Course Teaching Method

Your training is by Distance Learning to enable you to study at your convenience at home or any other suitable place, in your your own time and at your own speed.

Course Duration

There is no set time limit for you to finish the course, which can be completed in as little as 4 weeks or studied vocationally over a longer period and at a pace convenient to you.

Course Content

This course is for students wishing to have a career in private investigation, start up their own investigation agency and offer a full range of investigation services.

It is specifically highly structured to teach students practical and realistic methods of investigation and give them the knowledge that they will require on a daily basis to become a professional investigator and run a successful and profitable agency.

To offer our comprehensive and practical training the course it is not structured around any current accreditation system, which would severely restrict the syllabus we can teach and how we teach it. There is no point in offering a low grade accreditation that has little or no value or recognition within the investigation industry or legal profession and is highly unlikely to gain you employment.

Course Focus

The course focus and priority is to teach you the practical application of the knowledge and skills required to become a professional private investigator and run a successful investigation agency.

In recognition of your dedicated study and achievement in successfully completing the course we award you a Diploma in Private Investigation. However, the real value in this course is that you will be taught the practical knowledge and skills that you will actually use in your new career as a private investigator. The theory that we also teach you is, of course, necessary but without the knowledge of how to apply it you are not going to get very far.

The knowledge and skills that you will be learning through the course are acquired through many years of experience in the Police, Criminal Investigation Departments (CID), Scotland Yard and the Investigation Industry. Many of our tutors still run their own highly successful investigation agencies and will be imparting their knowledge to you.

Course Objectives

In this modern competitive technological business environment in which the private investigator must operate it is not sufficient just to be knowledgeable in the theory of investigation. Alone, this will not bring you success.

To make your investigation agency successful, your knowledge needs to consist of the vital six core elements that you will learn from our course:

1. Investigative Training

Comprehensive training in all aspects of private investigation that you are likely to encounter in the day to day running of your agency.

2. Establishing an Investigation Agency

How to set up your first agency to prepare it for long term success and how to deal with such matters as, type of businesses to choose, where to run your agency from, tax, VAT, costs, accountancy, equipment needed and much more.

3. Marketing an Investigation Agency

Successful marketing and promotion of your agency to get business and clients, using different proven marketing methods and techniques.

4. IT and Communications

Setting up computers systems, software and communication systems essential to running an efficient and successful investigation agency.

5. Pricing

How to charge for services and work out costs and expenses.

6. Networking

How to fully utilise the UKPIN, network with other investigators, both nationally and internationally, gain business from other members and how to sub-contract agent-to-agent work.

Course Examination

Once you have completed the course you will be fully able to start your own investigation agency. However, if you wish to become a member of the UKPIN and use all its networking facilities, and also gain your diploma, you will need to take the course examination.

It is taken online and is in a multiple choice format. The questions are all based on the content of the course so there is no reason why you should fail if you have fully read and studied the course. The Diploma pass mark is 65%, with Merit or Distinction awarded for higher pass rates.