How to become a private investigator

If you are wondering how to become a private investigator, the first thing you need to know is that there are two main variations related to this fascinating profession: the private investigator holding a prefectorial license, who is authorized to open his own detective agency, and the detective agent, who can become an employee private investigator in detective agencies.

How to become a licensed private investigator?

Prerequisites for carrying out the profession of private investigator

The basic requirement to carry out the profession of authorized private investigator, according to the former art. 134 of the T.U.L.P.S. (Consolidated Law on Public Safety) is to obtain a license issued by the competent Prefecture.

This license is required to legally carry out the investigation, research and retrieval of evidences and data on behalf of private citizens. The prefectural license is essential as it allows you to open your own detective agency and work independently employing qualified personnel.

Other essential conditions for obtaining the prefectural license are:

- the ability to commit to pay a deposit (a fixed rate that varies according to the areas of intervention in which the investigation activities are to be carried out);

- be an Italian or EU citizen;

- not having received criminal convictions for intentional crimes;

- not be involved  in public functions;

- not to conduct actions that limit individual freedom.

What to do before applying for the prefectural license

 All the required documentation must be attached together with the management plan and submitted directly to the office responsible for the prefectural headquarters or sent to this last by registered mail with return receipt. 

The documentation required for the issue of the investigative license shall include

- Authorisation request with € 16,00 stamp 

- Self declaration of certification signed by the person concerned attesting to citizenship, place and date of birth, residency and position concerning military obligations

- Chart of tasks to be carried out with the relevant tariffs to be indicated in the maximum extent, in duplicate

- Registration in the Register of Companies of the C.C.I.A.A.

- Documentation concerning the location referred to the management plan, lease or ownership certificate of the venues (double copy), planimetry of the office spaces (double copy), technical-descriptive report of the office premises, drawn up by a registered technician.

In addition to the prefectural license, registration with the Chamber of Commerce is also required.

What school do you have to do to become a private investigator?

To become a licensed private investigator, since this profession is closely linked to the legal field, it is essential to have completed a course of study and adequate professional training to obtain all the skills necessary to carry out the different types of investigations adequately, regulated by art. 5 D.M. 269/2010, as well as knowing the limits of action to which this profession is subjected by law.

Therefore, to become a private investigator who owns an institution, it is necessary:

- have obtained a three-year degree in Psychology (preferably in Forensic course), Law, Political Sciences, Sociology, Economics, Investigation Sciences (or equivalent degree courses);

- have completed 3 years of constant operational collaboration with an authorized investigative agency for at least 5 years, with a positive result that is expressly declared by the agency license holder;

- have attended theoretical and practical advanced courses in the field of private investigations, provided by Universities or Professional Training Institutes accredited by the Regions or by the Ministry of the Interior-Department of Public Security, i.e. having carried out documented investigation activities in the investigative departments of the Police Forces, for no less than 5 years and ceased the service for no more than 4 years without demerit.

How to become a detective or investigating officer

Is it possible to become a private investigator without a degree? Absolutely yes, it is the figure of the detective agent who cannot open his own detective agency but can work in one of these as an employee and collaborator.

To become an unlicensed private investigator, the training path is less complex, in fact, no training or professional requirements are necessary, the only necessary condition is the lack of criminal convictions for intentional crimes.

How do you work in a detective agency?

As can be understood from the previous lines, it is possible to become an employee private investigator and work at legally authorized agencies without having completed all the necessary steps to obtain a license.

There is, in fact, the figure of the CIIE., the Collaborator for basic investigative assignments, an operator who acts under the responsibility of the license holder, who must report the start of the collaboration to the prefecture. 

The CIIE is also subject to the rules of privacy policy, respect for professional secrecy, as well as to provide its service in case of a request by the public security authorities.

The task of the CIIE is to deal with different phases of the investigation activity, such as:

- shadowing and stalking;

- audiovisual and photographic recordings (except inside the home of the shadowed person, unless what is portrayed is visible to the naked eye and without the use of tools;

- inspection (provided that there is no risk of violation of the domicile);

- collection of evidences or informations at places belonging to the client (which does not become the surveillance activity).

How much a private investigator earns?

Since it is a profession that attracts and fascinates aspiring detectives of all generations, it is useful to make some clarifications regarding the monthly salary of a private investigator. On average, this is equal to 1,500 euros net, although at the beginning of the career it often happens that you are able to earn about 800 euros per month. In reality, a lot depends not only on experience, but also on the number of cases, the results and the choice of performing as an employee of a detective agency or as a self-employed professional. 

In any case, the highest remuneration involves the owners of investigative agencies and those professionals with greater investigative expertise. 

In any case, the rate applied by the investigative agencies also differs according to the complexity of the assignment, the duration of the investigation, the tools used, the travel expenses and the way in which these will actually be carried out. In some cases, in fact, it is necessary to recur to particular instruments, means and sophisticated devices that require a strong technical competence.

The rates will always be clearly specified on the mandate that will be signed by the customer at the time the professional assignment is conferred.

How to become a private investigator with Fidavo.com

The Fidavo.com platform allows all those who aspire to this fascinating profession to find opportunities to put their skills into practice and refine them.

If you want to become a private investigator, whether or not you have the appropriate training path behind you to obtain the prefectural license, you will be able to collaborate with numerous agencies at the same time and acquire in a very short time the skills and abilities that will make you a professional private detective with whom all agencies will want to cooperate.

Not only that, with Fidavo.com you will also have access to practical and operational training courses that will allow you to refine your qualities more and more, in order to always acquire new skills, to keep pace with time and with technologies of the tools of the trade.