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 investigator
Alternative titles for this job include PI
Private investigators carry out enquiries for their clients to find out information and check facts.
Average salary (a year)
Variable
Typical hours (a week)
46 to 48 irregular
You could work
evenings / weekends / bank holidays as customers demand
How to become a private investigator
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- working towards this role
- applying directly
- a specialist course offered by a professional body
College
Work
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.
Direct application
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.
Other routes
You can do a Private Investigators' Course through the Institute of Private Investigators.
More information
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.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
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
Restrictions and requirements
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.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day duties might include:
- monitoring people
- investigating fraudulent insurance or accident claims
- tracing missing people or pets
- handing legal documents to people, known as process serving
- investigating commercial piracy, like copying software illegally
- making background checks on employees
Working environment
You could work in an office or from home.
Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a senior investigator or team manager, or set up your own agency and have other investigators working for you.
Training opportunities
Apprenticeships In England
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.
Courses In England
Level 2 Certificate in Providing Security Services
- Provider: CARE VOCATIONAL LIMITED
- Start date: 24 April 2019
- Location: LONDON
Certificate in Public and Security Services 2 x GCSE re-sit - Level 2
- Provider: DERBY COLLEGE
- Start date: 01 August 2019
- Location: Ilkeston
Get help using this service
Call 0800 100 900 or use webchat
8am to 10pm, 7 days a week
More ways to contact us