The Truth About Continuing Education for Private Investigator and Why It's a Bad Idea
Jay Lillie
June 30, 2009
Editorial By Robert Smith, Former Investigator and Skip Tracer
Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) is now being debated in California, where legislation is pending that will force every private investigator seeking to renew their bi-annual P.I. licenses to attend 12 classroom hours on a variety of subjects including privacy law and ethics.
In addition to the fees for these classes, licensing fees will also rise and there will be new paperwork requirements to keep track of and file MCE credits with the state.
Although CE (Continuing Education) is welcomed, MCE is not. In fact, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Here's why. The problem is the Mandatory part. Because it penalizes the majority of licensed private investigators who are solid professionals. They stay up to date with legal, ethical and other advances. They read industry journals and attend association meetings.
Just to get their licenses in the first place, they had to have 6,000 hours of experience, undergo a background check, and pass a written exam. Why should they be forced to attend weekend or late night classes about something they already know? Just so a few stragglers who haven't stayed current can be pushed into a forced learning environment?
In addition, the proposed law (SB 202) adds new costs and administrative burdens on private investigators. As we speak, many are struggling to stay in business and asking more of them now is tantamount to a new tax. Sadly, this will only serve to put some of them out of business.
The proposed new law will also create a new mini-bureacracy of MCE providers as well. For investigators who live in remote areas away from urban centers, long drives and overnight stays in hotels may be required. And once it does become law, it will be virtually impossible to undo.
CALI - the California Association of Licensed Investigators - strongly supports MCE at the leadership level. But even they know they're trying to sell something that's not wanted. MCE is an unexploded stink bomb that can still be defused. If you're a licensed private investigator in California, please make your voice heard in our states capital against MCE!
Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) is now being debated in California, where legislation is pending that will force every private investigator seeking to renew their bi-annual P.I. licenses to attend 12 classroom hours on a variety of subjects including privacy law and ethics.
In addition to the fees for these classes, licensing fees will also rise and there will be new paperwork requirements to keep track of and file MCE credits with the state.
Although CE (Continuing Education) is welcomed, MCE is not. In fact, it's a disaster waiting to happen. Here's why. The problem is the Mandatory part. Because it penalizes the majority of licensed private investigators who are solid professionals. They stay up to date with legal, ethical and other advances. They read industry journals and attend association meetings.
Just to get their licenses in the first place, they had to have 6,000 hours of experience, undergo a background check, and pass a written exam. Why should they be forced to attend weekend or late night classes about something they already know? Just so a few stragglers who haven't stayed current can be pushed into a forced learning environment?
In addition, the proposed law (SB 202) adds new costs and administrative burdens on private investigators. As we speak, many are struggling to stay in business and asking more of them now is tantamount to a new tax. Sadly, this will only serve to put some of them out of business.
The proposed new law will also create a new mini-bureacracy of MCE providers as well. For investigators who live in remote areas away from urban centers, long drives and overnight stays in hotels may be required. And once it does become law, it will be virtually impossible to undo.
CALI - the California Association of Licensed Investigators - strongly supports MCE at the leadership level. But even they know they're trying to sell something that's not wanted. MCE is an unexploded stink bomb that can still be defused. If you're a licensed private investigator in California, please make your voice heard in our states capital against MCE!
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