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- How to Become a Private Investigator in Kentucky
- Private Investigator Schools in Kentucky
- 1 National Investigative Training Academy
- Schools Summary Table
- Private Investigator Salary in Kentucky
- Find Private Investigator Career Guides by State
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Do private investigators carry a gun?
- What insurance requirements are there in Kentucky?
- What does a private investigator do in Kentucky?
- What are the similarities between private investigators and police investigators?
- Are private investigators and police investigators the same?
- How are private investigators and police different?
There are few legal requirements for becoming a private investigator in Kentucky, making it possible for almost anyone.
If you are a high school graduate, have no criminal record, and are a U.S. citizen, you only have to pass an exam to get licensed by the state.
Even so, you will need some credentials, such as experience or a criminal justice degree, to be taken seriously.
You may work for an investigating firm or be self-employed.
Most people start with a firm before starting their own business.
How to Become a Private Investigator in Kentucky
The short answer is to pass the state licensing exam, and technically, that is all there is to it.
But like most things, the reality is a bit more complicated.
Requirements
The first thing would be to make sure you meet all the requirements.
You must be 21 years old, a citizen or legal resident, and have a high school diploma.
You must pass a criminal background check that includes no felony convictions for 10 years, no crimes involving dishonesty for five years, and no misdemeanors for three years.
You must not have been enrolled in a substance abuse program.
You must pass a mental health check.
If you are a military veteran, you must have been honorably discharged.
Education and Experience
There are no education or experience requirements in the state of Kentucky.
You may simply take and pass the state exam to get licensed as a private investigator.
While this is true, most firms won’t hire you if you don’t have some of both.
You could get experience by working for an agency in some capacity.
Experience in law enforcement or the legal field could also be helpful.
A degree, or at least a partial degree, in criminal justice or some kind of law enforcement would also help you get a job.
There is also a private investigator skills course available online.
Passing the Exam
Kentucky licenses private investigators through its Board of Licensure for Private Investigators.
First, you have to apply with the required paperwork to that board.
This includes fingerprint cards, a small color mug shot type photo, a notarized application, and a letter of endorsement.
You must also send in a letter or proof that you have a minimum of $250,000 in liability insurance.
You have to pay a $100 application fee and $35 for fingerprint cards.
This will get you qualified to take the exam.
There is a fee of $156 to take the exam.
Study materials and a study guide for the test are available on the state’s website.
After passing, you must pay a $300 fee for your license.
The total cost to get licensed is $591.
The $300 license fee is refundable if you fail the exam.
Once licensed, you may work for an agency or on your own.
The license is good for two years.
You must complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years, and there is a $250 renewal fee.
Most private investigators work in an entry-level position for an investigative agency.
This gives valuable experience.
You may advance within that agency or start your investigative firm and be self-employed.
You do need a license to operate as a private investigator in Kentucky.
Being a private investigator without one is illegal, and there are penalties for doing so.
Anyone can investigate anything, but when you are claiming to be a professional investigator, you had better have a license.
A first offense could result in a year in jail and a $500 fine.
Private Investigator Schools in Kentucky
Since there are no legal requirements for higher education to be a private investigator, no specific schools are offering that degree.
Many private investigators have a degree in criminal justice.
Law, psychology, and computer science are also degrees that can help you be successful.
Associate certifications in security or investigation can also give you the education you need.
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
The National Investigative Training Academy (NITA) offers a 100-hour private investigator course that covers surveillance, interviewing, evidence collecting, and other related subjects.
NITA also offers state licensing test preparation, which is a different class.
While this is a national course, it is tailored to the state where the student is from.
Contact Information
- Address: 250 International Pkwy Suite 134, Lake Mary, FL 32746, USA
- Phone: +1 800-730-6482
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | National Investigative Training Academy |
Private Investigator Salary in Kentucky
The median salary for a private investigator in Lexington, KY, is $48,302.
This ranges from $30,000 to $67,000.
In Covington, KY, the median salary is $50,000, and $49,000 in Louisville.
Other cities around the state have similar salaries.
This is slightly below the national average, where the median is $52,202, ranging from $33,000 and $73,000.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$45.1K |
|
$57.8K |
|
$74.2K |
Average Salary in Kentucky
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $51,387 |
| Bowling Green | $57,844 |
| Owensboro | $48,971 |
| Covington | $50,821 |
| Georgetown | $49,907 |
| Richmond | $46,617 |
| Elizabethtown | $47,843 |
| Florence | $45,793 |
| Nicholasville | $46,747 |
| Hopkinsville | $46,744 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 50 | $46,850 | $22.52 | $66,960 | $32,240 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 140 | $53,600 | $25.77 | $81,450 | $37,910 |
* 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
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- 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 private investigators carry a gun?
A private investigator might carry a weapon, but it is optional.
You do not need a permit to carry a gun in Kentucky, so you may carry a weapon without any special licensing as a private investigator.
There is a Concealed Deadly Weapons License, which includes some training.
It is not required, but some PI firms could require it if a weapon is carried.
What insurance requirements are there in Kentucky?
Private investigators must carry a minimum of $250,000 liability insurance coverage for personal or property damage.
The certificate of insurance must be sent in with your application to take the state exam.
What does a private investigator do in Kentucky?
One common thing PI’s do is surveillance, watching and documenting what someone does, for cases like infidelity, fraud, or missing persons.
They could do extensive background checks or due diligence on business partners or businesses.
Private investigators do fraud investigations and help locate people.
They may also do cyber investigations.
Evidence collection and interviews are also a common part of the job.
A private investigator could investigate anything that someone wanted to be investigated, whether a crime was involved or not.
What are the similarities between private investigators and police investigators?
Both search for evidence or the truth of what may have happened.
Both need good investigative skills, such as surveillance, interviewing, and collecting evidence.
They both need solid research skills and the ability to write reports.
They could work on similar types of cases, such as fraud, theft, or missing people.
Are private investigators and police investigators the same?
There are some similarities and some significant differences between the two.
A private investigator is a private citizen without law enforcement powers.
A police investigator does very similar work but has the authority of the state to enforce laws.
A private investigator might have a wider variety of types of cases, but does not have the authority that the police have.
Another important difference is that police investigators react to and investigate crime.
Private investigators work for the needs of their clients, which may or may not be crime-related.
The two jobs are very similar, and police officers often become private investigators.
A private investigator would have to get more formal training to become a police officer.
How are private investigators and police different?
The main difference is one of authority.
Police have the backing and authority of the state behind them, as well as a huge network of support.
Police respond to crime and investigate crime.
A PI could do that, but may investigate other things.
Police could be considered reactive, while a PI is proactive.
Police have a lot more access to data, labs, and information not available to the public.
A PI is limited to public information.
Police also have a lot more formal training.
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