Do you ever sit behind your desk at work and wish you could help people solve particular problems? If this sounds like you, you should think about changing or even starting a new career. More specifically, if you’re someone who likes or needs to help people solve problems, you should strongly consider becoming a private investigator! If you live in Manitoba, starting a career as a private investigator will open up opportunities within your community that you never thought were possible. The thing is, you likely want to know where and how you can get started. We’re here to tell you that you’ve made a great first step by reading this article. We’ve got everything you need to know about private investigation training in Manitoba.
What is a Private Investigator?
A private investigator is an individual trained in investigative law practices like surveillance, locates, background checks, asset searches, and more. They are similar to detectives in many ways, and if they have the required permits, can also carry a gun. Private investigators are often obligated to present case findings and research in court or to clients as evidence.
It’s important to remember that a private investigator isn’t allowed to act as a police officer. For example, a private investigator is not legally allowed to participate in warranted searches or arrest anyone.
Why Become a Private Investigator?
More and more companies across Canada are starting to understand the value of hiring and working with private investigators. With so much of the world now doing business virtually, theft is changing and becoming even harder to track down or trace. Even personal problems have changed. People have their social media accounts hacked, emails bugged, and even delivery packages stolen from the front porch.
It’s clear that private investigation today is very different from the type of work that was done just ten years ago. The industry has changed for the better, which means that private investigators need to keep educating themselves on the latest developments in investigative techniques and equipment. As a result, the cases a private investigator takes on are never boring. In addition, the evidence and research a private investigator provides to their clients are highly valued. Good private investigators help people to solve problems by focusing on facts and the truth. This is something some jobs don’t offer, which is why you should consider a career as a private investigator.
How Do I Become a Private Investigator in Manitoba?
To become a private investigator in Manitoba, you will first need to answer a few questions:
- Am I at least 18 years old?
- Do I have a clean criminal record?
- Am I eligible to work in Canada?
If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to all of the above, congratulations! You’re eligible to earn your private investigator’s license in Manitoba. However, before you can apply for your private investigator’s license, you need to take a training course.
The private investigator training course is approximately 60 hours in length. The great part about the number of hours is that you can complete the course in way less time than it would take to complete most college or university degrees. Instead of spending most of your time in a classroom, you can get out into the field and help people.
Course material includes,
- Introduction to Private Investigation
- Provincial and Federal Statutes
- Self-Management Skills
- Criminal and Civil Law
- Principles of Communication and Interaction
- Investigative Techniques
- Principles of Ethical Reasoning and Decision Making
You might be interested to know that even with COVID-19, you can still take the private investigator training course. Many companies and private investigation agencies like The Smith Investigation Agency offer online private investigator training. This means that you can take the training from your couch and still earn your license.
How to Find the Best Private Investigator Training Course
It is really important to make sure that you take a private investigation training course that will equip you with the right skills. After all, if you want to make a career out of private investigative work, you’ll want to make sure that you get all the right training! So, first thing’s first. A quick Internet search for private investigation courses in Manitoba will give you an extensive list of options. You’ll need to go through these options to narrow down your choice. In order to do this, you will need to look for things like:
- Positive reviews from clients
- Positive reviews from students
- Better Business Bureau Rating
- Awards
- Accreditations
Ask a Few Questions …
Based on the information above, you can create a list of several private investigator training courses that you would want to take. At this point, you will want to call the agencies or individuals you’ve selected. Calling the agency or individual will give you an opportunity to validate your research. You can ask questions about the training course and discover whether or not you think the option is right for you. Questions to ask include:
- Do you offer online training?
- What accreditations do you have?
- Where is your office located?
- How much do you charge for the private investigator training course?
- How long have you been teaching this course?
- Can I speak to some references?
Doing this type of legwork will not only help you pick the best training course but it will also help you to start developing those private investigator skills. Once you find the right private investigator training course, you can register, pay the fees and start learning. Upon completion of your training, you can then write the exam. When you pass the exam, you will have successfully earned your private investigator license, and you can start working in Manitoba.
Train and Work with the Best in the Business
Here at The Smith Investigation Agency, we offer private investigator training to residents of Manitoba. We have won several awards including the Consumer’s Choice Award for Best Private Investigators from 2017 – 2020. You can find some great reviews of our agency and training courses online, in addition to the fact that we maintain an A+ with the Better Business Bureau.
The Smith Investigation Agency is now offering private investigator training courses in Manitoba. Want to train with us? Reach out today!
Phone: (888) 950-4113 or Email: info@smithinvestigationagency.com
About the Author
Whitney Joy Smith
Founder of The Smith Investigation Agency in 2014, Whitney Joy Smith’s extensive background as a private investigator is matched only by her passion for the role. A graduate of several respected institutions, including Northwest Florida State College and George Brown College, her early years in life were spent between Canada and the United States. This education, along with her formative years as a private investigator in various agencies, informed much of her knowledge of private investigative laws, regulations, and operating standards in both countries.
The recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades, including the Consumers Choice Award, Best in Ottawa, and many others, Whitney takes pride in working closely with her ever-growing agency to raise the bar, maintain compliance, and meet the investigative needs of clients. Whitney is active in various membership and supporting roles, including the CPIRC, CBN, CAPI, Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and many others. Her experience-driven, thought-provoking articles have been featured in everything from Readers Digest to Business News Daily, and she strives to continually redefine standards for those in the private investigative and security fields. Learn more about Whitney and the team at The Smith Investigation Agency today.
