Private investigator

You could do the Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Private Investigation.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

More Information

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If you're already in the police force you could be selected to complete the National Investigators' Examination and be a private investigator for the police.

There are currently no set entry requirements to become a private investigator.

Experience working in an enforcement or investigative role, with the police, armed forces or local authority, would be useful.

You can do a private Investigator course through a professional body or private training organisation.

Career tips

If you want to be self-employed, you'll need the ability to run your own business and have some legal knowledge around information laws and data protection.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a private investigator from the Association of British Investigators and Institute of Professional Investigators.

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• persistence and determination
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• analytical thinking skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You'll usually need to have a driving licence.

Although private investigator licensing is subject to approval, the government's intention is to regulate this industry, by making it a criminal offence to operate as a private investigator without a licence.

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• monitor people
• investigate fraudulent insurance or accident claims
• trace missing people or pets
• hand legal documents to people, known as process serving
• investigate commercial piracy, like copying software illegally
• make background checks on employees

You could work in an office or from home.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.