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Are you good at looking up information?
Not a quick Google search, but digging deep, trying to find clues.
Perhaps you were looking up a friend from high school on social media and saw someone you recognized in a photo from their page.
After some research, you were able to find out who they were, the people they were related to, where they lived, and what they did for a living.
If that’s the kind of thing you find yourself doing, perhaps a new career as a private investigator would be right up your alley.
A private investigator, also referred to as a private detective, requires passion for the hunt.
This will be digital, in-person, and all over the place.
Does that sound exciting?
Keep reading to figure out how to get your career started in Alabama.
How to Become a Private Investigator
Start the process by being at least 21 years old.
Before you do anything else, step one is to pass a background check and have a clean criminal record.
You won’t be able to get a license if there’s anything of note on the background check.
Next, while it isn’t a requirement to have a degree to be a private investigator in Alabama, it might be wise to invest in education.
Number one, you will get legitimate knowledge and experience while getting an education in the field.
Number two, when looking at companies to work for, most will require it.
Number three, in order to get a license, you’ll need to show some sort of training as well as 120 hours of field experience.
So, what kind of degree would be helpful in this line of work?
A majority of students who plan to go into this career choose criminal justice degrees.
Some just go for an Associate’s, but others get their Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in something that relates to their preference for jobs.
Now, you’ll want to get a license.
In Alabama, no one can call themselves a private investigator, use the private investigator title, or open a private practice without a valid license.
To obtain the license, prospective PIs will have to take a written exam, mostly made up of multiple-choice and true/false questions.
Don’t pass on the first try.
No problem.
Within the 90-day application window, you can retake the test as often as you like.
Plan to keep a firearm?
That will require additional licensing.
Now, you’re a licensed private investigator!
To open up shop, you will need to get a license to operate an agency as well as liability insurance.
Program: Private Investigator Career Diploma
Program Details:- Study at your own pace, anytime with 24/7 access
- Flexible, affordable tuition with personalized payment options
- Accredited both regionally and nationally
- Support from experienced instructors every step of the way
1 National Investigative Training Academy
When it comes to preparing for a license, there’s perhaps no more flexible academy than NITA.
This school is a buffet of courses designed for you to pick the courses you’re interested in to get ahead.
Everything from surveillance basics to social media investigation is available.
71 courses in total apply to Alabama.
Most courses are between two and four hours long, with a couple as long as six hours.
You can start and complete it whenever you want.
Take as many courses as you feel will get you ready for both getting work and keeping up to date as time goes on.
Each course varies in price, most are $99.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 International Pkwy Suite 134, Lake Mary, FL 32746, United States
- Phone: +1 800-730-6482
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Police Science Institute
This program is a bit more confined, but it is still an online program.
Taught by experienced private investigators and specialists, PSI teaches on a variety of topics.
Starting with the history of investigating insurance fraud and missing person investigations.
The program costs are around $1,000.
Fees and materials will be extra.
Contact Information
- Address: 5133 N Gates Ave #102, Fresno, CA 93722, USA
- Phone: +1 559-276-9800
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | National Investigative Training Academy |
| #2 | Police Science Institute |
Private Investigator Salary in Alabama
The salary attached to being a private investigator in Alabama can vary, depending on factors such as experience and location.
On the high end, with lots of experience in a big city, a private investigator can command just under $70,000 annually.
On the low end, perhaps as a newbie in a small town, pay might be closer to $31,000.
However, on average, a private investigator in this neck of the woods can expect just under $50,000 a year.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$35.6K |
|
$49.8K |
|
$69.7K |
Average Salary in Alabama
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Huntsville | $27,476 |
| Birmingham | $52,921 |
| Montgomery | $39,892 |
| Tuscaloosa | $50,200 |
| Mobile | $60,000 |
| Hoover | $60,597 |
| Auburn | $49,977 |
| Dothan | $39,304 |
| Madison | $47,816 |
| Decatur | $48,424 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | 200 | $54,930 | $26.41 | $68,220 | $37,480 |
| Huntsville, AL | 30 | $53,450 | $25.7 | $112,890 | $35,550 |
| Montgomery, AL | 50 | $56,040 | $26.94 | $83,530 | $35,990 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Find Private Investigator Career Guides by State
- AL Alabama
- AK Alaska
- AZ Arizona
- AR Arkansas
- CA California
- CO Colorado
- CT Connecticut
- DE Delaware
- FL Florida
- GA Georgia
- HI Hawaii
- ID Idaho
- IL Illinois
- IN Indiana
- IA Iowa
- KS Kansas
- KY Kentucky
- LA Louisiana
- ME Maine
- MD Maryland
- MA Massachusetts
- MI Michigan
- MN Minnesota
- MS Mississippi
- MO Missouri
- MT Montana
- NE Nebraska
- NV Nevada
- NH New Hampshire
- NJ New Jersey
- NM New Mexico
- NY New York
- NC North Carolina
- ND North Dakota
- OH Ohio
- OK Oklahoma
- OR Oregon
- PA Pennsylvania
- RI Rhode Island
- SC South Carolina
- SD South Dakota
- TN Tennessee
- TX Texas
- UT Utah
- VT Vermont
- VA Virginia
- WA Washington
- WV West Virginia
- WI Wisconsin
- WY Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to be fingerprinted to be a private investigator in Alabama?
Yes, to get a license in the state, you will have to get fingerprints taken.
This is a live, in-person fingerprinting since virtual scans are not accepted.
All applicants must submit three sets of fingerprints to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This absolute must was mandated by the Alabama Private Investigation Regulatory Act.
What's the difference between an investigator and a detective?
Detectives work for law enforcement agencies, such as the police department.
Investigators often have more freedom and work for themselves or other investigative firms.
In the end, both can work on crimes.
This means a detective from the police department has to abide by the constraints of the position.
Whereas an investigator from the private sector may have more resources at their disposal.
It would not be unusual to have an investigator work with the detective to find a solution together.
Is it hard to be a private investigator in Alabama?
Being a PI is not for everyone.
There are plenty of challenges when it comes to the grind of work.
For starters, the schedules can be all over the place.
So, if you have children with schedules in need of someone to facilitate, this work might be a bit cumbersome.
Another point is that you’re alone a lot.
For some, that would be a dream.
For others, it would be immensely challenging.
Lastly, it might be tough to keep your emotions separate from getting the job done.
Before diving into a PI career, make sure to ask yourself honestly how you’d handle a variety of situations that would come up on the job.
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