SLED Approved · 16 Credit Hours
PI Continuing Education
16-Hour Curriculum
Required by SLED · In-Office Instructor-Led Training · Alden Wheeler Detective Agency
Course Information
Course
PI Continuing Education — 16 Hours
Approved By
South Carolina SLED
Format
In-Office Instructor-Led
Credit Hours
16 Hours CE
Agency
Alden Wheeler Detective Agency
License Type
SC Private Investigator
Edition
2026
SLED CE Requirements
16 hours of CE required per renewal cycle
Must be completed through a SLED-Approved Provider
Certificate of Completion required for renewal
In-office instruction qualifies for full credit hours
(864) 437-8850
Course Overview
Course Overview & Objectives
This 16-hour continuing education course is designed for licensed South Carolina private investigators seeking SLED-approved credit hours. The curriculum covers all core competencies required for professional private investigation practice, with emphasis on legal compliance, best practices, and South Carolina-specific regulations.
Upon Completion, the Investigator Will Be Able To:
Apply current SLED licensing requirements & eligibility standards
Deploy GPS tracking in compliance with SC law
Draft court-admissible reports, affidavits, and legal documentation
Serve process per SC Rules of Civil Procedure
Manage contracts, mileage, billing, and reciprocity requirements
Conduct surveillance within legal and ethical boundaries
Execute drone surveillance under FAA and state regulations
Understand expectation of privacy law and camera placement
Operate within the defined legal authority of a PI
Understand the relationship between CWP and PI licensure
Training Schedule
Two-Day Training Schedule
DAY ONE — Hours 1–8
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0800–0830 | Registration, Welcome & Course Introduction |
| 0830–1000 | MODULE 1: SLED Licensing, Requirements & Ineligibility |
| 1000–1015 | Break |
| 1015–1145 | MODULE 2: Contracts & Client Agreements |
| 1145–1230 | MODULE 3: What You Can and Cannot Do as a PI |
| 1230–1315 | Lunch Break |
| 1315–1445 | MODULE 4: Surveillance — Fixed, Mobile & Counter-Surveillance |
| 1445–1500 | Break |
| 1500–1615 | MODULE 5: GPS Tracking — Legal Use, Deployment & Documentation |
| 1615–1700 | MODULE 6: Mileage, Billing & Expense Documentation |
DAY TWO — Hours 9–16
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 0800–0830 | Day Two Welcome & Review |
| 0830–1000 | MODULE 7: Drone Surveillance — FAA Rules, SC Law & Best Practices |
| 1000–1015 | Break |
| 1015–1145 | MODULE 8: Photography, Video Evidence & Chain of Custody |
| 1145–1230 | MODULE 9: Camera Placement & Expectation of Privacy Law |
| 1230–1315 | Lunch Break |
| 1315–1430 | MODULE 10: Report Writing for Court & Affidavits |
| 1430–1445 | Break |
| 1445–1545 | MODULE 11: Process Serving |
| 1545–1630 | MODULE 12: CWP & the Private Investigator |
| 1630–1700 | MODULE 13: Reciprocity with Other States |
| 1700–1730 | Final Examination, Wrap-Up & Certificate Distribution |
Detailed Curriculum
13 Module Topics
Module 1 — SLED Licensing, Requirements & Ineligibility: 1.5 hrs
- Requirements: 18+ years old · US citizen · SLED background investigation · No felony/moral turpitude conviction · Fingerprints submitted · Business entity proof · Applicable fees paid · Agency owner must hold PI license.
- Ineligibility: Felony conviction · Moral turpitude crime · Prior license revocation · Fraudulent employment conduct · Drug/alcohol dependency · Mental incompetency adjudication · Dishonorable military discharge · Outstanding warrants · False application statements.
- Renewal: Annual renewal required · 16 hours SLED-approved CE per cycle · License lapse requires new application · CE certificates submitted with renewal.
Module 2 — Contracts & Client Agreements: 1.5 hrs
- Essential Elements: Client ID · Services description · Fee structure · Expenses covered · Start/end dates · Scope limitations · Evidence handling · Termination clause · Confidentiality · Limitation of liability.
- Retainer Agreements: Amount and replenishment terms · Unused retainer handling · Billing cycle itemization · Written work authorization.
- Best Practices: Always written — never verbal · Retain copies minimum 5 years · Document all client communications · Written authorization for sub-contractors · Written scope amendments.
Module 3 — What You CAN and CANNOT Do as a PI: 45 min
- Authorized (CAN): Covert surveillance in public · Photo/video in public spaces · Witness interviews (voluntary) · Access public records · Skip tracing · Serve civil process · Background investigations · Insurance/domestic/missing person cases · Undercover (no LE impersonation) · Court testimony · GPS on owned/consented vehicle.
- Prohibited (CANNOT): Impersonate law enforcement (FELONY) · Electronic eavesdropping/wiretapping · Trespass for surveillance · Hack/intercept communications · GPS without owner consent · Access sealed court records · Make arrests (no arrest powers) · Carry weapon in violation of SC law · Harass/threaten/intimidate · Entrapment · Pretexting for records · Operate without SLED license.
Module 4 — Surveillance: Fixed, Mobile & Counter-Surveillance: 1.5 hrs
- Fixed Surveillance: Pre-op planning · Vehicle selection/positioning · Cover strategies · Time-stamped documentation · Never on private property without consent.
- Mobile Surveillance: One-car vs. multi-car teams · Following techniques · Urban vs. rural differences · Re-acquiring lost subject · Documentation while mobile.
- Counter-Surveillance: Recognizing detection · Techniques subjects use · Aborting surveillance · Reporting to client.
Module 5 — GPS Tracking: Legal Use, Deployment & Documentation: 1.25 hrs
- Legal Foundation: US v. Jones (2012) · SC state law provisions · Owner consent requirement · Employer-employee tracking · Spousal tracking nuances · Never attach without consent or court order.
- Deployment: Magnetic mount placement · Environmental protection · Battery vs. hardwired · Covert positioning · Recovery planning.
- Court Documentation: Exporting timestamped GPS data · Correlating GPS with surveillance · Chain of custody · Admissibility standards.
Module 6 — Mileage, Billing & Expense Documentation: 45 min
- Mileage: IRS standard rate · Odometer logs (start/end per assignment) · GPS mileage verification · Separating personal vs. business miles.
- Expenses: Receipts for all case expenditures · Equipment allocation · Lodging/meals (if authorized) · Court fees and process service costs.
- Billing: Itemized invoices — no lump billing · Time entries in tenths of an hour · Billing for travel time per contract · Retainer draw-down statements.
Module 7 — Drone Surveillance: FAA Rules, SC Law & Best Practices: 1.5 hrs
- FAA Regulations: Part 107 certification required · Registration for drones over 0.55 lbs · Max altitude 400 ft AGL · Visual line-of-sight required · No flight over airports/military/stadiums · Daylight operations only (without waiver) · Pre-flight checklist required.
- SC Drone Law: SC Code § 55-1-30 · No surveillance of critical infrastructure · No voyeurism/privacy invasion · No low-altitude surveillance over private property without consent.
- Practical Operations: Pre-mission airspace check/NOTAM review · Covert deployment strategies · Evidence capture and metadata preservation · Post-flight data management and chain of custody.
Module 8 — Photography, Video Evidence & Chain of Custody: 1.5 hrs
- Equipment: Resolution, zoom, low-light capability · Video minimum 1080p · SC one-party consent audio law · Body cameras and covert cameras.
- Evidence Capture: Accurate timestamp/date on all devices · Wide establishing shot then close-up · Never edit/crop/filter evidentiary media · Environmental context documentation · Multiple angles when possible.
- Chain of Custody: Log every piece at capture · Secure storage immediately after operation · Never share raw evidence files · Evidence log: date, time, location, device, investigator · Separate backups · Document all third-party access.
Module 9 — Camera Placement & Expectation of Privacy: 45 min
- Legal Standard: Katz v. United States — constitutional foundation · Two-part test: subjective + objectively reasonable expectation · Public places: no reasonable expectation · Private residences: highest protection.
- WHERE YOU CAN Place Cameras: Public streets/sidewalks/parking lots · Commercial areas open to public · Subject's exterior workplace · Client's own property with consent · HOA common areas with authorization.
- WHERE YOU CANNOT Place Cameras: Inside any private residence without consent · Bathrooms, changing rooms, bedrooms (FELONY — SC Code § 16-17-470) · Areas requiring trespass · Inside occupied vehicles without consent.
- Video Voyeurism Statute: SC Code § 16-17-470 · Up to 5 years imprisonment · PI license revocation.
Module 10 — Report Writing for Court & Affidavits: 1.25 hrs
- Report Principles: Factual · Objective · Chronological · Complete · Clear plain language.
- Report Structure: Header (case #, client, date, investigator, license #) · Subject info · Assignment description · Time-stamped activity log · Findings summary · Evidence attachments list · Investigator certification and signature.
- Affidavits: Sworn before notary · First-person sworn statement · Facts within personal knowledge only · Each material fact in separate numbered paragraph · No unidentified hearsay · Supporting exhibits attached · Signature block with notary acknowledgment.
- Court Testimony: Review report thoroughly before testifying · Personal observation only — never guess · Answer only what was asked · Maintain professional demeanor.
Module 11 — Process Serving: 1.0 hr
- Authority: SC Rule 4 — PIs may serve civil process in SC · Comply with SCRCP Rule 4(d) · Personal service, substituted service, corporate agent service.
- Types of Process: Summons & complaint · Subpoenas (witness/document) · Writs · Protective orders · Eviction notices.
- Proof of Service: Required for all process · Must include: date, time, location, person served, method · Investigator name, license #, signature · Notarization required for court filing · Body cam photographs recommended for contested matters.
- Difficult Situations: Evasive subjects — document all attempts · Refused service — leave at feet, state service complete · Skip tracing for subject location · Service by publication — court authorization required.
Module 12 — CWP & the Private Investigator: 45 min
- Overview: SC Code § 23-31-210 — SC CWP Act · CWP is SEPARATE from PI license · PI must obtain CWP independently through SLED.
- Requirements: Firearms safety course (min. 8 hours) · SLED background check (separate from PI) · No disqualifying criminal history · 21 years of age minimum · No active restraining orders or DV convictions.
- Carry During PI Operations: May carry concealed in most settings with valid CWP · Cannot carry in schools, government buildings, courthouses, police stations, posted No Weapons locations · Must identify weapon immediately to law enforcement if contacted · Never display weapon as intimidation (criminal charge).
- Use of Force: PI has NO special authority beyond ordinary citizen · SC Castle Doctrine and self-defense apply · Maintain weapons qualification and continuing firearms training.
Module 13 — Reciprocity with Other States: 30 min
- SC Reciprocity: SC does NOT have broad automatic PI license reciprocity · Each state has its own licensing requirements · Operating in another state requires compliance with THAT state's laws.
- Neighboring States: North Carolina — separate NC license required · Georgia — requires GA licensure for extended in-state operations · Florida — separate Florida license required · Always verify before crossing state lines.
- Multi-State Operations: Document state entry point and time · Contact receiving state licensing board before extended out-of-state work · Consider sub-contracting to locally licensed PI · Check federal court requirements for interstate process service.
Final Examination & Certification
Format
50 multiple-choice questions covering all 13 modules · 60-minute time limit · Open-note (personal notes only)
Passing Score
75% or higher (38/50) = PASS · Certificate issued same day · Graded immediately by instructor
Attendance
All 16 hours required · Max 30 minutes total absence · Late arrivals and early departures tracked