How to Become a Private Investigator in North Dakota

Do you want to become a private investigator?

Then, you should consider becoming one in North Dakota.

This state offers plenty of work opportunities, so you can. have a flourishing career.

However, you should first know what are the requirements for this job.

Popular Programs

So, read on for more info!

Private Investigator Requirements and Duties

Just like with any other job, there are some prerequisites to becoming a private investigator.

To work as a private investigator in North Dakota, you need to:

• Finish high school or get a GED.
• Be 18 years old or older.
• Not have done serious crimes like felonies, violent misdemeanors, or theft.
• Be mentally fit to do the job well.
• Have shown good character.

Even if you’ve made mistakes in the past, you might still become a private investigator if the board believes you’ve changed for the better or if your past wouldn’t affect your work.

Lots of private investigators decide to take a course to get better at their job.

If you’ve worked in law enforcement before, you might not need to take a class.

To be a PI, you need at least 100 hours of experience.

Here are some things PIs do:

• Watching one person at a time
• Using high-quality cameras to record things from far away
• Taking clear pictures from a distance
• Staying healthy
• Knowing what their clients want.

Private Investigator Training in North Dakota

Of course, you also need training before you can start your new career.

So, what are the requirements?

To become a private investigator:

• You need a high school diploma or something like it.
• You should work for 2,000 hours at a detective agency.
• You must pass a 150-question test given by ND PISB.
• It’s not a must, but a certificate from a college or university in private investigations could be really useful

Let’s have a look at the criminal justice programs available in North Dakota.

University of North Dakota

Earn a Criminal Justice bachelor’s degree from UND and step into the front lines of keeping your community safe and fair.

This degree opens doors to various roles, from law enforcement to victim advocacy.

Skills you’ll gain:

• Understanding of policing, courts, corrections, and juvenile justice.
• Knowledge of law, criminal behavior, crime prevention, and social justice.
• Insight into the entire criminal justice system.
• Hands-on experience through internships and working with industry pros.

You’ll develop key skills like:

• Planning strategically
• Conducting justice research
• Effective communication
• Ethical leadership

Get ahead with our Accelerated 3+3 Law Degree program.

By counting credits from your first year of law school, you can finish both your Criminal Justice bachelor’s and Law degrees in just six years.

Becoming Licensed as a Private Investigator in North Dakota

Before you can get your license to be a private investigator, you must pass a written test in North Dakota.

This test has 150 questions, and it’s a good idea to study beforehand.

To take the test, you need to contact the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board.

They’ll schedule your exam in Bismarck.

If you don’t pass the test, you can try again after 30 days.

But if you fail twice, you have to wait a whole year before trying again.

After you finish your training and pass the exam, you can apply for your North Dakota private investigator license.

You have to pay $130 for the license and a one-time fee of $100 for your first application.

To apply, you need to download some forms from the state’s website.

These forms include:

• Your application
• Permission for a background check
• Proof of your training
• Your work history for the last ten years

Once you get your license, you have to make sure it is valid.

Private investigator licenses in this state require renewal after 2 years.

To renew your license, you need to pay a fee and attend some extra education classes.

Salaries for Private Investigators in North Dakota

Now that you finally got your license, the next step is finding your first job.

Of course, you might also be interested in how much you can make.

You should know that private detectives in North Dakota are making about $48,902 per year.

If you want to have more info regarding salaries in this state, read the following table.

Private Investigator by State