How to Become a Private Investigator in Nebraska

When I was a child, I had aspirations of becoming a private investigator.

Yet, life led me down a different road.

Now, I have the chance to assist you in pursuing your dream career, irrespective of the field:

• Medicine
• Law enforcement
• Technicians

So, if you’re in Nebraska and considering a path as a private investigator, let my guide lead the way!

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Private Investigator Requirements and Responsibilities in Nebraska

The Nebraska Secretary of State, Licensing Division oversees private investigators in this state.

It’s the Private Detective Statutes Title 71 that governs the licensing process.

This requires these professionals to be licensed.

There are some prerequisites to meet by future private investigators.

These requirements are listed below:

• Minimum age of 21
• Have the right to legally work in the US
• Experience of 10,000 hours accumulated over 5 years
• Being clear of:
  • Convictions related to crimes of moral turpitude
  • The illegal use or possession of a dangerous weapon
• Pass background checks made by:
  • The FBI
  • The Nevada Department of Public Safety
  • The California Department of Justice
    • This check is needed by those who lived or worked in California

There are two types of PIs that you can become.

Each of them requires experience and passing an exam.

The PI types are:

• Private Detective
  • You’ll need 3,000 hours of experience, or 2,500 hours and an Associate’s degree, or 2,000 hours with a Bachelor’s degree
• Plain Clothes Investigator does not need experience and he is employed by an agency

Some of the tasks of a PI include:

• Watching people on your own
• Recording events from far away in high detail
• Taking clear pictures from a distance
• Staying healthy
• Knowing what your clients need

Not all jobs are made equally, and this means other tasks and duties may appear that the list above doesn’t mention.

Private Investigator Training in Nebraska

I already mentioned you need to accumulate 2,000 hours of experience per year, for 5 years in a row.

There is a good side to this aspect because you can satisfy part of the experience requirement through education.

This education and training has to be in one of these areas:

• Police science
• Criminal justice

However, these two areas of study will give you a different amount of experience hours, based on the degree you want.

These degrees and experience hours are as follows:

• An associate’s degree in either field will cover 1,333 hours
• A bachelor’s degree in either field will cover 3,000 hours

Let’s see where can earn one of these degrees!

University of Nebraska

This university offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in two locations:

• Omaha
• Lincoln

The programs can be attended on campus or online, and possibly a combination of these.

The university also offers field experience so that the students would be better prepared for their future careers.

Central Community College

This college offers a Police Science Certificate.

This program can be attended before going for an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree.

There are 5 total mandatory courses for this program.

Each course will give you 3 credits, for a total of 15 credits for the program.

Becoming Licensed as a Private Investigator in Nebraska

I already mentioned you’ll need to pass an exam to become a licensed private investigator.

Before signing up for the test you’ll have to ensure you met the requirements mentioned higher in the article.

At this point, you’ll need to:

• Fill out an application form
• Pay the exam fee – $100
• Pay the application fee which you can’t receive back – $20
• Pay the background investigation deposit – $750
  • If you apply for more licenses, each will cost an additional $250

You’ll need some additional documents as well:

• A photo made in the passport style
• A child support form – filled out and only if this is the case for you
• A copy of one of the following documents:
  • Birth certificate
  • Passport
  • Naturalization papers
• A Certificate of Good Standing
• A Certificate of Incorporation from the state you are incorporated in
• Three (3) fingerprint cards
  • Accompanied by a fingerprint processing fee of $37.50 – payable to Nevada DPS
  • For the California check, the fingerprint processing fee is $32 – payable to CDOJ
• 3 Notarized Certificates of Support of Experience and Qualifications forms – at minimum
• 3 Notarized Certificates in Support of Personal References forms – at minimum
• Diplomas and transcripts showing proof of education
• Proof of 3 years of tax returns
  • This includes all these forms as well:
    • W2s,
    • K1s,
    • 1099s

If you’re accepted it’s time you took the exam.

The exam is organized quarterly in Las Vegas or Carson City.

The passing score is 75.

Those who fail must pay $100 to retake it.

Those who pass will need to show proof of an insurance policy of a minimum of $200,000.

You’ll have to keep your license active by renewing it every year online for a $500 fee and done by July 1st.

Salaries for Private Investigators in Nebraska

All the effort invested in studying and preparation would be futile if the compensation wasn’t satisfactory.

On average, private investigators nationwide earn around $50,902 annually.

In Nebraska, these professionals typically command a slightly higher average salary of about $47,802 per year.

For cities where salaries might be even higher, refer to the next table.

Regional Salary in Nebraska

Private Investigator by State