10 Best Skip Tracing Courses and Certifications Online

Skip tracing is a process used to locate individuals who have gone missing or are unwilling to be found. With the increased use of the internet and social media, online skip tracing has become an important tool for investigators and recovery agents. There are several online courses available that provide training in skip tracing techniques, aimed at individuals interested in learning or improving their skills in this field. In this article, we will review some of the best skip tracing courses available online, focusing on their content, teaching methods, and overall effectiveness.

Here’s a look at the Best Skip Tracing Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Skip Tracing Courses and Certifications Online

1. Forensic Psychology – ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE by Elmira Strange, MPhil, Dip (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

The “Forensic Psychology – ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE” course is instructed by Elmira Strange, MPhil, Dip. This course aims to equip learners with specialized skills in criminal investigations and forensic profiling, providing an opportunity to enhance their resume or start their career in forensic psychology.

Throughout the course, learners will delve into the fascinating theories and facts behind criminal thinking and behavior. The course has been designed for individuals who are interested in forensic psychology either for personal interest or to pursue a career in the field.

The course covers several topics, including the unreliability of eyewitness testimonies, the likelihood of psychopaths committing crimes compared to individuals with other mental health disorders, offender profiling, and reducing the risk of re-offending and imprisonment. Furthermore, learners will explore the motivational factors behind sexual, violent, or fire-setting crimes, as well as the psychopathology of violent behavior.

The course is now accredited by the International Association of Therapists (IAOTH). At the end of the course, learners will receive instructions on how to obtain their certificate of completion.

The course content features an introduction, research methods in forensic psychology, theories of offending, personal attributes of offenders, forensic psychology in police investigations, forensic psychology in the courtroom, forensic psychology in practice, and a final test.

2. Human Resources Workplace Investigations for Employee Issues by Ben Frasier, MBA, CEBS, SHRM-SCP (Udemy)

The Human Resources Workplace Investigations for Employee Issues course, instructed by Ben Frasier, MBA, CEBS, SHRM-SCP, is designed to provide an action guide for investigating employee issues, such as discrimination, harassment, and theft. The course’s content is intended to assist inexperienced investigators in addressing urgent investigation needs or in establishing effective policies and procedures for the future.

The course covers the benefits of an effective investigation, an eight-step approach to conducting an investigation, identifying investigation pitfalls, and investigating common workforce issues. Downloadable documents include an intake/complaint form, credibility assessment form, documentation and evidence checklist, standardized investigative report, investigation memo for conducting interviews, and investigation job aids.

The course is divided into nine sections, including the benefits of an effective investigation, getting started, gathering information and conducting interviews, making and documenting decisions, special investigations, and investigating discrimination, harassment, theft, threats and violence, and drug and alcohol abuse.

The course’s content is suitable for individuals of all skill levels, from those learning the basics to those pursuing advanced techniques. The course is concluded with a bonus investigation job aid and a conclusion.

3. Investigator Ethics for the PI, Consumer and Client by Associates In Forensic Investigations by Team Beers (Udemy)

Course Title: Investigator Ethics for the PI, Consumer and Client

The Investigator Ethics course is designed to educate students on professional standards that investigators must follow, particularly if retained by an attorney as their agent. The course is instructed by Associates In Forensic Investigations by Team Beers.

The course focuses on the importance of ethics in the field of investigation. Over the past 25 years, Colorado was an unlicensed state until 2012, making it greatly misunderstood that ethics applied to investigators. However, this refutes that ruling and informs the student that there are ethics that must be followed and apply to both investigator/consumer and investigator/attorney relationships. Ethics serve both professional and consumer protection.

The course is structured into three sections: Introduction to Professional Investigator Ethics, Professional Investigator Ethics, and Bringing it all together. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the ethical considerations necessary for investigators to follow. It is suitable for all students, from those new to the field to veteran private investigators. The course emphasizes the importance of ethical practices and how only facts obtained ethically can be considered evidence.

4. Analytic Investigations (Basic Level) by Eugene Matthews (Udemy)

Analytic Investigations (Basic Level) is a course designed for professionals new or newly assigned to investigative inquiries, and related responsibilities, such as private investigators, insurance claims and fraud investigators, law enforcement investigators, journalists, attorneys or anyone in the public safety / public security and business sectors. The course aims to develop unbiased information in investigative inquiries, and by the end of the course, the learner will know how to minimize bias when collecting information, conduct a source reliability assessment, conduct an information credibility assessment, and create valid and unbiased assessments that provide actionable information.

The course is designed to introduce new analysts to a simple method to help them make better assessments of the reliability of their sources of information, as well as the credibility of the information itself to make better decisions. It is the first of three courses in the Analytic Investigations Training series, and is not intended for experienced, seasoned experts. If the learner has already completed advanced training in this field or has extensive experience as an intelligence expert, they are recommended to check out the more advanced courses on this topic.

The course content and sections include an introduction to the topic, a bonus section at the end of the course, and an analytical tools section that provides learners with a brief examination. The bonus section aims to help new or newer analysts continue to hone and improve their skills. Successful investigative professionals recognize the value of reliable sources and understand the need for credible information. By the end of the course, the learner should be able to merge source reliability and information credibility to create valid and unbiased assessments that provide actionable information.

5. Analytic Investigations (Intermediate Level) by Eugene Matthews (Udemy)

Analytic Investigations (Intermediate Level) is a course aimed at professionals who conduct investigative inquiries. The course instructor, Eugene Matthews, addresses the common challenge of organizing the information collected during investigations. Matthews provides two strategies for managing investigative data: collecting everything and sorting it out later, or sifting, filtering, and editing the information as it is collected. Matthews offers a solution to managing investigative data by teaching students how to develop an investigative plan, construct an entity of interest worksheet, prepare an association matrix, and determine investigative next steps based on the association matrix analysis.

The course is designed for investigative professionals across various job fields, including attorneys, private investigators, insurance investigators, military and civilian police investigators, fraud investigators, journalists, and consulting detectives. Students will learn how to manage investigative inquiry, uncover hidden leads, and position their case for a successful resolution. This course is part two in the Analytical Investigations Training (AIT) series and is considered an intermediate course for practicing analysts and investigators.

The course content is divided into four sections: Introduction, The Association Matrix, How to Understand and Construct the Association Matrix, and Putting it All Together and Making Sense. The Association Matrix section covers the concept of the matrix and how it can be used to organize investigative data. Students will learn how to construct an association matrix and how to use it to ensure every entity of interest related to the case is accounted for. The last section of the course, Putting it All Together and Making Sense, teaches students how to use the investigative plan, entity of interest worksheet, and association matrix to determine investigative next steps based on unbiased analysis.

In conclusion, Analytic Investigations (Intermediate Level) is a course that teaches professionals how to manage investigative data and position their cases for successful resolutions. The course provides an in-depth analysis of the association matrix and how it can be used to organize investigative data. The course is part two of the AIT series and is intended for practicing investigators and analysts.

6. Investigative Interviewing by Ian Kirke (Udemy)

The Investigative Interviewing course is designed for entry-level individuals who need to conduct basic investigations and interviews. While interviewing is a common practice, investigative interviewing is a more specific type of inquiry related to criminal and disciplinary investigations. This course aims to provide practical tools to conduct an investigatory interview with both witnesses and individuals who may have contravened organizational disciplinary codes or are the subject of a grievance. The program is widely used in the business community, public sector, and UK Police.

Ian Kirke, Managing Director of TFS, is the course instructor. TFS has provided Hertfordshire with a bespoke “out-of-custody” interview package to train uniformed response and neighborhood officers. The program equips officers with the skills to recognize when out-of-custody interviews should be staged, how to stage them, and how to deal confidently with legal representatives.

The course has received positive feedback from professionals in various industries. Gary Tattersall, Group Risk Manager at Jack Wills, considers TFS approach a breath of fresh air, offering a practical framework for all investigatory outcomes. Leyton Morgan, Head of Business Protection at Sally Salon Services, praises the structured process, easy-to-follow model, and practical role-play exercises.

The program covers various topics, including questioning skills, dealing with witnesses, suspects, and union and staff representatives. The course is divided into ten sections, including an introduction, recap and review of topics, and a final section about the interview plan. The course includes a flowchart system and a five WH flowchart of events.

To successfully complete the course, a pen and paper are required, and participants are encouraged to apply the PLAN – Practically and Legally Appropriate Next-steps – approach. Overall, the program equips individuals with the necessary skills to carry out an investigatory interview with confidence and reach a fair and lawful decision.

7. Spycam Detection in Workplace Expectation of Privacy Areas by Kevin D. Murray (Udemy)

The SPYCAM DETECTION course teaches the skills necessary to identify and detect covert spy cameras in the workplace. In addition to forensic training, students receive a course text with a Recording in the Workplace policy template, an Inspection Log form, and links to additional information. Upon completing the course, students will be able to conduct a professional inspection without the need for expensive equipment. The course is useful for security managers, facilities managers, store managers, private investigators, and businesses that invite the public into their locations.

Recognizing and detecting spy cameras is also a valuable skill for law enforcement personnel, security management students, and the general public wishing to protect themselves against video voyeurism. The course is structured to provide a full understanding of the video voyeur problem, a written policy for deterrence and legal leverage, identification of various spy cameras, instruction on planning and executing an inspection, and guidance on handling evidence. The course takes about an hour to complete.

Spy cameras are easily accessible and pose a threat to everyone, making it the duty of businesses to protect their customers, employees, and visitors in expectation of privacy areas. While the course primarily focuses on the workplace, it can be used to protect oneself and one’s family during everyday travels. The course content includes a quiz, preview, and course text with sections on Spycam Identification and the Inspection Process.

8. Introduction to Workers Compensation Surveillance by Joel Dean (Udemy)

The Introduction to Workers Compensation Surveillance course is designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in the private investigation industry. The course is taught by instructor Joel Dean and covers the basics of surveillance, equipment, report writing, stationary surveillance, mobile surveillance, and personal safety in the context of workers’ compensation investigations. The course uses written lectures and videos to demonstrate practical techniques for performing investigations.

This course is primarily focused on workers’ compensation investigations due to the high demand for qualified investigators in this field. However, many of the investigative tips presented in the course can be applied to other areas of private investigation. Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate of completion will be awarded, which can be used for 8 hours of educational credit towards an individual’s private investigator license.

Enrolling in this course will not only prepare students for a job interview in the investigative field, but also equip them with the knowledge necessary to start performing workers’ compensation investigations. Additionally, students will learn how to obtain stationary surveillance video, covert video of claimants, and how to write an investigative report for workers’ compensation investigations. Students who enroll in this course will also receive priority for additional training at a lower cost and free informational updates on the private investigation industry.

9. Accident Investigation by Williams Terry (Udemy)

The Accident Investigation Course, instructed by Williams Terry, offers an essential introduction to accident investigation and investigation techniques. The course is designed for individuals responsible for accident investigation reports within their organization. It introduces practicalities of incident reporting procedures and explores key concepts such as root cause analysis to provide a broader understanding of why accident investigations can fail to prevent accidents occurring in the future. The course is delivered through short videos that can be watched at the participants’ own pace. Practical examples of large accidents such as Tennirife 1977, Zeeburgge 1987, and Bhopal 1984 are included to demonstrate that human error is often an inevitable consequence of deeper rooted problems, and that most people are predisposed to having accidents.

The course is approximately 50 minutes long, with an additional hour required for quizzes. It consists of two major sections: Introduction to the Principles of Accident Investigation and Investigation Techniques. Each section begins with an introductory lecture, providing key objectives. A summary lecture at the end of each section highlights the major key points to remember. The root cause analysis taught in the course will prevent both the recurrence of a specific incident under investigation and a wide range of unforeseen accidents in an organization.

Reasons to investigate a workplace accident include finding the root cause of accidents and preventing similar accidents in the future, fulfilling legal requirements, determining the cost of an accident, determining compliance with applicable safety regulations, and processing workers’ compensation claims.

10. Introduction to TSCM – Electronic Bug Sweeps by John Morris (Udemy)

The course titled “Introduction to TSCM – Electronic Bug Sweeps” is designed to provide an entry-level understanding of Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) also known as BUG Sweeps. The course is intended to equip the students with the fundamentals of TSCM and the equipment required for conducting a bug sweep.
Bug sweeps are conducted by professionals such as private investigators and security specialists. It is a complex process and requires the use of professional TSCM equipment that costs upwards in the tens of thousands of dollars.
The course is designed to be simple and easy to understand for individuals who want to gain knowledge about the TSCM industry, private investigators, security specialists, or anyone considering hiring someone to conduct a bug sweep.
The course includes five sections, namely Introduction, Fundamental Understanding of TSCM Bug Sweeps, Types of Spy Equipment (BUGS) Then and Now, Conducting a Bug Sweep, and Conclusion.