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| Definition of Certification Program |
The designations CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATOR and its abbreviation, CPI, and CERTIFIED SECURITY PROFESSIONAL and its abbreviation, CSP, are adopted for use by the California Association of Licensed Investigators.
| Purpose of Program |
CALI's "George E. Posner Memorial" Certification Program is a recognized symbol of excellence and achievement in the investigator and security professions. The purpose of the program is to raise the professional standing of investigators and security professionals and to give special recognition to those individuals by testing knowledge about their profession.
By joining a select group of men and women who have made this commitment to excellence, you will demonstrate that you have the drive, determination and ability to be among the very best in your profession. Currently, just over 100 of the nearly 10,000 California licensed private investigators and private patrol operators hold the CPI or CSP distinction.
Whenever you see the symbol CPI or CSP following someone's name, you know that those individuals have made the commitment to being the very best in their field.
| Program Administration |
The program shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the California Association of Licensed Investigators. The Board of Directors, in accordance with the Bylaws of the Association, may designate an individual or committee to administer the program.
| Use of Designation |
The designations Certified Professional Investigator or Certified Security Professional, or the abbreviations CPI or CSP, may be used only by a designee who is certified under the provisions of this program. Upon termination of the certification, use of the designations or their abbreviations shall be discontinued.
The certification is not to be considered permanent and will continue only as long as the certified member continues and sustains the designation as set forth by the Association.
| Applicant Qualifications |
The applicant must be a licensed Private Investigator or the equivalent designation in her or his jurisdiction to qualify for the Certified Professional Investigator designation. The applicant must be a licensed Private Patrol Operator or the equivalent designation in her or his jurisdiction to qualify for the Certified Security Professional designation.
If the applicant is a licensed Private Investigator or licensed Private Patrol Operator in the State of California, she or he must have been licensed for a minimum of three consecutive years immediately preceding application for certification.
If the applicant resides outside the State of California, and is not licensed in California, she or he must have been qualified under the respective laws or regulations in her or his jurisdiction to operate as a Private Investigator or Private Patrol Operator, for a minimum of three consecutive years immediately preceding application for certification.
Proof of licensure, or its equivalent in non-licensing jurisdictions, must be submitted with the original application for certification.
The applicant must have earned a minimum of four continuing education credits in the three years immediately preceding application for certification.
Membership in CALI is not required for certification.
| Classifications of Certification |
There will be no distinction or classes of certification except that those who, upon reaching their seventieth birthday, and are currently certified, shall be entitled to "Life" certification. Such classification will be exempt from the re-certification requirements and all fees shall be waived.
| Completed Application |
A completed application shall indicate compliance with the licensing qualifications as set forth in this program, and shall include proof of licensure, or its equivalent if outside the State of California; shall provide proof of the required continuing education credits; and all applicable fees.
If the application is incomplete, the application, along with documentation and fees, will be returned for revision and resubmission.
| Examination |
The examination shall be prepared by the Board of Directors or its designees. There shall be a separate examination for the Certified Professional Investigator designation and for the Certified Security Professional designation. The examination shall be administered a minimum of twice a year.
Each examination shall consist of a minimum of 100 questions relative to the respective investigative and security professions. The examination may focus on the laws and regulations of California and the United States and may also include questions of general investigative or security knowledge and professional conduct. In preparing the examination, the source of the question and the answer shall be noted. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the examination.
The examination shall be reviewed every two years, commencing June 1993, by the Board of Directors or its designee(s).
| Re-examination |
Re-examination may be scheduled for the applicant's failure to successfully pass the test or failure to take a scheduled test. There is no limit to the number of times an applicant can take the exam. A re-examination fee shall be charged for each re-examination. If the applicant fails the test, re-examination will be automatically scheduled for the next testing opportunity.
The re-examination fee shall not be charged if the applicant provides notice to the Association within at least five business days of the scheduled examination that she or he will not be taking the scheduled examination.
| Appeal |
An appeal may be made based on a contention that the test or scoring is inaccurate. The appeal must be made in writing within 30 days of receiving the test results, and must be made to the President of the Association. The Association President will have the authority to make a determination of the validity of the appeal, and shall advise the appellant in writing within 30 days of the filing of the appeal of her or his decision.
If the appeal is denied, the appellant may then request the Board of Directors to review the matter. Such request must be made in writing within 30 days of receiving the decision of the President, and shall be scheduled for review of the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
| Certification Renewal |
All CPI and CSP Designees, except Life designees, shall renew their designation biennially. Renewal must be completed within thirty days of the notification of renewal, on the designated form, accompanied by proof of earned credits, and must meet all licensing, credit, and fee requirements.
Non-compliance shall result in the revocation of the certification designation. Restoration may be made by the Association upon written request and upon proof of satisfying all of the renewal requirements.
A CPI and CSP designee must achieve four (4) credits for each designation during the biennial renewal period. Credits may not be carried forward from previous renewal periods.
| Continuing Education Credits |
Continuing education credits may be earned in the following ways:
- Service as a member of the Board of Directors of CALI or an investigative or security related association 1 credit for each full year of service
- Service as a CALI District Governor or the equivalent in an investigative or security related association 1 credit for each full year of service
- Attendance at a CALI or investigative or security related educational program 1 credit for each 6 hours of training
- Attendance at a recognized course of instruction in an investigative or security related field 1 credit for each 6 hours of instruction
- Publication of a major technical article in the CALI Newsletter or other publication in an investigative or security related field 2 credits for each article
- Publication of a bound book on an investigative or security related subject 4 credits for each book
- Appointment as an instructor in an investigative or security related field 1 credit for each quarter/semester of instruction
- Speaker at a professional educational seminar on a subject in an investigative or security related subject 1 credit for each 2 hours of instruction
| Fees |
Certification program fees shall be established by the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors has established the following fees for CALI members: the original application fee for each certification is $85; the biennial renewal fee is $25 for each designation; the re-examination fee is $35; and the reinstatement fee is $25 for each designation.
For non-members of CALI, all fees will be 50% higher.
| Confidentiality |
Information contained in the application for certification and related documents, as well as test questions and answers and test scores, will not be disclosed or divulged. In the event of an appeal, the records will not be destroyed until the appeal is resolved.
| Testing |
The written test will consist of a minimum of 100 questions dealing with professional ethics, licensing guidelines, state and federal laws, surveillance, investigation techniques, laws relating to privacy, managing an office, tax concerns and obligations, client relations, sources of information, state codes pertaining to PI's, legal terminology and court testimony. The test covers both civil and criminal investigations, plaintiff and defense sides.
The Certification Test for Certified Professional Investigator (CPI) and Certified Security Professional (CSP) will be administered in conjunction with our Annual and Mid-Winter Conferences.
Additional testing times may be scheduled in the districts throughout the coming year. If you are applying for Certification and are unable to test on the dates listed above, please advise us when you submit your completed application and we will attempt to schedule a test in conjunction with your local district meeting.
| Study Guide - CPI |
- Private Investigator's Act [Business & Professions Code 7512 - 7573]
- Legal Terms [Black's Law Dictionary]
- West's Code of Civil Procedures[Sections 116.220, 945.6]
- California Workers' Compensation Handbook (Herlick) [Chapters 6-8, 12-14)
- EDD Employer Tax Guide
- Bill of Rights [U.S. Constitution]
- Penal Code [Sections 148.9, 602, 626.8, 634, 647, 889, 939, 976, 12050, 1466]
There will be questions dealing with professional ethics, licensing guidelines, state and federal laws, surveillance, investigation techniques, laws relating to privacy, managing an office, tax concerns and obligations, client relations, sources of information, state codes pertaining to PI's, legal terminology and court testimony. The test covers both civil and criminal investigations, plaintiff and defense sides.
| Study Guide - CSP |
- Private Investigator's Act [Business & Professions Code Sections 7512-7573]
- Business & Professions Code [Sections 660, 148.9]
- Legal Terms [Black's Law Dictionary]
- California Workers' Compensation Handbook (Herlick) [Chapters 6-8, 12-14)
- EDD Employer Tax Guide
- Bill of Rights [U.S. Constitution]
- Penal Code [Sections 490.5, 939, 976, 12050, 1466, 602, 626.8]
- Civil Code of Regulations [Title 16, Chapter 7, Section 607]
- Protection of Assets Manual [Chapter 4, pages 4-28; Chapter 8, pages 8-19; Chapter 9, pages 9-4; Chapter 10, Part II, pages 10-29; Chapter 11, Theft & Fraud; Chapter 33, Part I, pages 33-39.]
There will be questions dealing with professional ethics, licensing guidelines, state and federal laws, surveillance, investigation techniques, laws relating to privacy, managing an office, tax concerns and obligations, client relations, sources of information, state codes pertaining to PPO's, and legal terminology.
| Application |
Please select one of the following:
- CPI - Certified Professional Investigator
- CSP - Certified Security Professional
| Qualifications |
To qualify for the Certified Professional Investigator (CPI) designation, you must be a licensed Private Investigator, or the equivalent in your jurisdiction if outside the state of California, for at least three consecutive years immediately preceding application for certification.
To qualify for the Certified Security Professional (CSP) designation, you must be a licensed Private Patrol Operator, or the equivalent in your jurisdiction if outside the state of California, for at least three consecutive years immediately preceding application for certification.
You must have earned a minimum of four (4) Continuing Education Credits in the three years immediately preceding application for certification.
| Examination |
You must receive a minimum score of 70% on the written exam administered by the Association.
| Application |
Your complete application shall include proof of licensure, or the equivalent in your jurisdiction if outside the state of California, written documentation of your earned Continuing Education Credits, and applicable fees. The application fee is $85.00.
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