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If you have a deep sense of justice that’s being wasted in your current career, perhaps it’s time to look into something new.
Let us introduce private investigating.
There are so many places you can work as a private investigator, and often that comes with freedom.
To be fair, the schedule can be wonky, and the work can be lonely.
However, you’re providing a service of justice for some person or company in need of someone they can trust.
Being a private investigator isn’t just hiding out in cars and watching for people to leave a building.
You can work in computer forensics, finance, legal, corporate, or even loss prevention.
As a PI, you can run insurance fraud investigations, do background checks, or even check to see if a spouse is cheating.
The options are endless.
If that sounds interesting, continue reading.
We’ve got a plan to get you into a new career!
How to Become a Private Investigator
First things first.
Are you at least 21?
In the state of Arkansas, you’re required to be of legal drinking age before investigating anything.
Next, do you have a clean record?
If not, this is probably where you stop.
If so, not only does your background have to be clean now, it has to stay that way.
Every two years, you’ll get checked again when updating a license.
Okay, now you need some sort of education.
That education can come in the form of a criminal justice degree or an online certificate in private investigation.
Most employers just want to see that you’ve got the knowledge to back up the application.
This education can also come in the form of an internship.
Either way, you’ll need to show the time spent on the profession in order to complete the next step.
Licensing!
That’s right, all this has prepared you to take a test that says you’re legally prepared to be a private investigator.
Once you pass the test and get fingerprinted, you’ll be on your way to making it official with the state and getting a start date with an employer.
Schools
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 Ashworth College
Ashworth may be headquartered in Georgia, but its online Private Investigator course can be taken anywhere.
This self-paced program can be completed in four months or as long as you need.
Ashworth’s instructors are currently or have been private investigators.
That means you’re getting real knowledge from people who have lived it.
The course has everything you need to know to enter the workforce upon receiving the diploma.
Class topics range from introduction to private investigating to investigative specialties and firearm usage.
Want to get started right away?
Students can begin their studies immediately upon payment.
Speaking of, this course costs $1,200.
Contact Information
- Address: 5051 Peachtree Corners Cir Suite 200, Norcross, GA 30092, USA
- Phone: +1 800-957-5412
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Penn Foster
Thinking about working in a corporate office, insurance, or legal firm?
Penn Foster has the perfect Private Investigator Training course for you!
This online course makes sure students leave with a practical understanding of surveillance, homeland security, US laws, the justice system, and even collection techniques.
In total, it takes about six months to get through the class.
Need more time?
Not a problem, go as fast or slow as you need to.
If you’re highly motivated, Penn Foster offers a fast-track option where you can put the pedal to the metal and finish in as little as two months.
To mark this course as completed, be prepared to pay $1,100.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505 USA
- Phone: 570-961-4033
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ashworth College |
| #2 | Penn Foster |
Private Investigator Salary in Arkansas
When it comes to being a private investigator in Arkansas, you can expect to make anywhere between $30,000 and $66,000 a year.
Of course, which end of the spectrum you fall under will vary wildly based on where you’re located and how long you’ve been at it.
For example, if you’re in a small town and new to the job, expect to be closer to $30,000.
However, with some experience under your belt and a move to a more bustling area, you can look forward to the mid-60s.
On average, though, a private investigator here will make around $47,000.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$39.2K |
|
$53.8K |
|
$73.9K |
Average Salary in Arkansas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Little Rock | $55,803 |
| Fayetteville | $50,317 |
| Fort Smith | $50,200 |
| Springdale | $51,193 |
| Jonesboro | $48,459 |
| Rogers | $49,735 |
| Conway | $48,413 |
| North Little Rock | $50,200 |
| Bentonville | $53,918 |
| Pine Bluff | $49,740 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 40 | $50,610 | $24.33 | $86,240 | $35,190 |
* 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
How much does it cost to get a private investigation agency license in Arkansas?
It depends on what type of license you’re looking for.
For an investigation firm alone, the license fee is $600.
If you have the ability or want to plan for the future, a security and investigation firm fee is $850.
Lastly, a general license with all three classes, A, B, and E, will set you back $1,800.
Also, there are upkeep fees.
Once you get a license, you have to do a refresher every two years or so.
Before jumping in, make sure you’ve taken these numbers into account.
Can I start my own private investigator business in Arkansas?
Aside from getting a license, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to branch out on your own as a private investigator.
First, you have to be at least 25 years old.
21 is the minimum for getting an individual license.
To have an agency under your name, the expectation is to be a bit older.
Second, be sure you’ll be able to pass a background check.
Naturally, the background will be run in advance of taking the test anyway, but you will have to maintain a clean criminal record.
Third, be sure you have verifiable experience.
The idea is to have a minimum of five years as a PI before you can be trusted to go out on your own.
It also helps to have an education in the field.
Not for you, necessarily, but for clients to trust that you’re capable of seeing investigations through the right way.
How do I get paid as a private investigator?
Many jobs come with the expectation of a salary or even an hourly wage.
This isn’t the type of job that falls into either category.
A majority of PIs, even the ones working for a variety of firms, are classified as independent contractors.
That means, come tax time, you’re on your own.
Throughout the year, you should set a portion of your earnings aside to pay taxes.
Now, the way you get paid is usually either by a flat fee or an hourly charge per assignment.
So, a flat fee would be all-encompassing.
No matter what the schedule or the hours, the client pays one price for you to get the job done.
When it comes to hourly charges, this makes the most sense if it’s going to be an unending project.
Sometimes investigations have no real stopping point.
Getting paid hourly should ensure you get paid fairly for the time.
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