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HomeCPI Program

 

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATOR (CPI) EXAM
NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

 

Any questions regarding applications or renewals for CPI certification should be directed to CPI Committee Chairperson Anthony Hopkins at anthony@ahinvestigations.com.

 


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Program Administration
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.


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Use of Designation
Use of Designation
The designation of Certified Professional Investigator, or the abbreviation CPI,, 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 CALI.


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Classifications of 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.

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.

  • If the applicant is a licensed Private Investigator 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, 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 accumulate ten (10) CPI credits to qualify.

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Completed Application
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 CPI credits; and all applicable fees.  If the application is incomplete, the application, along with documentation and fees, will be returned for revision and resubmission.


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Examination
Examination
The examination shall be prepared by the Board of Directors or its designees. The examination shall be administered a minimum of once a year.

The examination shall consist of a minimum of 100 questions relative to the investigative profession. 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. The test questions will be multiple choice. A minimum score of 70% is required to pass the examination.  The examination shall be reviewed every two years, commencing January 2013, by the Board of Directors or its designee(s).


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Re-examination
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 ten (10) business days of the scheduled examination that she or he will not be taking the scheduled examination.


All qualifying credits must come from the twenty four months preceding the candidates submission of the original CPI application. All qualifying credits used in renewing a CPI certification must come from the two years preceding the renewal application. 

CPI Credits

To qualify for the CPI certification one must meet all of the requirement listed above and accumulate ten (10) credits. To renew, one must accumulate five (5) credits every two years (e.g. renewal period). Credits will not be carried forward from previous renewal periods. Determination of qualifying credit(s) will be made by the CPI Chair and/or President of the Association.

All qualifying credits must come from the twenty four months preceding the candidates submission of the original CPI application. All qualifying credits used in renewing a CPI certification must come from the two years preceding the renewal application. 

CPI experience credits may be earned in the following ways:

One (1) Credit
  • Attend two CALI Board Meetings
  • Serve CALI Governor Term
  • CALI Committee Member Term
  • CALI Leg Day Attendance
  • CALI Conference Speaker
  • CALI NLITE Trainer
  • Related Assoc. Certification
  • Related Assoc. CE credits
  • MCLE Credits (Bar Assoc.)
  • Serve as a CALI Volunteer Mentor
Two (2) Credits
  • Attend half-day (4-hour) CALI District Training
  • CALI Board Member Term
  • Earn Bachelor's Degree
  • Instructor at any accredited University or College. Instruction must be related to the investigations field
  • Publication of article on CALI Journal (Quarterly Newsletter)
  • Article in recognized national publication related to investigation
Three (3) Credits
  • CALI President Term
  • Earn JD, Masters, or PhD Advanced Degrees
  • Publication of bound book related to the investigations field
Four (4) Credits
  • Attend full-day (8-hour) CALI District Training
Five (5) Credits
  • Attendance at CALI Annual Conference
  • CALI ELITE TRAINING: Completion of an ELITE training course consisting of 24 or more hours of instruction

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Appeal
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.


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Confidentiality
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.


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Testing
Testing
The online 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 CALI’s Annual Conference.  Additional testing times may be scheduled in districts throughout the coming year.

Fees

The CALI Board of Directors has established the following fees for Members and Non-Members:

 

CALI Members
  • $85 - Original Application Fee
  • $75 - Biennial Renewal Fee
  • $40 - Re-Examination Fee
  • $40 - Reinstatement Fee

Non-Members
  • $350 - Original Application Fee
  • $100 - Biennial Renewal Fee
  • $40 - Re-Examination Fee
  • $40 - Reinstatement Fee

Study Guide for Certified Professional Investigator

  • Business & Professions Code 7512 - 7573
  • Legal Terms [Black's Law Dictionary]
  • California Code of Civil Procedure [sections 413.10 to 413.40]
  • 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], 867 and 1054
  • The Private Investigator's Legal Manual (Third Edition by David Queen)
  • Richter v Hickman, 2009, U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • CA State Bar Rule 1-320
  • Riley v. California, US Supreme Court 573 (2014)
There will be questions dealing with professional ethics, licensing guidelines, California 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, California BSIS requirements, legal terminology and court testimony. The test covers both civil and criminal investigations, plaintiff and defense sides.
 

 

Certification Application

All CPI Designees, except Life designees, shall renew their designation biannually. Renewal must be completed within thirty days of the notification of renewal, on the designated form, accompanied by proof of earned CPI credits, and must meet all licensing, credit, and fee requirements. A CPI designee must achieve five (5) credits for each designation during the biennial renewal period. Credits may not be carried forward from previous renewal periods.

Per the Board of Directors, all CALI members and those holding a CPI are required to acknowledge the CALI Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics, to remain certified.

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.

CPI Exam Application

Applicants can expect to receive a decision on their applications within 3-5 days after application submission. Upon obtaining approval, applicants will be emailed a link to take the CPI exam.

 

Certification Renewal

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 credits and applicable fees.

If you have any questions or concerns about the program, please contact Anthony Hopkins, Chair, CALI CPI Committee at anthony@ahinvestigations.com.

Renewal applicants can expect to receive a decision on their applications within 3-5 days after application submission.

CPI Renewal Form

 

CPI Program Updates

Effective 07/01/21, the Certified Professional Investigator exam will be available online.

Effective 03/11/18, the Board of Directors has suspended offering any new Certified Security Professional (CSP) examinations and/or certifications. Members who are currently hold a CSP certification, may seek renewal per the Certification Renewal guidelines.