers Compensation & Insurance
11 Fraud Cases - Investigating Theft Cases
- Investigating Collections & Repossession Cases
- Investigation Missing Persons Case
- Skip Tracing & Public Record Searches
- Pre-texting for Information
- How to Spot a Bug or Wiretap
12 Surveillance - Stationary Surveillance
- Moving Surveillance
- Pre-texts and Cover Stories
- Preparation & Techniques
13 Carrying Out Search of the Public Record - Searching the Public Record
14 Operating a Private Investigation Business - Finding Clients
- Getting Paid
- Price Strategy
- Contracts
- Marketing
How Will You Benefit?
There are many benefits associated with our private investigator training. For example, you will:
- Expedite your career as a private investigator
- Study a course that has been developed in consultation with senior members of the PI profession
- Learn at your own pace, allowing you to fit your PI training around your existing commitments
- Have access to your own personal tutor
- Save time and money by learning remotely rather than in-person
- Pay upfront for a 10% reduction in your course fee, or sign up to our interest-free weekly payment plan
Start reaping the benefits by enrolling on our private investigator course today!
Career Prospects
Successfully completing our private investigator course can open up many career opportunities. As a PI graduate, you could offer services in areas such as:
- Family law
- Unfaithful spouses
- Harassment and stalking
- Insurance
- Asset tracing
- Intellectual property
- Service of documents
- Due diligence
- Identity vetting
- Personnel screening
- Theft
- Fraud
- Kidnap / ransom / extortion
- Missing persons
- Malicious damage
- Hidden camera and bug detection
- Surveillance and counter-surveillance
- Addictions
You may work for a range of public and private organisations, including:
- Government agencies
- Councils
- Insurance companies
- Banks, building societies and credit unions
- Solicitors and barristers
- Private citizens
You can decide whether to seek work with an existing organisation or set up your own PI business.
Private Investigator Licensing & Regulations:
The regulation of private investigators varies from each state, territory and country. Even if your state or country does not require a specific amount of training, you will still need training in order to obtain the necessary skills to run your own investigations, get hired or start your own agency.
The ICI Private Investigations course is NOT designed to fulfil the licensing requirements of any particular state or country’s jurisdiction.
Depending on your location you may be required to be licensed to provide private investigation (PI) services for a fee or to be employed as a PI. In NSW, QLD, Victoria, Tasmania, SA and WA it is required that a “Cert III” be completed as a pre-condition of being licensed as a private investigator. However, residents of the ACT and the Northern Territory have no set training requirements to qualify to work as a private investigator. The United Kingdom does not require private investigators to be registered or hold any qualifications while in the United States almost no states require educational qualifications to register as a PI.
Related professions that can benefit from PI training
Our PI course provides you with a wide range of transferable skills that are highly valued in other professions too. For example, it can benefit people working as:
- Auditors / forensic accountants
- Corruption investigators
- Counsellors / psychologists
- Customs officers
- Complaints officers
- Corrective service officers
- Council compliance officers (eg rangers)
- Covert surveillance team members
- Criminal investigators
- Detectives
- Debt collectors
- Environmental protection officers
- Forensic specialists
- Fraud prevention officers
- Genealogists / family historians
- Investigation managers / supervisors
- Insurance claims assessment officers
- Interviewers
- Journalists
- Ombudsman / consumer affairs staff
- Parks and wildlife officers
- Professional standards officers
- Police officers
- Policy development officers
- Quarantine inspectors
- Research officers
- Security officers
- Tertiary and school education managers
- Legal professionals (lawyers, solicitors, barristers) and paralegals
- Workplace health and safety inspectors
Completing our private investigator course will give you a competitive advantage over others in your field, helping you to advance your career.
Course Levels Explained
Diploma
This course leads to the awarding of an Diploma. This qualification recognises the graduate’s capacity for initiative and judgement across a broad range of technical and management functions. Diploma holders typically have personal responsibility and autonomy in performing technical operations or organizing others in the workplace.
Prerequisites
There are NO previous work or education requirements for entry onto this course.
So if you want to take your career to the next level, simply register for our PI training programme today.
Course Length
Students take an average of:
DIPLOMA LEVEL 31 WEEKS Our private investigator course allows you to study at your own pace. There are no assignment deadlines. This means you determine how quickly you complete the learning programme.
If you wish to finish as soon as possible, you can fast track your studies and graduate in a matter of months. If you would prefer to take longer, we allow up to three years to finish the course.
Study Mode: Online Learning
Our private investigator course is carried out entirely online via distance learning, also known as correspondence learning. This approach puts you in the driving seat. It allows you to fit your studies around any commitments you may have, such as work or family, and it means you are not locked into a timetable.
With access to your own personal tutor who will answer your questions and provide guidance, you can learn and submit assignments whenever you wish. You can also complete your studies wherever you are in the world, and there is no need to factor in time and travel costs to attend lessons in person.
Like all of our courses, it is designed to be highly relevant and engaging, making the learning process stimulating and rewarding.
Recognition & Accreditation
Our private investigator course is recognised and accredited by the International Association of Private Career Colleges (IAPCC) and the International Approval and Registration Centre (IARC). ICI courses are not AQF qualifications. ICI is an independent global awarding body that develops and administers career-related curriculum and training programs. When you graduate from an ICI training program you join ICI graduates in over 150 countries around the world.The learning programme goes far beyond the theory of being a PI. Written and delivered by experienced industry professionals, it provides key practical information and insights that will enable you to thrive in your career.
Already in the Profession or Industry?
Already working as a private investigator or in a related profession? This course is for you. It will help you to reinforce and update your knowledge and skills in this fast-paced, competitive and challenging field. As well as providing you with added confidence, it will further your professional development and make it easier to secure new roles and promotions.
You can claim the fees for our PI course as a tax deduction as long as the learning programme is sufficiently connected to your work activities.
What Do I Get?
All the materials you need to complete our private investigator course are included in the course fee. Once you enrol, you will receive:
- All required study materials and course notes
- Assignment projects with constructive tutor feedback
- A tutor who will answer your course and career questions and provide guidance.
On successful completion of the course, you will receive:
- A graduation certificate officially recognising your completion of studies and qualifications as a private investigator
- Transcripts indicating the units completed
- A letter of recommendation and validation for current and future employers
- Post-nominal letters placed after your name which indicate that you hold the relevant qualification (for example: John Smith, ExeDipPI)
- Job search assistance: discover more about our Graduate Career Services Programme.
Cut Off Date
Friday, 8th November 2024 is the next enrolment cut off date. Places are limited, in demand and entry into the course is on a first come first served basis.
Your enrolment is processed and acknowledged within 24 hours of the Institute receiving your application. You can expect to receive your course within days of enrolling. When you start your ICI course it’s at your own pace and you determine when you finish.
Don’t miss out. Enrol today!