Private Investigator Courses
Blackford Centre for Private Investigation


“Go for it! It's easy to read, yet the assignments are challenging. The staff are great and very helpful.”
“Stop thinking about it - Get on and do it, it is a very good, informative and enjoyable course.”
“Without reservation I would recommend it.”
“It's probably the best and most in depth course available.”
“Stop thinking about it and just do it, as I wasted too much time thinking about it myself.”
Diploma in Private Investigation Course
The 16 Private Investigation Course Modules
1. AN INTRODUCTION TO PRIVATE INVESTIGATION
Introduction to private investigation
What is a private investigator
Private investigation as a career
The profession of a private investigator
The code of ethics
2. WHAT PI’S DO - PART 1
Introduction to investigative theory
Investigative methodology
Principles of investigative methodology
3. WHAT PI’S DO – PART 2
Introduction
The basic identifiers
Locating sources of information
Public records and semi restricted records
Public records Semi-restricted records
4. INTERVIEWING AND INTERROGATION
The basic principles of interviewing
Preparation
First contact with your interviewee
Your interview objectives
The interviewee’s attitude
The different types of interview
The art of questioning
Suggestions and tips
Dealing with deceptive responses
Client interviews
Third party interviews
Witness interviews
Expert interviews
Interrogation
5. NOTE TAKING AND REPORT WRITING
Note taking
Note taking guidelines and suggestions
Written statements
Report writing
Guidelines for good report writing
6. USING PRETEXTS
Illegal pretexts
Ask an expert
When a pretext can be used
The guidelines for using pretexts
7. INSURANCE INVESTIGATIONS
Insurance investigations
Fraudulent disability investigations
Motor vehicle accident investigations
Premise accidents investigations
Railroad crossing investigations
Suicide investigations
Accident reconstruction experts and basics
Fires and explosions
Forensic photography
8. CIVIL INVESTIGATIONS
A definition of civil law
Defenses against tort actions
An introduction to civil investigations
Liquor liability investigations
Professional malpractice investigations
Product liability investigations
9. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
The general principles of criminal investigation
The burden of proof
Criminal defence investigations
The fundamental principles of evidence
Presumptions and the burden of proof
Evidence preservation and forensics
Undercover investigations
10. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
Assets background checks
Business partners background checks
Pre - employment background checks
Mate checks
Self defence background checks
Witnesses and jury background checks
11. FINDING MISSING PERSONS
The types of missing persons
The preliminary interview with your client
Finding young missing persons
Finding indigent and homeless missing persons
Finding other types of missing persons
12. COMMERCIAL THEFT INVESTIGATIONS
Retail theft investigations
The general principles of retail theft investigations
Classification of shoplifters
Recognizing a shoplifter
The methods of shoplifting
How to prevent shoplifting
The types of employee theft
13. DOMESTIC INVESTIGATIONS AND COURT TESTIMONY
Domestic investigations
Child custody investigations
Fidelity investigations
Court testimony
14. SURVEILLANCE
General surveillance principles
Surveillance by foot
A team approach to surveillance by foot
Fixed surveillance
Common carrier surveillance
Vehicle surveillance
Single vehicle surveillance
Moving surveillance
Tips for better surveillance
Surveillance at night
Two vehicle surveillance
Video surveillance
15. SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS
Types of business
Location
Investigative equipment
Business plan
Credit applications
Alternate financial resources
Estimating start up costs
Business operations and accounting
Business bank account
Hourly rate and investigative fees
Insurance requirements and bonding
Naming your company
Employees
16. MARKETING
Strategic marketing planning
Advertising and promotion
Personal selling
Tips for print media
Your potential market
Read more: What you'll find in the pack