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) for a level 3 course
Private investigators carry out enquiries for their clients to find out information and check facts.
46 to 48 irregular
evenings / weekends / bank holidays as customers demand
You can get into this job through:
You could do the Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Private Investigation.
You'll usually need:
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 Investigators' Course through the Institute of Private Investigators.
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.
You can find out more about becoming a private investigator from the Association of British Investigators and Institute of Professional Investigators.
You'll need:
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.
Your day-to-day duties might include:
You could work in an office or from home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a private investigator right now.
The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.