Online Certificate in Professional Investigation Course Descriptions

Foundations of Professional Investigation
In this course, you will be given an overview of the investigative profession including how professional investigators assist attorneys, businesses and the public with a variety of cases. It covers the investigative process and the conduct, skills and traits required of professional investigators. As the foundation for your certificate program, this course introduces a six-step methodology that the program uses to investigate.

Internet Research
Internet intelligence is one of the newest and most vital skill sets for the professional investigator to have. This cutting-edge curriculum will expose you to both the tools and the methods for conducting investigative research online. You will explore best practices for obtaining reliable information.

Investigative Research
Traditional library and public record searches are effective and vital aspects of any investigation. Through visits to courthouses and other public offices you will learn techniques and best practices of public records research. You will also learn how to best apply and present the information obtained through this type of investigation.

Investigative Interviewing
Learn to conduct investigative interviews of various subjects, and how to plan, conduct, record, interpret and present the results of your interviews. The training consists of video clips and role-playing to demonstrate and reinforce interviewing behaviors and techniques.

Investigative Surveillance
In this course, you will learn about a variety of surveillance techniques and practice how to plan and conduct typical surveillance assignments. The course covers when to use a particular technique and how to select and use the appropriate technology. You will also learn how to prepare and present results of surveillance activities to clients.

The Law and the Professional Investigator
This course focuses on the role of the investigator within the legal system. You will learn to apply investigative skills to a range of legal matters, including civil, domestic and criminal actions. The course examines how civil and criminal cases proceed, as well as legal strategies, terminology and laws pertaining to investigative practices.

Practice Management for Professional Investigators
This final course in the certificate program will allow you to explore what it takes to establish and structure a private investigative business. The course discusses how to attract and work with clients. Creating and maintaining partnerships and networks with law enforcement, other professional investigators and those within the legal field are an integral part of this course.

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