Steps To Follow To Become A Private Investigator Alabama

By Timothy Howard


There are hardly any private investigators who complain about how much they make from their careers. With an ample supply of clients ranging from companies to individuals, the possibilities are endless for anyone wishing to establish himself in this line of work. If you have been thinking of starting a career as a private investigator Alabama, the following steps will help you know how to go about it.

The investigation board is the body mandated to carry out licensing. This body was enacted to help regulate the investigations industry and safeguard civilians against investigation malpractices. It is also tasked with ensuring investigators conduct their work in the highest ethical and professional standards.

There are certain requirements that one must meet before being awarded a license. For starters, one must be no less than 21 years of age. Those who are known to have mental problems cannot be allowed to practice. In addition, an applicant must not be a convicted felon.

The law does not require investigators to have undergone post secondary education. However, your career would be better placed to succeed if you take a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Advanced education will not only equip you with the right skills for the job, but also place you ahead of the pack when seeking job opportunities.

A qualification test is usually administered to all aspiring applicants. The board uses the test to ascertain if applicants are well prepared for the field. Most times, the board contracts a separate but competent body to take charge of the test that takes place twice every year.

Upon completing your exam, the next step should be to fill a licensing application form. The board has the form on its website for applicants to download. Documents that must accompany your application include a citizenship form, affidavit, examination score, 3 fingerprint cards and a photograph. The investigation board charges $125 for application and $300 for licenses.

Once obtained, a license remains valid for a maximum period of two years. Upon expiry, one must submit a filled renewal form to get a renewal. This will set you back $200. License holders are also required to take competency tests every once in a while just to ensure they are still competent.

Like in any other career path, it is always good to know what the salary prospects are. A study done in 2012 showed that most investigators in Alabama earned an annual wage of $58320. Some regions in the state are also known to be lucrative for this line of work. In some of the lucrative areas, investigators make as much as $131800 yearly.

Depending on your precise location, you may be required to apply for liability insurance and go through a federal background check before practicing, regardless of your licensing status. This is always a requirement for those in Mobile and Montgomery. To stay out of trouble with the authorities, ask them about requirements that you may not be privy to beforehand.

Investigators usually work with a pretty large client base, but specialty is the main factor that determines where one ends up. Clients often include individuals, insurance firms and defense attorneys. The fraud investigations field has been pretty lucrative over the years, so consider specializing in it.




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