Saturday, March 31, 2018

What To Do To Be A Private Investigator Alabama

By Timothy Howard


There are hardly any private investigators who complain about how much they make from their careers. With an ample supply of clients ranging from companies to individuals, the possibilities are endless for anyone wishing to establish himself in this line of work. If you have been thinking of starting a career as a private investigator Alabama, the following steps will help you know how to go about it.

The state has an investigation board that has the mandate to license aspiring investigators. The board was put in place with the primary aim of ensuring civilians are protected against unwarranted investigation. Besides this, it also ensures investigators operate under strict professional and ethical codes of conduct.

Before you apply, you might want to make sure you meet the minimum requirements for licensing. To begin with, you must be aged 21 years and above. Furthermore, an applicant must not have a proven history of mental ailment. Those convicted of felonies and other serious crimes are also ineligible.

There is no law that states one must have undertaken higher learning in order to qualify. Even then, there is no harm in enrolling for a criminal justice program to bolster your credentials. Education is a sure way to gain better skills and edge out competitors during the search for contracts.

All applicants are also required to sit a board issued exam before being awarded licenses. This exam is usually aimed at establishing competence. The board uses an independent exam body to administer the exam twice a year.

Upon completing your exam, the next step should be to fill a licensing application form. The board has the form on its website for applicants to download. Documents that must accompany your application include a citizenship form, affidavit, examination score, 3 fingerprint cards and a photograph. The investigation board charges $125 for application and $300 for licenses.

You should know that licenses are valid for two years. When your license expires, you must renew it by filling a renewal form. There is a renewal fee of $200 that comes with this as well. You will also be required to prove your competence from time to time by taking a set of approved competency courses.

Salary prospects are always a point of concern for career seekers. In 2012, researchers found than the annual wage in Alabama stood at an average of $58320. Some regions within the state offer better prospects nonetheless. There are investigators who have reported earning up to $131800 per year in some areas.

Depending on your precise location, you may be required to apply for liability insurance and go through a federal background check before practicing, regardless of your licensing status. This is always a requirement for those in Mobile and Montgomery. To stay out of trouble with the authorities, ask them about requirements that you may not be privy to beforehand.

The client base for investigative work is pretty large, but specialty is what dictates where you end up. Investigators usually work with defense attorneys, individuals and insurance firms. Most tend to specialize in fraud investigations as this has proven to be a more lucrative field over the years.




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