Program Overview
Take the first step towards your goal of becoming a Private Investigator with ICS Canada’s online Private Investigator Career Diploma training course. Private investigators have exciting and challenging careers conducting investigations involving missing persons, corporate intelligence, or other fascinating areas. Our training program can teach you how to perform private investigator duties. Study at home, on the go, and all at a pace that’s right for you. ICS Canada provides training that can help you pursue your passion for solving mysteries and take the first step towards a new career as a private investigator.¹
Program Goal and Outcomes
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Program Goal
To prepare students to gain entry-level employment in an investigative agency as a private investigator.
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Recognize the career opportunities that exist for private investigators, including the characteristics and skills necessary to succeed in the field
- Differentiate between criminal law and civil law, and outline how tort law and civil law affect private investigations in Canada
- Describe the elements of effective communication and its role in private investigation practice
- Recognize available information sources, and explain how to access various records and information sources that can assist in an investigation
- Identify the role of the computer in private investigation, including the basic security measures for using databases and computer forensics
- Describe various methods of reporting investigative findings to clients, including the best reporting format for each type of case and best practices for preparing reports
- Outline the role of observations and descriptions in investigations, and develop a systematic method of observing and describing persons, places, and things that will help make an investigation successful
- Identify different types of cases that require surveillance, and recognize the different types, methods, and techniques of surveillance to use
- Name equipment used by private investigators, including operational, surveillance, evidence collection, and safety equipment
- Recognize the proper methods for obtaining, recording, preserving, and analyzing evidence; explain the role of expert witnesses
- Recognize the skills and techniques necessary to providing protection services, such as executive and bodyguard protection
- Outline the role of the investigator in access control and discuss the various locks, alarms, and design elements to safeguard physical security, information security, and personnel security
- Discuss the role of providing security in special settings, and identify the security problems, special characteristics, and crime-prevention programs applicable to each setting
- Specify the role of the investigator in a variety of Canadian investigations, and list the many types of investigations, the way in which evidence is gathered, and the proper procedures and techniques used to gather evidence
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Instruction Set 1
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Learning Strategies
The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
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Investigation as a Career
Various job opportunities in private investigating;
how to collect and use information; how to perform
private investigations; the difference between the real world of
private investigations and the fictional version described by writers
and moviemakers; basic knowledge of related fields you might need
to call on as an investigator; personal characteristics of a private
investigator.
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Instruction Set 2
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Principles of Law in Investigation
The principles of law related to
private investigations; the basics of the legal system; Supreme Court cases and
constitutional amendments related to private
investigation; local, state, and federal laws that affect
the work of a private investigator.
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Communication Skills and Investigation
The importance of communication
skills in private investigation; verbal and nonverbal
communication; developing good communication skills; how having
good communication skills helps the investigator gather information.
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Instruction Set 3
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Sources of Information
Classifications of investigative information
resources; role of the Internet in private investigation; differences
between public and private records; computerized
databases; field investigation.
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The Computer and Investigation
The role of the computer in investigation;
personal computer technology; using online computer
databases; computer security issues; using the Internet in investigations.
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Truth-Finding methods: Interview and Interrogation Techniques
Preparing for the interview; conducting the interview; conducting the interrogation; polygraph examination; rights of suspects.
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Instruction Set 4
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Reporting
Basics of report writing; how to report to clients;
appropriate use of intermediate reports
and final reports; how to prepare a report; when to verbally advise a client.
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Observation and Documentation
How the terms observation and documentation
are related to investigations; systematic approach
to observing persons, objects, events,
and places; systematic approach to asking others for their observations
and documentation in interviews;
building a rapport with a witness; observing and interpreting body
language.
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Surveillance
How to plan, prepare, and conduct a surveillance;
when to use foot and vehicular surveillance;
how to detect and defend against counter-surveillance;
the use of photographic equipment for
surveillance; the techniques of covert photography; appropriate
indoor and outdoor observation posts; recording
in the surveillance log.
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Instruction Set 5
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Equipment for Private Investigators
The equipment used by private investigators,
including operational equipment, surveillance
equipment, evidence collection equipment, and safety equipment.
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Evidence
Obtaining, recording, preserving, and analyzing
evidence; processing an arson crime
scene; getting evidence admitted into court; obtaining dental
records and identifying what records are important.
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Instruction Set 6
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Executive Protection and Bail Enforcement
Differences between body guarding and executive protection; adequate budget and authority for executive protection; risks of protecting a person; protection techniques; relationship between a bodyguard and a principal.
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Security Management, Part 1
Opportunities for trained security personnel; access control - a working definition; access control terminology; environmental design; lighting in crime prevention locks.
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Security Management, Part 2
Security in special settings; types of crimes associated with each setting; concepts associated with each setting; crime prevention strategies; railway and port security.
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Instruction Set 7
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The Canadian Private Investigator's Manual
Qualities of a successful private investigator; investigative procedures; obtaining and retrieving information; special investigations.
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Additional Material
Textbook: The Canadian Private investigator's Manual
Work Experience Option: (Not required for graduation.)
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Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 10® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running macOS® or later, and an email account to complete your program.
Sample Lesson
To view a Private Investigator sample lesson, click here.
Private Investigator Training Course Details
In ICS Canada’s Private Investigator course you’ll cover topics such as:
- Surveillance
- Corporate espionage
- Firearm usage and safety
- Undercover investigations
Private Investigator Student Discount Program
Personal Defense Network Video Resources
Students enrolled in the Private Investigator Career Diploma Program are eligible for discounted rates for the Personal Defense Network premium online how-to videos. This video resource site can serve as a supplement to your ICS Canada program, but is not required to complete your coursework. Learn more about this offer here.