How to become a private investigator

Official title: Private investigator

Also called: House detective, Private detective, Private inquiry agent, Store detective, Ÿ House detective, Ÿ Private inquiry agent, Ÿ Private detective

Private investigator conducts private investigations for commercial, other establishments or individuals. He/she investigates shoplifting, theft, dishonesty or other undesirable conduct among employees or customers of a business establishment or other private organisations.

Main tasks

• Conducting private investigations for commercial or other establishments and individuals

Ways in

• Licence or registration: Security officers and private investigators need a licence from the Singapore Police Force, which checks that you are a fit and proper person. Security officers must also meet the training requirements of the security Progressive Wage Model. Law: Private Security Industry Act 2007. Regulator: Police Licensing and Regulatory Department, Singapore Police Force (https://www.police.gov.sg).

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Park ranger
• Industrial investigator
• Insurance investigator

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Questions people ask

Will AI change the work of a private investigator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026