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Private investigators have always lived with an air of mystery and intrigue.
That is because this is a profession that is full of adventure, different every day, and ideal to keep your mind active with your mystery solving.
A person who becomes a private investigator has complete control over just how much adventure they can have each day.
Let’s explore what it takes to become a private investigator in Mississippi.
Becoming a Private Detective in Mississippi
Mississippi is one of the easiest states to become a private investigator in.
You are not required to have a license, except to carry a weapon.
This is also one of the few states where there are no automatic disqualifications, such as a dishonorable discharge from military service or a criminal record.
This is the view of the state.
Individual employers may be stricter.
1. Get an Education
You will need at least a high school diploma or GED.
Many employers would like you to have some type of further education that helps you with initial investigative skills.
The higher your education, the better chance you will have of gaining a position that allows you a higher income.
There are some certificate programs you can look into.
In addition, an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice can be very useful in gaining employment.
2. Get Your License to Carry
Contact the Mississippi State Police and find out exactly what you need to have to apply for your license to carry a weapon.
This license will need to be renewed periodically.
To get this license, you must be at least 21, have been a resident of Mississippi for at least a year, and have no felony convictions.
You will also not be known to abuse alcohol or controlled drugs, or have been declared mentally incompetent within the past five years.
3. Get Experience
Get a job and work as a private investigator.
Gain as much experience as you can.
4. Gain Recognition
Once you have five years of experience, you can help gain professional recognition by applying to join the Mississippi Private Investigators Association.
You may also want to earn your Professional Certified Investigator certificate through ASIS International.
While neither of these is required for employment, they will allow you to get a higher income.
Gaining recognition as a private investigator will help you gain positions that pay more and involve greater potential.
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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety
This program is designed for investigators who want to either gain greater knowledge or get into a position while they are working another job.
The program costs a total of $4000.
You are required to complete 320 hours, which are spread out in eight sessions, over eight months.
You will learn all the basics of investigation, including evidence gathering, finding missing persons, writing analysis reports, and other skills necessary for a successful career in investigation.
This program is designed to teach you the newest techniques and how to use the newest tools to effectively identify perpetrators of crime and gather evidence crucial for securing convictions.
Contact Information
- Address: 1900 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue Jackson, MS 39216
- Phone: (601) 987-1212
- Website: Visit School Website
2 Madonna University
Madonna University offers certificate courses that can enhance investigative skills.
The cost is $540 per credit and the amount of time will depend upon how many units you want to explore.
This is a highly customizable program that will get you the skills you want and need, without having to learn things you won’t use.
The main classes are judicial process, criminal investigation, interviewing, and investigative report writing.
It is also possible, and highly suggested, that you add classes such as private security, crime scene practice, homeland security, forensic accounting, forensic psychology, and Spanish for law officers.
Contact Information
- Address: 36600 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI 48150, USA
- Phone: +1 734-432-5300
- Website: Visit School Website
3 Mississippi State University
This online certificate course is designed to prepare investigators for jobs in insurance fraud, as well as criminal and civil law.
It is designed to be done in seven weeks, but being online makes it flexible, with coursework being available 24/7.
The cost of the course is $995.
Contact Information
- Address: 75 B.S. Hood Drive Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Phone: 662-325-5198
- Website: Visit School Website
4 NITA
NITA does not offer one specialized investigator course.
What it does offer is a highly customizable way to gain as much or as little knowledge as you want.
They offer 35 different classes, each one anywhere from 2 hours to 16 hours in length.
Each class costs from $49 to $549.
This individualized aspect helps make it possible for you to take your time gaining knowledge.
It spreads both time and cost.
Just some of the classes you can experience are:
- Death Investigations
- Using Photography for Investigation
- Handwriting Analysis
- Conducting Social Media Investigations
- Skip Tracings and Locates
- Child and Elderly Abuse Investigation
- Missing Persons
- Surveillance Ethics
- Interviewing Skills
Many of the classes have beginner and intermediate versions.
There are also several newer investigative classes on investigating the marijuana industry.
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 | Mississippi Department of Public Safety |
| #2 | Madonna University |
| #3 | Mississippi State University |
| #4 | NITA |
Private Investigator Salary in Mississippi
Mississippi private investigators are on the low end of earnings, coming in at 24 percent below the national average.
Incomes run from $22,510 yearly to $81,330 a year.
The average income is $31,820 annually.
Income will be affected by where you work and how much experience you have behind you.
It will also be influenced by any education you obtain.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$34.8K |
|
$51.8K |
|
$77K |
Average Salary in Mississippi
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jackson | $60,000 |
| Gulfport | $54,209 |
| Southaven | $50,365 |
| Hattiesburg | $47,434 |
| Biloxi | $60,000 |
| Olive Branch | $49,600 |
| Tupelo | $39,304 |
| Meridian | $48,177 |
| Pearl | $43,847 |
| Madison | $47,556 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS | 40 | $55,890 | $26.87 | $90,410 | $36,760 |
| Jackson, MS | 50 | $55,190 | $26.54 | $111,340 | $28,190 |
* 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
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- LA Louisiana
- ME Maine
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- MA Massachusetts
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- NC North Carolina
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- 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
What kind of license do I need to work as a private investigator in Mississippi?
The state does not require private investigators in Mississippi to hold a license to practice.
You will, however, need a license to carry if your position requires you to carry a firearm.
You will need to meet all the requirements for doing so and apply for the license.
How much money can a private investigator make in Mississippi?
The average yearly salary for a Mississippi private investigator is $31,820.
Entry-level positions normally start at $10.82 an hour, and the high-paying positions can earn you $39.10 an hour.
Pay is often dependent upon experience, where you work, and what type of organization you work in.
What can disqualify me from being a private investigator in Mississippi?
Mississippi is one state where you are not automatically disqualified from becoming a private investigator for many things that would disqualify you in other states.
You need not worry about military discharges and many criminal charges.
What is most affected is the requirements for a license to carry.
If your job requires you to do so and you can’t get the license, you won’t be employed.
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