The course need not only appeal to those wanting to start an agency of their own, but also to anyone wanting to have more investigative power / skills in their own business and private life. The course is intended to equip the student with many means of accessing all forms of information in a legal and moral manner.

Prospects

In the UK as well as many other western countries, there is no requirement for any form of licence of other permit / control at this time. One can start this service industry on a shoestring while keeping their day job. As the business grows it can provide an extremely high income for those willing to work hard. Simply checking the hourly rate of local detective agencies will prove this point. The need for the private investigator is growing at a very rapid rate.

Entry Requirements:

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

Course Syllabus:

Life as a private detective / investigator, tools of the trade, finding the right work

A first lesson in theft

Theft continued, robbery, handling stolen goods, bilking, criminal damage, burglary.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act

The Data Protection Act

Tracing

Surveillance techniques

Electronic equipment, polygraph calibrator (lie detector) counter espionage

Attending court

Repossession, process serving, statement taking, invoicing and other paperwork

Means reporting, vetting, interviewing and interrogation

Business skills for setting up an agency, skills of self-preservation, specialising

Tutor Support:

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

Study Hours:

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 112 hrs

Qualifications:

On completion of your course, you will receive two qualifications:

Qualification 1: Private Investigating Diploma

Private Investigating Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 4 Private Investigating Award

This Course leads to an NCFE Level 4 Award Certificate for successful learners. That means that it is independantly accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 4 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 4, NCFE attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 4 national qualification.