Private investigators (sometimes referred to as private detectives in some jurisdictions) assist police precincts, businesses, and individuals with hard to crack cases, investigations, and fact-finding. So quite naturally, strong research skills, problem-solving abilities, and outside the box thinking are critical for this particular occupation. No less important, however, is an understanding of self-defense and weapons. Private investigators can face a fair amount of danger, and it's important that they take the necessary precautions to protect themselves. Quite naturally, private investigator training is essential for this field.

Through training you'll master areas such as photography, digital recording, tracking systems, weapons, self-defense, researching & writing, languages (if applicable), computer science, constitutional law, regulatory practices, corrections, bounty hunting, and a host of other related areas. The scope of your responsibilities is quite extensive, so expect to become a "jack of all trades" by the time your private investigator training is complete. Besides becoming a private investigator, you could also become a police officer, detective, probation officer, parole officer, bounty hunter, or security guard. Your training will prepare you for a wide range of career options, so make sure that you don't limit your focus entirely to private investigation. Many private investigators work entirely freelance, setting their own hours and rates. If you manage to secure the right types of clients, it's possible to make a fairly lucrative living in this particular occupation.