Course Description

Introduction to Private Investigation

Welcome to the Private Investigators Course. This course will provide you with the basic fundamentals of private investigations. This course will not certify you as a private investigator. State license and experience requirements may apply!

Charles Barlow, MA, CLPI

Glendale School of Security & Investigative Services was founded by Charles E. Barlow, a U.S. Army veteran, with the mission of providing professional security training and offering free training opportunities to homeless veterans seeking a new career path. Charles E. Barlow is a retired law enforcement officer and criminal justice professor with more than two decades of experience in the security industry.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome Message

    • PI Welcome Video

    • Instructor Message

    • Preface

    • Introduction

    • Copyright

    • Disclaimer

    • Table of Contents
  • 2

    Module I: Foundations of Private Investigation

    • Chapter 1: Introduction to Private Investigations & History

    • Chapter 2: Licensing, Laws, and Legal Boundaries

    • Chapter 3: Ethics and Professional Conduct
  • 3

    Module II: Core Investigative Operations

    • Chapter 4: Surveillance Operations

    • Chapter 5: Investigative Techniques

    • Chapter 6: Report Writing and Documentation
  • 4

    Module III: Legal Application and Evidence

    • Chapter 7: Courtroom Testimony and Evidence Handling
  • 5

    Module IV: Advanced and Specialized Investigations

    • Chapter 8: Specialized Investigations
  • 6

    Module V: Technology and Modern Investigation

    • Chapter 9: Technology and Databases in Private Investigation
  • 7

    Module VI: Professional Practice and Client Relations

    • Chapter 10: Professionalism, Communication, and Client Relations
  • 8

    Module VII: Risk Management and Professional Survival

    • Chapter 11: Risk Management, Safety, and Professional Survival
  • 9

    Module VIII: Career Development and the Future of Investigation

    • Chapter 12: The Future of Private Investigation and Career Development
  • 10

    Appendices

    • Appendix A: Investigative Process Models

    • Appendix B: Surveillance Field Guide

    • Appendix C: Sample Investigative Reports

    • Appendix D: Legal Awareness and Operational Boundaries

    • Appendix E: Field Documentation Templates and Operational Forms

    • Appendix F: Code of Ethics and Professional Oath

    • Appendix G: Career Development and Professional Pathways

    • Appendix H: Glossary of Private Investigation Terms
  • 11

    Final Examination

    • Final Exam