Becoming a licensed Private Investigator is a challenging but rewarding journey. If you have the goal of becoming a licensed Private Investigator in the state of Florida, online training courses are a valuable resource. Below, we’ll walk you through the steps necessary to complete your mission.
Legal Requirements for Private Investigators in Florida
Before you can begin online courses to become a licensed Private Investigator, it’s important to check off all the boxes. In Florida, eligibility requirements include:
- Candidates must be at least 18 years old.
- Candidates must be a citizen or legal resident alien of the United States or have been granted authority to work in this country by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
As soon as a candidate has verified that they meet the appropriate requirements to become a Private Investigator, they must obtain the appropriate training for licensure.
Training and Experience Requirements for Florida Private Investigators
There’s a two-step process each candidate must go through to obtain a Private Investigator “CC” Intern license in Florida. Candidates must complete the two steps below to successfully become a Private Investigator.
Step 1: The candidate must enroll in and pass a 40-hour Private Investigator “CC” Intern Training Course from an approved school such as the National Investigative Training Academy, Inc. (NITA).
Step 2: The candidate must apply for a Florida “CC” Intern License with the Department of Agriculture and obtain a sponsor to work with for two years. The sponsor must meet specific requirements and be a C Class, M Class, or MA Class Private Investigator.
Once these two steps have been completed, it’s time to apply for an official Florida “CC” Private Investigator Intern License.
Applying for a Florida Private Investigator Intern License
When a candidate applies for a Class CC Private Investigator Intern License, they must submit proof of successful completion of a 40-hour training course with topics in general investigative techniques and Florida Statutes. Once the training has been completed, the candidate will receive a Certificate of Completion which is issued from an approved training provider and is labeled form FDACS-16062
All candidates can submit their Florida “CC” Intern application in person to the nearest Regional Office or mail it to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, Division of Licensing, P.O. Box 5757, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5767.
Before mailing in their application, all applicants should check to make sure they have included all of the required documents including:
- Proof of Training
- Letter of Intent To Sponsor Private Investigator Intern
- Proof of Work Authorization
- Color Photograph
- Fingerprint Submission
- Applicable Fees including an application fee, licensing fee, fingerprint processing fee, and fingerprint retention fee
All fees sent with the application are payable via check or money order. Upon approval, the candidate’s information will be released for licensure. Also note that if you apply in person, most regional offices have fingerprinting and passport photo services.
Reputable Online Private Investigator Training Courses
Once you’ve confirmed that you meet all the necessary requirements to become a licensed Private Investigator, it’s time to register for online courses. In Florida, the most reputable approved training provider for online Private Investigator education courses is the National Investigative Training Academy, Inc., (NITA).
Benefits of online training courses include:
- Completing online training at your own pace
- Accessing resources anytime, anywhere
- Completing final testing online
- Receiving networking assistance through the Florida Association of Licensed Investigators and Florida Association of Private Investigators
At NITA, our online courses for becoming a Private Investigator in Florida are approved by the Florida Department of Education, Commission of Independent Education. Once you enroll in our virtual program, you can enjoy taking classes from the comfort of your home or wherever you are in the world. With online registration available 24/7, you can begin as soon as today!
Call 1-800-730-NITA or contact us online to register for your first online Private Investigator course or to learn more about our pre-license training or professional development courses now!
Our enrollment counselors are here to answer any questions you might have about our state- and board-approved status, pre-licensing training, or professional development programs.