Professional Investigator Program

1. PITI100 - Foundations of Professional Investigation This is a foundational course in which the student receives an overview of eight courses of the Professional Investigator Program. The student will learn the fundamentals and basic structures of Civil and Criminal Investigation and perform the structuring and development of an investigation outline. The student will plan, organize, implement, and manage case file scenarios. The student will learn the importance of investigational ethics in the performance of his/her duties and responsibilities to the public.

2. PITI101 – Interviews & Statements This course is an in-depth study of the proper methods used by professional investigators while conducting interviews and certain civil interrogations. The student will learn how to prepare the interview format and design the structure of relevant questions. Methods of using human psychology and observations of non-verbal language are studied and learned. The student will learn the taking of face-to-face and recorded statements. The student will learn and practice the taking of declarations and interrogatories from claimants, plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses.

3. PITI102 – Covert Surveillance Covert surveillance is one of the most fundamentally requisite of all investigative skills. In this course, the student will learn planning, organizing and staffing various types of surveillances including basic and advanced vehicle surveillance, foot surveillance, progressive and night surveillance. The student will be guided through the foundational concepts of covert (hidden) surveillance, and sub-rosa (secret) photography and videotaping.

4. PITI103 – Practical Skip Tracing This course prepares the student for real world applications in skip tracing. Locating people is one of the most basic investigative skills. The student will follow disciplined fundamental steps in learning how to locate missing persons.

5. PITI104 – Legal Issues and The Court System The student in this course will learn the foundations of civil and criminal law. Trail activities will be closely studied including claims of the plaintiff, defense strategies, including those of insurance companies. The functions of administrators and litigators will be studied. The student will learn nomenclature of trial law relative to many pertinent legal issues and lawsuits.

6. PITI105 – Fraud and Insurance Investigation In this course the student will learn the complexities of two categories of professional investigation: fraud and insurance. The student will learn to investigate major forms of fraudulent activities and schemes including personal injury claims, property, casualty, life, health, Worker’s Compensation claims and vehicle accidents. Frauds perpetrated against the public will be studied to give the student a very broad overview of the workings of the Ponzi scheme and Advance Fee schemes. The student will further learn the elements of insurance defense.

7. PITI106 – Professional Investigation Management This course guides the student through the steps of opening and operating a Private Investigative agency. Students will learn how and where to obtain the necessary licenses; permits and state required insurance coverage. Students will plan and organize the opening of office space including finding location, leasing, furnishing and staffing. Students will be provided with numerous forms that will be required for office operation. The course will include the most economical methods of advertising and the proven methods of obtaining and retaining clients.

8. PITI107 – Overview of Criminal Defense Investigation This course will offer the student an overview of criminal defense methodology to prepare the student to understand criminal legal terminology, forensic evaluations of crime scenes, and types of criminal offenses and procedural techniques of law enforcement investigators. The student will review common criminal events such as homicide and suicide, larceny, burglary, and robbery, auto theft and arson, and physical and sexual assault.