Occupational Profile

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Private Investigator

Private investigators gather information to secure evidence relating to a wide range of private, corporate and legal interests.

Avg. Salary $35,700.00
Avg. Wage $18.10
Minimum Education Varies
Outlook N/A

Also Known As

Fraud Investigator, Investigator

NOC & Interest Codes

The Private Investigator is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Private Investigators NOC 6465.2

Private Investigators

NOC code: 6465.2

METHODICAL: Interest in compiling information for use in civil and criminal litigation matters; may also conduct polygraph tests (integrity surveys) for clients
INNOVATIVE: Interest in conducting investigations to locate missing persons
SOCIAL: Interest in speaking to question individuals to obtain information and evidence

Reading Interest Codes

A Quick Guide

The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.

Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.

A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.

A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.

Learn More

Duties

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private investigators may:

investigate and work to prevent loss caused by theft or fraud in corporations and businesses
observe disability insurance claimants to see if they are working at another job while they are claiming disability, or to see if their activities are consistent with the claimed disability
conduct searches for missing persons
gather information for lawyers about defendants or witnesses in criminal and civil court cases
gather material or evidence for individuals in divorce or child custody cases
conduct pre-employment checks
work with government agencies, for example provincial family maintenance agencies.

To gather the information and evidence they need, private investigators may:

interview employers, friends, relatives and other sources
take photographs and videotape events
locate witnesses and obtain statements from them
search through public records
keep individuals under surveillance.

Working Conditions

Updated Mar 31, 2016

No two assignments are ever the same. However, long hours and hard work are almost always involved. Much of the work is routine. Depending on the assignment, private investigators may work regular office hours or outside of the office hours, such as evenings, nights and weekends.

Strength Required Lift up to 10 kg

Skills & Abilities

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private investigators need the following characteristics:

personal integrity
physical fitness
tact and good oral and written communication skills
good interpersonal skills
a good memory
the ability to stay alert while performing routine tasks
an inquiring mind
a determination to investigate each problem in detail.

They should enjoy having work responsibilities that change frequently, taking a methodical approach to compiling information, finding innovative approaches to locating people, and working with people.

Educational Requirements

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private investigators must:

be licensed by the Government of Alberta (GOA), or employed by a licensed agency
be at least 18 years of age
be a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to work in Canada
be competent and of good character
have no serious criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted
have no outstanding charges and not be the subject of a criminal investigation
be fluent in English (to be able to communicate with the public and emergency responders in emergency situations).

Individuals may be licensed in the following classes:

security services worker (includes loss prevention worker, security alarm responder, executive protection worker and patrol dog handler)
investigator
locksmith
automotive lock bypass worker.

To perform investigative work, individuals must hold an investigator class licence. Although individuals may hold more than 1 licence class, those who hold an investigator class licence may not hold an additional licence class as a locksmith or automotive lock bypass worker.

Applicants for the investigator class licence must complete a mandatory Alberta Professional Investigator Training Course (AIT) or provide proof of equivalent training and pass the provincial final exam. For more information, including training details and approved training providers, see the GOA website.

Some agencies require job applicants to have:

valid first aid and CPR certificates
a valid driver's licence
a vehicle.

Some related experience or education is a definite asset when seeking employment. Many agencies provide additional training programs for new employees.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.

Certification Requirements

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private Investigator

Private Investigator

Private investigators gather information to secure evidence relating to a wide range of private, corporate and legal interests.

Legislation

Under Alberta's Security Services and Investigators Act, Security Services and Investigators Regulation and Security Services and Investigators (Ministerial) Regulation, you must be licensed by Alberta Justice and Solicitor General to conduct surveillance activities or seek information about crimes, misconduct or allegations; causes of accidents, injury or damage; the activities or reputation of a person; or the location of property or whereabouts of a person.

Education

An applicant for licensing must be at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen or legally entitled to work in Canada, fluent in spoken English, competent and of good character and not the subject of a criminal investigation; have no serious criminal record or outstanding criminal charge; and successfully complete training and examination requirements. For official, detailed information about licensing requirements, visit the Alberta Justice and Solicitor General website.

Working in Alberta

Private investigators who are licensed and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for licensing in Alberta if they meet the training standards for Alberta. In order to perform investigation work in Alberta an Alberta licence is required. For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory? and the Alberta regulatory authority (below).

Contact Details

Security Services and Investigators Program
Alberta Justice and Solicitor General
9th Floor John E. Brownlee Building
10365 - 97 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5J 3W7
Phone number: 1-877-462-0791
Fax number: 780-427-4670
Website: www.securityprograms.alberta.ca

Employment & Advancement

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private investigators are employed by investigation companies and security agencies. Some start their own agencies.

To open a private investigation agency, a contract business licence is required from the GOA. Applicants for this licence must:

be a registered company in Canada with an address in Alberta
hold a business licence or permit in the municipality where the business operates, if applicable
hold $1 million liability insurance
have business owners, partners or a board of directors who have no serious criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted, have no outstanding criminal charges and are not the subject of a criminal investigation
pay a $1,500 licensing fee for an agency (based on a 3-year term).

In the case of sole proprietorship, applicants must meet both business and individual (see Educational Requirements above) licensing requirements. Sole proprietors must submit the business and individual licensing application forms and documents, but are only required to pay the $1,500 business licensing fee.

Advancement opportunities are limited.

Private investigators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6541: Security guards and related security service occupations. In Alberta, 76% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Wage & Salary

Updated Mar 31, 2016

Private investigators usually are paid a commission according to the fee paid by the client. Earnings vary enormously depending on employer and experience.

Private investigators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6541: Security guards and related security service occupations.

According to the 2015 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Security guards and related security service occupations occupational group earned on average from $15.67 to $24.66 an hour. The overall average wage was $18.10 an hour. For more information, see the Security guards and related security service occupations wage profile.

Related High School Subjects

English Language Arts
Health, Recreation and Human Services
- Legal Studies

Private Investigator

Related Education

Bow Valley College

Grant MacEwan University

Medicine Hat College

Private Investigator

Legislation

Education

Working in Alberta

Contact Details