Private Detective Degree Online

With a private detective degree or a private investigator degree online you will prepare to work in background and professional investigation, surveillance techniques, litigation procedures, and intelligence gathering.

Law Degree | Criminal Justice | Paralegal | Law Enforcement | Homeland Security | Forensic Science | Private Investigator

Private investigators and private detectives use techniques which include surveillance, searches, interviews and background checks, to gather evidence which is used to verify facts about individuals or companies. After completing your private detective degree, you will be able to provide your services in civil liability and personal injury cases, insurance claims and fraud, child custody and protection cases, marital infidelity cases and premarital screening. Others work in pre-employment verification and celebrity protection.

Request additional information from the colleges below.

Kaplan University: Associate in Criminal Justice, Bachelor in Criminal Justice, Certificate in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Forensic Science / Crime Scene Investigation, Law Enforcement, Private/Criminal Detective

Penn Foster Career School: Associate in Criminal Justice, Court Reporting, Private/Criminal Detective

Some common settings you would work in:

• Legal investigators: Work on cases that involve the court/legal system. They work for law firms to prepare criminal defenses, locating witnesses, serving legal documents, interviewing police and prospective witnesses, and gathering and reviewing evidence.
• Corporate investigators: Conduct internal and external investigations for corporations e.g. workplace theft and billing fraud.
• Financial investigators: Hired to prepare confidential financial profiles of individuals or companies in financial transactions. May private investigators are also certified public accountants (CPAs) working with investment bankers and other accountants. Others work involves protecting assets, damage recovery, and fraud or theft investigation.
• Store detectives (loss prevention agents): Work in retail stores, store, etc to control losses and protecting assets.

For most private investigation jobs, the academic requirements are usually a 2-year associate or 4-year bachelor degree in criminal justice-related areas. The National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI) confers the title Certified Legal Investigator to licensed investigators who specialize in negligence and criminal defense. In most cases, to work in corporate investigations you would need a bachelors degree. Many investigators have a degree in law or MBA especially in forensic accounting or auditing. In addition you would also receive training from your employer. Most states require private detectives and investigators to be licensed.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average income to be about $60,390. Security/loss prevention directors and vice presidents make about $77,000-$80,000 investigators make about $40,000 while store detectives earn about $25,000.

Home |