Online Private Detective Degree Programs

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.

A private detective is someone who can be employed to collect information. It can also be an agent hired by a private individual or company to investigation or evidence gathering. They usually work for attorneys in civil cases as wel as insurance companies to investigate claims that are suspicious. 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.

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Selected Online Private Detective Degree Programs

Kaplan University - Online

• Private Security Certificate

• Associate in Criminal Justice
• Private/Criminal Detective

Private Investigator Training and Education

Private investigator courses are not always required to join the profession, although most private investigators have completed at least an associate or bachelor degree in areas such as political science, law enforcement, criminal justice, and paralegal and legal studies. Others private detectives have earned experience through serving in the military or other government agencies like the FBI or the police force. With an online diploma in private investigation or private detective degree, you can begin a career where you can be self-employed.

Private Detective Careers

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.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The United States 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. An online private detective degree or related area of training will assist you in meeting your career goals.