Member program

Specialization Credentialing

A planned TIPA member program offering association certifications in 100 private investigation specialties, each earned by passing a demanding TIPA examination.

Coming soonNot yet active. No certifications have been issued.
Coming soon

This program is not active yet. Examinations, applications, and certifications are not currently available, and TIPA has not issued any specialty certifications. The details on this page describe the planned program and may change before launch.

TIPA sealNot a state license

Read this first

A TIPA certification is not a license

Specialization credentialing is an association program. It is not a state licensing system, and a TIPA certification is not a license, permit, or government-issued credential of any kind.

  • It is not a substitute for a Tennessee private investigator or investigations company license, or for any other legal licensure or credential.
  • It does not authorize any activity or expand what a licensee may legally do. Every specialty must still be practiced within Tennessee and federal law.
  • Its only foundation is the backing of TIPA. It is issued by the association alone, not by any government agency.
  • It is designed to complement a member’s state license, not replace it. State licensing is handled by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.

What it means

What a TIPA specialty certification will represent

Something a licensed investigator can show attorneys and clients alongside their state license.

The full backing of TIPA

The association’s statement that, in TIPA’s view, the member is fully qualified to operate in that specialty.

A demanding exam, passed

Evidence that the member completed and passed a difficult TIPA testing procedure for that specific specialty.

Shareable proof for clients

A credential attorneys and clients can see on the member’s TIPA profile, next to, never instead of, the state license.

Planned process

How credentialing is expected to work

Eligibility rules, exam format, fees, passing standards, and renewal requirements will be published before the program opens.

Be an active TIPA member

Certifications are planned as a member benefit for licensed private investigators in good standing.

Choose a specialty and test

Select any of the 100 specialties below and sit for its TIPA examination, a rigorous test built for that field.

Pass and get certified

On passing, TIPA issues the specialty certification and adds it to the investigator’s public profile.

On the directory

Where certifications will appear

Passed certifications will be displayed on each investigator’s individual profile. Each agency profile will show the certifications held by the investigators attached to it, credited to each individual.

Investigator profileLicensed Tennessee private investigator

TIPA specialty certifications

Surveillance (physical, public-place)TIPA certified specialty
Witness location and interviewsTIPA certified specialty
Illustration of the planned layout only. No certifications have been issued.
Agency profileCertifications of attached investigators

Investigator certifications

Asset searchesHeld by an attached investigator
Workers’ compensation claim investigationsHeld by an attached investigator
Illustration of the planned layout only. Agencies display their investigators’ certifications; the agency itself is not certified.

The specialty list

100 planned specialty certifications

Organized into eight practice areas. Search the list or open a category. Every specialty is coming soon; none can be tested or certified yet.

100 specialties
Core service lines8 specialties
  1. 001General civil investigationsComing soon
  2. 002Criminal defense investigationsComing soon
  3. 003Background investigationsComing soon
  4. 004Surveillance (physical, public-place)Coming soon
  5. 005Locates / skip tracingComing soon
  6. 006Witness location and interviewsComing soon
  7. 007Asset searchesComing soon
  8. 008Public records and court records researchComing soon
Recording, tracking, pretext, and FCRA12 specialties
  1. 009One-party-consent recorded interviews and phone callsComing soon
  2. 010Covert audio/video recording of conversations the investigator takes part inComing soon
  3. 011Pretext investigations (locates, residency verification)Coming soon
  4. 012Pretext employment verification (including for wage garnishment)Coming soon
  5. 013GPS tracking of client-owned vehiclesComing soon
  6. 014GPS tracking of employer-owned fleet vehiclesComing soon
  7. 015GPS tracking with registered owner consent (e.g., parent-owned vehicles driven by teens)Coming soon
  8. 016FCRA-compliant pre-employment screeningComing soon
  9. 017FCRA-compliant tenant screeningComing soon
  10. 018FCRA-compliant contractor and volunteer screeningComing soon
  11. 019FCRA-compliant driving record (MVR) and license verificationComing soon
  12. 020FCRA consumer report disputes and reinvestigationsComing soon
Litigation support15 specialties
  1. 021Sworn and recorded witness statementsComing soon
  2. 022Witness credibility and impeachment researchComing soon
  3. 023Pre-litigation case assessment investigationsComing soon
  4. 024Jury pool research (public-source only, no juror contact)Coming soon
  5. 025Opposing expert witness background vettingComing soon
  6. 026Trial preparation and evidence gatheringComing soon
  7. 027Scene canvassing and documentation (photos, measurements, diagrams)Coming soon
  8. 028Opposing party investigationsComing soon
  9. 029Prior claims and litigation history searchesComing soon
  10. 030Post-judgment asset and judgment-recovery investigationsComing soon
  11. 031Evasive defendant locates for service of processComing soon
  12. 032Personal injury investigationsComing soon
  13. 033Premises liability / slip-and-fall investigationsComing soon
  14. 034Wrongful death investigationsComing soon
  15. 035Subrogation investigationsComing soon
Criminal defense, specific11 specialties
  1. 036Alibi verificationComing soon
  2. 037Post-conviction and wrongful conviction investigationsComing soon
  3. 038Crime scene review and re-examinationComing soon
  4. 039Discovery review and case analysisComing soon
  5. 040Sentencing mitigation investigationsComing soon
  6. 041Police report, body cam, and dash cam reviewComing soon
  7. 042DUI case investigationsComing soon
  8. 043Domestic violence and assault defense investigationsComing soon
  9. 044White-collar and fraud defense investigationsComing soon
  10. 045Juvenile defense investigationsComing soon
  11. 046Confidential informant and prosecution witness background checksComing soon
Family and domestic13 specialties
  1. 047Infidelity investigationsComing soon
  2. 048Child custody investigationsComing soon
  3. 049Custody relocation dispute investigationsComing soon
  4. 050Alimony / cohabitation investigationsComing soon
  5. 051Hidden marital asset investigationsComing soon
  6. 052Hidden income investigations for child supportComing soon
  7. 053Absent parent locates for child supportComing soon
  8. 054Prenuptial background investigationsComing soon
  9. 055Nanny, caregiver, and babysitter vettingComing soon
  10. 056Parental abduction locates (coordinated with law enforcement)Coming soon
  11. 057Dating and romance background verificationComing soon
  12. 058Elder financial exploitation investigationsComing soon
  13. 059Missing persons investigationsComing soon
Insurance12 specialties
  1. 060Workers’ compensation claim investigationsComing soon
  2. 061Short- and long-term disability claim investigationsComing soon
  3. 062Auto liability claim investigationsComing soon
  4. 063Trucking and commercial vehicle claim investigationsComing soon
  5. 064Staged accident investigationsComing soon
  6. 065Claimant activity checksComing soon
  7. 066Recorded claimant and witness statementsComing soon
  8. 067Insurance fraud / SIU supportComing soon
  9. 068Fire and arson claim investigations (supporting cause-and-origin experts)Coming soon
  10. 069Theft and property loss claim verificationComing soon
  11. 070Homeowners property damage claim verificationComing soon
  12. 071Life insurance contestability investigationsComing soon
Corporate and employment14 specialties
  1. 072Employee misconduct investigationsComing soon
  2. 073Time theft and FMLA leave abuse investigationsComing soon
  3. 074Unemployment claim fraud investigationsComing soon
  4. 075Executive and key-hire due diligenceComing soon
  5. 076Merger, acquisition, and business partner due diligenceComing soon
  6. 077Internal theft and embezzlement investigationsComing soon
  7. 078Intellectual property infringement investigationsComing soon
  8. 079Counterfeit and trademark investigationsComing soon
  9. 080Non-compete and trade secret violation investigationsComing soon
  10. 081Workplace harassment and HR investigationsComing soon
  11. 082Vendor and procurement fraud investigationsComing soon
  12. 083Integrity and mystery shoppingComing soon
  13. 084Undercover employee operative investigationsComing soon
  14. 085Workplace threat and violence investigationsComing soon
Specialized and technical15 specialties
  1. 086OSINT and social media investigationsComing soon
  2. 087Digital forensics (devices owned by or consented to by the client)Coming soon
  3. 088TSCM / bug sweepsComing soon
  4. 089GPS tracker detection sweepsComing soon
  5. 090Cyberstalking and online harassment attributionComing soon
  6. 091Identity theft investigationsComing soon
  7. 092Online scam and cryptocurrency fraud tracingComing soon
  8. 093Heir and beneficiary locates (probate)Coming soon
  9. 094Adoption and birth parent searchesComing soon
  10. 095Landlord and tenant investigationsComing soon
  11. 096Stalking victim protective investigationsComing soon
  12. 097Vehicle accident investigations (supporting reconstructionists)Coming soon
  13. 098Product liability investigationsComing soon
  14. 099Medical malpractice and nursing home neglect investigationsComing soon
  15. 100Real estate, deed, and title fraud investigationsComing soon

No specialties match that search.

Specialty names describe areas of practice. Each certification covers lawful practice of that specialty only, and holding one does not make an investigator a consumer reporting agency or change any obligation under the FCRA, privacy, recording, or tracking laws.

Questions

Specialization credentialing FAQ

Is a TIPA specialty certification a license?

No. It is not a license, permit, or government credential of any kind. Private investigator and investigations company licensing in Tennessee is handled by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. A TIPA certification is issued by TIPA alone, carries only the backing of the association, and is not a substitute for any legal licensure or credential.

Does certification allow a member to do anything they could not do before?

No. A certification does not authorize any activity, expand what a licensee may legally do, or change any legal obligation. Every specialty must still be practiced within Tennessee and federal law and the terms of the investigator’s state license.

What does a certification represent?

It is the association’s statement that, in TIPA’s view, the member is fully qualified to practice in that specialty, and evidence that the member completed and passed a demanding TIPA examination for it. It is meant to complement a state license, not replace it.

Who will be able to earn certifications?

Certifications are planned as a TIPA member benefit for licensed private investigators. Final eligibility rules, exam format, fees, passing standards, and renewal requirements will be published before the program opens.

Where will certifications appear?

Each certification a member passes will be displayed on that investigator’s individual profile in the TIPA investigator directory. Agency profiles will show the certifications held by the investigators attached to that agency, credited to each individual investigator.

Is the program available now?

Not yet. Specialization credentialing is coming soon but is not active. No examinations are being offered and no certifications have been issued. Join TIPA or contact the association to hear when it opens.

TIPA seal

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Membership comes first

Specialty credentialing is planned for TIPA members. Join now, or contact the association to be notified when examinations open.

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