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- How to Become a Private Investigator in South Carolina
- Private Investigator Schools
- 1 National Investigative Training Academy
- Schools Summary Table
- Private Investigator Salary in South Carolina
- Find Private Investigator Career Guides by State
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Why does South Carolina have a high demand for private investigators?
- What is unique to South Carolina regarding becoming a private investigator?
- What is the difference between a police investigator and a private investigator?
- What do private investigators do in South Carolina?
- What is the relationship between security officers and private investigators
South Carolina requires three years of experience in investigations or a related field, among the highest in the nation.
It also has educational requirements that can be met through experience, but the state has no formal program to complete.
South Carolina has rigorous requirements, but is unique in that there is no formal exam to pass before you are licensed.
Licensing is through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
How to Become a Private Investigator in South Carolina
Basic Requirements
South Carolina has basic requirements that are common with other states.
You must be 18 or 21 to carry a firearm, and a U.S. citizen or legal resident.
You must have no felony convictions and pass an extensive background check.
You will need character references to establish your integrity.
There must be no history of mental illness or proof of competence if you have had treatment.
If you are a veteran, you must have been honorably discharged.
Experience
The biggest requirement to become a private investigator in South Carolina is 6,000 hours or three years of experience.
This experience can be three years as a full-time police officer in some investigative capacity.
Three years as a registered employee of a private investigation agency also count.
Experience working for a law firm, government agency, or corporation where you have developed knowledge, skills, and ability can also count towards the experience requirements.
Education
Education itself is not required.
There is no state-approved private investigator course.
Some education can count towards the experience requirement.
Degrees may come from accredited universities and colleges in South Carolina.
SLED-approved Online courses count.
Here is how degrees can be used to meet experience requirements.
- Private investigator certificate – 6 months
- Associate’s degree – 6 months
- Bachelor’s degree – 1 year
- Graduate degree – 1.5 years
Registered Employee
The most straightforward path is to work as a registered employee of a private investigator company.
You may do this under the company’s license and don’t need any other experience or education.
You would work under a licensed investigator, and often that supervision is not very much.
Taking a Private Investigator course can help you get hired.
After three years, your company can apply for your license for you, and you will have your full license.
Business License
If you become licensed that way, you can then open your own business, and you must apply to SLED for a private investigation business license.
You could also meet the experience requirements through education, with some relevant experience, and start your own business.
You will need a $10,000 surety bond and proof of some liability insurance.
You may download the official application from the SLED website.
Along with that notarized application, you must submit:
- $350 license fee
- Two sets of fingerprint cards
- County Clerk statement confirming no civil judgments
- Color face photograph
- Sample contract for customers
- Disclosure of Ownership
- Proof of experience
- Proof of honorable discharge is required if a veteran.
SLED will verify your information and qualifications and do a background check.
If that is clear, you will get your license.
The license is good for one year and must be reviewed.
You must also complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years.
Private Investigator Schools
There are no private investigator schools in South Carolina.
Some education could help you get a job and sharpen your skills.
You could get a criminal justice degree or similar from a four-year university.
Another option would be an associate’s degree from a junior college.
Those would count toward the experience requirement and would give you a better chance at employment.
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 offers classes in surveillance, forensics, interviewing, and other relevant topics.
These would sharpen your skills, and these classes count as continuing education.
NITA offers its classes online, and there are other online courses available.
It is a good idea to check with SLED and make sure they are acceptable.
Additional training and a concealed carry permit are needed if you want to be an armed private investigator.
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 South Carolina
The average salary for a private investigator in Columbia, the state capital, is $48,000.
It ranges from $30,000 to 67,000.
It is about $1,000 higher in Charleston and is consistent with those two averages around the state.
This is significantly lower than the national average of $52,202, ranging from $42,000 to $63,000.
| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
$39K |
|
$51.1K |
|
$66.9K |
Average Salary in South Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $51,148 |
| Columbia | $57,730 |
| North Charleston | $51,635 |
| Mount Pleasant | $49,768 |
| Rock Hill | $45,784 |
| Greenville | $47,136 |
| Summerville | $50,200 |
| Goose Creek | $50,144 |
| Greer | $50,301 |
| Sumter | $48,946 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 60 | $61,350 | $29.5 | $113,410 | $36,720 |
| Columbia, SC | 60 | $54,000 | $25.96 | $86,340 | $36,330 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 70 | $49,550 | $23.82 | $63,480 | $36,570 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 40 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Find Private Investigator Career Guides by State
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- WI Wisconsin
- WY Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does South Carolina have a high demand for private investigators?
South Carolina law requires concrete evidence in family-related cases and relies heavily on private investigators’ findings as evidence.
There is a high rate of divorce and infidelity in South Carolina, as well as a high rate of single-parent homes.
This means more demand for their services.
Private investigators work for law firms, and they gather evidence for criminal cases as well.
The legal system relies more on private investigator work than in many other states.
South Carolina also has a high rate of human trafficking issues, which also calls for private investigators.
What is unique to South Carolina regarding becoming a private investigator?
There is no licensing exam, which is fairly unique, as only five states do not.
South Carolina is the only state requiring experience but no education requirement.
Allowing education to fulfill part of the experience requirement is also unique.
South Carolina does not have specific weapons rules for private investigators.
If they want to carry a weapon, they have to get a concealed carry license.
What is the difference between a police investigator and a private investigator?
There are a lot of similarities between the two.
What they do day to day might look much the same: gathering evidence, interviewing people, and conducting surveillance to some degree.
They differ in scope and authority.
Police investigators investigate crimes, and police are more reactive.
Private investigators look into what their client wants to be investigated, which may or may not involve criminal activity.
Another difference is authority and access.
Police have access to government databases and information, and they have the authority of the state to arrest and direct people.
Private investigators must rely on public information, and they have no authority.
What do private investigators do in South Carolina?
The most common thing a private investigator does in South Carolina is surveillance work.
This is often related to divorce and fidelity cases, and there is a high rate of those in the state.
They could also do surveillance related to fraud or missing persons.
Interviewing people and collecting information is also an important part of the job.
Private investigators also investigate cybercrime and all kinds of fraud cases.
They also help law firms gather information and do corporate investigations for background checks and fraud investigations.
What is the relationship between security officers and private investigators
Several companies offer both investigative and security services.
South Carolina does not license them together as some states do, but both are regulated and licensed by SLED.
Security guards protect property, and investigators look for evidence on various topics.
Observation, record-keeping, and interviewing are just a few of the skills they have in common.
Requirements for being certified are much higher for private investigators.
Experience as a security guard will count as experience to meet that requirement for private investigators.
Security guards have some authority while they are on their company’s property, but private investigators have very little authority.
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