Georgia Private Detective Pre-Licensing Course
On-Demand CourseCourse Overview
Georgia Private Detective 70-Hour Course - State Board Approved PI Training by Active Investigator Catherine Flowers. Master surveillance, court testimony, and Georgia laws (O.C.G.A. 43-38). Real-world training from practicing PI with decades of field experience.
What's Included
- • 70 hours of comprehensive training
- • Professional certification upon completion
- • Access to course materials
Learning Objectives
- • Upon completion of this 70-hour state-approved course, students will meet all requirements of Georgia Board Rule 509-3-.06 and be fully qualified to apply for Georgia Private Detective registration with licensed agencies or pursue company licensure under O.C.G.A. § 43-38.
- • Master Georgia Private Investigation Laws: Students will demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of
- • O.C.G.A. § 43-38 Private Detective Business Act - Complete statute analysi
- • Georgia Administrative Rules 509-1 through 509-6 - All board regulations
- • Licensing qualifications and disqualifiers - Eligibility requirements
- • Weapons permit procedures (Rule 509-4-.01) - Armed detective authorization
- • Advertising compliance (Rule 509-4-.08) - Legal marketing requirements
- • Continuing education mandates (Rule 509-3-.12) - Professional development obligations
- • Georgia Criminal Procedure Mastery
- • Achieve expert-level understanding of:
- • Georgia arrest laws (O.C.G.A. § 17-4-1 through 17-4-62) - Authority and limitations
- • Citizen's arrest principles - Post-2021 law changes and restrictions
- • Search and seizure procedures (O.C.G.A. § 17-5-20) - Warrant requirements
- • 4th Amendment applications - Constitutional protections for private investigators
- • Evidence collection standards - Chain of custody and admissibility
- • Due process requirements - 14th Amendment protections
- • Professional Surveillance Techniques
- • Develop advanced skills in:
- • Mobile surveillance operations - Vehicle following and positioning
- • Stationary surveillance methods - Fixed-point observation techniques
- • Foot surveillance tactics - Pedestrian tracking and blending
- • Georgia Eavesdropping Act compliance (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-66) - One-party consent rules
- • Hidden camera restrictions (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62) - Privacy law boundaries
- • Reasonable expectation of privacy - Legal surveillance parameters
- • Counter-surveillance detection - Protecting operational security
- • Expert Interview and Interrogation Skills
- • Master professional techniques including:
- • P.E.A.C.E. interview methodology - Preparation through Evaluation process
- • Rapport building strategies - Cooperative witness engagement
- • De-escalation techniques - Hostile witness management
- • Cognitive interviewing methods - Memory enhancement techniques
- • Deception detection indicators - Behavioral analysis skills
- • Statement admissibility standards - Legal confession requirements
- • Miranda rights applications - When warnings are required
- • Professional Courtroom Testimony
- • Develop courtroom excellence through:
- • Direct examination preparation - Presenting investigative findings
- • Cross-examination survival - Maintaining credibility under pressure
- • Evidence presentation techniques - Visual aids and documentation
- • Professional appearance standards - Courtroom demeanor and dress
- • Voir dire process understanding - Jury selection involvement
- • Discovery compliance (GA Code § 9-11-26) - Civil case requirements
- • Criminal discovery rules (GA Code § 17-16) - Prosecution case support
- • Specialized Investigation Methods
- • Gain expertise in high-demand areas:
- • Insurance fraud investigation - SIU collaboration and claim analysis
- • Workers compensation surveillance - Activity documentation and reporting
- • Family law investigations - Divorce and custody case support
- • Child custody evaluations (O.C.G.A. § 19-9-3) - Best interests standards
- • Missing persons cases - Skip tracing and location techniques
- • Corporate investigations - Employee misconduct and theft cases
- • Background investigations - FCRA compliance and screening procedures
- • Asset searches - Hidden property and financial investigations
- • Private Investigation Business Operations
- • Master entrepreneurial skills including:
- • Client intake procedures - Professional consultation methods
- • Contract and retainer agreements - Legal protection and payment terms
- • Professional report writing - Board Rule 509-4-.06 compliance
- • Case management systems - Efficient workflow and documentation
- • Fee structures and billing - Profitable pricing strategies
- • Subcontractor management - Team building and delegation
- • HIPAA compliance - Medical record investigation requirements
- • Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act - Financial information protection
- • Professional Ethics and Legal Compliance
- • Demonstrate commitment to:
- • Georgia PI Code of Ethics (GAPPI Articles I-VII) - Professional standards
- • Client confidentiality requirements - Information protection obligations
- • Conflict of interest avoidance - Professional integrity maintenance
- • Transparency in client communications - Honest reporting and billing
- • Cooperation with law enforcement - Professional relationship building
- • Continuing education compliance - Career-long learning commitment
Course Content
70 Hour Course Curriculm
- • This comprehensive 70-hour Georgia Private Detective Business Course provides complete training for aspiring private investigators seeking Georgia state licensing. The curriculum covers essential legal foundations including Georgia criminal law, rules of evidence, and criminal procedure, while developing practical skills in interviewing techniques, surveillance operations, and report writing. Students learn specialized investigation methods for insurance fraud, family law matters, missing persons cases, and corporate investigations. The course emphasizes professional ethics, courtroom testimony procedures, and business operations including client relations, case management, and confidentiality requirements. Instruction includes crime scene analysis, undercover operations, protective security, and information sources including database research and open source intelligence. All content aligns with Georgia State Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies requirements and is taught by certified instructor Catherine Flowers, a veteran investigator with over 25 years of experience. Upon completion, students receive a certificate qualifying them to apply for Georgia private detective licensing and demonstrate compliance with state educational requirements for professional practice in the investigative field.
Your Instructor
Catherine D. Flowers
Catherine Flowers is a veteran private investigator with over 25 years of professional experience and a former US Military Police Corps officer with an extensive law enforcement background. As a licensed private investigation professional, she brings real-world expertise in surveillance operations, criminal investigations, evidence collection, and courtroom testimony to her training programs. Licensed by the Georgia State Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies as a certified classroom instructor, Catherine specializes in Georgia private detective licensing requirements, continuing education, and professional development. Her comprehensive training covers criminal procedure, evidence handling, surveillance techniques, family law investigations, insurance fraud cases, and investigative ethics. With decades of hands-on experience in private investigation services, background checks, missing persons cases, and security operations, Catherine provides students with practical knowledge essential for success in the private detective profession. As a frequent guest speaker at industry conferences, she shares her expertise with professionals nationwide and stays current with evolving investigative techniques and legal requirements. Catherine's expertise encompasses database research, open source intelligence, witness interviews, report writing, and legal compliance, making her an authoritative instructor for aspiring private investigators seeking Georgia licensing and career advancement in the investigative field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 70-hour course really mandatory for ALL private detective work in Georgia?
Yes, absolutely. Georgia Board Rule 509-3-.06 requires ALL private detective license holders and registered employees to complete at least 70 hours of instruction from a Georgia Board approved provider. There are no exceptions - regardless of your background, education, or experience, you cannot legally work as a private detective in Georgia without completing this course.
What makes Catherine Flowers qualified to teach this course?
Catherine Flowers holds Georgia Instructor License #CLTR001214 (active through 2027) and is the owner of Cat's Eye Private Investigations, LLC. Unlike retired instructors, she maintains an active PI practice while teaching, ensuring students learn current industry practices and real-world applications.
What happens after I complete the 70-hour course?
Upon successful completion, you'll receive a certificate of completion that satisfies Georgia Board Rule 509-3-.06 requirements.
What about continuing education requirements?
Georgia requires 16 hours annually of approved continuing education for all registered private detective employees. We offer continuing education courses to help you meet this requirement and stay current with industry developments.
What laws will I learn about Georgia private investigation?
Comprehensive legal training covers: O.C.G.A. § 43-38 - Complete Private Detective Business Act O.C.G.A. § 16-11-66 - Georgia Eavesdropping Act (recording laws) O.C.G.A. § 16-11-62 - Hidden camera restrictions O.C.G.A. § 17-4 series - Arrest and detention laws Title 24 - Georgia Rules of Evidence Board Rules 509-1 through 509-6 - Administrative regulations
Is the course approved by the Georgia State Board?
Yes, absolutely. Catherine Flowers holds Georgia Instructor License #CLTR001214 specifically for private detective training. This course fully satisfies Georgia Board Rule 509-3-.06 requirements for the mandatory 70-hour curriculum.
Is this course really 100% on-demand and self-paced?
Yes, absolutely! Our Georgia Private Detective 70-hour course is completely on-demand, allowing you to study anytime, anywhere, at your own pace. You have 24/7 access to all course materials, video lectures, and resources through our secure online learning platform.
How soon will I get my certificate after completing the course?
You will receive your certificate of instruction immediately after successfully completing the course, whether it's live or on-demand. For live courses, certificates are provided on the same day upon course completion.
How long do I have to complete the 70-hour course?
You have 6 months (183 days) from enrollment to complete all course requirements. This provides ample time to balance your studies with work, family, and other commitments while ensuring you meet Georgia's training deadlines.
Can I log in and out as needed, or must I complete modules in one sitting?
Complete flexibility! You can: Log in and out as many times as needed Pause mid-module and resume exactly where you left off Review completed sections unlimited times
What Our Students Say
"Catherine Flowers delivered exceptional active shooter response training for our organization that went far beyond basic protocols. Her real-world experience and emphasis on practical application made the training immediately valuable for our staff. She understands the unique challenges faced by victim service organizations and tailored the content to address our specific needs. The combination of situational awareness training and hands-on scenarios gave our team the confidence to implement critical safety protocols. Her professional approach and extensive knowledge made this one of the most valuable training investments for our staff's safety preparedness."
Rhonda Raney
Executive Director of InterAct in Raleigh
"Cat Flowers is a seasoned professional whose experience enriches the classroom. We highly recommend her for private investigative CEUs."
Lawing Management Group
Owner
"Cat and her PI Leadership Academy is a well oiled machine with great experience and knowledge of several topics. Cat is experienced and knowledgeable on several topics which makes it a must to attend one of her classes. As the others have stated, she is professional, polished, accomodating and will make sure that everyone gets it. I highly recommend attending any of her classes at her PI Leadership Academy."
Maragaret Bell
Retired Captain, LEO, PI
"Cat is awesome! The energy and enthusiasm she has is contagious. It made the training all the more easier. We will be using her as a go-to for all our training CE needs."
J. Dozier
Private Investigator